Cell and WiFi access

[BillnAlicia]

BTW i'm think of unidirectional antennaes

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Well, I can tell you from experience that if a cell phone antenna cable that runs between the antenna & amplifier runs parallel or even near the FM radio antenna cable, you will blank weak stations.

Separating antennas is certainly good, but if you have this problem due to just cable spacing, it seems that you could use better-shielded cable.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

Separating antennas is certainly good, but if you have this problem due to just cable spacing, it seems that you could use better-shielded cable.

Kind of tough to do since the cables for both come permanently attached to the antennas...

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Kind of tough to do since the cables for both come permanently attached to the antennas...

That's unfortunate. You could cut the cable, install connector and use better cable for the rest of the run... but I wouldn't want to do that connector installation, or add a connection exposed to the weather.

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by BillnAlicia

do you find having 2 antennae on the same mast causes any interference between the two? I was thinking i would need 2 masts one on each side one for cell one for WiFi

There is interference between the cellular data antenna and the TV antenna. I don't know how much of a problem interference would be with a cellphone antenna vs. a wifi antenna, presumeably used to ping off a campground's wifi antenna. I don't have that particular antenna yet (but thanks for the idea). If I were using two masts, I'd put the receive-only antennas on one (AM, FM radio; TV) and the transmit/receive on the other (cellphone, wifi). I could be wrong about this arrangement, though.

Regarding unidirectional antennas: I have a directional cellular antenna that is shown in one of the photos of my trailer. I replaced it with an omnidirectional antenna because finding the appropriate cell tower was a challenge, and I figured that in 90% of the cases where I needed it the omnidirectional WireEng antenna would work. I keep the directional Wilson antenna in the trailer, though, in case I'm really in a jam and need cellular data. In that case I can always put it on the mast and try.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

- Putting three antennas on the mast isn't a good idea.

Hmmmm... I was hoping to do that if needed.

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Well, I can tell you from experience that if a cell phone antenna cable that runs between the antenna & amplifier runs parallel or even near the FM radio antenna cable, you will blank weak stations. I exchanged the antenna locations & it solved the problem. The two antennas are about 3.5' from each other.



Secondly, I discovered today that a WiFi Ranger Mini (a rooftop WiFi amplifier/relay device) will kill weak radio stations even with the two antennas separated by 8' and no cable crossings.

If you plan to use any of the systems at the same time, I'd get as much separation as possible...

Photo of Cell Antenna & Radio Antenna:

Is this only an issue with the FM antenna? Have you found you need it for better radio reception?

[Jim Bennett]

Of all the aspects of what I want to potentially do with/to my 5.0, the most confusing for me is the electronic end of things. Basic electricity I have no issue with, but this more technical stuff is a bit more of a challenge.

In the past a trailer has been mostly a real nice place to sleep in while camping, with a few other convenient amenities thrown in, whereas I realise as we start on more extended trips with just the two of us, it will become more of a living space as well. This means more time inside per day, and thus more entertaining will be done in the trailer. That said, I am looking at 3 (or maybe 4) things that will require better reception.

Firstly is the TV. In the past we never had or watched one, this past 18 day rainy trip see the 24" one I bought get a fair bit of use. While it is fine to view downloaded programs and movies, we would like to watch some TV now and then. I really don't want to put a Jack TV antenna on top of the trailer, as I find them too big and distracting from the looks, plus Escape mounts them on top of the loft at the highest point, putting the overall height above 10', eliminating getting it in a 10' door.

With the few times I have camped at a campground with WiFi, we have often found very poor reception where we camped, often dropping right out. For this, I would like to use a WiFi repeater to strengthen the signal, plus it would be real nice to have all our devices connect to it, leaving just the booster needing to connect to the campground WiFi.

I would also like to use a cell phone booster, as there have been lots of places we have camped that the coverage is marginal. I would love to have a system that could double usage in the trailer and the tow vehicle rather than one in each place.

I had not considered an FM antenna until Jon mentioned it. Do others find it helps a lot. I had not decided yet whether to install a stereo in the trailer or not, as using a bluetooth speaker with the TV or our phones works great, but we do miss having radio too, and are trying to find a solution for that, an FM receiver that transmits to a bluetooth speaker.

I had one thought that I would use a portable telescoping mast, and mount antennas on it as needed. This would allow for an easy upgrade should technology change or something fail. It would keep any antenna's from penetrating the shell on the roof (I had planned a hatch to connect the cables from the various antennas to on the rear of the trailer). I could also then deploy only the antennas I need. Should cell reception be fine, there be no need for TV, etc, I just would not mount those antennas.

Reading here I am assuming that mounting any combination of the above on the same antenna would not be a great idea. I really don't want to have to carry more than one mast.

