"Wilson Sleek" Cellular Repeater

[Adeline]

I've been watching for the "right" Cellular Repeater to come along and I ran across the new "Wilson Sleek".

Wilson has a great reputation and this unit offers some nice features. They say it's compatible with all cell phones and even the MIFI.

I use an HTC 6900 to tether on Adeline. It works great but I'd like to maximize my range, obviously.

I'm thinking that a dedicated Marine Cellular Antenna might replace the small one in the kit.

Thoughts ???

 

[thataway]

I have been looking the Wilson products to go with my AutoNav reciever. The Autonav will take a direct antenna input, or the small booster antenna off one of the Wilson 3 watt amps.

The weakness I see in the Sleek for the C Dory is the antenna. I have somewhat of a similar problem with the RV. That is the antenna is a mag mount. They say you can get by with a pie pan or pizza pan ground plane; True, but realistically this unit is made for an all metal car. 9 sq feet of metal will give a much better ground plane--even 4 sq feet--so where do you get this on the C Dory?

The mag mount antenna is the least of all of the Wilson antennas as far as performance. The best for the C Dory would be the unit with built in ground plane.

The second issue, is that the phone has to be in the cradle to work properly. So if you are using blue tooth or have a MiFi which fits in the cradle the sleek is great. If not, you are better using the more expensive amp, with the ground plane antenna, and one of the mini interior antennas.

I wish I could get by with the $129--it will be some where in the $350 range with all of the setup that I am considering.

 

[Adeline]

It looks like their Dual-Band Marine Antenna (or Shakespere or Digital) could be utilized with their FME Female to SMA Male Connector to bring signal<>amp.

That's about $90(Sleek) + $90(Antenna) + $15(RG-58 Coaxial Cable) + $20(Adapter). Figure $215 + shipping.
That's assuming you already have the antenna mount.

That gets you a 1.8 watt Sleek

for around $240 shipped versus their 3 watt Wireless Amplifier Cradle Kit (801213) for around $430 shipped with the same goodies (less adapter).


It's less powerful but it's more portable.

The second issue, is that the phone has to be in the cradle to work properly.

Not a problem, I use bluetooth for talking and tethering.

 

[Sneaks]

Actually, the sleek can be found on Amazon for under $100.

Good value.

Don

 

[thataway]

The Marine antenna should work fine and resolve the ground plane problem. Sounds like a good solution if you are just using the one phone.

 

[thataway]

My 3 watt Wilson amp kit (with mag mount exterior ant and flat bar interior antenna, with cig lighter plug arrived today (about $309)--plus another $39 for the Truck mirror mount antenna. (to be used in the RV)

I ran out to some places where A T & T had no or marinal reception locally--and got 4 bars plus 3 G--wow what a difference. (this was in the car).

It turns out that all of the medium sized antennas are the same. Package is just different. The mag mount, marine and the trucker basically use the same antenna--just a different exterior. The trucker and marine use the same base radials.

The reason I wanted the interior antenna, is that I run a MiFi router in the Rv, plus my cell phone, plus my daughters cell phone etc. The literature says have the cell phone antenna 8 to 12" from the flat interior antenna. But I found the cell phone works fine 3 to 4 feet from the antenna.

 

[Mike...]

The reason I wanted the interior antenna, is that I run a MiFi router in the Rv, plus my cell phone, plus my daughters cell phone etc. The literature says have the cell phone antenna 8 to 12" from the flat interior antenna. But I found the cell phone works fine 3 to 4 feet from the antenna.

It only works 3 or 4 feet from the internal antenna? I was hoping it would work anywhere within the pilothouse.
---
mike

 

[Sneaks]

Wilson Sleek user report:

I was not aware of the Sleek until I saw this thread. I had been looking for a modest retransmitter that could be used both in my RV and on a boat. My first test was in/on our Lazy Daze, an aluminum skinned RV using the existing rooftop cell antenna.

Works great. Especially well by leaving the phone in the Sleek holster and using bluetooth. Where the RV is stored on Camp Pendelton, I usually get 1-2 bars but with the Sleek, it's maxed out. Don't have any road reports yet but just from the preliminary tests I'm very satisfied with a $90 cellphone booster.

Now the down side. Sleek may not work in a C-Dory because everything is fiberglass and there may not be enough separation between the antenna and the device. After all, fiberglass is pretty transparent at cell phone frequencies and a C-Dory isn't that big.

