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Old 08-25-2014, 07:16 PM   #41
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D. View Post
All exterior lights to LED, one switch by the door that turns three on... another switch for just the "porch" light.

I also asked to have the entire loft (5er) carpeted instead of just around the perimeter of the queen bed (I sleep on a twin mattress).

Three walls reinforce. Both dinette walls and the drivers side loft wall. I didn't know in advance WHERE I may want to mount a television or magazing rack or spice rack in the kitchen..
Donna, besides the porch light, what other (3) LED lights did you intall?
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Old 08-25-2014, 07:22 PM   #42
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The antenna I bought has a 3.5 db gain in the 700 band used by ATT according to my discussion with a Wilson tech support guy. My background includes military electronics countermeasures in the 50Hz-20GHz range, so I'm pretty confident that antenna will work fine for 4G. I'm going to feed it with a Slick cradle. Will let you folks know either way once I have the rig (pickup 9/4.)
Thanks, I'll look forward to that. My MiFi has the little jacks on two sides for external antennas. It's the MHS291LVW. I don't really know the difference between the jacks -- haven't been able to find some good documentation.
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Old 08-25-2014, 07:38 PM   #43
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Donna, besides the porch light, what other (3) LED lights did you intall?
I added one to the back. The one under the loft and on the drivers side are standard on the 5ers. I just wanted to be able to turn them all on with the flip of a switch
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Old 08-25-2014, 07:50 PM   #44
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I added one to the back. The one under the loft and on the drivers side are standard on the 5ers. I just wanted to be able to turn them all on with the flip of a switch
The one on the back sounds handy -- particularly since the dual 6V batteries would be mounted on the rear as well as the spare. If I had to do something in that area after dark, might be very useful.
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Old 08-25-2014, 10:38 PM   #45
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IMPO working in cellular industry for 20 years: the carriers got the FCC to punt for them. These current boosters are 1W instead of 3W. I talked with Holly at Wilson(see post 37 "this amplifier" "5 answered questions") and she admitted that the current crop isn't as good as previously. IF you have some signal, then this will help your 4G or whatever. However, in remote areas where what you can only realistically expect is to make a call(not watch Dish Network via Slingbox) then a 3 Watt booster may pull in enough to get the call out. It definitely helps to have Verizon or in Canada I would bet Telus. While supplies last Wilson will ship the old 3W boosters starting with 8 to Canada.

As to AT&T and 700 mghz, not anytime soon. They have been traditionally 850/1900.
A Visual Guide to 700 MHz : AT&T (Phone Scoop)

AT&T Mobility just bought some fresh 700 MHz spectrum in the Lower B block, ... AT&T hasn't announced what it will do with its 700 MHz spectrum, although LTE ...
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Old 08-26-2014, 12:35 AM   #46
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Originally Posted by Donna D. View Post
I added one to the back. The one under the loft and on the drivers side are standard on the 5ers. I just wanted to be able to turn them all on with the flip of a switch
I agree, one on the back might be real handy. Thanks, Donna!
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Old 08-26-2014, 07:13 AM   #47
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I added the lights on the other three sides of our trailer, and don't think I have used them more than once or twice. I just have not found reason for them, but my only outside access panel is on the passenger side, and we do use the porch light a bit. I could see one under the bed on a 5.0, for sure.

If parking in the dark, I have actually never even though of the light back there, as the taillights are very bright and have provided all the light one needs.

But, like all the options, it really can't hurt naught but the pocket book to do them.
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Old 08-26-2014, 08:13 AM   #48
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I have this version of the Wilson trucker antenna, which is side mounted on the rear driver's side of the trailer. It provides about 3db worth of gain at the Verizon (and AT&T) LTE frequencies. When first installed, it fed a 3 watt 3G amp, but since moving to 4G, I switched the old amp out for a Sleek Cradle, the latest version that can be switched between the Verizon & AT&T LTE frequencies.

Anyone wanting a good deal on the 3G 3 watt amp should let me know - it is just sitting on the shelf. While the cradle ties you down in that your phone or hotspot has to sit in it, it does find Verizon 4G service where the hotspot alone does not, and a bluetooth earpiece lets you use the phone without having to stand at the cradle.

