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Old 10-10-2019, 06:53 PM   #1
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Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Pacific NW, Washington
Trailer: 2020 Escape 21
Posts: 15
Logistics of mounting a cellular antenna

We just placed our order for the Escape 21. I am researching options for mobile internet. Our concern is mainly having data while in fringe areas, not so much voice, as we will probably use WiFi calling or FaceTime Audio. Based on the advice I found in this thread on the current state of the art for mobile data, I am going to forego cellular boosters like Weboost and get a CAT18 MIMO LTE modem like the Verizon Jetpack 8800L. I will need to mount a MIMO antenna on the roof, something like this.

My dilemma is how to get the antenna cables into the trailer. With these setups longer cable means signal loss, so I want to keep the cable run under 1 meter ideally. So I will need to figure out a place on the roof to mount the antenna, so that I can run a 1 meter length of cable from it to the LTE modem inside. I plan to have a 12v/120v outlet placed by the Jetpack location. I want to keep my options for upgrade down the road open as technology improves.

So I plan to use silicon adhesive to mount the antenna, and ask ETI if they will create an access port of some sort on the roof for the cable to pass through.

I dislike the idea of an additional hole in the roof for the antenna cable, but realize it will be necessary. I am looking into ways to prevent water ingress. From my research something like this or from the boating world something like this looks like it could work. I don’t know if ETI would be willing to install these, but of course I could ask.

I know many people have mounted antennas on mast poles from the back for cellular boosters and passed the antenna cable out the side or out the bottom of the trailer, but like I said I would like to minimize the length of the cable run for this.

Thanks for any insights.
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Old 10-10-2019, 07:27 PM   #2
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Good luck with that jetpack; gets crappy reviews. Was in the industry for 20 years and in this dept. one does get what they pay for. Wilson(now WeBoost) is the best there is for cellular amplification.
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Old 10-11-2019, 06:05 AM   #3
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Here is what I suggest, start watching some you tube videos on people that are living the life full time and making there living telling people about it through you tube. I say this because connectivity is VERY IMPORTANT to them its how they are able to live that lifestyle.
"I'm not Lost I'm Rv'ing' is married couple that were former police officers, the husband does some good videos on this. 'Cheap RV Living' a lot of his are interviews with people and how they stay connected is discussed in many of them.
'Nomadic Fanatic' is another one I enjoy and has talked about this in some videos.

All seem to say there are some areas you just can't get it no matter what you do but is that really a bad thing? I don't think so.

Enjoy the journey.

Steve
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Old 10-11-2019, 08:48 AM   #4
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A few years ago we had a VZ JetPack. Not the model you refer to, but an older one.
I’m not clear from your post about your expectations from a Jetpack is but it is not a signal amplifier/booster at all. It simply is a wireless router working with whatever signal it finds.

We kept our Jetpack installed in a Wilson Sleek signal booster; the technology of the day.

As Rossue pointed out, there might be better choices to suit your needs.

Ed
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