What Is The Best RV Cell Phone Signal Booster?
The purpose of an RV cell phone booster is to amplify an existing cell signal and make it stronger.
There’s a common misconception that cellular amplifiers can create cell phone reception and you can get a signal pretty much anywhere.
That’s why there are so many disappointed people. They can’t figure out why they don’t have cell phone service in rural areas even though they are using the best cell phone signal booster on the market.
Related Product: Power your RV cell phone signal booster with a Jackery Explorer 500 (click to view on Amazon)!
If you are in a rural area with absolutely zero cell phone service then a mobile phone booster is not for you.
What a cell phone booster is made for is taking a weak signal, and amplifying it to make it stronger.
Luckily most areas in the United States have at least a little bit of a signal and a booster will be a great help most of the time.
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So, which RV cell phone signal booster is best?
I’m very happy with my cell phone booster and its been very helpful when camping. You can read more about my specific set up below.
Not all cell phone boosters are made for the same application. You can get boosters made specifically for the home, the office, camping, RVing, cars, semi-trucks, and even hiking.
Below are some of the best boosters on the market today and the information you will need to find the best one for your cell phone booster needs.
Summary (Links to Amazon)
- Best Overall (Large Option) – weBoost Destination RV
- Best Portable (Smaller Option) – weBoost Drive Reach RV
Best Overall
Best Most Portable
Last update on 2024-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best RV Cell Phone Boosters Reviews & Info
1. weBoost Destination RV
You’re going to see a lot of weBoost products in this review, mainly because they were one of the first companies to start making cell phone signal boosters for RV use. They update their products often and still make the best boosters on the market today.
The weBoost Destination RV is the most powerful option for campers. It can boost up to 65 db and comes with a large directional antenna that’s better for picking up a signal over long distances.
Because it uses a directional antenna there’s a little more setup involved. You’ll need to put up the antenna when you get to your destination, and take it down when you leave.
It can be a hassle but you get better performance overall. If you work online and you need a dependable signal, this is going to be the best overall choice for you.
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For the outside antenna you get a telescopic mounting pole, a 30 foot cable to connect it to the booster, and a window entry cable.
For inside your RV you get a booster, two 15 foot cables, and a broadcasting inner antenna that outputs the boosted signal to your devices.
PROS
- Best Max Gain (65db)
- Most Effective Antenna
- Telescopic Pole Included
- Large Inner Signal Antenna
- FCC Approved
- 12V & 120V Power Options
- Boosts Multiple Devices
CONS
- Antenna must be setup.
- Large Hardware (not for small vans or vehicles)
2. weBoost Drive Reach RV
The weBoost Drive Reach RV is the most powerful cell phone signal booster for portable use around that doesn’t require any kind of antenna set up.
Once it’s initially installed, the omni directional antenna will always be looking for a signal. This is a great feature for campers who camp in areas that already have some cell phone service.
But if you often camp far away from cell phone towers, the weBoost Destination RV option reviewed above will be your best bet.
For most RVers the weBoost Drive Reach RV offers plenty of power. We use it in our own camper and so far it’s worked enough to keep us online in most of the places we camp.
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It has a max gain rating of 50 db and it comes with everything you’ll need to get started.
The outside omnidirectional antenna comes with a 13 inch extension pole and mounting hardware to connect it to the side of a camper or the ladder. There’s also a 25 foot cable to reach the booster inside.
The inner antenna mounts anywhere and there’s a 12 volt power supply for the booster.
For frequent travelers I recommend the weBoost Drive Reach RV. It’s portable but powerful and the ease of installation makes it a worry free RV gadget.
PROS
- Very Portable
- Antenna Requires No Additional Setup
- 50 db Max Gain
- FCC Certified
- Good Signal Boost Distance
CONS
- Weak Inner Antenna
3. weBoost Drive Sleek
If you’re a car camper or want something that works in more than just the RV, the weBoost Drive Sleek is a great option for a small amount of cell phone signal boosting.
This tiny portable booster uses an omnidirectional antenna and a sleek booster to increase cell phone service up to 23 db.
The inner antenna clips to your phone, so you can hold it and use it while getting the maximum boosting effect.
