(REVIEW) Weboost Drive Reach RV Cell Phone Booster

Review of the WeBoost Drive Reach RV cell phone booster. Here's why it's the best Cell Phone Booster to buy for your RV. Also GET ANSWERS to your Frequently Asked Questions about using a cell phone booster in an RV. Click BELOW on a topic or question.

00:00 Welcome
02:16 Drive Reach RV Components
07:34 How much does the Drive Reach RV cost?
08:30 Installation, Setup and Test

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - Answered
14:04 What’s the best way to mount the external antenna?
15:36 How can I run the antenna cable into the RV?
17:14 How close should my phone or hotspot be to the internal antenna?
18:24 Can I use a pole mounted directional antenna with the Drive Reach?
19:35 Can I drive with the external antenna mounted?
20:37 Can I use the booster in my RV and in my tow vehicle?
21:51 Does the cell phone booster work with 5G?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHERE TO BUY a Drive Reach RV?

GET 5% OFF at WEBOOST.COM with the "RVTITO5" Discount Code at checkout.

*Thanks to weBoost for providing the booster at no charge for independent testing and review.*
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RV CELL PHONE BOOSTERS BEFORE YOU BUY

WEBOOST DRIVE REACH RV SPECIFICTATIONS
- Multi-user/multi-carrier 50 dB Cell Phone Booster with enhanced uplink power capability
- External High Gain Omni Directional Antenna with 20" mast extension
- Table Top Internal Antenna + cable
- 25 ft of RG6 Cable
- A/C power adapter

Drive Reach Vehicle Kit Review (2019)

#rvwithtito #weboost #fulltimerv

DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed in our videos are our own or from a contributor. Before taking on any project or making a large purchase, we recommend you do your own research and consult a professional for advice. We are NOT liable for any damage to your RV or injury incurred as a result of following our tips, advice or instructions. We are not RV professionals or certified technicians. We are simply RV owners who work on our own RVs and have a desire to share what we learn with others. Be responsible and know your limits.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
This video may include links to merchants with affiliate programs who pay us a commission on purchases made or actions taken after clicking the link. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

[RVwithTito]

UPDATE: Get 5% Off on this booster with the RVTITO5 coupon code at weboost.com. Just tried it and it works now.

[mikebrant]

Love your videos. I wrote to tell you that hexagonal objects are hexagonal so that they don't roll. An antenna load could roll off the roof during installation, so it's hexagonal. GOOD idea....

[stevecoil]

I don't usually comment on videos, but you did a really good job of presenting this product in an understandable way!

[stuartstuart]

Thanks for the review Brian. One thing no one mentions, is that these units are supposed to be registered with the FCC through your phone carrier, and not all carriers will support that, MVNO’s in particular. These antennas signal boosters can interfere with emergency services.

[CaliforniaTravelVideos]

As always Brian, excellent explanations. Regarding WE's response to 5G, what they were implying is that their amplifier does not reach the 24-52 GHz millimeter upper 5G frequency range. Even covering the 4G (600 MHz to 2.5 GHz) and lower end of the 5G frequency band is quite an accomplishment (the lower 5G band frequency spectrum runs from 450 MHz to 6 GHz). But even if designing such an amp was economically feasible, other engineering problems would still prevent dual-use up high in the millimeter band.

Considerations include: frequency response range of the cable, discontinuities (impedance mismatches) in connectors, impedance mismatches between cables/antenna/amplifier, etc. Standing wave power losses would also likely create havoc as the frequency goes up.


Sorry to get geeky - suffice it to say that the upper 5G mm band will not be a slam dunk ;-)

[tomnkathiedoran]

One of the best tech videos I've seen on anything, RV or otherwise. You covered it all and didn't waste time with a long musical intro, you moved along fast. I just bought and installed this today, fyi.

[Piper]

I currently have the drive sleek for my tow vehicle with the small roof top antenna. Recently while camping (boondocking) I removed it from the truck, and plugged it into my homemade solar generator. I took the small antenna and placed it onto my old Colman stove and placed it in the middle of the campsite on a table. So, not very high. We had very little signal at this location. Some texts would come and go. With this “campsite” set up I put my iPhone in the cradle and used it as a hotspot. My wife and I were both able to use our iPads. Still a wee bit slow but I was able to watch YT vids easily. SO, I now see that WeBoost has another set up for the drive sleek with the new antenna that you have there. I’ve ordered it and will be installing this week. (Temp install on external pole). I was going to run the cable into my wet bay through the opening in the floor and connect to the satellite input, then hook up the booster inside the RV behind the TV to in inside satellite port. I have all the required connectors and adaptors. My iPhone will be the hotspot in the cradle. The cradle has ample cord to move around the RV and even outside under the canopy. We should have ample signal, from the hotspot for this to work. iPhone says up to 30 feet. I’ve never seen anyone use the satellite ports (RG6 with F connectors) before. Curious if this will work. So I don’t have to drill any holes or go through the windows etc. I really would love your input on this. THANKS.

