Things to Consider When Buying a Cell Phone Booster for your Motorhome
Amplification
The two main specs for determining the amplification power of a cell phone booster are Decibels (dB) and Decibel Milliwatts (dBm).
Decibel milliwatts provide a fixed standard of power that an amplifier can put out and is the more reliable metric for determining the actual amplification power of a cell phone booster. Decibels is a relative metric and tells you how much of an increase in signal strength you can expect but does not tell you what the signal strength is in concrete terms.
The amplification of a cell phone booster can be a bit difficult to gauge since most manufacturers provide the relative amplification spec of dB, rather than the standardized figure of dBm. That said, cell phone boosters that provide a larger relative signal increase in dBs generally provide more total signal coverage.
Carrier Compatibility
Carrier compatibility is determined by what band and frequency your carrier and phone use.
The bands and frequencies are the types of signals your cell phone uses to communicate and, while they are often used synonymously, differ in how they function. This can make figuring out which band or frequency your cell phone booster needs a bit difficult.
Each service provider uses multiple bands, but the bands differ from provider to provider. However, most providers use one or more of the same bands as other providers.
This is where the frequency comes in as two providers using the same band will use different frequencies on that band. Refer to your carrier and phone to see which bands and frequencies you need with your booster.
Ease of Installation
There are two primary types of installation for cell phone signal boosters, with the first using a towing vehicle’s outside antenna port and the second using a mobile home’s. In terms of outright ease, an RV cell phone booster that connects to a towing vehicle’s outside antenna port is easier to install.
An RV cell phone booster that connects to a mobile home’s antenna port will need more extensive internal wiring. However, the mobile home antenna booster generally provides a larger interior signal range than the towing vehicle outside antenna booster.
Ease of Use
In terms of interface, there are two types of cell phone signal boosters: the automatic and the manual variety. The automatic RV cell phone booster is reasonably self-explanatory and handles all of the different signal adjustments for you.
Manual mobile phone boosters include some knob or button that allows you to manually adjust the dB gain to increase or decrease the dB boost. This can be useful for controlling different bands as well as preventing feedback loops.
Thankfully, most newer automatic cell phone boosters include safety measures to prevent these issues without the need to adjust the dB gain manually.
RV Cell Phone Booster Reviews
Anntlent Cellular Kit
While not strictly the top product we came across, the Anntlent surprised us with a wealth of features more commonly found on expensive products. For example, this is easily the least expensive product on our list that offers a connection with five different bands.
This is important because it helps ensure that no matter what cellular phone carrier you use, the Anntlent can boost the signal to your phone. This is also one of the few cheaper units that we came across that boosts 4G signals rather than just 3G signals.
The Anntlent is also one of the easier models to install that we came across with its exterior antenna taking the place of your vehicle’s standard antenna. However, this arrangement means that mounting the Anntlent inside of the vehicle is a bit more limited and not ideally suited for larger rigs.
Still, once the Anntlent is installed, you do not have to worry about fiddling with manual dB gain adjustment as the Anntlent is automatic. Not only does this make using the Anntlent easier, but it also helps save on your smart devices’ battery life as well as the battery life powering the Anntlent itself.
While not the most powerful product on our list, the Anntlent still provides a solid 45 dB boost. On the downside, this is one of the less durable models we came across, potentially due to the IP40 rating, which offers no protection from water.
PROs
- Affordable
- Boosts your signal by 45 dB
- Reduces dropped calls
- Boosts signal over five different bands
- Automatic
CONs
- Not the most durable
- Not ideal for bigger RVs
Proutone Cellular Booster Kit
Best Cell Phone Booster for RV Owners on a Budget
When funds are tight, the Proutone is a breath of fresh air as one of the least expensive options that we came across. Even better, this product is still able to provide a nice bump in amplification to the tune of 45 dB sitting just a bit lower than the top-rated products we came across.
As a reasonably hassle-free product, this mobile booster comes with several different automatic features to control the signal as well as boost your devices’ battery lives. The Proutone is also one of the easier mobile boosters on our list to install and uses your vehicle’s standard antenna connection.
One potential issue with the Proutone is that it only amplifies two different frequencies and only works across four different bands. This can create some compatibility issues as the Proutone is only meant to work with Verizon and AT&T carriers.
The Proutone is also another model that will not work as well with larger motorhomes and is best used in a towing vehicle.
PROs
- Pretty cheap
- Boosts your signal by 45 dB
- Reduces dropped calls
- Automatic model
- Is easier to install
CONs
- Not as much compatibility as others
SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0
Best RV Cell Phone Booster for Efficiency
Not too many manufacturers advertise the power consumption of their product, and some of them can use a fair bit of energy if activated for extended periods. Thankfully, the SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0 prevents it from unnecessarily draining your battery with a low power draw less than 10W.