The outside antenna comes with everything you need to mount it to the outside of a vehicle or RV. It’s powered via a 12 volt power supply that’s compatible with all 12 volt outlets.
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Since this also uses an omnidirectional antenna there is no setup required after initial installation. This will reduce the range though since you can’t direct the antenna in a specific direction.
For urban campers and those who like to stay in places with a decent amount to cell phone service the weBoost Drive Sleek is a fantastic choice.
It’s small, very portable, and works to boost cell service a decent amount. It’s only about half as effective as the weBoost Drive reviewed above, but sometimes just a little boost is all you need.
PROS
- Easy Install
- Super Portable
- Phone Clip Inner Antenna
- Low Power Usage
- FCC Certified
- Antenna Requires No Additional Setup
CONS
- Low Signal Boost Strength
- Limited Signal Boost Distance
- Only Boosts One Device
4. SignalBrick Cell Phone Booster
Now for some of the other options out there that are also great for RV and camping use.
SignalBrick makes this car cell phone signal booster that uses a small low profile omnidirectional antenna. It’s not going to be able to pick up a signal as well as the larger omni antennas, but it works great for moving vehicles.
It’s also magnetic which means it’s super easy to install or move to different vehicles.
The booster is capable of a 50 db max gain. That’s pretty standard for portable cell phone signal boosters and it’s perfect for camping.
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Since it comes with a smaller outside antenna you could replace it with a larger omni or directional antenna to get the full 50 db boosting power.
The inner antenna is small and needs to be right next to your cell phone to work.
It comes with a 12 volt plug and the installation is really easy.
The SignalBrick Cell Phone Booster has some excellent features that make it great for RV use.
It has a powerful booster and a very sleek outer antenna that can be easily upgraded for better boosting power.
If you don’t often camp in area’s with low cell phone service, but you want something for just in case, this is a fantastic choice.
PROS
- Easy Install
- Super Portable
- 50 db Boost
- FCC Certified
- Magnetic Antenna
- Antenna Requires No Additional Setup
CONS
- Limited Signal Boost Distance
- Weak Inner Antenna
- 1-2 Device Boost
5. Phonetone Cell Phone Signal Booster
The Phonetone cell phone signal booster is another option that’s great for vehicles and RV use.
Much like the other RV cell phone signal boosters in this review, it has a max gain power of 50 db.
It comes with a slightly taller omni directional antenna than the options reviewed above. It has a magnetic base so you can easily install it or move it to different vehicles.
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You might still need to replace it to take advantage of the full 50 db gain, but it’s a great starter for campers who don’t go places without cell service.
The Phonetone Cell Phone Signal Booster is another fantastic entry level cell phone booster you can easily upgrade with a better antenna.
The boosting power is really good and it works great in any kind of vehicle or RV.
PROS
- Easy Install
- Super Portable
- 50 db Boost
- FCC Certified
- Magnetic Antenna
- Antenna Requires No Additional Setup
CONS
- Limited Signal Boost Distance
- Weak Inner Antenna
- 1-2 Device Boost
6. HiBoost Cell Phone Booster for RV
Another RV and vehicle specific cell phone signal booster. This version is made by Hiboost and it has everything you need for RV, van, or truck use.
Included with the booster is both a small indoor omnidirectional antenna with a magnetic base. You also get a taller outside omni directional antenna that can mount to the side of an RV or van.
The cell phone signal booster is made to boost up to 50 db, which is perfect for most kinds of campers.
You can power it with 12 volt or 120 volt power. So if you use an inverter inside your RV, use can power it with that.
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PROS
- 12V & 120V Power Supply
- Easy Install
- Super Portable
- 50 db Boost
- FCC Certified
- Good Signal Boost Distance
- Antenna Requires No Additional Setup
- Boosts Multiple Devices
CONS
- Weak Inner Antenna
What To Look For In An RV Cell Phone Signal Booster
The Right Antenna
There are two main kinds of antennas for cellular repeaters also known as range extenders or cell phone signal boosters.
The first kind is an omnidirectional antenna. These are the antennas the look like tubes. They send and receive signals from all sides and can be mounted on an RV, van, or vehicle permanently.
You won’t need to take it down when you want to drive.
Not having to set it up is a clear pro for this style of cell phone booster antenna but there are a few cons. With omnidirectional antennas, you won’t be able to focus the signal in a specific direction.
