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Project Trail Hugger 2008 Hummer H3 Alpha Cell Phone Signal Booster - Can You Hear Me Now?
Part 8: Wilson Electronics Cellular Signal Amplifier
By Ken Brubaker
Photography by Ken Brubaker, David Brubaker
 Quite simply, your cell phone is a two-way radio. Most modern cell phones have an output of 0.2 to 0.6 watts, according to the FCC. This isn't much, but it's enough to communicate with a cell tower up to 5 to 8 miles away. This distance is approximate; there are a number of factors that can decrease or increase the distance. We all know what happens when we're too far from a tower. The dreaded "no service" message appears. Those of us who travel to the cellular-challenged backcountry are used to seeing this message. The trails in and around Moab come to mind. But sometimes you don't have to be in the backcountry to lose cellular service. There are poor coverage areas on every network that can result in a significant decrease in signal strength, causing dropped calls or even a complete loss of signal. Another thing: Your cell phone may get a decent signal when you're outdoors, but when you surround yourself with the metal of your rig, the cellular signal can erode in a big way. So what can you do?
Like you, we've experienced cell-phone signal hassles so we went looking for a solution. What we found is the SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier Kit. This kit is one of four mobile bundles manufactured by Wilson Electronics, a leader in the wireless communications industry for more than 40 years. The company offers a wide variety of amplifiers, antennas, and related components designed to significantly improve cellular communications for both mobile and in-building situations. The mobile kits have an MSRP ranging from $329 to $374. Our SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier Kit with Cradle Plus included a magnet-base external antenna, an amplifier, a power cord, earbuds, and the aforementioned Cradle Plus. This dual-band system supercharges the outgoing cellular signal up to 3 watts, is plug-n-play, allows multiple phones and data cards to be used simultaneously, requires no physical connection to the cell phone, and works with all major cell-phone carriers.
This is the Wilson Electronics Mobile Wireless Cellular Signal Amplifier Kit with Cradle as it arrived. We also ordered the Ultra-Slim antenna and the hardwire kit.
Here's how it works. The system uses two internal amplifier circuits that boost cellular signals to and from the cell tower simultaneously. Weak signals broadcast from a distant cell tower are captured by the roof-mounted antenna, amplified by the highly sensitive receiving amplifier and rebroadcast with greater strength to cellular devices in the interior of the vehicle through the Cradle Plus or the Ultra-Slim antenna. Conversely, outgoing signals from cell devices in the vehicle are picked up by the interior antenna, amplified by the outgoing amplifier and rebroadcast back to the cell tower.
It took longer for us to open the box and fish out the components than it did to get the unit installed and operational in project Trailhugger. We powered the unit up and were instantly blown away at the vast improvement in cellular signal. Here's what we installed and how it works.
This is the amplifier. It has ports for power and the inside and outside antennas. It can be permanently mounted, but we may want to move the system to another vehicle so we just slid the amp under the passenger seat after making the connections.
Wilson Electronics recommends placing the magnetic-base antenna on the roof 12 inches away from other antennas.
This is the Cradle Plus that's included with the kit. It's a combination cell-phone mount/antenna and it plugs into the amplifier. It allows for hands-free operation of your cell phone and the best possible performance because it places the cell phone next to the built-in antenna. It has width adjustability so it'll handle a wide variety of cell phones and it comes with a number of mounting options.
The supplied cigarette-lighter power cord has an integrated switch with LED light so power to the unit can be easily controlled. We also got a hardwire kit that we may install in the future. It's basically the same wiring without the cigarette-lighter plug.
Because we use multiple cell phones in Trailhugger, we opted to use the Ultra-Slim antenna instead of the Cradle Plus. Like the Cradle Plus, it plugs into the amplifier and transmits and receives the cellular signal to cell phones or data cards in the vehicle, only it doesn't offer the mount. Like most wireless systems the signal is the strongest near the inside antenna and it degrades with distance. We've found that our phones get the maximum benefit from the system when within a foot or 2 of the inside antenna, but we're still seeing an increase in signal strength up to 4 or 5 feet away, which makes the system beneficial for both front- and rear-seat passengers when the inside antenna is centrally located.
So how does the system work? Well, here are images taken within moments of each other. The photo on the top is with the amplifier off. As you can see, there are two bars of service on the AT&T network at our Four Wheeler Midwest Bureau in rural northern Illinois. This is a pretty dismal signal that is coming from a tower about 8 miles away. If we were to physically pick up the phone, signal strength would probably drop to one bar and calls would be impossible, though sending and receiving data would probably work.
The photo on the bottom is with the amplifier on. As you can see, signal strength has doubled, making it possible to quickly transfer data and make and receive calls that won't be dropped. As a test we drove to an area that has no AT&T service. This area is in a valley about 10 miles from the nearest tower. With the Wilson system on we got one bar of signal strength, which was enough to send and receive text message data. This ability to communicate could save your hide in the backcountry.
Trailhugger Is Done, For Now...
With this installment we're going to close out the initial build of project Trailhugger. When we took delivery of our Hummer H3 Alpha on November 9, 2007, it was bone-stock with 52 miles on the odometer. From the beginning our goals were simple; improve its on- and off-highway functionality without sacrificing the great ride and handling. Trailhugger now has a slew of modifications and over 24,000 miles on the odometer and we feel like we met our goals. The rig is more capable off-highway but it still rides and handles beautifully. Better actually.
So far we've only had one warranty issue (a faulty cargo light switch) and only had to part with a tad over $250 for regularly scheduled maintenance through our favorite dealer, Bergstrom Hummer in Madison, Wisconsin. When the truck was bone-stock, the 5.3L V-8 returned an average of 15.2 mpg. Our goal was to keep that number as intact as possible so the truck wouldn't turn into a wallet-draining gas hog. This goal had a lot to do with why we built the truck as we did. We're happy to report that the finished product averages 14.2 mpg, so mpg loss was minimal.
So what's down the trail for our H3? Well, we know there are lots of products in development for the H3, including selectable front lockers, so that's on the radar. We're also exploring the possibility of a long-travel IFS kit or a full coilover suspension. For now, though, our H3 will stay as it is and continue to hug trails.
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