I will be using this on a 52' catamaran sailboat . Mast is 78' off water. 1) should I mount antenna on top of mast or at the spreaders (about 50') off water)? 2) the boat will be used primarily in the Bahamas (Bahamas telecom) and throughout the Caribbean, most of which is GSM. Our cell service is ATT is GSM and we use iPhones and iPads. Will this product perform the same in these areas? Thanks, Doug Campbell

Most people would install it on the mast to get the elevation needed for isolation and better signal. Yes, it will definitely work for BTC (Bahama Telecom).

I hope to using this product for rv usage . What is the range on the internal antenna? Also outside the rv?

Shakespeare Superhalo Panel antenna range can vary greatly depending upon outside signal strength. That being said, we can safety assume that it will provide atleast 25 feet to 100 feet of boosted coverage inside RV in most instances. It is designed for coverage inside RV so no specs available for outside RV. However, unidirectional Panel antenna included with this kit is the most powerful antenna that exists so if there is a way for signal to radiate outside, it would be with this signal booster kit! I would expect most signal improvement outside in the opposide side of where this interior directional antenna will be installed.

I work on the offshore in Mexico maybe 30 miles from land this shakespeare super halo can reach that far? can it supply the local cell service TELCEL? thanks.

Please check this link to confirm this kit will work for you: https://www.signalbooster.com/pages/mexico

How does the antenna booster help streaming applications like Skype?

Yes, if you're using cellular network for streaming apps like Skype, interior antenna will broadcast stronger signals within its range or vicinity to speed up wireless data transfer. Within and around inside antenna range, all mobile devices with an active SIM card would experience better and consistent connectivity to nearest transmitter resulting in clearer calls and faster Internet.

These are questions regarding the Shakespeare Super Halo Marine Cellular booster to be installed on a 38 foot trawler: 1. Can internal panel antenna be placed inside a cabinet or behind a wooden cabinet door without sacrificing signal strength? 2. Does internal panel antenna have to be line of sight to the device being used? I.e., will internal panel signal go around corners or through a bulkhead to reach the main salon from the pilothouse or vice-versa? 3. Is it possible to split the signal from the amplifier and install an extra internal panel antenna; i.e., one in the pilothouse and one in the salon?

1. Yes, interior antenna may be placed inside a cabinet because wood does not block signals significantly. While it is best to not install enclosed in wooden cabinet, it has been done without significant signal loss as long as outside antenna captures enough signal.

2. While interior antenna is a directional Panel antenna, the signals from it can penetrate through walls and vice versa. Obviously, the signals will dampen to an extent depending on the material composite of such walls, but they can penetrate fine (similar to # 1 situation) as long as outside signal feeding signal amplifier is strong enough. They will generally project most signal in one direction with wide beamwidth of 120 degrees (vertical beamwidth of 100 degrees). It will not project it outside of the one hundred twenty degrees beamwith range.

3. Yes, it is possible to split the signal from amplifier to distribute to more areas by purchasing 50 Ohm interior antenna expansion kit. However, know that as long as outside signal feeding to signal amplifier is strong enough, the booster will have enough to distribute signal - otherwise, the distance covered by each interior antenna will decrease significantly.

Therefore, the key here is to place exterior antenna in a very unobtrusive manner with three hundred and sixty degrees clearance all around so that it can catch maximum signals to feed to signal amplifier which can then easily amplify them greatly to distribute them over all needed areas indoors via one or more interior antennas placed in most suitable places per your requirements.

Does a VHF radio antenna and coax wire have a separation minimum to the Super Halo antenna and wire? Want to avoid any conflicts or interference.

No issues with proximity for vhf radio, cable, and antenna. You do not want super halo antenna in plane of radar, though. On another note, super halo interior and exterior antennas need a minimum of 6 feet of separation. Notable tip: Inside antenna should not be aimed at outside antenna.

I have a Shakespeare Super Halo cellar booster installed on my sailboat. I’m not confidant that I am getting a boosted signal. My unit was installed by MTS a Maryland based marine electronics installation and service company. In reading up on boosters I came across an article in which mentions that I need to register my booster with my carriers (Verizon and AT&T). Do I need to register my unit? What system numbers does my carrier need to complete the registration?