This could create problems if you are in a rural area between multiple cell phone towers. The antenna could be constantly switching between towers which might slow down your data speeds.
The second kind of antenna is a directional one. These are the triangular looking antennas you have to put up on a pole attached to the side of your RV. You point it in the direction of the cell tower you want to get a signal from.
The pros with this kind of antenna are you can focus all the power in one direction which often results in a strong signal. You can also use it to choose a specific cell phone tower. Sometimes the closest cell phone tower isn’t the fasted.
If a lot of people are connected to a specific tower data speeds will slow down. If you have a directional antenna you might be able to connect to a tower that is further away but less crowded.
The con to this style of antenna is you have to take them down any time you want to move your RV or van. You will also need to take it down if it gets too windy outside.
You also need to know where the cell phone towers are in your area. There are apps you can get on your phone to help you locate cell phone towers near you. You can read more about that in the FAQ section below.
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Carrier Compatibility
Some of the more basic cellular repeaters are not compatible with every cell phone carrier like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile & more.
The reason for this is different mobile carriers use different cellular frequency bands to put out a cell phone signal. The lower end cell phone boosters are sometimes only compatible with a few of the different bands.
All of the RV cell phone boosters on this list are compatible with all US cell phone carriers.
Included Cable Length
You want to make sure there is going to be enough cable included for you to run the necessary wire from the antenna to the booster inside your RV or even home.
Most of these cell phone boosters are made for home use which means they will come with plenty of cables to work with.
The few that are for vehicle use might not come with enough cable necessary for your RV. You may need to get more.
Inner Antenna Strength
Cell phone range extenders/boosters will also have an antenna for inside your RV or home.
These come in a wide variety of strengths. Some are only strong enough to boost your phone’s cell phone signal when it’s right next to it, others are made to boost areas as large as 5,000 square feet.
If you are using it for your RV chances are you won’t need the strongest inner antenna like the ones for covering an entire house but the cell phone signal boosters intended for vehicle use often will have a weak antenna that can only boost phones within a couple of feet.
12V or AC Power Usage
If you are planning on using your cell phone booster inside an RV, van, or vehicle you are going to want to think about what the main power source for the cell phone booster is.
Most of the home use ones use an AC power plug. You can get adapters to turn them into 12V plugs but it’s something extra you will need to think about.
If you are using the cellular amplifier inside your RV and you mostly camp with electrical hookups you will be fine using a home cell phone booster with an AC wall outlet plug.
5G Compatibility
5G is making its way through the United States and soon it will become the standard technology used on cellular devices in crowded areas like cities.
If you want to get the most out of your cell phone signal booster for years to come you may want to look at models that are going to be able to boost 5G as well as 4G and LTE.
All of the Wilson weBoost cell phone boosters on this list are advertised to be 5G ready which might make them a better option in the long run than some of the other range extenders that are only able to boost 3G, 4G, and LTE.
That being said 5G isn’t coming to rural areas any time soon, which means if you are mostly using your cell phone booster when camping you probably won’t even be in an area where 5G is available.
If you like to stay in RV parks in cities getting a 5G compatible booster might help you get faster speeds.
My RV Cell Phone Signal Booster Setup
As I mentioned before I use the weBoost Drive Reach Cell Phone Signal Booster (click to view on Amazon) in my travel trailer.
So far it’s been great for getting faster data speeds when camping in rural areas. In my experience it really does work and I don’t even have the best antenna you can get for this style of cell phone booster.
I power my entire trailer using a solar setup that includes four 100 watt solar panels and a Jackery 1000 Plus (click to view on Amazon) portable power station.
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The portable power station has a 12 volt outlet so I can power the weBoost Drive Reach using the original 12V plug.
If you don’t have a 12V outlet and want to use a wall outlet you can get an adapter like this one (click to view on Amazon). The cell phone booster only uses around 20 watts so you don’t need a very powerful adapter.
How To Install A Cell Phone Signal Booster Antenna On The Roof Of An RV
The weBoost Drive Reach RV comes with a round mount so you can attach it to a mirror or something on a semi-truck.
You can buy the antenna plus a magnetic antenna mount for the metal roof of a van or an RV.
