Verizon Air Card - RV-Dreams Community Forum

charles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Verizon Air Card

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

There probably is.. but you'd need to provide more information, such as the model of your air card and what frequency bands you're trying to amplify. And of course, the model of the current antenna you have.

We highly recommend the folks at both 3GStore.com and PowerfulSignal.com - they sell equipment and can best provide you answers for what might work best.

Also make sure you know how to properly setup your antenna. For instance, some really do benefit from a grounding plane, so if you're just setting those kind on a non-metal surface, you really get little gain at all.

- Cherie

charles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cheie,
The Air Card has little info on it, it plugs into a USB port; uses a designated phone number; has USB 720 stamped on it; It is about 2 inches long by 1 1/4inches wide and 1/2 inch thick. There is a port for an antenna into which I plug the following described antenna.

The antenna is abt 15 inches long steel and mounts with a magnet on its base. NO numbers on it at all.
I asked about a ground plane and got a negative answer??
If you need more info I will find a Verizon store and inquire.

I could park the truck close to the TT and try the antenna on the truck.

Thanks for your assistance,
CCC

charles · RV-Dreams Family Member

I checked the 3G store pursuant to your suggestion and the antenna that I have is the Wilson 12 inch with the magnetic base. I have had both the Air Card and antenna for at least 4 years.

CCC

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

charles wrote:
I use a Verizon Air Card that plugs into a USB port on my laptop. Have had it for years and really like it.
I have a portable ANTENNA that plugs into it but it does not increase the signal strength at all. I only use the antenna in remote areas.

My question is there a better antenna or setup that would help?
We are in a TT.
Thanks for any assistance.
CCC

I will put our 13 inch mag mount against any antenna on the market . Any day of the week. Here is a review from Jack Mayer's site of it.

http://www.jackdanmayer.com/Files/Magnetic%20Mount%20Antenna%20Test.pdf

charles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Max,
Thanks for the link, that really helps.
I hitched up last evening so the truck is at the other end of the TT so I cannot run a test now but will this afternoon at the next CG.

If it gives gets good reception that fixes my delimma!

I will report back.
Is there an antenna that I could mount ON the TT, considering that this TT is fiberglass with a tubular alum. frame?

CCC

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

Easy solution . Silicone an 8 inch by 8 inch metal ground plane on top of your RV out of sight . Have sold that antenna to hundreds if not thousands of RV users.

DebbieM · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've consulted with Wilson on a similar antenna, the one that goes with the Wilson Sleek 4G LTE, it's a small metal antenna and it was primarily designed with use in vehicles. They said it needs to be connected to a metal surface with a magnet. The key reason is it's a reflective antenna and it uses the metal as a reflector. The minimum area must be 3x3 and metal. We attached a piece of metal to the top of a piece of 6 ft PVC pipe and attached the antenna to that and attached that to our ladder for maximum height. It really did make a difference as Wilson noted.

Some of you are mentioning a ground plate, so now I'm wondering if I should add that for even better performance. I'll try it this week.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

What you are describing you did with the metal plate is a ground plane. Use of a ground plane with antennas designed for an external ground plane is required for the antenna to perform at all. In general, use of a 8"x8" groundplane will cover all the requirements for the frequencies being discussed here. You can use smaller in some cases, it depends on the frequency of the antenna - but larger is ALWAYS better with a ground plane. Even antennas not requiring an external groundplane will perform somewhat better if they are present.

I have a chapter in the new version of the Mobile Internet Handbook on antennas - groundplanes are covered there. Anyone looking for an understanding of mobile communications technology would benefit from this book. It is the best available, by far. (And not just because I played a SMALL part in it....)

charles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Max,

May the metal ground plane be aluminum as opposed to steel?
Of course no "magnetic" interface but I can come up with a simple way to use bolts to attach this antenna to the aluminum plate.

I have the antenna on the top of my truck right now, before plugging into the air card( mine looks like the one on the attachment that you posted) I had two sticks on the Verizon page on the laptop; with the antenna still two sticks but I dont know how sensitive that is. Now it has faded to NO sticks!!!

CCC

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

Nope has to be ferrous metal . Cannot be aluminum or Stainless Steel. The Wilson mag mount is a really weak antenna . Ask Jack Mayer about that 13 inch Cyfre antenna.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

It is a common misconception that a ground plane has to be steel, or a ferrous metal (magnetic). Mostly that comes from the common mag mount on ground-plane antennas. The real requirement is that the metal be conductive. Stainless steel and aluminum can serve as ground planes. I've used aluminum plate the same size as a steel plate with an external ground plane antenna and gotten similar performance results...Actually, it was one off Gord's antennas (which perform quite well, BTW).

You will find lots of references on the Internet to having to have ferrous metal. They are incorrect. Look at some of the antenna research sites and you will see discussion of this. Be careful of your sources. A decent synopsis is here.

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jack Mayer wrote:
It is a common misconception that a ground plane has to be steel, or a ferrous metal (magnetic). Mostly that comes from the common mag mount on ground-plane antennas. The real requirement is that the metal be conductive. Stainless steel and aluminum can serve as ground planes. I've used aluminum plate the same size as a steel plate with an external ground plane antenna and gotten similar performance results...Actually, it was one off Gord's antennas (which perform quite well, BTW).
You will find lots of references on the Internet to having to have ferrous metal. They are incorrect. Look at some of the antenna research sites and you will see discussion of this. Be careful of your sources. A decent synopsis is here.

Why ferrous metal is key to me is how the antenna adheres to it . If the antenna is not adhering well and making a good connection with the ground plane . Your performance will not be consistent.

-- Edited by Max Signal on Wednesday 27th of August 2014 12:39:52 PM

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ferrous metal is beneficial for using with a mag mount. No doubt about it - it is convenient to attach in that fashion.