Keep in mind that this is an automatic RV cell phone booster, so that small power draw will not even happen all of the time. Of course, even when the Fusion2Go 3.0 is active, it still provides a robust 50 decibells of signal amplification.
This product also works across five different bands and uses a broader frequency range than some of the other 5-band models. This frequency range means you do not have to worry about carrier compatibility, whether you want to connect with 3G or 4G.
PROs
- Low price point
- Boosts your signal by 50 decibels
- Boosts signal over five different bands
- Uses less than 10W of power
CONs
- More difficult to install
- Not the best internal antenna
weBoost RV Drive 4G-X
Best Cell Phone Booster for Large RV
weBoost RV comes exceptionally close to being our top-rated product and even offers the best option for large rigs like Class A and Class C mobile homes. The Drive 4G-X accomplishes this with the inclusion standard mini interior antenna as well as a 4G magnet antenna.
These two antennas are included on top of the exterior receiving antenna and allow you to put one at the front of your recreational vehicle and one in the back. While most interior antennas have some signal strength issues, you can alleviate that concern with weBoost’s dual antenna system.
On top of the extra interior antenna, the Drive 4G-X also boasts an excellent signal amplification of 50 decibels. As is also common with high-end products, the weBoost works across six different bands and is compatible with every carrier in North America.
While this allows the Drive 4G-X to accomplish things other products cannot, it is one of the more complicated systems to install and setup.
PROs
- Boosts your signal by 50 decibels
- Boosts signal over six different bands
- Automatic model
- Compatible with most carriers
CONs
- Quite pricy
- Not the best internal antenna
Smoothtalker X6 Pro Phone Booster
Longest Range Cell Phone Booster
From a pure specs perspective, none of the other products on our list can compete with the Smoothtalker X6 Pro across every metric. By far, the most impressive quality of the Smoothtalker is the signal range, which reaches its smallest measurement at up to 6 miles.
Of course, depending on the signal strength and quality, the X6 Pro can provide a maximum signal range of up to 30 miles, though the reception will not be nearly as good the further away from a cell tower you go.
Outside of the range, the X6 Pro continues to maintain some of the highest standards that we came across with a maximum signal amplification rating of 50 decibels. The Smoothtalker also ties the top of our list by accepting six different bands, making it one of the most carrier compatible products on our list.
Like many other models we reviewed, the Smoothtalker is an automatic system. Still, it goes a step further by including Stealthtech technology, which helps reduce interference and feedback loops from unexpectedly shutting it down. Just keep in mind that, also like most models, the standard internal antenna is not especially impressive.
PROs
- Uses Stealthtech technology
- Boosts your signal by 50 dB
- Boosts signal over six different bands
- Has a six mi range
CONs
- Pricy
- Not the best internal antenna
HiBoost Mobile Cell Signal Booster
Best Cell Phone Booster for RV (Mid-Range)
As a mid-range model, the HiBoost can sit in a bit of an odd position since it is not strictly a “cheap” product. However, it provides some of the best specs that we came across considering its cost.
For example, while this is one of the lower price point models that we reviewed, it still provides a robust 50 decibells of amplification power. On top of that, the five different compatible bands all feature a wider range of different frequencies, which ensures that the HiBoost provides more carrier compatibility than other less expensive models– even if they boost over the same five bands.
The HiBoost is another model that is a bit easier to install than some of its more expensive competitors. However, this also comes with the caveat that the HiBoost will not work quite as well with a larger mobile home, unable to provide complete coverage from front to rear due to installation positioning.
Part of this has to do with the fact that the HiBoost does not include the most potent antennas that we came across, whether you examine the interior or exterior antenna. Still, the HiBoost is relatively easy to use and, like most of the products on our list, is automatic.
PROs
- Cheaper option
- Boosts your signal by 50 dB
- Boosts signal over five different bands
- Compatible with most carriers
CONs
- Not the best antennas
- Not the best documentation
SolidRF RVsuperKit
SolidRF is another product that was in the running for the top spot on our list with a great mix of features, including one of the better interior coverages that we came across. Part of this is thanks to the excellent amplification boost of 5o dB that ties for the top spot on our list.
Also, while not the longest range that we saw, the SolidRF still sports a range of 3 to 5 miles, which is good for the second-best on our list. The SolidRF also accepts some of the weaker signals that we came across able to pick up signals as weak as -105 dB.
While not quite as many bands as the other top performers, the SolidRF still ensures plenty of carrier compatibility with a 5-band amplifier that works across a wide range of frequencies. Also, like other high-end products, the SolidRF RVsuper is automatic, taking away further hassle.
PROs
- Has a 3-5 mi range
- Boosts your signal by 50 decibells
- Automatic
- Compatible with most carriers
CONs
- More expensive product
- Not the best internal antenna
Last update on 2021-03-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API