I installed mine to the roof using a 1/4 inch aluminum plate cut 6″x6″ and two 6″ pieces of 1″x1″ aluminum tubing.
I used 3M double-sided tape to secure the tubing to the plate and drilled a hole in the center for the spring mount.
I also had to drill a second hole into the aluminum plate for the cable to go through and holes on all 4 corners to secure the antenna to the roof with screws.
Make sure you use plenty of lap sealant after screwing it to the roof so there will be no leaks.
How To Get The Cell Phone Booster Into The RV
Next, we needed to get the cell phone booster antenna cable into our RV. I threaded the cable down behind the fridge, and out through the furnace vent located under the fridge.
I keep the booster box in a drawer next to the furnace vent and when I want to use it I just connect the antenna cable to the booster.
The power cable and the inner antenna cable are long so I’ve never had any problems reaching my Goal Zero to power the booster. The small inner antenna works best if you have your phone right next to it.
The RV fridge vent is normally the easiest way to get any cables into your RV.
If you don’t have a fridge vent on the roof of your RV you may need to drill a hole into the roof to get the cables through. This requires a little more thought, tools, and stuff.
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If you drill a hole in the roof of your RV to route cables through make sure it’s in an area where you can access inside the wall. The area behind the microwave is a common choice because normally the area under the oven is open and easy to access.
You can thread the cables through the walls behind the microwave all the way to the floor under the stove.
If you drill a hole in the roof you are going to need a conduit pipe to connect the ceiling with the top of the roof.
There is a small area between the ceiling and roof where all the insulation and support beams are. Use an electrical box or something you can waterproof on top of the roof to seal the hole.
Another option is to run the cables through the grey tank vent. This option can work well if you can figure out where to access the vent inside your RV.
Data Speed & Signal Without RV Cell Phone Booster
The dBm for the signal is -111 without the cell phone booster. The lower the dBm the worse the signal is.
The closer the dBm gets to 0 the better the signal strength. The download speed was 38.9 Mbps and the upload speed was 2.6 Mbps.
Not too bad for how far out in the middle of nowhere we were camping when I did this test. It’s conditions like these where cell phone boosters work best.
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Data Speed & Signal With RV Cell Phone Booster
As you can see using the booster increased the signal strength by 41 dBm. My phone went from having 2 bars of service to having 4 bars.
The download speed increased to 55.5 Mbps and the upload speed became 7x faster than what it was without the booster.
Using a cell phone booster both increased my signal strength and my data speed. I use Verizon and also AT&T and the weBoost Drive Reach works fantastically for both.
Conclusions About RV Cell Phone Boosters & My Recommendations
Using a cell phone booster will increase your data speed and your cell phone service. That being said you have to make sure you are using the signal booster the right way.
It works best when you already have 1 or 2 bars of service. Sometimes you will be able to go from no cell service on your phone to a few bars if you are in a large open area and there’s nothing blocking your cell phone booster antenna and the closest cell phone tower.
Most of the places I’ve camped have at least a little bit of cell phone service and using a booster to increase my cell phone data speeds has helped a lot.
If you live out in the country and only have a few bars of service the right kind of cell phone booster is going to work wonders. I’ve never regretted getting mine.
I hope this little review has helped you understand what cell phone boosters are meant to do and what you should expect when you purchase one.
Best Cell Phone Signal Booster For RV Use – weBoost Destination RV
The weBoost Destination RV cell phone signal booster is going to be the very best option for RVers and possibly even regular campers and van dwellers depending on how much set up you are willing to do.
The main reason it’s the best for RVers is because of the 25 foot telescopic pole and powerful directional antenna the RV weBoost comes with.
When not extended, the aluminum pole is 6 feet long and easy to store when traveling. You use the included plastic mounts with double-sided tape to clamp the pole to the side of an RV or van.
When it’s time to set up simply extend the pole and clamp it to the mounts.
The max gain is 65dB which is really high for a cell phone booster and the directional antenna will sit up really high and give you the ability to get a clear path to a cell phone tower even with trees and small hills blocking your RV.
Most Portable Cell Phone Signal Booster – weBoost Drive Reach RV Cell Phone Signal Booster
The weBoost Drive Reach RV cellular repeater is fantastic for RV, vans, truck campers, and even car campers.