Registration with Carrier has no bearing on the fuctionality of this, or any signal booster.

Yes, you can contact your Carrier and register booster kit by providing your contact information and the serial number of the signal amplifier located on the main booster unit. That is for a totally different purpose as explained at cell booster registration guide.

To ensure you're getting boosted signal, go by your phone's field test mode because signal bars are not accurate. To make sure it works perfectly, please make sure that there's adequate separation between exterior and interior antennae to prevent oscillation or feedback.

The troubleshooting guide within your user manual will guide you regarding this and what other reasons or factors the LED indicator lights may indicate if any problem.

Does this work with Skyroam Solis X?

Yes, it boosts signal for that, as well as all other cellular devices such as smartphones, tablets, mobile hotspots that operate on all cellular networks.

I currently have Visible for my cell phone provider, I do not see them on your list. Was this an oversight or will I need a new provider to use your system?

No worries, it works with all cell phone providers, including Visible. There're just too many M V N O's so we cannot list them all at all product listings.

I have installed the Shakespeare super halo. While the cell boost signal seems improved in known locations without service, the cellular light is flashing green. The LTE-A is flashing green. Antenna is approx 12 feet from the inside antenna. Is this normal?

Yes, it is normal. Usually we suggest keeping maximum possible distance between interior and exterior antennas unless there's barrier in between that blocks signals to prevent oscillation. But nothing to worry about if green light is flashing because that merely indicates signal amplifier's automatic gain control is functioning to successfully stabilize the signal entering from outside antenna. If you want to get into more details about lights that light up solid green, flashing green, amber / yellow/ orange, flashing amber / yellow/ orange, red, flashing red and what they indicate is happening with the system: https://www.signalbooster.com/blogs/news/meanings-of-signal-booster-indicator-lights-red-orange-and-green

The description says it boosts voice, text 3G, 4G LTE, does that mean it boosts data as well? Not clear to me. Thanks!

Yes, that means it boosts data too. Thank you.

We're looking for a way to limit the number of users in a situation where there may be as many as 25 cell phones within range of our Super Halo system (when it is using the inside wide area antenna). The thoughts were to limit the users by connecting to a shorter range patch antenna or inserting the appropriate attenuation in series with the existing inside wide area antenna. From your on-line operating manual it appeared the system came with both an inside wide area antenna as well as a patch antenna. The unit we received from you only contains the wide area antenna, hence the question as to which patch antenna should be purchased if this is indeed a solution. Perhaps this is nothing to be concerned with, however, we like to fully understand the details of all the systems on our vessel.

There would be no way to limit the number of users on the SuperHalo, as it is just amplifying the existing cell signal.

No action is needed on the phone to connect. The device would just see a boosted signal. Only 6-7 users can be in the boosted zone, or the signal will be diluted and no amplification can be seen.

As far as the patch antenna goes, you should have received in the SuperHalo kit. It is very small and easy to overlook it so please look in the box that the amplifier came in - search under the white foam. It should be there. This antenna would be for data only and not for voice. It is also available for sale separately at https://www.signalbooster.com/products/in-vehicle-patch-antenna-698-2700-mhz-w-fme-female-connector-sc-110w

The device would need to be as close to the patch antenna as possible and have the mobile hotspot turned on, to serve as the hub. You could then have it password protected on the hotspot network to limit the number of users.

What is the best way to limit the range to cell phones when using Super Halo when in a marina - patch antenna (which one), attenuators on the inside antenna?

Sorry your question is not clear. Please call us to clarify what you mean when you say you want to limit range to cell phones when in Marina?

Keeping the signal amplifier turned on is not going to cause you to lose any data from your cellular plan nor have any security risk related to your cellular carrier account.

The cellular amplifying system is merely catching available free mobile signals outside from nearest cell tower and amplifying them so they can be accessed from inside by your phone or those of others in the boat and even your guests that come inside the boat/yacht - whoever has a paid SIM card in their wireless device to use only their own plan-allotted talk and data features.

