signal booster

dav9021 · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 14

Has anyone tried this booster - The Rockies Extreme dual band booster at maximumsignal - it is a 7amp booster.Would that be better than the 3amp Wilson?

Torrey · Site Admin Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 230 Location: USA

I'm not familiar with that particular antenna, but it sounds like they are misinforming their customers to make their products seem superior. It may be a 7 dB gain antenna, but its definitely not a 7-watt amplification.

3-watt amplification is the maximum allowed by FCC (law) for cellular devices. This antenna alone would not be as strong as an omni external antenna & 3-watt amplifier.

I've heard a few stories regarding that supplier, and I think that 3Gstore.com has a better selection of quality antennas, as all of their products go through an extensive testing process before they will sell that product at their store. To ensure that each product meets quality & compatibility standards.

childsj27 · EVDO User Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 36

I have one of each.The max signal cannot compete with the
Wilson. I threw my up on the shelf and that,s where it stays.
I tried to sell it on ebay and did not get a bid.
Don't waste your money.
C27

n6gn · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:36 am Post subject:

I'm not familiar with this antenna either but I have a real problem with at least one of Maximum Signal's antenna specifications.

I notice that they describe their "19 dB" yagi as having beamwidths of 35 by 40 degrees. Technically, antenna directivity is directly calculable from beamwidth and if there are no losses in the antenna, directivity and gain are equivalent (this is the best case). Thus, from their numbers, the maximum possible gain for this antenna is

(4*PI)/((horizontal beamwidth, radians)*(vertical beamwidth, radians))

I plugged in the numbers and checked my math and I get just under 15 dBi.

In my opinion there is no way that this antenna delivers 19 dBi gain if their other numbers are correct.

In general, getting much more than 15 dBi out of a yagi is quite difficult and even long yagis don't often do this. A NBS design (now National Institute of Science and Technology) of a 4 wavelength long yagi produces only about this same 15 dB number and required ~5' long boom length to do it. See http://www.sonic.net/~n6gn/antenna/oldyagi.pdf for details.

I don't believe an antenna as short as their '19 dB' one and having ony 7 elements is capable of creating the pattern they claim for it and even 15 dBi gain. never mind 19.

My opinion is that this is false advertizing.

n6gn

Superheropunk · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 22

The Rockies is a cell phone amplifier and not an antenna.

From my understanding the FCC limit of 3 watts is just for the 1900mhz and not 800mhz.

dav9021 · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 14

That is correct--it is a booster not an antenna---

childsj27 · EVDO User Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 36

I should have said in my other poat that I also bought the 19 db antenna.
It does not work either.This was a total waste of money for me.
But live and learn.You came to the right place to get the answers.
Don't waste your money on this product like I did.It does not out out
7 watts if it did the tower will kick you off.
Joe