WeBoost questions/info thread

Looked around and not much information on a weboost system in TW
So a good thread of info is needed.

Post up pics, installs, and personal experience with weboost..

These videos show what is weboost, insight on the booster, pros/cons and install
(If your not familiar with it)


https://youtu.be/u26cWiAEUYc

https://youtu.be/4XnkVvb40GY

 

Just got my 4GX-OTR and BAMF antenna mount the other day. Basically ready to install but looking for info on hardwiring the power cord. Has anyone done it? How have you run the power to the booster? With the kit comes a 12v plug with on/off switch but I’m looking to do something different.

 

I have the discontinued WeBoost 4GX-RV. It's been helpful a few times. Looks like they've improved the product, hence discontinuing the 4GX-RV.

I didn't do any comprehensive testing, but there's plenty of youtube reviews showing nice dB gains, showing better data speeds. I found it was helpful for taking a very weak signal that cut in and out to a usable signal, at least for voice or text.

https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/gear/weboost-drive-4g-x/#reviews

 

This is what I’m looking for..

https://www.weboost.com/products/859923

 

I’ve run a bunch of Wilson/weboost products over the past 15 years. They were a standard install on our Game Warden vehicles here in Maine so I started to put them in my POVs and even one on my boat.

currently a Drive x in the family vehicle with Mag mount antenna and the Reach in my taco with the OTR antenna on the Rago bracket just like you show.

here in Maine I see this as a very important tool since we have mostly rural areas with weak signal. I won’t spend any time traveling in a vehicle or boat for that matter that isn’t equipped.

a lot of these things are subjective reviews. And some people have very unrealistic expectations about what they do. They are a BOOSTER not a create-a-signal-where-signal-doesn’t-exist device. If you have a weak signal and use this, chances are it will help. If you have no signal because you’re in the middle of nowhere, a booster has nothing to boost (technically amplify).

I mounted my internal antenna up where the crawl control overhead console is. Within 3 feet of the phone is optimal but the closer the better.

hope this is useful.

 

chuck you also asked about wiring. I clipped the lighter plug and went directly to my aux battery at first. But it had a pretty decent power strain when it was on all the time. So now it’s connected to my SPOD to power on with the ignition. Highly suggest that rout. This way it’s out of site out of mind.

 

Great feedback, thanks so much. I was contemplating my own switch but tying into the ignition is a great way to go about it..

 

Yep this way, no battery drain and it’s always running in the background

 

Weboost install update.




Driveway test:

Wifi on Weboost off


WiFi on Weboost on


WiFi off Weboost off


WiFi off Weboost on

 

Thanks for the thread and the photos of the install! I'm planning on doing the exact same thing with the truck antenna in the rear like yours. Right now i have a weBoost Drive 4G-M with a mag mount antenna next to the shark fin, and it makes a huge difference driving around Montana.

Question for you, was the antenna cable long enough to route inside the cab? Any advice for getting the cable routed into the cab?

Also, was the 5/8" through hole in the bamf bracket the right size for the weboost antennas? Did you use the antenna spring with all 3 sections attached, even though their manual says not to?

Thanks for creating this post, i am really excited to have a giant and effective antenna!

 

did you ever get your answers?

 

Im actually interested as well. I have the newest weboost Drive Reach and the antenna is smaller (and more powerful they say) and has a strong mag mount integrated, but I am struggling to find a mounting position and how to run the cable. Its a trade off of being able to remove the external antenna when not in use and having a cable to tuck away, or perm mounting it and hard wiring. I guess I could clip it and add some kind of connector.

Im contemplating running the cable into the engine bay and through the firewall gusset, and into the cab, as there just doesn't seem to be a clean way to go from the roof to the cab without risk of pinching the wire. But that means it would need to be extended a fair amount. For power Im still running it off the 12v cig ligter thing. It works, but just looks janky. I dont have an SPOD currently though, maybe its time to get one...

 

makes me wonder if there will be any signal loss due to cable splicing. Does weeboost offer any type of extensions?