I would not be adverse to using roof mounted ones though, like what Jon showed if that would result in less interference. Maybe roof mount most and use the mast just for the TV antenna. These could be mounted to not interfere with solar panels quite easily.

Anyway, this is just my thinking so far from a not to educated in this area mind. If anyone has any ideas to achieve what I am shooting for in a simpler and better way, I am eager to get input.

edit: Oh yeah, and if you think I may be out to lunch with any of these ideas, do say so.

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Hmmmm... I was hoping to do that if needed.

It's only a problem due to the antennas' mutual proximity, which causes some interference. Regarding weight, wind resistance, stability-- no problem; well, except for my heavy antenna cables causing the mast to retract when parked. And that can be obviated with a good grip when tightening the connections when the mast is raised. Or by using lighter cables.

[Mike Lewis]

I'd like to emphasize that the interference I received from having both a cellular data antenna and a TV antenna on the antenna mast was minor. It didn't prevent me from watching TV or surfing the Web. The remote location (Deer Isle, Maine) was the main contributing factor for any communications or reception problems that I had.

Given this, I'd recommend to Jim or anyone else thinking about using an antenna mast to go ahead and try one out. I'm pretty happy with mine so far. Just watch for those overhead power lines.

[tractors1]

Lots of suppliers for braided shielding; run the antennas through that:

https://www.techflex.com/prod_mbn.asp

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

Given this, I'd recommend to Jim or anyone else thinking about using an antenna mast to go ahead and try one out. I'm pretty happy with mine so far. Just watch for those overhead power lines.

At least trying the mast out is reversible. I intend to install the hatch to run cable through for things like portable solar anyway. A roof mount antenna could come later.

I was thinking of using something like this for a base until I am certain I would use it a lot, then put something permanent on the bumper. I would just put a stabilizer hard on it.

[casejh]

What exactly is that? And is it fiberglass? I would much prefer a telescoping fiberglass mast.

[tractors1]

Looks like a fiberglass telescoping flagpole

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Hmmmm... I was hoping to do that if needed.


Is this only an issue with the FM antenna? Have you found you need it for better radio reception?

I use an amplified FM antenna combined with a high sensitivity FM radio. I like to listen to NPR & the stations are sometimes low powered. You would probably have better luck with more powerful stations, non amplified antennas (both the FM & the WiFi). I have not had problems with interference between the WiFi antenna & the Cell antenna, just overloading the FM.

[ReagentGrade]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I was thinking of using something like this for a base until I am certain I would use it a lot, then put something permanent on the bumper. I would just put a stabilizer hard on it.

Jim,

I've also been struggling with the best option for a 5er. One thought was to have a mount tube welded to the top of the hitch.



This puts it out of the way and it would be easy to set up while standing in the truck bed. The base would be a couple of feet higher than the bumper. I worry about the bumper twisting; not a concern with the hitch. Perhaps a drive-on stand could be modified and welded on.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by ReagentGrade

Jim,

I've also been struggling with the best option for a 5er. One thought was to have a mount tube welded to the top of the hitch.



This puts it out of the way and it would be easy to set up while standing in the truck bed. The base would be a couple of feet higher than the bumper. I worry about the bumper twisting; not a concern with the hitch. Perhaps a drive-on stand could be modified and welded on.

This certainly would work, and put the mount up higher too. A couple reasons I would stick with the rest is that most of my electronic stuff would be at the rear of the trailer, plus I am contemplating welding a 2" receiver on the pin box for our bikes, in order to free up the rear receiver for a future storage box. All just thoughts for now.

[padlin]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

I use an amplified FM antenna combined with a high sensitivity FM radio.

Never heard of a high sensitivity FM radio, do you know what model you have? All I see are portables, is that what you have?

[BillnAlicia]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

Here are photos of my antenna mast extended and retracted. It is five feet, five inches long retracted, fourteen feet eight inches extended.

how did you attached this to the bumper? is there much movement (sway) when traveling?

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by padlin

Never heard of a high sensitivity FM radio, do you know what model you have? All I see are portables, is that what you have?

When I got tired of the poor performance of my Sony iPod dock with FM radio, I looked for a single DIN auto radio with a front aux input (for my XM receiver) and a front USB input for my iPhone. At the time I purchased, the JVC KD-AR959BS had the best FM sensitivity (8.2dbf) available at a reasonable price. It is no longer available, and I'm currently looking for something as good or better to send to Escape for my new 21.

The amplified antenna is a no brand off-the-shelf from a local auto parts store, and is powered by the antenna power output of the radio.

[padlin]

Thanks Jon, I'll do some poking around.