WeBoost Cellphone Booster Interfering w/ APX's

[BlackSheepDue]

Has anyone run into issues with a cellphone booster reducing the reception quality of APX's in their vehicle? Or two-way radios in general. I recently installed a Weboost Drive Reach and have noticed decreased reception quality from both my APX's and my FM radio. With my FM radio it's more obvious. Sometimes, you can hear a change in background static when turning the booster on and off. With my APX's it's not as obvious but during my travels over the weekend it seemed like they struggled in places I don't usually have issues and the places I do have issues expanded in area if that makes sense. I followed the install in structures on the booster and placed the exterior antenna 12" from any other antennas. I already have 4 antennas on the roof so there isn't a lot of space to get much more separation than that. I'm not sure what else I can try but I'm open to suggestions and also just curious if anyone else has experienced this.

 

[mmckenna]

It's a bi-directional amplifier, and they can generate noise. I'd recommend trying the antenna in different locations to see if it changes the symptoms. 12 inches of separation may not be enough.

Also, look at your power sources for the device.

 

[BlackSheepDue]

Easy enough to move it around so I'll try that. As for the power source, right now I just have it running off a usb to 12v adapter off the rear of the center console to see how I like it before I permanently install it. The permanent install would also likely include swapping the exterior mag mount antenna for a NMO mount and moving it to the center of the back rack which would increase separation between antennas.

 

[mmckenna]

Easy enough to move it around so I'll try that. As for the power source, right now I just have it running off a usb to 12v adapter off the rear of the center console to see how I like it before I permanently install it.

12v to USB adapters are notorious noise makers. I'll be that is at least part of your problem. Clean 12 volts is the way to go.

The permanent install would also likely include swapping the exterior mag mount antenna for a NMO mount and moving it to the center of the back rack which would increase separation between antennas.

Good idea. Last time used one of these (early 2000's) I had a permanent mount NMO antenna and it worked well, looked good.

 

[BlackSheepDue]

Yeah, I had a feeling the 12v to usb adapters were part of the problem. Most annoyingly my truck only has USB or USB-C, no 12v outlets. I can hard wire the cellphone booster easy enough but I have another usb to 12v adapter for the gps that controls my BCD536hp scanner. For some strange reason if you cut that and hard wire it, it will not work. The 12v plug has to remain intact so I'm not sure I have a way to eliminate that adapter.

 

[mmckenna]

Yeah, I had a feeling the 12v to usb adapters were part of the problem. Most annoyingly my truck only has USB or USB-C, no 12v outlets. I can hard wire the cellphone booster easy enough but I have another usb to 12v adapter for the gps that controls my BCD536hp scanner. For some strange reason if you cut that and hard wire it, it will not work. The 12v plug has to remain intact so I'm not sure I have a way to eliminate that adapter.

My son had a Nintendo Switch that ran off USB. On a long road trip, I noticed the tire pressure warning kept going off. All tires were fine. I tried unplugging his Switch charger and the issue resolved. Some of the cigarette lighter USB chargers are OK, some are awful. Might want to try some other ones.

Year and years ago I had a Kenwood TM-D710 radio that needed the GPS. The GPS I had needed 5 volts. Since I hate temporary looking installs, i built a 12v - 5v power regulator and permanently wired it. Didn't have any issues with that.



I think between the USB adapters and the antenna placement, you might be able to find a happy place where this works.

 

[BlackSheepDue]

would something like this create less noise that the usb to 12v adapter? https://www.amazon.com/CUZEC-Adapte...e+cigarette+plug+hardwire,aps,71&sr=8-10&th=1

 

[n7maq-1]

Kenwood Canada did a good video on RFI from 12 Volt USB chargers 7 years ago, it has only got worse since then.

 

[mmckenna]

would something like this create less noise that the usb to 12v adapter? https://www.amazon.com/CUZEC-Adapter-Socket-Eyelet-Terminal/dp/B07HF4DSSV/ref=sr_1_10?crid=3PA66TP80ZMWQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pxlRTGyjWttF5AmQWNGTWT-763PZ814RLAEiwPZCft6l0Tx2WrG9XNAQIR6uL3r0g1I6rO5mbfQUZZgEFwW6xIiQnr3qkIF2HGcmvBRt5p4.kHR2BN2NGEkMuxPSjh5oMH3W7eZTpK9IIN1vmLR0EdA&dib_tag=se&keywords=12v+female+cigarette+plug+hardwire&qid=1759256878&sprefix=12v+female+cigarette+plug+hardwire,aps,71&sr=8-10&th=1

No, that just moves the connection point.

Looks like there were differences in the models, some are 5 volts/USB, some are 12 volts. If you have the 12 volt model, they have a hard wire kit:

Hardwire Power Supply 12V DC/DC | weBoost

If you have a 5 volt/USB model, then you'd need to find another solution.
But I'd be surprised if Wilson shipped noisy USB/5 volt adapters with these things. If USB adapter is the issue, it might be the one for your GPS. Try unplugging that as part of your troubleshooting. The combination of a noise USB adapter and the bi-directional amplifier is a recipe for disaster.

