WeBoost questions/info thread

recommendations on a mount?

 

Frontrunner seems to be a favorite, but it is pricey. I am still on the hunt.

There are a couple of folding mounts on Amazon that are affordable. I just haven't pulled the trigger to order one to find out how reliable it is.

I've read that a RAM ball will hold at normal speeds, but not at highway speeds. So personally, I'd avoid going that route. You can read in the group buy thread that we did last year to see what other members have done. Of course, you could ask in there too, as that thread isn't overly dead....but it has been a minute since anyone posted.

 

Question: you mentioned u clipped the lighter plug and tapped into your SPOD. what's the difference between lighter plug and the hardwire that weboost sell? I'm planning to make a switch for it and want to make sure I get the right one.

 

I'm in the market now for a Sat Phone or InReach. What company do you have your plan with? Was trying to stay with the big boys, but they dont have much of anything. Some websites are a bit shady as well. Any advice would be great.

 

I think I mentioned earlier that I don't actually have one (yet). But from my research, the Garmin seams like the best option to me. I've been reading up on them for quite a while, just haven't pulled the trigger...

Sat phones are more expensive to buy, and the service plans are way more expensive, too. Something like $50 a month for only 10 minutes of voice. For the same cost, you can get an InReach plan with unlimited texts. You can also do 30 day subscriptions and start/stop them whenever you want. For like $12 you only get 10 texts, but unlimited "preset" messages (unlimited sends), you only get 3 different presets but you can set those up ahead of time (and change them any time), like "checking in, [lat/lon location]" etc...

I use the Iridium network at work for real time data links os some scientific equipment, and it's a very comprehensive/reliabe network of satellites, but the phones are like $1200, and this is the same satellite the InReach uses, too. Texting takes up so much less bandwidth vs. voice.

Honestly, I'd probably start with just the cheapest InReach plan. It's for emergencies, so it's not like you are going to be group chatting with your buds and posting tictok videos, lol. There are several to choose from, but I'm kinda thinking the mini (the cheapest one) makes the most sense for me. They have bluetooth so you can link them with your phone and send/receive messages that way, and I already have mapping apps I use so I don't need ones with the larger screens.

I know, I sound like a Garmin salesman, but I assure you I'm not, lol.

 

Thanks. This is great gouge. Was actually on Garmin’s site just a little bit ago looking through their devices and plans. No too shabby actually, and more cost effective. Thanks.

 

Took the plunge and ordered the Weboost Drive Reach OTR. I did a temporary setup and stopped a place on a my daily commute that is usually a dead spot and the signal increased quite a bit, so I'm ready to do the permanent install. Here's where I would like to ask for some ideas, because the mounting options for the external antenna seem to be limited. Here are my issues/constraints:
#1: I don't have a roof rack, so I can't mount it there like many others do.
#2: I have a tri-fold factory Toyota tonneau cover, so bed rail access is limited unless I can find something that will route between the bed and tonneau.
#3: I am taking my time on mods as this is my daily driver, so having it mounted at the hood/ditch light area seems quite out of place to me, but might be an option.
#4: Mounting it all the way at the back of the bed at the tail light just seems so out of place without any further mods done.
#5: I would really prefer not to drill into the truck for this as I'm trying limit the cutting and drilling to things I have no other choice for such as a bumper or roof rack or larger wheels in the future. Putting a hole in things now for this would be a waste if I end up doing a roof rack in the future.

I'd really like to find a way to mount it somewhat right behind the cab and have it stick up to a height just above the factory shark fin. I've seen a few CB antenna mounts similar to this in pictures, but haven't found anything that is really pre-made. I don't have a vice or welder at home, so I'm a little limited currently with fabrication.

Are there good options out there already or is this going to be a typical project of mine where I have to create my own?

 

I'm in the same boat--also don't need/want it up all of the time. Just got the Rhino Rack Folding Aerial Bracket (43196) and mounted to the T-slot on the RetraxPro. It is very well built. It could also attach to the bed rail if that is your main attachment point. The top of the antenna secures to QuickFist 3"--which itself will be mounted to the Retrax as well (this assembly sitting the basement currently). My antenna will lay parallel to the bed when stowed. If you have the bed rail at the head (my '21 didn't come with this) you could mount the QuickFist to the bedrail.

Just sharing some thoughts and where I'm at with troubleshooting this problem. Once I have it sorted, will post some photos.

Best of luck.

 

I stop by the local store and bought a metal L bracket which I proceeded to beat 4 more bends into. This obviously isn't a finished product, but it worked as a test to get the idea down. Just bends around the bed rail and then has a bolt that tightens down on the inside.
I'd like it to be stowable as well, but this will give me a chance to see how it looks as well as works. 33dB gain sitting in the driveway, so I have high hopes.

 

There or the ditch bracket look to be your best options. I think with a little more time, what you have will look and work well.

 

Looks a bit better in the day light. Maybe I'll get used to it.

 

I may follow suit, as I'm looking at potentially picking up a tonneau.

 

IMO, signal boosters are pretty hit or miss. I went the cell router route. Much more powerful radio and all of the devices I care about leverage wifi when we are in the vehicle. Garmin inreach mini for Iridium network backup comms.

 

What did you end up getting for a cell router, and how did you end up installing it? Really curious as to how it actually works.

 

That's an interesting idea. I'm sure a cell router would get a better signal than a cell phone given that it (or at least many of them have) has an external antenna. That said, it seems as though a cellular router would also benefit from a cellular booster as the cell booster antenna is going to be powered and positioned in (likely) a more desirable location to obtain the best possible signal.

 

Mofi 4500 LTE router. Powered from 12v switched source. Used a Pepwave 5-1 5G capable antenna on the roof and just used 2 of the LTE leads for now. Planning on upgrading to a Pepwave BR1 5G router in the spring, will use all 6 antenna leads at that point.

 

The radio in a typical router (Mofi, Pepwave, Cradlepoint) is going to have WAY more power and receive sensitivity than a weboost is going to provide via gain. Apples and Oranges.

 

If you aren't familiar, this is a great site for real world testing of this stuff. https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/lab/

 

Again, interesting.

I'd love to see a side-by-side comparison of said apples and oranges. Also some pictures of your setup. It would be good for a basic understanding of how it is configured and how everything is mounted in a Tacoma.

 

Their testing results are behind a paywall? You've gotta be kidding me...