For those dry camping, one caution - the combination of the hotspot & Sleek amp draws close to 2 amps when on...
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Old 08-26-2014, 08:31 AM   #49
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[QUOTE=Jim Bennett;64369]I added the lights on the other three sides of our trailer, and don't think I have used them more than once or twice. I just have not found reason for them, but my only outside access panel is on the passenger side, and we do use the porch light a bit. I could see one under the bed on a 5.0, for sure.

If parking in the dark, I have actually never even though of the light back there, as the taillights are very bright and have provided all the light one needs.

But, like all the options, it really can't hurt naught but the pocket book to do them.[/QUOTE

I am considering adding a set or one of these X-106 Flush Mount to the rear bumper on a switch so once lined up to back in at night I can use it to check the site for level , trash, things that will put holes in tires etc. The little lights on the trailer do not project enough light far enough back. I want to mount them low and angled down so I do not annoy anyone behind me etc.

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Old 08-26-2014, 08:35 AM   #50
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Originally Posted by Vermilye View Post
I have this version of the Wilson trucker antenna, which is side mounted on the rear driver's side of the trailer. It provides about 3db worth of gain at the Verizon (and AT&T) LTE frequencies. When first installed, it fed a 3 watt 3G amp, but since moving to 4G, I switched the old amp out for a Sleek Cradle, the latest version that can be switched between the Verizon & AT&T LTE frequencies
Same plan here, lets me easily move the cradle to my Taco with the Sleek antenna on top when we're rolling down the hiway and use the Taco built-in bluetooth to talk.
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Old 08-26-2014, 08:46 AM   #51
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye View Post
I have this version of the Wilson trucker antenna, which is side mounted on the rear driver's side of the trailer. It provides about 3db worth of gain at the Verizon (and AT&T) LTE frequencies. When first installed, it fed a 3 watt 3G amp, but since moving to 4G, I switched the old amp out for a Sleek Cradle, the latest version that can be switched between the Verizon & AT&T LTE frequencies.

Anyone wanting a good deal on the 3G 3 watt amp should let me know - it is just sitting on the shelf. While the cradle ties you down in that your phone or hotspot has to sit in it, it does find Verizon 4G service where the hotspot alone does not, and a bluetooth earpiece lets you use the phone without having to stand at the cradle.

For those dry camping, one caution - the combination of the hotspot & Sleek amp draws close to 2 amps when on...
Jon, your antenna is similar to the one I have. Are you getting 4G service? The reason I ask is that it was the a Wilson tech support guy who told me these antennas didn't work with 4G. According to him, the only god antenna for 4G is the little magnetic mount antenna. But you can't use it on a fiberglass trailer because it needs a ground plane. Apparently an metal pizza pan makes a reasonable ground plane, but I didn't want to mess with that.

Full disclosure: I spent 30 years as a software engineer. My favorite joke was the question about how many software engineers it takes to change a light bulb. The correct answer is 'None. It is a hardware problem'. So I am relying on others for all this.
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Old 08-26-2014, 09:00 AM   #52
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On our 19 I had lights added on the front and the street side, only used a couple of times. Didn't bother with them on the 21. As for backing up, light or no light I get out and go back there and survey the area, if its dark I just take the flash light and while I am backing up I have a passenger back there with the flash light.
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Old 08-26-2014, 09:08 AM   #53
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rossue View Post
IMPO working in cellular industry for 20 years: the carriers got the FCC to punt for them. These current boosters are 1W instead of 3W. I talked with Holly at Wilson(see post 37 "this amplifier" "5 answered questions") and she admitted that the current crop isn't as good as previously. IF you have some signal, then this will help your 4G or whatever. However, in remote areas where what you can only realistically expect is to make a call(not watch Dish Network via Slingbox) then a 3 Watt booster may pull in enough to get the call out. It definitely helps to have Verizon or in Canada I would bet Telus. While supplies last Wilson will ship the old 3W boosters starting with 8 to Canada.

