Wilson Antenna-Our Internet & Cell Phone Connections

[MonacoMama]

Sacs & I have property in Oregon on the coast. It is "down in a hole" when it comes to Cell Phone/Internet service..and we all know how hard is to be on iRV2 without Internet...so here is what we did after receiving input from GoneFishin, FishBum, EVDOAlex & Tom N...
<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>We added a Wilson Trucker Antenna and then mounted it to the bat-wing antenna as a permanent mount. It gives us a "high point" for the antenna.(Thanks Tom N for that photo post!)


<LI>Added a Wilson Amplifier to work with the CradlePoint MBR1000 Router & our Verizon USB720 air-card.


<LI>The wires were run and this was all mounted in the cabinet above the passenger seat.[/list]
You can find many more photos here that shows the install in different stages. (I will be adding details to the photos soon)

I am now looking forward to boon-docking on the property.


MM

[GaryKD]

Well done. The antenna looks like its' mount is very firmly attached to the bat wing. Are you happy with the results?

[MonacoMama]

Gary.... I love how it has turned out...but we have not had a chance to really test it. I think our trip to QZ won't be a real test either-as I think the coverage there will be good.
We did get the wire to be able to use the phone with the Wilson Trucker antenna - which will make a difference when we are in those hard to reach places.
Sacs did put a power strip there so we can easily turn it all off with one flip. It is also plugged into an inverter plug so the system can be used while traveling-we just won't raise the bat-wing.

[GaryKD]

When the bat wing is lowered, will the antenna lay flat or remain vertical?

[MonacoMama]

It lays flat. You can click on the link at the bottom of the main post to see different views of everything - including the antenna in the down position...

[GaryKD]

MM, I hope you don't get irritated with me for asking so many questions, but I would like to copy your success. Another question please.

When the bat wing is lowered (in the travel position) do the small rods that stick out from the antenna rub against the roof of the coach? I can't tell from the picture. If so, is that a concern?

many thanks,

[SacsTC]

Gary,
No they do not touch. Right now they are approx 1/4" above the roof, so they will probably touch at times while on the road. It is a concern, although I don't know that it would hurt anything. I tried to put a piece of foam insulating strip under it, but it would not stick to our waxed roof. I will figure out a way to stop this situation soon, but with a fiberglass roof, I'm more concerned with noise than with it causing any damage.

This is what I am copying


You can see how this person solved the problem.

[GaryKD]

Thanks for all the info. It really helps.

[Rick 2005 Dolphin 5376]

I was so impressed with such a simple but yet effective idea, that am going to install my antenna the same way this weekend. Thanks for the great tip. I kept looking up on the roof knowing there had to be some clever answer. This is it.

[John Hilley]

Very nice installation.

[Ray,IN]

I have been perusing the Wilson website for a similar set-up. Wilson says specifically not to operate a horizontal antenna, as it will result in poor performance; or did I completely miss something?

[Bill Adams]

I'm sorry, but why you would want to use an antenna that was mounted horizontally anyway?
It seems pretty obvious to me that an antenna that is mounted vertically would perform WAY better than one laid on its side.

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

Just for the fun of it to maybe answer a couple of questions I thought I'd include a short discussion and some photo's showing approximate patterns of a typical vertical antenna. When I first started studying for my Radio Engineering Degree many, many years ago a simple description was presented to us regarding antenna theory.

Think of an antenna signal pattern as an air filled balloon. Holding the filler "neck" on the ground and letting the balloon just stick straight up. Imagine a antennasticking straight up through the center of the balloon. The signal off of the end of the top of the antenna is nulled, in otherwords there is little to no signal. Holding the balloon as described you'd need to take a finger of your other hand and push straight down on the top center of the balloon. This will effectively force the balloon (signal) down in the center while at the same time expanding the sides.

Now if you add radials as shown in the next photo, to simulate you'd need to push down on the top of the balloon with your open hand and flatten it out, think of it beginning to take the shape of a donut. The true signal pattern expands with multiple lobes, but for simple explanations that detail is not necessary. Besides we can't simulate this with a ballon, (not enough hands or fingers.)

If laying the antenna down flat along the top of your motorhome, the signal will try and maintain it's physical design pattern because of the radials, but the side closest to the ground (motorhome top) will be compressed because of squishing it between the antenna and the earth, which doesn't allow it to radiate well at all. This forces part of the pattern up which expands the signal a bit more straight up, just like if you laid your balloon on it's side and pressed it against the ground.

This is why Wilson says don't operate the antenna this way. It won't necessarily hurt your transmitting/receiving equipment, it just defeats the purpose of their antenna's they've spent so many years designing for optimum performance.

[FLYTYER]

Hey Bob...thanks for a great explanation.