Should retransmitter "feedback" occur, the Sleek turns itself off and turns a red warning light on, so the unit is protected. Unfortunately the Sleek is made for vehicles where it is mostly surrounded by a conductive skin (the car roof for example) between the holster and the external antenna. This is a problem with all retransmitters, so if you buy one to experiment, keep all of the packaging because you may have to return it. For a C-Brat, high gain antennas may be the only option available.

Don

 

[Mike...]

Wilson Sleek user report:
Now the down side. Sleek may not work in a C-Dory because everything is fiberglass and there may not be enough separation between the antenna and the device.

Would this problem be removed if a direct connection to the phone were used instead of the inside antenna?
---
mike

 

[toyman]

Thanks for the report. I have a Wilson Dual Band Amp. that I use at home, and in the RV. When in the house it is connected to a NGP Wilson antenna ~ 35' away, I still have a problem with "feedback". In the RV (a steel bodied van) I have a mag mount ~ 12-15' (max 20') away from the inside antenna. I experience about the same amount of feedback as I do at the house. BUT I usually can get a phone call made, and the Internet works wherever I park. I'll probably get a sleek, cause it's "SLEEK".

 

[Sneaks]

Would this problem be removed if a direct connection to the phone were used instead of the inside antenna?
---
mike

No. As sold, the Sleek looks like nothing more than a nice looking (albeit a little thick) phone holster. Very cool looking. It has a couple of extra "arms" for fat phones or odd size phones and a dash mount "kit" included along with a USB to mini-USB patch cord for a power connection. It also includes a 12 volt car plug to USB "power" device. The holster contains the actual retransmitter and a very local "patch" antenna which snugs up against the cellphone when it's "holstered." The problem is feedback between the Sleek's external antenna and the Sleek's holster antenna. No provisions for direct connection either.

Overall, Wilson has made this unit simple, easy to use, and without "proprietary" charger/power devices or antenna connectors. That alone has impressed me. I hate being stuck with a dumbass charger that can't be replaced except by a spendy original equipment charger....

OBTW, for Dave, yes - it is trez cool. Hide the antenna cord and you'd never know it's a retransmitter.

Don

 

[Adeline]

Sleek may not work in a C-Dory because everything is fiberglass and there may not be enough separation between the antenna and the device.

I was hoping that the cradle would be less affected by interference than the "flat bar interior antenna".

I'm wondering, if an external antenna was coupled to a 4' extension mast

and mounted at the back of the house, would that be far enough ?

 

[thataway]

There is some difference between the small bar antenna and the patch antenna of the Sleek cradle. I would expect more feedback from the small bar antenna, than the Sleek cradle. You should be able to shield the Sleek with some foil. You may have to ground the foil--but try aluminum foil, and a small alligator clip to ground if necessary. Then you can make an aluminum shield if necessary. At this frequency this should work.

Moving the antenna 4 feet up, may also help, plus it will give you a higher point--and slightly longer range. The marine antenna has identical radials as the truck antenna.

I am also doing some experimenting with the mag mount antenna and a 18" Pizza pan (which has been coated with primer and enamel, plus adhered to the RV roof with 5200. This same "pizza ground" can be used for my 2 meter and 220 and 440 mhz antennas. I'll see if there is feed back from this, but I suspect that there will not be any.

As far as the distance from the patch antenna--I have not pushed to see what the limit is. This was just a trial run, and it was working fine at 4 feet. I will be putting the i phone on the dash of the RV with a bean bag mout exactly the same as my Garmin GpS mount. The Auto Nav Router will also be close to the small bar antenna. I will be experimenting with the antenna on an extendable pole before drilling holes in the RV and putting a ball mount on the side of the RV with the truck mount extension to get the antenna up as high as possible (same height as the satellite dome) . (Although the RV skin is mostly fiberglass, there is a steel "Cage" all around the driver's area--back about 8 feet from the front. The Wilson amp, and router are both set up so that they can be transfered from RV to Car to Boat.

Another option, I have is an aluminum "brush" pole which goes from 8 feet to 16 feet, along with an extension for the antenna cable (there will be some loss with the extension). I can move this from place to place, or even raise it up higher.

Toyman, I am surprised that you are getting feed back in the van. I didn't in the Honda pilot. I had the antenna back about 5 feet from the driver's seat. You might try the shielding in the house/ or van.

