REVIEW – After moving to the desert, I have been doing a lot of traveling to visit friends and family. I’m fortunate enough to have a remote job, where all I need is an internet connection to be able to do my work. That sounds like unlimited freedom…until I’m in a spot with weak coverage or non-existent cell service. Then my options become very constraining. Will the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Cellular Signal Booster help me avoid these constraints and truly work remotely? Spoiler alert…absolutely!
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $589.99 $439.99
Where to buy: HiBoost and Amazon
What is it?
The HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster increases the cell phone signal in areas where signals are very weak. This works for all US carriers and supports 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G networks and is FCC approved.
What’s included?
- HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Cellular Signal Booster
- Outdoor Omni-Directional Antenna
- Indoor Antenna
- DC Power Supply
- Outside 15ft Cable
- Folding Antenna Mount Bracket
- Extension Poles
- Mounting Accessories
- User Manual
Tech specs
Working Bands: Band12/13/5/25-2/4Working Bands: Band12/13/5/25-2/4
Networks: 3G/4G LTE/5G (FCC Approved)
UL Frequency Range: 698-716/776-787/824-849/1850-11915/1710-1755
DL Frequency Range: 728-746/746-757/8690894/1930-1995/2110-2155
Supported Standards: CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, EDGE, HSPA+, EVDO, LTE, and all other cellular standards
Maximum Gain: 50 dB
Maximum Output Power: UL 22 dBm, DL 0 dBm
I/O Port: RPSMA-K/SMA-Female
Impedance: 50 ohm
Dimensions: 6.5″ x 4.7″ x 1.9″
Weight: ≥ 2.6 lbs / 1.2 kg
Power Supply: Input DC12-24V, Output DC12V-24V/3A
Support Carriers: All US Carriers
Booster Case: Metal & TPU
Warranty: 3 years
Design and features
I was excited to review the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster. As mentioned above, I have been doing a lot of traveling, and I’m allowed to work on the road, but I need coverage to do that. I knew of a few places right off the top of my head that had always given me trouble, and I was eager to test the possibilities.
The HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Cellular Signal Booster is specifically aimed at the overlanding crowd and those who travel off the beaten path. The outside antenna is designed for offload and harsh weather. It is stated to be waterproof, corrosion-resistant, and high-temperature resistant (perfect for my life adventures in the desert). The outside antenna is also capable of being rotated 180º at approximately 45º increments.
Moving to the interior, the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster can be charged by the included DC adapter (12V socket) or via USB-C. The DC adapter does have a pass-through USB-A port to power other devices, as well as an off/on switch, so you don’t need to disconnect and reconnect the adapter. And it looks like the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster only draws 12W of power. Here are what the LED status lights mean:
The other interior component is the inside antenna. This is a flat-ish rectangle that takes the boosted signal and allows for better connectivity inside the vehicle. Multiple devices can connect to the increased signal, but as noted below, when I put the inside antenna up against a device, the coverage was even better.
Assembly, Installation, Setup
Although the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster comes with a lot of parts, it’s straightforward to put things together and get up and running quickly. I think it took me less than 30 minutes to get everything pieced together and loosely situated in my truck to do my review.
The included manual is clear, and I didn’t have to guess which pieces fit where. Basically:
- Build the outside antenna (screw the extension poles and cable outlet piece into the spring and then into the folding mounting bracket)
- Mount the outside antenna
- Connect the outside antenna to the booster
- Connect the DC power and the inside antenna to the booster
- Turn on the booster, install the app, and see the benefits
My truck didn’t really have a great place to mount the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster because of my hard tri-fold tonneau cover. I picked up a box of 60lbs magnets from Amazon, and when attached to the folding mounting bracket, I had something reasonable to work with.
For the best performance, mount the outside antenna as high as possible and as far away from where the internal antenna will be used to reduce interference. I was able to use the magnetic mount and attach the outside antenna to the back corner of my roof on the passenger side. Then I snaked the cable along my door jam and under the seat to connect to the booster, which was placed right behind the center armrest. The internal antenna was placed up near my dashboard. This worked for me.
Quick note on the magnetic option: the antenna stayed in place when the antenna was folded down, parallel to the roof line. I drove 90 miles, getting up to 75-ish MPH, and the antenna stayed put. But if the antenna is upright, it’s going to fall off. I think the magnetic solution is great when using the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster at a campsite or someplace stationary.
I did pick up a universal roof rack for my truck that I was able to use the included T-slot setup for. This was a lot more sturdy and reliable. I did not have any issues with the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster falling off, but I did have issues with the roof rack!
So I found vehicle-specific cross rails for our Subaru Crosstrek and was able to use the included brackets and mounting hardware to attach the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster. I will probably modify the mounting option as the included version doesn’t fit too well on the thicker cross rails.
Performance
I found that the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster just worked! There is about 15 15-mile stretch of road between Las Vegas and Bullhead City where I always lose signal, and my calls drop, and I’m unable to text. After installing the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster, it was time for a mini road trip!
At first, I pulled over when I got down to 1 bar on my iPhone. I released the knob to stand the outside antenna upright, and turned on the booster by pressing the button on the DC adapter (I kept the adapter plugged in at all times). I went from 1 bar to 4 bars! Interestingly, my wife’s iPhone showed ‘SOS’ (no cellular coverage), and she got to 2 bars. But if I held the inside antenna to the back of her phone, she got up to 4 bars! The literature does state that at least some coverage is needed; the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster won’t boost what’s not there.
Here are some screenshots showing performance, and although the numbers get nerdy, just know that I experienced improvement every time.
I did drive from Vegas to California, and usually, I would have a few dropouts, but even with the outside antenna down (parallel to the roof line), I stayed connected the entire trip.
Final thoughts
The HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Truck Booster will be installed on whichever vehicle we take on our road trips! It’s that beneficial, and I look forward to staying connected while venturing further down unpaved roads.
HiBoost does have models that cater more toward semi trucks, RVs, and even off-grid cabins. There’s a solution available for whatever type of condition you need.
What I like about the HiBoost Travel 3.0 ExplorerX Cellular Signal Booster
- It WORKS!!!
- Rotating outside antenna
- Low power consumption
- Can be powered via USB-C
What needs to be improved?
- Would like an indicator on the DC plug for when the booster is on
Price: $589.99 $439.99
Where to buy: HiBoost and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by HiBoost. HiBoost did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
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