Mobile phone set up for caravan

[Gullible]

Hi,
I would like to boost the phone reception for our mobiles and was thinking about putting an arial on the roof of the caravan. Can anyone recommend a phone set up for a caravan?

We do not have any radio/stereo system in the caravan and would quite like to keep it that way.

[PhilipA]

I was at yardie Creek Station a few years ago and there was a bloke selling antennas that were placed on tent poles or similar to get a signal over the hills from Exmouth.
3G high gain antennas are readily available from Mobile 1 and others.
Regards Philip A

[Gullible]

So what else would I need besides the arial?

[Basil135]

You need to make sure your phone can actually have an antenna plugged into it.

If not, you may have to look at an induction antenna.

[Gullible]

I was hoping that there was something similar to a car hands free kit that could be wired into the caravan 12v.

[Basil135]

You could, but it would rely on an induction coupling to work.

If the intent is gain extra range, not sure if the losses thru the induction would be too great to make it worth while.

I would have a chat to a mobile phone installer, not your local phone shop, and see what they suggest.

[goingbush]

Firstly you need a Telstra blue tick phone (google for a current list)
then you need to chose one of those that has an antenna port (ZTE) or go to Telco Antennas
Mobile Phone Patch Leads & RF Connectors | Telco Antennas Pty Ltd (http://www.telcoantennas.com.au/site/catalog/patch-leads/mobile-phone) and get a patch lead and a modified back to suit one of those blue tick phones. ( as suggested a passive patch lead is not worthwhile - go thru all the phones on the site that can have a patch lead rather than a passive patch lead)

A blue tick phone is able to pick up all available telstra frequencies, and really does make a difference in the bush.

Thirdly you need a high gain antenna, a yagi is best but broomstick is more convenient, I stick mine up on the back of the caravan on an extendable swimming pool cleaner pole with a tent pole on top, say 6meters high

When you've done all that you can get say 30km extra range over a handheld phone - most of the time I like to be 100 - 500km from the nearest town , subsequently I rarely bother to set the pole up.

photo shows just the swimming pool pole without tent pole extension
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/08/172.jpg

[PhilipA]

If you are wanting data only a Telstra wireless Mobile WIFI can be elevated on a pole or in a tree or on top of a nearby hill within range, and provide internet connection . Some also come with a small external antenna, or have a plug to attach to a high gain antenna.
With regard to phones you can replicate a bluetooth connection in the van with any bluetooth device , even maybe get a bluetooth capable stereo like a Pioneer.
But this depends on the phone having reception, which is probably affected greatly by the frame and walls of the caravan if metallic, so needs an antenna .

Regards Philip A

[goingbush]

Exactly as Phillip says,

here is a photo of where we were camped somewhere in QLD last year, no phone signal - even with antenna, but I took our 4G pocket modem up the hill and put it in a plastic bag (incase of rain) and taped it to the leg of the tripod, with a small solar charger to keep battery from going flat.

It was able to pick up good 3G signal and eventho the van is 150m away I could easily connect by WiFi to my laptop in the van. If I then wanted to make a phone call I could have used Skype.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/08/322.jpg

Another interesting idea I have not tried yet is for emergencies only, I could compose a SMS on my phone then tie it to my quadcoper and take it up to 500meters , that would be high enough to latch onto a signal and send the message , its out there but could work.

[TerryO]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/08/172.jpg

You have a very nice set up there goingbush.

Great website on the Iveco build up as well. ... http://www.goingbush.com/iveco.html

[JBLR]

Firstly you need a Telstra blue tick phone (google for a current list)
then you need to chose one of those that has an antenna port (ZTE) or go to Telco Antennas
Mobile Phone Patch Leads & RF Connectors | Telco Antennas Pty Ltd (http://www.telcoantennas.com.au/site/catalog/patch-leads/mobile-phone) and get a patch lead and a modified back to suit one of those blue tick phones. ( as suggested a passive patch lead is not worthwhile - go thru all the phones on the site that can have a patch lead rather than a passive patch lead)

A blue tick phone is able to pick up all available telstra frequencies, and really does make a difference in the bush.

Thirdly you need a high gain antenna, a yagi is best but broomstick is more convenient, I stick mine up on the back of the caravan on an extendable swimming pool cleaner pole with a tent pole on top, say 6meters high

When you've done all that you can get say 30km extra range over a handheld phone - most of the time I like to be 100 - 500km from the nearest town , subsequently I rarely bother to set the pole up.

photo shows just the swimming pool pole without tent pole extension
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/08/172.jpg

Exactly the same setup I use also, except I connect the aerial to an iPhone 5 passive phone cradle (strike.com.au) which works well also. This enables me to put out a wireless hotspot from my phone for all other devices to connect to.

You could also wire the hand piece to a 12 volt power source to charge the phone whilst connected to the cradle.

JB

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Mrs Pedro just upgraded to a Galaxy S5 and it has no external antenna socket,, but you can use a passive cradle that plugs into our rooftop antenna lead,, drilling another hole in the van roof is always a fun thing to do---:angel:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/trailers-vans-campers/198061-new-stuff-golf.html

[rick130]

Pedro, have a look under the back cover as earlier Galaxies have an external patch lead connector, (for factory testing the phone) you just need to drill a 4mm hole in the cover, or some companies do an exchange drilled cover.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I can see that happening😅

[rick130]

Ha !

[PhilipA]

Just a word of warning on high gain antennas for 3G.

I used to have a 8Db antenna on the gutter of my RRC.

It was a PITA and I finally broke it when I went under a motel "arch"

The problem was that in hilly country ( strangely first experienced in the Flinders Ranges) I could clearly hear the conversation of the other party but often they could not receive my voice signal, AFAIK caused by the narrow broadcast arc of a high gain antenna.

Rather than replace the high gain, I replaced it with a little "rubber duckie " in the centre of the RRC roof, and this gave a much better overall performance.

High gains are great in dead flat country but overall a rubber duckie with a good ground plain will give a more usable performance.
Regards Philip A

[goingbush]

or you could get one of these

for a whopping 85db gain, remembering that 3dBa gain= a doubling of the signal strength

FORCE-5 CM5000 SureCall In-Building Repeater System (http://powerfulsignal.com/force-5-cm5000-80-building-system.aspx)

(but still you do need a signal to begin with)

[JamesB71]

I use a virgin network iphone for around town, a telstra network on my old iphone for regional areas and a combination if an iridium sat phone and spot tracker for remote places.... But then I do like me a gadget....