External antenna for Hotspot / Cellphone repeater option? - Escape Trailer Owners Community
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Old 11-15-2018, 12:46 AM   #1
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: boise, Idaho
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External antenna for Hotspot / Cellphone repeater option?

In this Era of Netflix, Internet, and Facebook, I'm surprised more manufacturer's haven't started integrating Cell phone boosters, and cellular anntennas into their products. In my last SoB RV with the typical roof mount TV antenna, I promptly stole the coax and tossed the TV antenna in the trash. In place of it I put a Cellular antenna hooked into my wifi hotspot! I could even rotate it around for the best signal using the stock TV setup. It was the best decision I ever made, I brought in internet access where you would be lucky to send a text message.

Has anyone done any similar modifications done for an Escape? I'd like to hear what you've done. I don't see many ready-made antenna holes I can easily re-use.

Hopefully this is also something Escape will consider offering in the future!
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Old 11-15-2018, 05:38 AM   #2
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I went out through the fridge roof vent. Attached the BoatAnt via a built up PVC block glued with 3m sealant. I think it was 5200 but I'm not home so can't verify that.

Works okay but it would be better if it were higher then the A/C.
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Old 11-15-2018, 05:51 AM   #3
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I will admit I've been spending too much time lately watching people who full time and mostly boondocking on You Tube. One of the ones I really like is Creativity RV, she has one on this. She tested several ones and then the way she uses it is pretty interesting. She mounted it to one of those extendable poles a painter would use, mounted some of the 3M removable clamps on the side of her rig to stick the pole in, she said she this works great in very remote places.

Safe and fun travels to all.

Steve
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Old 11-15-2018, 09:40 AM   #4
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Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
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I've had the BoatAnt on both my 17B & 21, both provided by me & installed by Escape, however I believe they no longer install them. One suggestion - if you add one, they do not like being dragged through tree branches, even small ones! Mount it on the driver's side of the trailer. That is where the one on my 17B was located, and it survived 100,000 miles of travel. The one on the 21 is on the passenger side (my mistake, not Escape's) and I've broken the plastic shell to base glue twice. Other than that, it is a great antenna.

One more point - don't run the coax parallel to the FM radio antenna coax. If you do, turning on the amplifier will likely blank any weak FM stations.
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Old 11-15-2018, 10:43 AM   #5
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Both Mike L. and myself have found using a socket mount on the rear bumper with extendable poles very handy for several different types of antennas.

I used to have removable ones but found it much more convenient to have it in the lowered position "ready to go".

I have run several different cables. I find the easiest way to get the cable to the interior is by a hole from the underside. Easy to seal and little chance of a leak.

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