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Old 08-23-2016, 01:15 PM   #1
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Help finding a swivel mount for a cell booster antenna

Hi all -

I've purchased a Weboost 4G-X cell booster and have a 19" spring-mounted antenna. My Dutch Star has awnings that sit on the roof, essentially forming a raised border around my roof that is about 12" high. Because of this, you can look at the motorhome from the side and can't see the stuff on the roof.

The antenna I've got is this one: https://store.weboost.com/products/304415

While it comes with a 4" magnetic antenna, I would like to use the larger antenna at the above link so that it can stick up above my awnings to take advantage of height and the fact that it's omnidirectional.

The question is this: how in the world do I mount it? My height is already at 13'6". We will only use the antenna when parked, so I could raise it somehow. I think that the top of the antenna should be at least 8" higher than the coach.

I hate to permanently mount it because then the top of the antenna would be about 14'2" from the ground and I don't want it getting whacked by bridges and trees. A manual device on the roof (to raise it) is out of the question because I can't climb on the roof every time I stop. Maybe something mounted at the top of a side (or slide) wall - but it would have to be horizontal until manually raised. Problem is, I can't find a swivel mount to move it from horizontal to vertical.

Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated!
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Old 08-23-2016, 01:37 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeGriffin View Post
Hi all -

I've purchased a Weboost 4G-X cell booster and have a 19" spring-mounted antenna. My Dutch Star has awnings that sit on the roof, essentially forming a raised border around my roof that is about 12" high. Because of this, you can look at the motorhome from the side and can't see the stuff on the roof.
The antenna I've got is this one: https://store.weboost.com/products/304415
While it comes with a 4" magnetic antenna, I would like to use the larger antenna at the above link so that it can stick up above my awnings to take advantage of height and the fact that it's omnidirectional.
The question is this: how in the world do I mount it? My height is already at 13'6". We will only use the antenna when parked, so I could raise it somehow. I think that the top of the antenna should be at least 8" higher than the coach.
I hate to permanently mount it because then the top of the antenna would be about 14'2" from the ground and I don't want it getting whacked by bridges and trees. A manual device on the roof (to raise it) is out of the question because I can't climb on the roof every time I stop. Maybe something mounted at the top of a side (or slide) wall - but it would have to be horizontal until manually raised. Problem is, I can't find a swivel mount to move it from horizontal to vertical.
Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated! I'll cross-post this question to Newmar Owners in case any of them have done this before.
MikeGriffin
Will occasionally whacking bridges and trees damage that antenna?
The top of my radio antenna is 15.5 feet from the ground and it has hit a lot of things in it's 20 year life with no damage.
I suggest you contact the antenna manufacturer and ask them what they recommend.
Mel
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Old 08-23-2016, 05:16 PM   #3
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Look here: West Marine and you'll certainly find something that can be made to work. If you have a ladder attach the mount up high on the ladder and you can swivel it straight up and straight down. Whacking bridges and branches with that antenna would probably destroy it.

What are those awnings made of? If fiberglass just ignore them.
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Old 08-23-2016, 07:26 PM   #4
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Thanks for the replies so far.

Yes, whacking this antenna on a bridge would likely destroy it. And I've called West Marine and we can't come up with anything that could hold the antenna horizontally and then swing (swivel) it up to a vertical position. The awnings are essentially part of the body of the coach, painted to match and everything.

Someone HAS to have done this before...
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Old 08-23-2016, 10:19 PM   #5
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Years ago I used this https://www.manfrotto.us/monopod-til...l-tilt-head-90 to attach to a rail-mount 3/8" antenna screw mount. It could go from straight up vertical through horizontal to straight down vertical. It did, however, have to attach to something I could reach; I used the rear ladder.

The reason I asked about the awnings is that you could use an antenna such as a BoatANT BoatAntâ„¢ | WirEng® Wide Band Antennas, Cellular Boosters, Repeaters or something similar and just ignore the awnings. Most of the length of that Wilson antenna is the spring and mast; the actual antenna is around six inches long.

Also...do you have a standard crank-up TV antenna?
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Old 08-23-2016, 10:35 PM   #6
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This will do the perfect job. http://www.tarheelantennas.com/mounts
Lift and Lay Antenna mount. Tar Heel makes bullet proof mounts and Ham radio gear.

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Old 08-23-2016, 10:50 PM   #7
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Mount a painters pole on the side of the RV. If you have a ladder, attach it to the ladder with simple hose clamps. When in camp, use the twist lock function to raise it up to 16' high and it can all be done from the ground....very inexpensive.
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Old 08-27-2016, 04:01 PM   #8
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Any chance you have one of those Winegard Sensar crank up over-the-air TV antennas on your coach? It's the antenna that has a handle inside the coach that you use to crank the antenna up. I have seen other antennas mounted on the mast of those crank up antennas. Not sure if they were cell antennas or wifi.

Winegard Sensar RV TV Antenna
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Old 08-27-2016, 11:37 PM   #9
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Here is the thing, you are rarely going to be far from a cell site and they are much higher than your roof so the line of site should be ample. A smaller profile antenna around 12 inches should be fine. I understand if you are boondocking and need the maximum amount of height.

In those cases I have used a collapsing paint pole or flag pole. Getting up on the roof is easy enough for me but at 62 I am trying to minimize such adventures.

I am currently evaluating a device that is using a small gain antenna. Traveling from Florida to California found only very short distances that did not have coverage. It is a very promising device and just recently entered the market. I am not part of the company, just a person with 40 years in the two way radio industry.
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Old 08-28-2016, 08:08 AM   #10
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Thanks for the continued replies.

My TV antenna is a Winegard Razar. It's one of the enclosed circular ones that doesn't raise.

Found a small motor that can raise the antenna from the roof, but it's $400+. There's also the possibility of attaching it to the back of the roof-mounted satellite dish. When the dish raises....

I wish there was a mount of some sort that swiveled from horizontal to vertical that I could move back and forth (manually) from a pole on the ground. Then I could mount it on the side near the roof line. Some of the ones that may do this (ratcheting) seem like they won't fit my antenna, which has the cable permanently connected to the bottom.
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