| Follow up on Wilson Cell Phone amplifier and antenna [message #121289] |
Thu, 07 April 2011 23:55  |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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A couple of weeks ago I told you I had found a Cell Phone Amplifier that looked like a good unit. The Wilson Sleek, selling now for around $100 on line.
I decided to order one and test it in my very difficult home area. Bottom line: It works very, very well, better than my $200 Wilson stand alone amp and Wilson Trucker antenna combination.
Background: I live in the mountainous NW US and there are lots of areas where Cell Phones just don't work at all (my home included). Lots of other areas where reception is spotty or marginal. For several years I have been using a Wilson 3 watt cell amplifier and Wilson Trucker antenna, feeding directly into my Verizon Cell Phone via an antenna input adaptor. The Wilson 3 watt has improved my reception in marginal situations, but the external antenna has done best for me. However, few phones made today have antenna inputs on them, so I have not been able to upgrade my phone.
This new Wilson Sleek is a combination system that holds the cell phone in a cradle and has a built in amplifier, with an external magnetic base 4" high antenna which goes on your roof or other location. It can also take any other Wilson Antenna with a small adaptor for the cable ends to match up. It plugs into the lighter outlet for the 12 volts it needs, and a home 120 volt kit is available. It will work with 3G (but not 4G) net access USB cards or Mi-FI systems.
The phone must remain in the cradle for the inductive coupling between cradle and phone antennas to take place. You then use Bluetooth or a wired headset to talk to the phone. My car has a bluetooth enabled radio for hands free reception, so that is not a problem for me. You run the antenna wire out the door and the antenna sits on the roof.
Tests today showed me it works better than my expensive Wilson 3 watt unit and antenna, hooked directly into the cell phone. I was able to get a call out only 5 miles from my home, a new record for me. Occasionally in the past I have been able to make a call 6 to 8 miles from home, never 5 miles. I drove almost 50 miles through a winding narrow river canyon and didn't lose reception once! That is another record for me.
It works with all brands of phones, all phone systems (except iDEN/nextell) and I have to say is very, very impressive. If you have cell reception issues you might consider one. It will not make a signal where there is none (sigh, my home for example) but it does make marginal areas into good ones.
No, I don't work for Wilson. BTW, it is 100% US designed and made too. Has a 30 day free money back guarantee from Wilson, if you find it does not work for you. I got mine at 3gstore.com, and it came in a week.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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