Cellular Antenna

[Indio]

Just ordered the Wilson permanent mount trucker antenna and direct connect amp.

I opted for the direct connect cable system thinking it would work better than the wireless setup.

Has anyone used both, and what were your results.

I am retiring July 15, 2006 (finally) and will be hitting the road and wanted to make sure I would always be able to get reception. In addition I purchased a Verizon Broadband card that seems to be working okay so far. I think with a cable adapter I should be able to connect the wireless card to the antenna also.

ThanX for any input...... Keep the Rubber Side Down.

Walt

[Indio]

Just ordered the Wilson permanent mount trucker antenna and direct connect amp.

I opted for the direct connect cable system thinking it would work better than the wireless setup.

Has anyone used both, and what were your results.

I am retiring July 15, 2006 (finally) and will be hitting the road and wanted to make sure I would always be able to get reception. In addition I purchased a Verizon Broadband card that seems to be working okay so far. I think with a cable adapter I should be able to connect the wireless card to the antenna also.

ThanX for any input...... Keep the Rubber Side Down.

Walt

[swansnest]

Walt - Congratulations on finally getting to retire! What is Julie going to do?

Tris put one on our '03 and we had WRV put one on our Apex while they were building it. I will have Tris call you - I think we still have your phone#! He is working at the City Yard today!

Carolyn

[chris cross]

Hi Walt: We left for a 2 month Colorado tour last mid-May and I installed the Wilson antenna and the three amp amplifier. It has worked absolutely perfect. We've been in Pagosa Springs for a couple of weeks and without the connection we have one bar. Connected we have three and Debi can talk to her mother forever. We increased our Verison monthly minutes to 1200. I "think" we will be ok. Congratulations on your retirement. I've been practicing for the past 9 years and think I've got it figured out.

[Indio]

ThanX Chris & Carolyn

Did you use the Direct Connect cable to your phone, or the wireless version?

My retirement came a little sonner than I had planned, was going to keep working until the end of the year........ but as things sometimes change......... you got to go with the flow. I'm excited, but at the same time........ a little worried too. I have worked all my life with nothing more than a week off here and there..... wish me luck.

Walt

[rockcj]

I have to come by and say hi one of these days. I miss my rig.

[Rick Coleman]

Where and how are you going to mount your antenna? I went to the Wilson website and I get the impression the antenna requires drilling a hole on the roof. How do you then run the wiring (cable) and to where?

Thanks, Rick Coleman

[Indio]

Rick:

Haven't received the Wilson yet, but from understanding the directions you are able to shorten the 7" screw mount to what ever dept you need. I opted for the permanent mount verses the glass mount thinking maybe the degraguation of the siginal would be less.

What I am hopeful will be the same is the cable that is attached to the CB Antenna that is already mounted on the roof and exits under the dash. The CB antenna is mounted to an elevated plate that the horns are also fixed to. If not, I'll have to re-route from the same location.

Will give an update once I have the system installed.

How have others installed theirs'

Walt

[Rick Coleman]

Do all Alpines ('04+) have a CB antenna cable running from the roof antenna bracket to the dash area? Could you use such a pre-existing cable in tandem with both a CB radio and a cellular phone amplifier antenna?

Thanks, Rick

[Dave Fernandez]

Congratulations Walt & Julie:

I glad to hear about the Retirement. I installed my Cell antenna in the roof on the front cap it was easier to get to and run the Coax down into the dash. I did not use the Wilson antenna I used a standard cell antenna permanently mounted and it works fine. If they had Wilson I may have used it instead. I am still thinking of installing an amp into the system as long as it will work on digital signal.

Hello & Welcome Rick: The CB antenna will not work for Cell phones although the Coax may be OK depending on type of coax they installed for the CB. The mounts are different from CB to Cell antenna. It should not be too hard to run another coax from the roof to the dash for the Cell I know it is not hard on my 01; the hardest part was pulling the TV out to get to the back of the cabinets.

[rosegramma]

Walt wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">In addition I purchased a Verizon Broadband card that seems to be working okay so far. I think with a cable adapter I should be able to connect the wireless card to the antenna also.
ThanX for any input...... Keep the Rubber Side Down.
Walt / Julie Darden
2004 Alpine 40FDTS </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

We also want to know if the Verizon aircard can be connected to an antennae or amplifier and how? Does anyone have this setup? Plan on getting the aircard this week. Want to get the right stuff.
Thanks.

Lois & John, '02 38FDDS, '01 4x4Ranger

[Dale777]

rosegramma,

I subscribe to Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess and use the Kyocera KPC650 aircard. The KPC650 has a jack for an external antenna, if needed.

The standard aircard from Verizon (Verizon Wireless PC 5740, which I believe is made by Audiovox) does NOT have a jack for an external antenna.

The KPC650 has to be special ordered from Verizon, since the retail stores do not stock it. The KPC650 also costs more than the standard aircard, but it is worth it.

I learned all this the hard way, since I first bought the standard aircard, but found that I did not get a very good signal in some areas, so I went back to the store and traded (with an additional cost and some exchange headaches, of course) for the KPC650 and an external antenna. Most of the time, I do not need to use the external antenna, but its nice to know that I can when I need it. My experience with the KPC650 and Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess over a period of 6 weeks in traveling from North Texas to Yakima, WA and back has been very good.

By the way, there are some good forums to check out about EVDO, which is the technology used by Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess:

EVDO Forum link

Dale Dowdy
2006 Alpine Coach 36FDTS

[rosegramma]

Dale, Thanks for the info and website. Just what I needed. Tons of good info here. Will buy from them.

Lois

[Chuck Thomas]

I have a Verizon air card with broadband access. Iinterface it with an amplifier and a Wilson cell phone antenna when really our in the boonies. You can buy the air card and connecting cable on line at Verizon. Do not buy the routine advertised card. I will not accept an external antenna connection. Buy the Kyrocera KPC650 card and buy the antenna adaptor cable kit for it.