 

I would call them, I believe you can get an extension length but these things are so particular with length of cable etc. I would talk to them they are really good tech support. Remember they are a subsidiary of Wilson Electronics who have been in the Antenna business for decades.

 

You are right.

There has to be some sort of cable extension for the outside antenna, there's an assortment of cables in the accessories tab on the weboost page.

Idk if I like the magnet setup - I have a roof rack and mounting it to the roof of the truck might affect the signal strength of that stubbie antenna. It's a front runner rack which has aluminum slats.

I could possible fabricate a steel bracket that could attach to the front runner rack?? hmm.. That's an idea..

 

I’ve seen some folding antenna mounts for racks. Heck, I use one on my boat. Most of the time it just lays flat but when I’m running offshore I put it up. No reason you couldn’t do that so it would lay flat in your rack. Which antenna are you running? No matter what you do the NMO antennas or OTR antenna will do MUCH better than the shorty mag mount it comes with.

 

I actually have the same roof rack. Interestingly enough, I ran the weboost the last 2 weekends in Mammoth and the eastern sierras Calif. and it worked beautifully mounted either right below the rack or just to the front of it. I was actually able to rescue a girl in a jeep who locked her keys in her car. I was able to call AAA from White Mountain trailhead (3rd tallest mountain in Ca). Course... they wouldnt come because "they dont drive on dirt" but it was a great test. Luckily I found the 4 bolts that hold the rear window in on a Rubicon JK and was able to rescue her nonetheless haha. I just had it temp mounted with the cables bunched up on the floor.

I just finished semi perm cabling mine tonight as well. I ran the antenna cable under the roof left weather stripping, down the left side of the windshield molding, down into the engine bay and back through the firewall gusset, then along the kick panels, under the carpet to meet up with the main unit under the driver seat. There was just enough to do it. Probably have 4-6 in of slack, but it went in nicely.

Ran some signal tests (LTE is shit by my house for some reason) and still got good results. So <shrug> will have to see how it goes.

Next is power, have a couple switches coming from caliraised. Will run it directly to the battery so I can run it with the truck off.

 

It’s a REALLY nice feature to be able to run the booster without the truck on. Say, at camp when you may want to check in and have it on but not have a loud rig idleing kinda thing.

also for the sake of info following this thread, I had a long talk with tech support the other day about INTERNAL antenna placement. There are a lot of variables mostly in relation to the internal and external antennas being on the same plane. For example, they can be in sight of each other but One should be higher than the other. The other thing I learned is the literature is a little misleading about internal antenna placement. Basically the closer you can get the antenna to your phone, the better. And it will vastly improve things. I’m considering mounting my internal antenna on my dash with Velcro, just behind my unholy ram
Mount on my vent where the phone is 90% of the time. There is even space in the ram mount itself to slide it behind the phone itself.

just food for thought.

 

Interesting. Did you ask them if the antennas are interchangeable? And if you can put extensions on the antenna cables?

Here is how I mounted the 2. Inside and out respectively.

 

I didnt ask about extensions- yet! but I may be in the same boat looking for a few extra inches (story of my life LOLOL)....

I think your internal antenna is fine, especially if you are holding the phone to your right ear while driving. If its in a cradle, measure the line of sight between the two. Closer the better remember (and touching phone and antenna is great!).

You are not working at full capacity with your external antenna though, and I would highly consider moving it. These are omnidirectional antennas so they are always looking for the closest, strongest cell tower to hop to. Therfor, the extrenal antenna should be unobstructed 360 degrees- meaning, highest point on the truck. Right now, you are missing half of the antennas peek performance. Remember that the signal is not going to the sky to a satelite, its going at a horizontal plane from the cell tower to that antenna. Its hard to tell what is on your rack besides the peli/plano case, but if you tend to carry high loads such as RTT or whatever- they indeed will block your antenna. There was a youtube video of Mike from Last Line of Defense where he did a rig walk around and talked about his fold down/flip up booster antenna. worth a look.