 

[MTS2000des]

BDA donor and distribution antennas should be as far away as possible from anything else that generates or relies on RF. Especially those broadband WeBoost amps. Now imagine one of those noise generators on the uplink of your control channel of your trunking system. See why I HATE them?

 

[BlackSheepDue]

No, that just moves the connection point.

Looks like there were differences in the models, some are 5 volts/USB, some are 12 volts. If you have the 12 volt model, they have a hard wire kit:

Hardwire Power Supply 12V DC/DC | weBoost

If you have a 5 volt/USB model, then you'd need to find another solution.
But I'd be surprised if Wilson shipped noisy USB/5 volt adapters with these things. If USB adapter is the issue, it might be the one for your GPS. Try unplugging that as part of your troubleshooting. The combination of a noise USB adapter and the bi-directional amplifier is a recipe for disaster.

Thanks for pointing out that hardwire kit for the cellphone booster, I'll definitely go that route. It just dawned on me that I haven't tried unplugging the gps so I'll do that on my drive home from the office shortly and see if that makes a difference. I've contemplated pulling the scanner out all together and replacing it with a 3rd apx so this may accelerate that plan.

 

[OpSec]

These things should be illegal.

All they are is a wideband noise amplifier. If you have a noisy power source (as mentioned above) to boot, you're essentially purposely causing your LMR radio to suffer for no good reason.

 

[BlackSheepDue]

These things should be illegal.

All they are is a wideband noise amplifier. If you have a noisy power source (as mentioned above) to boot, you're essentially purposely causing your LMR radio to suffer for no good reason.

I don't plan to use it often; there are just a couple spots on my regular commute that I drop phone calls which can be very annoying. I only plan to have it on if I'm actually on the phone in these areas or somewhere else I happen to have poor reception. I never intended to have this setup for long, but I wanted to see if the booster would do what I wanted before spending the time and money to install it right. I had very good help to make sure everything in this truck was done right so I'm asking questions to make sure the cellphone booster is no different.

 

[MTS2000des]

Sounds like the pain of being a Verizon customer, the 1 bar army. Honestly a dual SIM setup with a second carrier may be a better option, iPhones support dual SIM and do something really neat: when the 1 bar army drops out, it will use "WiFi calling" on the second SIM and you still get calls from your SIM1 line using data.

 

[BlackSheepDue]

No, that just moves the connection point.

Looks like there were differences in the models, some are 5 volts/USB, some are 12 volts. If you have the 12 volt model, they have a hard wire kit:

Hardwire Power Supply 12V DC/DC | weBoost

If you have a 5 volt/USB model, then you'd need to find another solution.
But I'd be surprised if Wilson shipped noisy USB/5 volt adapters with these things. If USB adapter is the issue, it might be the one for your GPS. Try unplugging that as part of your troubleshooting. The combination of a noise USB adapter and the bi-directional amplifier is a recipe for disaster.

Unplugging both usb to 12v adapters made a world of difference, that was definitely my problem. Powering the cellphone booster will be easy, as for the gps I’m not sure what I’ll do. At the very least I got to the root of my problems so thank you.

 

[mmckenna]

Unplugging both usb to 12v adapters made a world of difference, that was definitely my problem. Powering the cellphone booster will be easy, as for the gps I’m not sure what I’ll do. At the very least I got to the root of my problems so thank you.

Glad that worked.

Many of those cigarette lighter USB adapters are the typical Chinese trash RF generators that make life difficult. Finding a good quality one is really hit and miss. Would be nice if there was some part of the federal government that actually did their job and kept RF radiators like this in check rather than doing stupid political crap. <cough> FCC <cough>

As for powering the GPS, if you can share the make/model, maybe we can assist. If it's possible to break out the power feed, a small 12v to 5v convertor might be the solution.

 

[BlackSheepDue]

It's the uniden BC-GPSK which it doesn't look like they make anymore. Someone provided a pdf with a bit of information on it here though: BC-GPSK Manual in PDF version

For what it's worth, this is what uniden is now selling: Serial GPS Receiver for Uniden Scanners
Not sure if this would be any easier to power cleanly.

 

[mmckenna]

Doesn't look like there's much technical data on those. Probably a way to either booger together a replacement power supply, or find a GPS that could be interfaced easier without all those adapters.

 

[12dbsinad]

Unplugging both usb to 12v adapters made a world of difference, that was definitely my problem. Powering the cellphone booster will be easy, as for the gps I’m not sure what I’ll do. At the very least I got to the root of my problems so thank you.

I would assume the GPS converter is built into the 12v plug? Is so, just wire a female 12v outlet and bury it in the truck somewhere. Usually plenty of room near the driver/pass dash side panels to hide something but still easily accessible. Easy peasy and cheap.