As to AT&T and 700 mghz, not anytime soon. They have been traditionally 850/1900.
A Visual Guide to 700 MHz : AT&T (Phone Scoop)

AT&T Mobility just bought some fresh 700 MHz spectrum in the Lower B block, ... AT&T hasn't announced what it will do with its 700 MHz spectrum, although LTE ...
So, If I have a Verizon MiFi, what antenna setup should I get?
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Old 08-26-2014, 09:10 AM   #54
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye View Post
I have this version of the Wilson trucker antenna, which is side mounted on the rear driver's side of the trailer. It provides about 3db worth of gain at the Verizon (and AT&T) LTE frequencies. When first installed, it fed a 3 watt 3G amp, but since moving to 4G, I switched the old amp out for a Sleek Cradle, the latest version that can be switched between the Verizon & AT&T LTE frequencies.

Anyone wanting a good deal on the 3G 3 watt amp should let me know - it is just sitting on the shelf. While the cradle ties you down in that your phone or hotspot has to sit in it, it does find Verizon 4G service where the hotspot alone does not, and a bluetooth earpiece lets you use the phone without having to stand at the cradle.

For those dry camping, one caution - the combination of the hotspot & Sleek amp draws close to 2 amps when on...
Jon, a question. My Verizon MiFi has inputs on two sides for external antennas. Would it be a better setup just to put the MiFi into the cradle which is connected to an external antenna, or plug it in directly to an antenna? The whole 4G signal amplification topic is a black hole to me. Now if we're talking Routers, Firewalls, Switches, Network Access Control, etc, I'm your guy....
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Old 08-26-2014, 09:27 AM   #55
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If you put the MiFi in the cradle that allows you to use the 4G phone in your hand instead of a Bluetooth add-on. As I didn't buy the MiFi I can't help with the direct connection to the antenna without the cradle - but I don't think you need both head ends (cradle plus MiFi.)
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Old 08-26-2014, 09:31 AM   #56
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If you put the MiFi in the cradle that allows you to use the 4G phone in your hand instead of a Bluetooth add-on.
Understood. The question was more about which setup is better -- to use a sleek cradle or to plug directly into an antenna jack, since the MiFi has the inputs.
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Old 08-26-2014, 09:59 AM   #57
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As to the antenna, keep in mind this from Wilson: "With any external antenna, it’s important to remember that it will be exposed to mother nature, which can be very tough on equipment. In particular, antennas are susceptible to lighting strikes since they’re made of metal and have some level of electricity flowing through them."

After reading Vermilye's post about having to fish new coax after his first trucker antenna broke, I decided against having a permanent antenna, as ETI would not install conduit for coax. After reading the above, it is another reason for me not to. I just use my mag-mount when I need it, and the wire is so thin you can close a door on it or leave a window cracked. You only need a fairly small metal disc for the ground plane.
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Old 08-26-2014, 11:27 AM   #58
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As to the antenna, keep in mind this from Wilson: "With any external antenna, it’s important to remember that it will be exposed to mother nature, which can be very tough on equipment.
That's why I had mine added above an overhead cabinet so I can easily get at it to for a replace/repair should one be needed. It's on the fridge side of the door opening.
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Old 08-26-2014, 11:32 AM   #59
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That's why I had mine added above an overhead cabinet so I can easily get at it to for a replace/repair should one be needed. It's on the fridge side of the door opening.
Our plan too. If it ever needs replacing it should be a simple matter. Thanks for the photo.
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Old 08-26-2014, 03:43 PM   #60
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Jon, your antenna is similar to the one I have. Are you getting 4G service? The reason I ask is that it was the a Wilson tech support guy who told me these antennas didn't work with 4G. According to him, the only god antenna for 4G is the little magnetic mount antenna. But you can't use it on a fiberglass trailer because it needs a ground plane. Apparently an metal pizza pan makes a reasonable ground plane, but I didn't want to mess with that.

Full disclosure: I spent 30 years as a software engineer. My favorite joke was the question about how many software engineers it takes to change a light bulb. The correct answer is 'None. It is a hardware problem'. So I am relying on others for all this.
I'd try contacting Wilson again. Their web page shows the short trucker antenna as having around 3db gain at 700Hz, the AT&T and Verizon frequency used for LTE by both.

As to the cable rerun, it wasn't fun, but I have done a number of electrical restorations on historic homes, and am used to fishing wires with all kinds of tricks. The trailer was no worse than any of those jobs...

As to the antenna,I have no problems with 4G Verizon using the antenna with the Sleek. I have the adapter to plug it directly into the hotspot, but was not impressed with the result. Antenna gain alone = 3db; with the antenna and Sleek gain = as much as 23db...
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