WeBoost

[RVGoatLocker]

Ok, who's using WeBoost and what are you using? I was considering the Destination RV, and one for driving, but WeBoost is saying their Drive Reach is the BEST for RVs for power and driving/stationary.

[Lockpro]

I had one in a service vehicle and was less than pleased. It has to have at least 1 bar to amplify and that is not always possible in rural areas. It really needs an outside roof mount antenna and that adds to your height clearance. You need several feet of horizontal separation between the outside antenna and inside antenna. In my case the cost benefit ratio was not satisfactory. If I need on the road connectivity for rural areas in the future I will go for a SAT phone.

[Dennis C.]

I had a weBoost system in my Airstream. It had a roof-mounted external antenna. I don’t recall which model that I installed. It definitely improved cellular performance for texts and calls, but not by a huge amount. It obviously needed to have a signal to boost. It didn’t help in rural areas with no signal at all. It helped in fringe areas where the signal was weak.

[RVStitchy]

I have one collecting dust somewhere in my garage. Could not see a difference. But then again we were not way out in the boonies where maybe it has more benefits.

[mrome54369]

full timing for almost 5 years now. Approximately 1 out of 100 stops Weboost gave us a signal we wouldn't have otherwise had.

[Backcountry1]

If you want to use it while traveling too, then the RV Drive Reach is what you want. I have the Drive Reach in my travel trailer and also trucks, and it works quite well.

[Suburbazine]

The fallacy of WeBoost in a vehicle is you cannot get much signal rise through the amp. The reason is that if it boosts the inside signal, it can reach the outside antenna and become a useless loop. So if you are in an area with very weak outside signal... the inside also must be very weak signal.


You're much better off using a wireless hotspot with high gain roof mounted antennas. Use Wifi Calling and internet from the hotspot.

[bkennedy]

The Drive X RV I have installed wouldn't improve the signal unless I had the phone touching the inside antenna. Even then, couldn't use phone as a mobile hot spot, wouldn't connect calls most of the time, only text messages with no pictures. It got old fast having to limit my movements based upon the length of the inside antenna cable.

Wilson tech support said that's normal because FCC limitations on that type of antenna while parked. It's for signal improvement while moving. They strongly suggested I get a Destination RV, which I did. Their reasoning was it is the most powerful booster and would give me the best chance at getting a good signal. They were right.

It takes a little time to set it up and get it to function without interference, but at the same location the Drive X wouldn't work very well, it works very well. Mobile hotspot, internet connection, all good. It made camping on my remote Arizona property much more enjoyable. I can even get a signal outside the RV, which I never had before. I currently have both boosters, but rarely use the Drive X. Might remove that one at a later date.

I don't have any experience with the Drive Reach.

[groveln]

I bought a "very gently used" We Boost Destination RV setup this past November off Facebook Marketplace for $300.00. Couldn't pass it up for that price & waiting to use it come this season travels. I always have a tough time using my Verizon phone in the Black Hills Campground I visit every year.,.might get 1 bar on a good day..maybe. I'm hoping this solves that problem. Having an antenna up on a 25' mast should pull that weak signal in. Also little to no reception in Headwaters Flagg Ranch campground in Teton National Park.

[TXiceman]

We used WeBoost for years when full timing. Many times, in weak signal areas, we were the only ones in the park that could use our cell phone. Others had nothing.

One point to make is there are areas with ZERO cell signal and a cell phone booster will never work in those locations. The booster has to have a signal in order to boost it.

We normally used an omnidirectional antenna on a pus-up poll about 10 feet over the camper. I also carried a directional Yagi antenna for really weak signal areas. This was placed on a pole 15 feet or so over the RV and pointed toward the nearest cell tower.

Ken

[Elwood58]

We have been using the below product since 2018. It does give us some improved signal in most areas.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[hamm2018]

We have been using the Drive X WE Boost since May 2020. It does help boost the signal, but if there is no signal it cannot create one.
We have been from Key West to Glacier NP. Out close to Zion NP, in
Virgin, Utah, it did not work because there wasn't a Verizon signal, we still had to drive back to Hurricane to do computer work.

[docj]

Originally Posted by hamm2018

We have been using the Drive X WE Boost since May 2020. It does help boost the signal, but if there is no signal it cannot create one.

It's my understanding that if you do have stronger signal and a phone or hotspot with a more advanced modem (>Category 6) the use of a WeBoost (or similar device) may disable advanced features such as carrier aggregation. To put it another way, it's possible that you could have slower download speeds with the WeBoost than without it!

Since the tower controls carrier aggregation, not your phone, IMO the best approach is to measure download speed with and without the WeBoost in use.

Furthermore, I don't see any mention on the WeBoost website about which bands its devices cover, only words that say that all major carriers are included. I would presume that this means that the devices haven't been updated to include "sub 6 micron" (C-Band) or ultra wide band (mm wave). I wouldn't expect them to ever include mm wave, but over the next few years sub-6 micron service is gong to become more important.

Sure, in weak signal areas, the signal will probably be 4G LTE for a number of years to come, but over time, that will evolve. It all depends on how long you expect your equipment to be useful.

[Johninar]

I have the RV destination and love the results. The 17foot pole with the Yagi.
It works with 5G, not that really matters as 5G does not travel very far.
It covers every carrier I've tried with it.



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