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Choosing the Right Cellular Antenna for Your Vehicle or 4WD: A Comprehensive Guide

Deciding on the best antenna for your vehicle or 4WD can significantly enhance your off-road and on-road communication capabilities. In this guide, we’ll delve into key features of various antennas to help you make an informed decision. For an in-depth look at a top recommendation, consider the Nextivity CEL-FI ROAM R41 Trucker Edge Pack, available at Powertec.

Optimising Antenna Placement

The placement of your donor antenna is crucial. Positioning it outdoors and as high as possible ensures optimal signal reception. For the best performance, including isolation between the donor and server antennas, mounting on the vehicle’s roof offers prime separation. Signal strength and isolation quality can be easily monitored with the free Cel-Fi WAVE App.

Understanding Antenna Gain

Antenna gain influences the RF pattern and signal reach:

• Low Gain (0 to 4dBi): Ideal for urban or mountainous regions where cell towers are plentiful and signals may reflect off surfaces. These antennas offer a broader beamwidth but have a shorter range.
• Medium Gain (4 to 6dBi): A versatile choice for various environments, including urban, mountainous, and rural areas.
• High Gain (6-8dBi): Best for rural, flat terrains with few obstructions, these antennas provide a narrow beamwidth for extended signal reach. In urban or mountainous areas, their effectiveness may be reduced due to the specific RF pattern requirements.

Mounting Styles

The antenna’s mounting location influences the choice of mounting style:

Magnetic Mounts

• Mounts on a metallic surface, such as the vehicle’s roof
• Can be taken on and off easily in seconds
• Suited to all types of vehicles

Spring Mounts

• Most commonly used on 4WD vehicles with bull bars
• Have a bolt on the base for hole mounting
• More rugged and better suited for corrugated or bumpy roads
• Can also be bonnet, rear door, grill or roof mounted with a fold down mount

Antenna Length Considerations

Antenna length varies from 10cm to 120cm, generally correlating with gain-the longer the antenna, the higher the potential gain. While longer antennas may require larger spring bases, shorter models are lightweight and suited for less conspicuous mounting options. It’s essential to consider your vehicle’s clearance for garages or low-clearance areas.

*Note: The Trucker EDGE and Trucker EDGE Compact models offer detachable whips, allowing for easy adaptation between flat country terrains and more challenging urban or mountainous areas. This feature enables customization based on your travel needs and location challenges.

Blackhawk Trucker EDGE
Frequency	698-960 MHz 1710-2170 MHz
Gain	6/8 dBi
Length	105cm
Cable	4m PT-240UF
Mount	Spring
Ideal for use in rural areas where the terrain is quite flat and there are long distances between cell towers. Detachable whip and made for bull bar mounting

Blackhawk Trucker EDGE Compact
Frequency	698-960 MHz 1710-2170 MHz
Gain	4/6 dBi
Length	73cm
Cable	4m PT-240UF
Mount	Spring
Ideal for use in coastal, mountainous, rural and urban areas. Detachable whip and made for bull bar mounting

Blackhawk Trucker EDGE Compact Lite
Frequency	698-960 MHz 1710-2170 MHz
Gain	4/5 dBi
Length	60cm
Cable	4m PT-240UF
Mount	Spring
Ideal for use in coastal, mountainous, rural and urban areas. Lightweight for mounting on bonnets and the rear of vehicles.

Blackhawk Trucker Mini
Frequency	698-960 MHz 1710-2700 MHz
Gain	3/5 dBi
Length	38cm
Cable	4m PT-240UF
Mount	Spring
Ideal for use in coastal, mountainous, and urban areas. Lightweight and short for mounting on bonnets and the roof of vehicles.

GME AT4705BA
Frequency	698-960 MHz 1695-2200 MHz
Gain	2.5-7.5 dBi
Length	120cm
Cable	4.8m RG58
Mount	Spring
Ideal for use in coastal, mountainous, rural and urban areas. Detachable whip and made for bull bar mounting

Pulse Magnetic
Frequency	698-960 MHz 1710-2400 MHz 2500-2700 MHz
Gain	4-5 dBi
Beamwidth	:350°
Length	7.6cm
Cable	3.5m LMR195
Mount	Magnetic
Ideal for use in coastal, mountainous, rural and urban areas. Magnetic base ideal for temporary or permanent roof mounting.