Truck & Overland Cell Phone Boosters

What You Need to Know About Truck and Overland Cell Phone Boosters

If you’re trying to stay connected while you’re out on the road or off the grid, a cell phone booster for your truck or overland vehicle can make all the difference.

We've spent over a decade selling and installing signal boosters in trucks and off-road vehicles, so let’s break down what you should know, how they work, and some things to consider before choosing one. 

How Do These Boosters Work?

At their core, all mobile boosters work the same way. The outside antenna picks up weak signal from a distant cell tower, passes that to the amplifier, and then the amplifier boosts it to a usable level. That stronger signal is passed to the inside antenna, where it's broadcast to the phones and mobile devices inside of your vehicle.

One important thing to understand is that all mobile boosters are capped at 50 decibels of gain by the FCC so your booster doesn't interfere with other cars as you're driving down the road. We use the same maxed-out mobile amplifier in all of our mobile kits, so the big decision you have to make is what type of outside antenna you want for your vehicle. 

Choosing the Right Antenna

The outside antenna plays the most important role in how well a booster performs. It’s the first step in the process, and the better it is at picking up cell signal, the more usable coverage you’ll get inside your vehicle and the further you'll be able to from the cell towers and still get usable signal.

Here are the two main options for truck and overland setups.

1. Overland Antenna
   This antenna is ideal for overlanders or anyone with a more complex mounting situation. It is highly flexible in terms of mounting options and can be attached to T-tracks, tubing, or flat surfaces using bolts. It also folds down, which is very helpful for situations where you might encounter low-clearance areas like garages or tree branches.
2. OTR (Over-The-Road) Antenna
   This is a popular choice for semi-trucks but works well for pickup trucks too. It is durable and reliable, but it has fewer mounting options. The OTR antenna comes with a three-way U-bolt mount that is best suited for tubular mounting points.

If you’re deciding between the two, the choice mostly comes down to how and where you want to mount the antenna. Both options perform well, especially in rural areas where signal is usually ver weak.

Installation Tips

Once you’ve chosen the right booster, proper installation is key to getting the best performance. Keep these tips in mind while you're installing your booster.

• Height Matters
  Placing the outside antenna higher will improve performance. Ideally, it should sit above the roof of your truck cab where it isn’t blocked by anything. This placement helps the antenna pick up the strongest possible signal from nearby cell towers.
• Avoid Oscillation
  It’s important to create some distance between the outside and inside antennas. If they are too close, you could get a feedback loop where the amplified signal from the inside antenna is picked up again by the outside antenna. This is called oscillation, and it will cause the booster to shut down.
  
  In very rural areas with weak signals, this is usually less of an issue because the coverage inside your vehicle will already be small. However, if you’re closer to a tower, make sure there is a solid barrier, like your truck roof, separating the signal from the inside antenna and the outside antenna.
• Keep Cables Short
  Try to minimize the length of the cable between the outside antenna and the amplifier. The longer the cable, the more signal you lose. If extra cable is unavoidable, you can use an extender cable, but shorter is always better for maintaining performance.
• Position Your Phone Correctly
  In areas with very weak signal, your phone needs to be as close as possible to the inside antenna, sometimes even touching it, to pick up the boosted signal. This is especially easy to manage if you are using Bluetooth because you won’t need to hold your phone while driving. As the outside signal improves, the coverage area inside your vehicle will expand, and you won’t need to keep your phone as close.

What You Need to Know Before Buying

Choosing the right booster depends on a few key factors.

1. Where Will You Typically be Driving
   Think about where you drive most often. If you’re in remote areas with very weak signal, focus on the outside antenna. Both the Overland and OTR antennas are excellent at picking up faint signals.
2. Mounting Preferences
   Consider where and how you want to mount the antenna. If you need more flexibility, the Overland antenna is a great option. If your vehicle has a tubular mounting point, the OTR antenna may be a simpler choice.
3. Ease of Installation
   These boosters are relatively easy to install, especially if you’re handy. Once everything is connected and mounted, the system automatically works without any tuning or adjustments needed.

A Final Thought

Truck and overland boosters can’t create a signal where there is none, but they can make a weak, unreliable signal usable. When installed properly, they allow you to make calls, send texts, and even use data in places where you would otherwise be out of luck. If you have questions or need help choosing the right booster for your setup, feel free to call us at (888) 974-8237 and we'll be happy to answer any questions you have about truck boosters.