With the omnidirectional antenna, you get a decent amount of signal range and you can drive with it. No setup or take down required after initial installation.
The only downside for use in a large RV is the inner antenna is fairly weak and you must have your phone next to it to get a boosted signal.
The cable for the antenna is pretty long which means you can put it in the area you need it most in your RV.
Best RV Cell Phone Booster Brands
weBoost by Wilson Electronics
You’ve probably noticed that there are a lot of weBoost cell phone boosters on our review.
That’s because Wilson Electronics really does make some of the best cell phone boosters available today. We use a weBoost cellular amplifier in our own RV and even have one of their antennas.
Wilson Electronics was started in 1999 in Utah as a manufacturer of cellular signal booster technology.
They have been making some of the best antennas and boosters for over 20 years. They know what they’re doing and they make cell phone boosters that actually work.
Frequently Asked Questions About RV Cell Phone Boosters
How do I find the nearest cell phone tower?
One of the best ways to get the most up to date info on cell towers and their locations is to use a website called cellmapper.net (click to view).
This website will show you all the known cell phone towers on a map and tell you the information about a specific cell tower. It also has apps you can download to your phone.
If you don’t have any way to google where the nearest cell phone tower is (you’re in an area with no cell service) you can use your own phone’s antenna to try and figure out what direction it’s in.
You do this by opening the part of your phone that will tell you your true signal strength in dBm. Read below for how to access that information depending on the type of phone you have.
Once you can see the measurements walk around.
The numbers are going to be around -50 (full service) to -120 (no service) if the dBm signal starts to get close to -50 when you walk a certain direction that tells you that’s probably the direction you should point your RV cell phone booster antenna because that’s where the cell tower is.
Find Signal Strength in dBm on iPhone
- Make sure Wifi is turned off
- Open call
- Dial *3001#12345#* and press the call button
- This will take you to the iPhone field test menu
- Go to the “All Metrics” tab which is the one under the little hamburger line menu thingy
- Look under the LTE section and click on “Serving Cell Meas”
- The number value next to “rsrp0” is what the current signal strength is from whatever cell tower your phone is connected to. It should be between -40 and -140 on an iPhone
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Find Signal Strength in dBm on Android Phone (may vary depending on phone)
- Go to Settings
- About Phone
- Status or Network
- SIM Status
- The dBm is under Signal strength
Which cell phone booster do I need?
When choosing a cell phone booster the first thing you need to think about is what you will be using it for.
If it’s for boosting the cell phone signal in your home then a stationary multi-room booster is going to be a great option.
If you want the best booster for your RV or camping then a cell phone booster with a telescopic antenna pole is going to be the best choice.
If you want one for the car or a semi-truck then a booster that is made to work while moving is going to be right for you.
Once you know what the booster will be used for you need to think about the kind of outer antenna you want.
Omnidirectional antennas are easy to install and you don’t need to point them in the direction of a cell phone tower.
If you already have a few bars of cell phone service and want to boost it to full bars then an Omni antenna will be great for you.
If you only have 1 bar of service you may want to use a directional antenna and point it right at the cell phone tower. This will be more effective than an omnidirectional because the signal is weak.
For home use, I normally suggest a directional antenna because the home and the tower will not be moving and you only need to point the antenna in the right direction once.
For vehicles and even RV use, omnidirectional antennas work great because you don’t always know where the cell phone tower is located and the Omni antenna will find it for you.
Then you need to think about what cell phone provider the signal booster is compatible with.
The higher-end cell phone boosters are normally compatible will all carriers while the more basic range extenders are sometimes only compatible with certain providers.
You can read in this article about the different features of some of the best cell phone boosters on the market today. There are options for all applications including home and office, camping and RVing, vehicles, and even hiking.
How does a cell phone booster work?
The basic function of a cell phone booster is to take a weak cell signal and boost or amplify it. A cell phone booster will not create a signal and it will only work if there is already a signal for it to boost.
The way it works is by using an antenna to pick up the signal the cell phone tower is putting out.
This antenna is normally at the highest point possible like the roof or the end of a pole. The antenna sends the signal to the booster which will be located inside.
The booster box then takes the signal which is measured in dBm and increases its value. The amount of dBm the booster or amplifier will be able to increase depends on the quality of the booster.
