I just bought a Hunter 28.5 and took it out on the Chesapeake Bay yesterday. I had hoped to be able to use my cell phone, but most of the way, I was barely receiving any signal. I have seen antenna-boosting devices, but before trying those, I was wondering if there was an easy way to share my VHF antenna with the Cell Phone. Does anyone have any suggestions about that? Alternatively, I'd be interested in finding out how people increase their cell phone range when they're out on the water.
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Analog vs Digital
It sounds like your cel-phone is one of the newer digital PCS phones. they have a very short range and require numerous cel towers in the vicinity to have good coverage. I doubt that any 'boosting' would help. These operate in the UHF range and your VHF antenna would be a missmatch. You'd loose whatever power you have in the connection to the antenna. I have an 'old' analog cel-phone which works over a much wider range than my first mate's new digital phone. I understand that Qualcom now markets a digital/analog/satellite cel-phone which should be a boon to blue-water sailors.
It sounds like your cel-phone is one of the newer digital PCS phones. they have a very short range and require numerous cel towers in the vicinity to have good coverage. I doubt that any 'boosting' would help. These operate in the UHF range and your VHF antenna would be a missmatch. You'd loose whatever power you have in the connection to the antenna. I have an 'old' analog cel-phone which works over a much wider range than my first mate's new digital phone. I understand that Qualcom now markets a digital/analog/satellite cel-phone which should be a boon to blue-water sailors.
No so good...
I looked into ways to boost cell phone signals last spring when I discovered I had really patchy reception in Casco Bay. What I learned was not very inspiring. It is possible to boost the output signal of most cell phones, but it will not get you very far because you will still be unable to receive the signals from the towers. According to a person I spoke with at ATT Wireless in April, the signal strength indicator is the strength of the signal being recieved, so the booster wouldn't solve that problem. What you really need is height, so the top of the mast idea is a good one. Unfortunately, I have never seen a unit that had the right conversion to split the VHF to cell phone that worked. One guy in my anchorage built one and swears by it, but I couldn't tell the difference between his phone on its internal antenna and with the external one hooked up (although I played nice). I imagine the problem is with the different frequencies and the consequent difference in anntenna lengths between cell and VHF, though I don't know. Next spring there will be a cellphone antenna growing out of the top of my windex. I'll tell you how it goes. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
I looked into ways to boost cell phone signals last spring when I discovered I had really patchy reception in Casco Bay. What I learned was not very inspiring. It is possible to boost the output signal of most cell phones, but it will not get you very far because you will still be unable to receive the signals from the towers. According to a person I spoke with at ATT Wireless in April, the signal strength indicator is the strength of the signal being recieved, so the booster wouldn't solve that problem. What you really need is height, so the top of the mast idea is a good one. Unfortunately, I have never seen a unit that had the right conversion to split the VHF to cell phone that worked. One guy in my anchorage built one and swears by it, but I couldn't tell the difference between his phone on its internal antenna and with the external one hooked up (although I played nice). I imagine the problem is with the different frequencies and the consequent difference in anntenna lengths between cell and VHF, though I don't know. Next spring there will be a cellphone antenna growing out of the top of my windex. I'll tell you how it goes. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Try a built-in analog cellular phone with a whip
Doug: Dean's assessment sounds right to me. I, too, have a 28.5. I have both a built-in analog cellular phone, as well as my Sprint PCS handheld. The PCS phone has very limited range, because as Dean pointed out, it relies on a fairly dense pattern of low-powered transmitters, which you won't find out on the bay. The older analog cellular technology has greater range, but you must have a built-in unit to get the maximum wattage. The handhelds have lower- powered transmitters to avoid potential injury. I have one of those short whip antennas on my boat, with the curls in the middle. It's mounted on the stern rail. I just bought a new boat with the same setup, and its cellular antenna is also on the stern rail. Eric Lorgus s/v Explorer
Doug: Dean's assessment sounds right to me. I, too, have a 28.5. I have both a built-in analog cellular phone, as well as my Sprint PCS handheld. The PCS phone has very limited range, because as Dean pointed out, it relies on a fairly dense pattern of low-powered transmitters, which you won't find out on the bay. The older analog cellular technology has greater range, but you must have a built-in unit to get the maximum wattage. The handhelds have lower- powered transmitters to avoid potential injury. I have one of those short whip antennas on my boat, with the curls in the middle. It's mounted on the stern rail. I just bought a new boat with the same setup, and its cellular antenna is also on the stern rail. Eric Lorgus s/v Explorer
Analog, big antenna
I found that a built-in analog unti with a big, expensive, Shakespeare cell antenna (about the size of a big baseball bat) worked pretty well.
I found that a built-in analog unti with a big, expensive, Shakespeare cell antenna (about the size of a big baseball bat) worked pretty well.
Thanks for the responses . . .
Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it. First of all, let me state that I have a 3-band phone that lets me communicate over digital, analog, and/or PCS as it can latch onto a signal. Now I do have an old "bag" cell phone that I could try and see if it has better range and use it for the boat. I think I will try a lower-down antenna solution and see how it works. I will keep people posted with my results. Thanks for the input. And I'll take any more suggestions people have.
Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it. First of all, let me state that I have a 3-band phone that lets me communicate over digital, analog, and/or PCS as it can latch onto a signal. Now I do have an old "bag" cell phone that I could try and see if it has better range and use it for the boat. I think I will try a lower-down antenna solution and see how it works. I will keep people posted with my results. Thanks for the input. And I'll take any more suggestions people have.
Analog bag phone works for me
My Motorola analog bag phone works in the middle of the Pamlico Sound on the coast of North Carolina. I keep a bag phone just for being able to use it on the boat. I use it with the little rubber antenna but I could use an external antenna but have not needed to. The bag phone has a maximum of 3 watts transmit power where the small handhelds have about only 1/4 watt for safety. The Pamlico Sound is 35 miles across and I have adequate signal all across the Sound from the cockpit. I have a directional antenna I carry that I could use if I got out of range but I have not needed that. Wayne, s/v Wind Drift h340
My Motorola analog bag phone works in the middle of the Pamlico Sound on the coast of North Carolina. I keep a bag phone just for being able to use it on the boat. I use it with the little rubber antenna but I could use an external antenna but have not needed to. The bag phone has a maximum of 3 watts transmit power where the small handhelds have about only 1/4 watt for safety. The Pamlico Sound is 35 miles across and I have adequate signal all across the Sound from the cockpit. I have a directional antenna I carry that I could use if I got out of range but I have not needed that. Wayne, s/v Wind Drift h340
cell phone
I have a Nextel digital cell installed on my H410. I installed an 800 MHZ marine grade antenna at the top of the mast. I used low loss cable from the mast head to the nav station and made a short adapter to the smaller cable normally seen at the cradle for the phone. The combination works great. I've had good cell coverage on the boat through out Massachusetts Bay and Buzzards Bay. Was in Cutty Hunk this past summer and had no signal strength in the hand held mode, popped it in the cradle (which uses the mast antenna) and instant clear digital communications. Bryce Grefe S/V Spellbinder H410
I have a Nextel digital cell installed on my H410. I installed an 800 MHZ marine grade antenna at the top of the mast. I used low loss cable from the mast head to the nav station and made a short adapter to the smaller cable normally seen at the cradle for the phone. The combination works great. I've had good cell coverage on the boat through out Massachusetts Bay and Buzzards Bay. Was in Cutty Hunk this past summer and had no signal strength in the hand held mode, popped it in the cradle (which uses the mast antenna) and instant clear digital communications. Bryce Grefe S/V Spellbinder H410
It depends on the carrier you have
ANother issue with cell phone reception is the carrier you are using. Each have their own area of coverage. I have Verizon up here in New England and can get a clear digital signal in places where my friends with Sprint or AT&T can't even get a roaming analog signal. Les Murray S/V Limerick
ANother issue with cell phone reception is the carrier you are using. Each have their own area of coverage. I have Verizon up here in New England and can get a clear digital signal in places where my friends with Sprint or AT&T can't even get a roaming analog signal. Les Murray S/V Limerick
Doug; try that 3wt. analog...
..on my V32, I had a 3wt analog. tied to a 4db marine antenna. It was great, even to the point of going through Mexico while blanketed from the mainland in a cove in Catalina 90 miles away! Ultimately, the provider just quit maintaining the analog sites (they told me!) and it was problematic to continue. I am going to do a marine digital antenna to my Nextel so as to get a more reliable signal when using it for a modem connect. RD
..on my V32, I had a 3wt analog. tied to a 4db marine antenna. It was great, even to the point of going through Mexico while blanketed from the mainland in a cove in Catalina 90 miles away! Ultimately, the provider just quit maintaining the analog sites (they told me!) and it was problematic to continue. I am going to do a marine digital antenna to my Nextel so as to get a more reliable signal when using it for a modem connect. RD
I tried a big antenna...
some time ago when I was spending some time out in the country and before they had cells all over the place. didn't work, even though the antenna was tuned to cellular frequencies, Seems the extra length of the cable used to get it up high ate up more power than it had, so the signal being put out was puny. But I did have some success with a 3 watt phone-in a bag, so I agree with the other guys about that and about trying to see if another provider has better coverage in your area. Hey, cousin, welcome to the HOW. Send me your email address so we can chat... it's been a long time. (gkornreich@houston.rr.com)
some time ago when I was spending some time out in the country and before they had cells all over the place. didn't work, even though the antenna was tuned to cellular frequencies, Seems the extra length of the cable used to get it up high ate up more power than it had, so the signal being put out was puny. But I did have some success with a 3 watt phone-in a bag, so I agree with the other guys about that and about trying to see if another provider has better coverage in your area. Hey, cousin, welcome to the HOW. Send me your email address so we can chat... it's been a long time. (gkornreich@houston.rr.com)
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