One final thought, with these UHF frequencies, you can make a parabolic or even a "can" type of directional antenna. When reasonably stationary, the radiating element is short enough that you can make a screen reflector behind the antenna--which might help both with feedback and increase of gain. Again, I'll experiment with this (probably use some aluminum sheeting to make my reflector.

 

[Adeline]

aluminum "brush" pole which goes from 8 feet to 16 feet

I have a 6'-12' pool-skimming pole.

I suppose an antenna could be attached to increase distance. In this scenario it would only be used at anchor and not while underway. Assembled and erected for each use and then stowed away...

I'd much prefer something more conventional. :crook

 

[Sneaks]

Well, if I were the experimenting type, I'd get the Sleek, mount the antenna somewhere directly over where the holster is mounted, and cross my fingers. The Wilson antenna with radials creates somewhat of an electronic shadow directly below it. Then power it up. Green light yer in. Red light you might be screwed. Temporarily tape a piece of aluminum foil inside the boat, also directly below the antenna. Still red? Ground the foil. Still red? Pack the Sleek up and return it for credit, buy a Wilson adapter for your cellphone and live with less range.

If it works with that simple shield, then you can tape a large photo of your favorite scene, be it female, fish, or C-Dory over the aluminum foil. Just like Byrdman wears a watchcap over his aluminum foil hats, nobody but you will know....

You WILL be forced to use a bluetooth headset in the cabin and on deck though. Not a big deal for incoming calls and not too inconvenient to walk into the cabin to make outgoing calls while on the holster.

After some 50 years playing with electronics, very little surprises me. Stuff that shouldn't work, does, and vice versa. (sigh) What do they say about a bumble bee's flight characteristics? But it still flies.

Maybe your foil backed photo of Pamela Anderson will fly as well. Maybe not so much with your spouse, but you would have great justification.

Good luck

Don

 

[thataway]

Don,
The radials are so short and only 3 at each frequency--so I doubt significant "shield" with that. The foil would work better close to the interior antenna (Sleek), and would be directional. the interior power is extremely low--just enough to couple the phone's antenna.

After watching Pam in the "Dancing with the Stars" I threw my foil lined photo away....

I don't know about other phones, but the i phone works fairly well with voice commands: such as "Call Marie Austin". So you don't have to get to the phone as long as it is "on". Of course all of this is greared to give less distraction when driving a vehicle or a boat....

 

[Adeline]

The foil would work better close to the interior antenna (Sleek)

If the idea is to isolate the interior antenna(cradle) then how about simply setting a large metal pot(or other metal dome) over the cradle/phone assembly. That would eliminate bluetooth but USB would still be available for tethering.

I'm totally serious. :smile

 

[Sneaks]

If the idea is to isolate the interior antenna(cradle) then how about simply setting a large metal pot(or other metal dome) over the cradle/phone assembly. That would eliminate bluetooth but USB would still be available for tethering.

I'm totally serious. :smile

Indeed it should work, Pete. LOL. Doesn't have to be large, just grounded (maybe).

Doc, gotta remind you, a vertically polarized antenna doesn't receive or transmit for s*** off the ends. Especially in the gigahertz range where power losses are measured in inches of separation (well, centimeters, but who's checking). I wouldn't want to speculate on whether it works or not until I tried it. LIS, nothing ventured, nothing gained and what's the worse thing that can happen? Pamela gets traded for an unused paint can from Home Despot. Some would say it's a good trade, but I happen to like watching Pat Anderson's cousin.

Don

 

[cbgale]

Will a directional yagi type of antenna avoid interference of this type?

 

[Sneaks]

Will a directional yagi type of antenna avoid interference of this type?

A "Cantenna" might, though the ability to keep it focused on a cell tower while mounted in a C-Dory increases the complexity. Google Cantenna. I've played with Pringle can versions for WiFi and they do work well but IMHO they're a kludge and aren't really suitable for anything permanent. Yagis for cell phones are spendy but you can pick 'em up on Ebay cheaper. Just know that you also need to settle on which band to use. 800mhz or 1.9 Ghz and you can't deviate in direction or the signal drops off quickly. Tough to do in a boat.


Pete wants simple. For internet access only, IMHO the odds are well in his favor that just by enclosing the phone and cradle in a metal enclosure with only the shielded USB cable and antenna cable leading out of it, and using a Wilson antenna mounted on the cabin top it'll extend his range closer to his theoretical limit. Oh he could do better, but it then becomes a cost vs benefit issue.