If you don't want the cell phone signal booster to work when not needed such as when docked at a Marina to save power, you can simply turn off the power switch on the main base unit or unplug the power cord. It will then not consume any electricity or battery power.

The panel antenna broadcasts most signal covering greatest amount of area inside. Due to the enclosure of the boat which blocks signals, the signals from Panel antenna would not benefit cell phone users outside the boat on Marina. The patch antenna, if used, provides only up to 4 feet of improved coverage near it so it cannot help anyone outside the boat anyway.

Please contact us if this does not fully answer your question. Thank you.

2 questions: 1) Is it manual or auto gain on the cell phone signal booster? 2) Please confirm that it is a 40 ft. cable from outside antenna?

No problem, answers to your questions are as follows:

1. Yes, it has auto gain adjustment as of units ordered in 2019 to current date May 5, 2020 and expect to be the same in future. Prior to 2019, they only had manual gain adjustment option.

Yes, this kit comes with a 40 feet (outside antenna to booster) cable and 20 feet coax cable for booster to inside antenna.

Will this product work with a 5G system?

Technically, this will not boost all frequencies that will be used for 5G by various Carriers in the future. It does boost frequencies used by AT&T on their fast network dubbed, "5G-E". Nevertheless, please note that wherever 5G signal is weak or unavailable, 5G cell devices like phones and tablets will, by default, switch to 4G network and this signal booster will help during those instances when 4G is weak as well. Therefore, this is considered "5G ready" for the next decade and beyond. As far as we know, 5G will not replace 4G completely - 5G will simply complement 4G. Secondly, 5G frequencies being in higher range (high-band 5G uses frequencies of 25 thru 39 GHz, near the bottom of the millimeter wave band), their signals cannot travel as far from transmitters as low-band 4G frequency signals can (700 MHz - 2.7 GHz) - therefore, 5G signals will be very difficult to catch offshore making this device very useful.

The coax came out of the connector on exterior antenna (shrink tube remained on connector). Is this a connector that should be crimped or is it compression? I have not yet removed the shrink tube and looked, the bare end of wire doesn't show any indications of crimping. I imagine this is why it didn't seem to add to my cell signal. I can make the repair, just need to know what direction to go. My question is specifically about crimping the connector onto the cable so it doesn't come out again. No soldering necessary as you can see in the picture as it will go right back into place. Obviously I removed the shrink tube.

Sorry, the connector would need to be soldered back on if not damaged. If not good at soldering, sorry, the cable will need to be replaced. But it seems that the connector is what is damaged. It would need to be replaced. It is an N connector for CM240 cable. It is best to buy a new complete cable, with the connector factory installed.

Do you have an extension kit for the cable that goes from the antenna to the control box? Our mast is 65' and we'd like to mount at the top of the mast. With only a 40' cable, it won't make all the way to the control box inside the boat. Thanks!

Sorry, we do not recommend a cable longer than 40 ft. - especially from exterior antenna to signal amplifier unit. That exterior antenna does not have to be fixed at maximum height on the mast. You can install it lower on the mast as needed to make the cable reach the base signal amp. unit. The reason for not lengthening that cable run is that cables incur signal attenuation ranging from 8.58dB @ 900 MHz to 14.55dB @ 2500 MHz for every 100 ft. of cable depending on the frequency. That is a significant loss in signal that your cellular amplifier will receive to work with, in order to boost and broadcast signal over areas it is needed. It would practically negate the signal possibly received by amplifier negating it benefit of the kit itself in most instances offshore where cell tower is significantly far away. Please contact us if you still need help regarding your specific situation. Thank you.

