Cell Phone Booster---not sure what I've go

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Cell Phone Booster---not sure what I've go

June 02, 2019, 12:47:32 pm

Hi, I bought my LD from the original owner...it's a 2014. He had a cell phone booster installed. There was also another one in a box which I think was an older model which he had originally installed--but had upgraded to a newer model at some point before I bought the LD.

I've looked at Wilson's website, but cannot figure out exactly what I have or how to use it. Here are some pictures. The blue unit is currently installed, the white one was in a box. The black device is hard-wired into the blue unit. Is the blue unit with the black wired device all I need (along with the antenna which was installed atop the RV)? If yes, how do I use it? If no, what am I missing? And is the white unit a required component--or likely part of the first installation and no longer needed?

Thanks!

Jay

Re: Cell Phone Booster---not sure what I've go

Reply #1 – June 02, 2019, 01:28:07 pm

You have two cellular amplifiers.
One is a Wilson (now known as WeBoost) Sleek, the other is an upper end Wilson amp. The white thing is the inside antenna, used with the blue amp, you appear to be missing the external antenna.

Larry

Re: Cell Phone Booster---not sure what I've go

Reply #2 – June 02, 2019, 01:47:40 pm

Thank you Larry. The outside antenna was permanently installed and the coax is connected to the blue amp.

The Sleek is connected to the amp...wonder if that was done in error, or maybe just to connect through to the external antenna?

Mystery of the sleek aside for now, I'll install the inside antenna and check to see if I have a functional system.

Thanks!

Jay

Re: Cell Phone Booster---not sure what I've go

Reply #3 – June 02, 2019, 02:01:12 pm

Normally Sleeks are connected directly to the antenna and the phone sits in the Sleek's cradle. Sleeks have a built in amplifier.

The white box is, I believe, the inside antenna and should be connected to the blue amp's inside antenna connection, the other connection goes to the roof antenna.

Larry

Re: Cell Phone Booster---not sure what I've go

Reply #4 – June 02, 2019, 03:30:11 pm

I'm guessing that the thing that looks like a Sleek (self-contained booster) is actually just a cradle such as this discontinued Wilson model. That's why it is connected to the output side of the "blue box" amp.

As Larry said, the white box is a Wilson Panel Antenna, which could be used instead of the cradle. If you want multiple devices to be able to pick up the boosted signal inside your coach, the panel antenna serves that purpose. However, the signal will be stronger for a device that's held on the cradle, so if you want the best performance, that's a better bet.

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Re: Cell Phone Booster---not sure what I've go

Reply #5 – June 02, 2019, 03:56:25 pm

Quote from: Andy Baird - June 02, 2019, 03:30:11 pm

I'm guessing that the thing that looks like a Sleek (self-contained booster) is actually just a cradle such as this discontinued Wilson model. That's why it is connected to the output side of the "blue box" amp.

As Larry said, the white box is a Wilson Panel Antenna, which could be used instead of the cradle. If you want multiple devices to be able to pick up the boosted signal inside your coach, the panel antenna serves that purpose. However, the signal will be stronger for a device that's held on the cradle, so if you want the best performance, that's a better bet.

I have never seen just a cradle, the Sleek is an amplifier. Not sure if you want to connect an amplified signal in the input of the blue Wilson amp.
In our rig, the interior antenna needs to be within a foot or two of the phone for the best signal. It is more convenient to use the phone without placing it in a cradle and not having to deal with the dangling antenna wire.

Larry.

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Re: Cell Phone Booster---not sure what I've go

Reply #6 – June 02, 2019, 05:42:18 pm

"I have never seen just a cradle, the Sleek is an amplifier."

Right. But Wilson used to sell these cradles as an alternative to the small "paddle" or larger "white box" inside antennas. They look a lot like a Sleek booster, but there's no booster built in. You can still find them in a few places online, if you search.

Jay says, "The outside antenna was permanently installed and the coax is connected to the blue amp. The Sleek is connected to the amp."

This makes perfect sense if the so-called Sleek is actually just a Wilson cradle antenna, connected to the blue box's output side. Dollars to donuts that's what Jay has.

Re: Cell Phone Booster---not sure what I've go

Reply #7 – June 02, 2019, 09:36:49 pm

Larry and Andy, thank you both. This information has really helped. Looking at the link in Andy's note the device I have is absolutely the cradle antenna. After reading the replies from the two of you, and doing some more digging on-line what I am inclined to do is use the white panel antenna when it's necessary to use multiple phones on-board, and use the cradle antenna when only one phone is needed for hands-free operation OR to support a single mobile hotspot device.

Very helpful guys...thank you.

Jay

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