Hi Kevin,
OK, I'm starting to come out of the fog. I THINK what you are saying is, the multi-mode antenna provided by Max Marine (for instance-there's LOTS of WiFi booster on the market) receives LTE (4G) cellular signals from whomever your local provider is has increased gain over a typical cell phone. This part of communications physics extends effective cellular data range in itself. Roger, roger. I am in full agreement with that part of the logic.
The Max Marine system includes a downstream signal amplifier for this LTE data. So now, the received LTE signal is amplified (obviously done within a typical cell phone as well) and then passed to the Max Marine router, which purports to have a superior radio (i.e.-more sensitivity) than cellphones. The router then creates a virtual "hotspot" (converts the LTE data into a WiFi signal), and re-transmits this WiFi throughout your boat. All this technology comes with a cost (about $1300, I think). And now I'm still left with my cellphone, now sitting useless in my pocket. I believe you agree that WiFi boosters DO NOT extend effective voice range of our cellphones, so are of little value should one need voice as well as data out in the sticks.
OK, so how does this differ from using a cellular booster (like this
Wilson weBoost 470103 Connect 4G Cell Phone Booster) for ~$600 to amplify the incoming LTE data to my cellphone, which can then generate a hotspot strong enough to provide useful WiFi data to whatever device I desire to use for WWW connectivity on my boat, and voice as well?
I get that the radio in something like the Max Marine router may well be superior to (have better sensitivity) than that in my smartphone, but that is NOT a virtue that is emphasized in ANY WiFi booster system I'm familiar with. And I seriously doubt Max Marine builds their OWN radios (at the chip level, at least), probably using open-source processors, chip sets, and operating systems similar to other cellular manufacturers. A "better" radio than Apple's (for instance)? I'm still a doubter. Show me some vetted test results to back THIS claim.
I also get the multi-SIM advantage of that particular router, but that's simply a bell and whistle to me. I know when I'm crossing an international border, and (assuming I understand and are hooked up with the "provider de jour" in-country) can change SIM cards in a heartbeat, or take advantage of international plans on my home-town cellular provider when roaming OCONUS.
No argument that if one is within range of an open WiFi network (like free marina WiFi, for instance), that a WiFi booster can improve data throughput as a side-benefit to this technology. Again, another bell and whistle for me.
I'm (obviously) NOT very knowledgeable regarding cellular and/or WiFi technology, as I'm not a telecommunications engineer. But I'm trainable! I'm somewhat frustrated in trying to find a "communications broker" that can assess my particular situation, and recommend non-partisan hardware and software solutions to me. Your (and everyone else's as well) efforts to do so are much appreciated, and please don't construe my comments here as derogatory or argumentative in the slightest. Communicating in the English language is hard for me, especially when it's coming from MTF (my two fingers). And I believe honest, sincere, and polite discourse is healthy. But then I'm not a politician...
Regards,
Pete