I have a few questions regarding the Shakespeare Super Halo cell booster: 1. We have a private yacht that isn't based in US/Canada (it is Canada flag but not actually in Canada). Right now the boat is in Bahamas and eastern Caribbean, but eventually we will go back to Central America and South Pacific. This device says it works with every carrier in US/Canada - is there a product that will work with worldwide carriers? 2. What is the difference between your device and others with same model number of CA-VAT-10-R)? 3. Our cell phones are with a Canadian provider. When using a device such as this we will be nowhere near Canada. Do we still register with our Canadian cell provider? 4. Does the antenna interfere with any other antennas - GPS, VHF radio, SSB radio, marine Automatic Identification Systems, Satellite, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon PLB), etc? We would probably install the antenna on one of our mast spreaders about 25-30 feet from the deck. This is away from VHF/GPS/SSB but possibly near satellite. Top of mast has a VHF antenna. EPIRB/PLB would be at least 30 feet away on deck. Thank you very much for your help. We're really interested in this (or similar) product but want to make sure it will meet our long term needs as the boat isn't based in the US/Canada. Any suggestions you have are appreciated.

Here're the responses to your questions:

1. Since you have phones from Canadian carriers, they will receive reception boost regardless of which foreign roaming partners your Canadian Carriers have roaming agreements with.

2. No difference - We offer the lowest price to save you money.

3. No registration required with Canadian wireless service providers. That requirement only applies to USA citizens and residents living or using cell phone boosters in and around USA.

4. No, antenna that comes with this cellular kit will not interfere with other antennas. If its cable is bundled with other components cables, there could be RF bleed, but even that is highly unlikely.

Please contact us if you have more questions you would like answered right away. Thank you for your anticipated business.

I work on a survey vessel with 35+ people on board if we acquire this unit for our vessel will only 7 crew be able to receive cell reception at any one time? If so is there a priority order i.e. the first seven people to connect to it will prohibit other users receiving cell reception within range of the signal booster?

Sorry, that 7+ simultaneous users statement is only a rough estimate of number of cell device users that will constantly and realistically be within boosted coverage space in path of interior Panel directional antenna, all the time.

This powerful marine cellular amplifier has no stated limit to the number of cellular devices that can be within up to 5000 sq. ft. coverage range of interior Panel antenna to get boosted signals simultaneously. That 5,000 square feet upper limit is based on strong signal outside (5 bars) where exterior antenna will be placed.  However, that "no limit" number for simultaneous number of users may vary or depend greatly upon the strength of outside signal because stronger the signal outside, larger the coverage area inside, and higher the number of devices that will be encompassed in that coverage range area. Therefore, to put it simply, laws of physics will determine how many users would fit into that coverage area range. As long as the mobile device is in the coverage range, it will get stronger signal - i.e. more antenna signal bars displayed. Please note that checking signal strength in Decibels is a more precise method to check actual, realtime, signal strength received by a phone.

There's no priority order - whichever cell device is within broadcasted signal area range of interior Panel antenna will realize stronger signal connectivity. 

Basically, if you picture the way this kit works it will be vey easy to understand: Exterior antenna catches signals from faraway cell towers. That signal is transmitted to the signal amplifier. That signal amplifier amplifies the signal many fold and transmits it to the interior antenna which then broadcasts that amplified signal to areas where cell users need better signals to use their devices.

I bought a marine cell phone booster and it is no good because the coverage range is only about 5 feet from interior antenna! How much coverage can this kit give inside a big boat?

It seems you have a cellular amplifier kit which is made for vehicles, not specifically designed for marine vessels like boats and ships. Car cell boosters such as the one you described have a typical candy bar shaped internal antenna which does not have much square footage range that you need.

In addition to powerful exterior weather proof antenna, this cell phone booster kit designed specifically for marine vessels has an interior "Panel antenna" which gives much more powerful signal for larger square footage coverage range within such large transports. These are also used by many for their recreational vehicle with much more room inside than typical cars and trucks. 

However, we're sorry, we cannot predict with accurancy how many sq. ft. coverage it will provide because that depends upon the strength of signal its outside antenna can catch. It may give 50 sq. ft. or 5000 sq. ft. Far better than the 4-5 sq. ft. your slim antenna provides you now. It is safe to say that this kit will provide most inside coverage than any other kit we carry for large interior spaces in a moving transport vessel or vehicle.