You normally want the booster to have a max gain of at least 60 dBm for home use and at least 50 dBm for RV or camping use.
Once the booster has increased the dBm as much as possible it then puts out the boosted signal using the inner antenna located near the booster.
The inner antenna is important because it decides the area the boosted signal will be located in.
Home cell phone boosters have strong inner antennas that can put out a boosted signal from 1,500 square feet to 7,500 square feet depending on the size of the antenna.
Vehicle and RV cell phone boosters tend to have smaller inner antennas because they don’t need to cover as much ground as a home cell phone booster.
What does uplink and downlink mean with cell phone boosters?
Uplink is the signal that leaves your phone and travels to a cell phone tower.
Downlink is the signal from the cell phone tower that travels to your cell phone.
The speeds of these signals are important for clear phone calls, and fast data speeds.
What does max gain mean with cell phone boosters?
The max gain of cell phone boosters is how much the booster can strengthen the signal from and back to a cell phone tower.
Government regulations cap cell phone boosters at +70dB. dB is the measurement used for signal strength.
Cell phone signals strength ranges from -50dB to -120dB. -50dB being full service and -120dB being no service.
A cell phone booster’s max gain is the highest amount in dB the booster can amplify the cellular signal.
Since +70dB is the most allowed by the government a commercial cell phone booster that will boost between 50dB and 65dB is really good.
Do RV cell phone boosters actually work?
A high-quality cell phone booster with a powerful outer antenna will boost your cell phone signal if you already have 1 or 2 bars before using it.
Cell phone boosters are made for boosting an existing signal but they do not create a signal.
The more open an area you are in is the better it will work. If you have trees, buildings or hills between the antenna and the cell phone tower the cell phone booster will not help at all.
Which is better a directional or an omnidirectional antenna?
Technically a directional antenna is better because it can focus all of its power in one direction.
Directional antennas are fantastic for home use because you can point the antenna towards the best cell phone tower when you install the system and never have to worry about it again.
Omnidirectional antennas are not as powerful as directional ones but they are less work because you don’t have to point it in any direction to find a cell phone tower.
Omni antennas work best for camping, RV, and vehicle applications because it’s a lot of work to set up a directional antenna every time you move to a new location and find the direction a distance cell phone tower is in.
That being said if you are fine with the setup and time it takes to use a directional antenna it will be the more effective option.
I use an omnidirectional antenna in my RV and so far I haven’t needed anything else. I like not having to take it down and set it up every time I move to a new campsite and so far it’s been powerful enough for my cell phone signal needs.
Do Cell Phone Boosters Work For Data?
Cell phone boosters when used in the right way work fantastically for data. I have one in my trailer for this very reason.
I can camp in an area with 1 bar of service and slow data speeds and then use my cell phone booster to get a few more bars and much faster speeds.
I did a test to show my data speeds with an without a cell phone booster, you can see the results in the “My RV Cell Phone Signal Booster Setup” section of this article.
Sometimes when using the booster in an area where there are lots of people using the network the data speeds won’t increase.
The reason for that isn’t the cell phone booster not working but the cell tower is overloaded and there just isn’t enough data to go around.
Is there a portable cell phone booster?
Yes, most of the vehicle and RV cell phone boosters are very portable. The Wilson weBoost Drive Reach Cell Phone Signal Booster is one of the most powerful portable cellular amplifiers on the market today.
You can read more about it in the RV cell phone booster reviews section above.
If you want even more portability there is also the MJOOSE Cell Phone Signal Boost Phone Case.
It’s the size of a phone case and very easy to carry around. The main downside to it is it won’t be nearly as powerful as a regular booster but it will give you up to +20dB of boosting power in an open area.
What is the best cell phone booster for rural areas?
If you live or camp in a rural area that has some service but you want more then any of the cell phone boosters on this list are going to be a fantastic option.
I personally suggest any of the weBoost cellular repeaters. There are multiple boosters by them on this list for home, RV, and even vehicle use.
How can I make my cell phone signal stronger?
Besides climbing a hill and holding your phone in the air the most effective way to make a cell phone signal stronger is to use a cellular repeater also known as a range extender or a cell phone booster.