[mandmmilling]

Great video as always!!!! I have learned more from your videos than any other source. I have copied your batteries, solar chargers, solar panels, and 12v to 12v charging, est. I have adapted it to my sailboat, but it all works the same. Thanks for taking the time to do it. I was literally getting ready to buy a 12v diesel heater for my sailboat. I started searching the tube and low and behold you did a video on a gas version. Every time i need to learn something, your videos come up!!!! I love it...

[stanvangilder]

Another great video, and many thanks since we actually just purchased this booster! But on another note, on the last question, "Will this booster work with 5G?", the response from WeBoost was MISLEADING, and I was disappointed that this issue was not clarified. The question that was being asked was, 'Will this booster USE the 5G network when it becomes available?" and the answer is "NO". Instead of being honest about this, WeBoost chose to answer a different question: "Will this booster continue to work when 5G becomes available?". They tried to keep the water muddy by saying, "..currently we aren't boosting mmWave." like anyone would know what that means. What it means is that the answer to the first question is "NO" this booster doesn't work with 5G in the way the question was intended but 4G will continue to be available for many years to come.

[DirectCurrentu]

Great Video and Great review! Thanks to You I am very happy with mine. Just used it over Thanksgiving weekend for the very first time and it work like a dream! Phone service was great and Internet was better as well. It made for a lot more enjoyable Camping...Thanks again Brian.😎👍

[carlschiel]

DoN't Bee bOOSten that 5G signal. ThATs hOW you get Rona! In all seriousness thanks for such a thorough video. it's good to know you can pair it with the directional antenna 🤔

[tomhoy]

Thanks for your in depth review. You are one of my favorite go toos for RV info.

[jamescampolo]

If I were to want to use the WeBoost in both the trailer RV and the tow vehicle, I would set up the WeBoost permanently in the trailer with a hotspot. A hotspot will easily transmit WiFi over 100 feet to nearby vehicles, even if they are driving near the trailer vehicle.

[JA-trze]

Awesome video! So one thing on 5G. MMWave which is the hyper fast 5G is 24ghz to 40ghz. The caveat is its extremely low range due to the high frequency. In fact that technology to my knowledge only is implemented in USA. Many of us get 5G on our cells if you have any new one. Generally speaking the 5G the vast majority of us are using is called sub 6ghz 5G. Meaning its in the 5ghz range. That is essentially LTE speeds. If you leave the United States the only 5G you will encounter is the sub 6ghz 5G most likely. The reason not to get into details is you have to be extremely close to mmWave to get anything which would make it hyper costly to offer complete coverage of it.

[richardgorski]

I bought one model before and had lots of problems with feedback. No matter how far I separated ant and amp. Fixed it by getting the truck version antenna, I see why they replaced the original one which would never work right. They weren't very helpful when I called them. It does work now. Not the greatest but works. I wouldn't buy again.

[mrpopo]

Tito, your videos are always awesome and thorough. I wanted to just provide some input as someone else on the road full time, working remote full time for a software company. Boosters, as linear amplifiers, are not typically worth the investment if your primary use case is for data throughput. The amplification, via a non mimo input, is usually not enough of a gain in speeds to positively impact your latency.

If you're so far out that a booster is required to have usable service, you most likely aren't going to have a great connection to the tower and will drop packets and your upload speed will suffer greatly, causing you to drop meetings.

My personal equipment of choice is to use a passive Mimo Antenna, such as a Poynting coupled with a Pepwave BR1 router and Unifi Access Point. The pepwave is not cheap, but it allows you to band lock the best signal(s) and is extremely flexible vs a hotspot. The mimo antennas can provide passive gain of 5-10dbi, and if you are willing to aim a directional Yagi pole mount, can be a very strong connection that will have predictable latency. End of rant :)

[richardowens]

Thanks, for the high quality video and useful information! I always enjoy your very pertinent and timely coverage of your RV projects.

Remember, technologies are constantly changing and improving. So, don't expect this solution - or, any - to last indefinitely. You should plan for a service life of about five years, before you might need to look for a better solution. For example, by 2030, a global low orbit satellite internet solution may be a far superior approach to using the WeBoost - or, WeBoost may have a product line intended for use with the new technology. Or, there may be a technology that hasn't even been considered that addresses this need better than anything currently available. The one thing that is certain is that the technology you choose today WILL be rendered obsolete in the future. So, get what you need for right now and budget accordingly.

[joshyoon]

They finally released it. Can’t believe this doesn’t come with a 12 volt hookup.

[capt.eldoncsummers]

Great review thank you. What kind of a mounting bracket did you use to attach it to your roof. We do not have a ladder so the ladder attachment doesn't work for us. It looks like a standard marine antenamount.

[WhiteFox]

Brian, great to see another video from you! But then, we forget that you have a life OFF of YouTube, just as you should! Well done.