Prime is a good place to buy. We started out with a 3 watt amp and a RV/Trucker antenna and they worked pretty well although one place we go a lot we could not get a signal. Wilson tech support sent me a indoor flat panel antenna and on a telescopic pole about 8' above the coach roof it works great. It is directional.
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
1999 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 31' ISB Cummins 210 uprated to 275
275 RV injectors
Trippe-Lite 1800w inverter 4-6v GC batteries
3- Kyocera 130w solar panels
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
Most everybody seems to like Wilson; I've also used Wilson antennas over the years (mainly CB) and they seem to work okay. However, I will never, ever buy another Wilson product, as I have determined to my own satisfaction that they engage in deceptive selling practices at the least, and at the most, outright lies.
How did I determine this? Read on:
One day a couple years ago I ran across the Smoothtalker web site someone referenced earlier in this thread. If you read all the text on the Smoothtalker home page you will find that it contains the following statement:
"Wilson brand boosters and repeaters have several models of amplifiers and some are rated at 3-watts and some are not, however, they or their re-sellers claim that all of these devices are 3-watts when they certainly are not. In the case of the latest Wilson model wireless repeater advertised for use in home and vehicle, the certificate for FCC ID# PWO8012SM states 1.23 watts maximum. The Wilson user manual for this device states "Linear Output Power 30 dBm" which equals 1 watt, but the same user manual for this repeater states "Maximum Output Power 3 watts (Cell Site Controlled)". Firstly, the cell site does not control the amplifier, the cell site controls the phone's output power. Secondly, this model series of Wilson repeater which is advertised as a 3-watt repeater by all who re-sell this amplifier/repeater is not a 3 watt device. This information is mis-leading and untrue. This repeater is 1 watt not 3 watt capable."
Well, if there's one thing I hate, it's liars. So I sent Wilson an email telling them about the statement I had found on the Smoothtalker site and how that all I was wanting was a simple Yes or No answer to the following question: Is the Wilson Wireless Repeater (FCC ID#PWO8012SM) able to deliver 3 Watts of output power as their marketing claims, or is the maximum output power 1.23 Watts as stated in the Repeater's FCC certificate?
Very simple, right? Either the Repeater is able to deliver 3 Watts or it's not. We're not talking rocket science here, we're talking honesty.
Well, a day or so later I got an email from a lady at Wilson thanking me for my interest in Wilson products and saying that she would forward my question to their technical department. Their tech people were really busy, she said, so it might take a while to get an answer.
About two months later I still had not received an answer, so I sent off another email asking where might my answer be. A few days later I got a reply from the same lady at Wilson saying that she was sorry I hadn't got an answer from anyone but she would forward the question to their Tech Dept again.
A few days later I got an email from someone in the Tech Dept at Wilson. He started out by saying that yes, they were aware of the statements made on the Smoothtalker web site and that their lawyers were looking into the matter. He then went on for a couple of paragraphs talking about how complicated cellular wireless was and threw out a few technical terms and concepts about how it worked--- basically, he was trying to baffle me with BS. He ended by telling me to be rest assured that Wilson products were very good products.
I wrote him back and thanked him for his answer, telling him that yes, I understood how complicated electronics and wireless communication could be, since my whole life had been spent in the electronics field and that's where most all of my knowledge and expertise was. However, I said, the question that I posed is not technical or complicated at all. Basically, the Wilson Repeater is either capable of putting out 3 Watts of power or it's not. All I want to know is, can it put out 3 Watts, or does it put out 1.23 Watts as stated in it's FCC certificate?
This time I didn't get an answer. I guess they were kinda hoping and figuring that if they stayed silent I'd forget about the whole thing and go away. I actually did forget about it for a while. I kept the thread of emails, though, and probably 8 or 10 months later I ran across them one day. So, I send off another email saying how it's now been over a year and I still haven't got a simple Yes or No answer to my simple Yes or No question. Is there ANYONE at Wilson able to answer my simple Yes or No question, I asked?
A few days later I get an email back from someone at Wilson saying that they had said all they were going to say about the subject, they considered the matter closed, and that the email I was reading would be the last I would get from them.
I sent an email back to them summarizing the whole series of events, saying that the only conclusions one could logically draw were that the Smoothtalker web site statements were correct.
Anyway, they were right. That was the last email I received from them.
Like I said above, I'll never buy another Wilson product. The only question I occasionally wonder about is whether or not the Wilson guy who founded the company actually knows that this kind of stuff is going on. From what I had read about him over the years, he was supposed to be a fine, upstanding individual with good values, etc.---basically, not the kind of guy who would sell products using dishonest marketing tactics. Who knows?... I don't. I just know I'll never buy another Wilson product.
Our motorhome has a cell-phone booster built in. I'm not sure who built it, but it's not Wilson. There is a receiving antenna (picks up your cell phone signal) in the front of the MH, and the transmitting antenna sits on the back corner of the roof (sends your signal to the cell tower). The system requires that the two antennas be at least 40 feet apart, so it's not an option on rigs smaller than 40 feet.
It's great. You can get 4 bars sitting next to the MH, but if you walk 100 feet away you won't get a signal at all.
2008 42' Foretravel Nimbus CE
2007 Chevy Tahoe toad
I use a Wilson RV antenna without any booster. My phone does have an external antenna connector. Total cost antenna and connector with shipping was under $100.
The phone's debug/diagnostic mode shows about a 10 db increase in signal strength when connected to the antenna (2-3 bars go to 4-5 bars). At our seasonal site, without the antenna, the phone would be useless inside the trailer. We had to go outside to make and receive calls. Even then we would drop frequently.
With the antenna connected the phone works as well as when I'm back in the city. No more dropped calls or losses during a conversation.
Only drawback is that I have to be physically connected to the antenna. Reminds me of using the old wall phone we had as kids (anything that reminds me of being a kid is automatically worth an extra few bucks ).
JConaster, I won't Quote your post because it's so long. Good post. I too will not deal with a lying outfit like Wilson. Too many companies make ridiculous claims about there products without the beef. If I detect some kind of false advertising, I am done with that company.
Regarding Wilson, my concern is whether or not the equipment is going do the job for me in actual service. Based on this forum and others, Wilson makes a good product. So I bought a system using the amplifier JConaster says puts out 1.23 watts instead of 3 watts.
My aircard sees an increase in signal strength of 30 to 50 dB when I turn the Wilson amp on. Last April I was working in a location with poor cell service IF I went outside the TT. With the amplifier on I had good service inside the trailer.
So, I don't care about some ultra-geeky wattage measurement. The system works - that's what's important!
I have the Wilson amplifier http://www.wpsantennas.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2
and the Wilson Truckers antenna. http://www.wpsantennas.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3.
I am not sure where I bought these this is just where I googled them this time.
I also got a suction cup thing http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46134 and use it to mount the antenna only when needed.
This setup works Excellent.
I have Full strength every where I have used it. Before I would have only 1 bar in some places.
Offline
). 
