Is The weBoost Worth it?

The weBoost Drive 4G-X OTR is a really well made product. The antenna looks slick mounted on top of your rig, but is it really worth the price tag? The simple answer: yes… but it is not a replacement for an emergency communication device.

I frequently get asked: “what is that antenna thing on the top of your car?” The look is very unique, for sure, but its actual function is even better. The way I like to describe it is that you will get 2-3 bars of increased cell coverage, but don’t expect 2-3 times the browsing performance. From my experience, if you have a little service, the weBoost will increase your connectivity enough to use your phone almost as normal, but it won’t be like connecting to home WIFI. I like to explain it like this: If you have enough service to text, the weBoost will give you the ability to send an iMessage or photo message; if you have enough service to load webpages slowly, you’ll be able to surf the web almost seamlessly.

Another important thing the weBoost provides is better voice performance. You can go from not being able to connect a phone call to having no problems what so ever. They key here is that you have to have at least a little service. If you are not getting any reception, this device will not help. That is why I also advise having a backup communication device like a Garmin InReach Explorer+ or the Garmin InReach Mini in case of emergencies.

Installation is very easy. For mine, I mounted the outside antenna on the rear of my roof rack and wired the input line down through the tailgate area to the main booster box. As far as power goes, I made sure to tie the booster into a keyed power source to avoid any battery drain on my Land Rover. The inside antenna needs to be within 10 feet of your phone to work as advertised, however I have been able to see a noticeable boost from 20-25 feet away.

Lastly, the external antenna is a tough. Due to the fact that it will always stick up (unless you have a rotating mount), it will inevitably hit those overhanging tree. I have beat mine up. It has taken many hard hits, yet it functions properly and shows no cosmetic damage. It also helps that mine is mounted with the manufacturer-provided spring mount.

If you are looking for the convenience of better cell phone performance, this thing is for you. No doubt, it has been invaluable a few times during our travel.

Find the weBoost 4G-X OTR that I use here.

If you want to follow along on our journeys check out @Dirty_Discovery on Instagram. Since there is so much going on, that is usually where we end up posting the most updated stuff!