These devices use an antenna to take in a signal from a cell phone tower. The signal from the antenna is then sent to a box with the necessary technology to amplify and strengthen the signal.
The box has another smaller antenna connected to it that puts out the amplified signal your phone can pick up.
Do cell phone boosters need Internet?
No, the only thing cell phone boosters need to work are cell phone signals.
They can make your phone’s internet faster by boosting data speeds but they are also good for boosting talk and text speeds. Which means clearer phone calls.
Are cell phone signal boosters harmful?
No, commercial cell phone boosters don’t produce enough energy to be harmful.
The FCC regulates them to a fairly low output. If you want to make sure you are not at risk make sure you get a cell phone signal booster that is approved by the FCC like all of the ones on this review.
Are RV mobile phone signal boosters illegal in the USA?
Any RV cell phone booster certified by the FCC, like the ones on this list, are legal to use in the USA. The only requirement is that you register them with your mobile carrier.
The reason you are required to register your cell phone booster with your mobile carrier is in the unlikely event of any signal interference they can locate the problem and fix it.
Is there an app to boost cell phone signals?
Not technically. An app cannot amplify a cell phone signal like a cellular repeater can, the technology and hardware just isn’t there.
Normally when an app says that it’s a cell phone signal booster it means that it can help you find out where the nearest tower is to you can get closer to it to get better service.
Some of the apps might do other things to try and speed up your phone like clearing caches and things like that. But they aren’t technically boosting the cellular signal in any way.
Have any more questions about RV cell phone amplifiers and boosters? Leave a comment below.
A quick comment about the Wilson WeBoost Drive 4 G-X…
We bought it. Installed it. NEVER have had much success with it. The outdoor antenna is up on a pole extending it 6′ or so above the roof of the RV. That makes it about 16′ above the ground. We travel to some pretty remote areas. We are full-timers. The ONLY way one can get the antenna to do anything is to duct tape our cell phone directly against the indoor antenna. THEN, and ONLY THEN, can we increase any kind of signal. EVEN THEN, we’re lucky to get texts (as long as there are no pictures attached), our telephone conversations are broken English. And internet is slower than the original dial up. We use the cellmapper.net to locate towers.
(And yes, we know we must have 1 bar in order for the device to work. We’re not that remote). At our present location, we are near 4 towers. The closest is 5 miles away. The farthest is 10 miles away. The other two are about 8 miles away. I’ve asked other fellow campers in other locations who have had similar equipment about their experiences…They have ALL said the same thing. Of course, I have called WeBoost. No success there. We won’t recommend or buy anything further from them.
Maybe we just bought a defective product? We’ll never know. But after having talked with others, its not likely. We might buy new equipment from a different manufacturer and give that a try. After that, we won’t buy another if it doesn’t perform any better.
We would love to hear directly from others who have had similar hands-on experiences with the WeBoost Drive 4 G-X…
Hi Remote Travels,
We also have to have our phones directly on the inner antenna to boost the signal in any way. We’ve had the most luck getting a better signal when in flat areas where there were no hills, trees, or mountains between us and the cell tower.
Even with a boosted signal, we’ve noticed that often times cell phone towers in remote areas don’t have great data speeds to begin with. An when you get closer to cities the towers are often overloaded and slow. Your cell phone plan can also affect the data speeds. If you aren’t paying for your phone to be prioritized you will usually not get fast speeds from a busy tower.
Cell phone boosters aren’t magic but for us, the WeBoost Drive has done its job. It’s mostly the cheap cell phone plans we have and the busy cell phone towers that have been stopping us from getting good data speed when camping.
Hi. We are full time living in an RV with a shed for added outdoor space. Not moving until we sell it after our home is built. We use T mobile and have one to two bars. And may want to use it on the house-later. Hubs won’t go on the roof. I will, but I am not crazy about making holes in the roof. Which model do you recommend to boost cell connection to the Rv and shed?
Hi Bonnie,
For use in both the shed and RV (and eventually a home) I would go with the weBoost Home MultiRoom Cell Phone Signal Booster (click to view on Amazon).
You can mount the outside antenna to the outside wall of the shed instead of the roof. Just make sure you know what direction the closest cell phone tower is so you can face the antenna towards it with nothing blocking it.