What are the differences between the Shakespeare SuperHALO® and the Marine SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0?
Updated
Many boaters have heard of the Shakespeare SuperHALO
(CA-VAT-10-R) cell signal booster and ask us how it compares to Powerful Signal’s Marine SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0 (TS561010) systems. This article compares these two popular solutions so you can make an informed choice about which one will work best on your boat or vessel.
Marine SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0
Shakespeare SuperHALO
Price
- Shakespeare SuperHALO: Around $1,000 (street price)
- Powerful Signal Marine SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0: $549.99 (standard kit) or $699.99 (high‑gain antenna kit)
As of the date of this comparison, the SuperHALO was offered on Amazon.com for $1,031.39, and the lowest price we could find for it on Google Shopping was $987.99.
Powerful Signal’s standard Fusion2Go marine kit with similar components to the SuperHALO is almost half the price of Shakespeare’s system. Even with an upgraded high-gain marine antenna, Powerful Signal’s system is nearly $300 less than the best SuperHALO price.
Booster
- Shakespeare SuperHALO: SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0
- Powerful Signal Marine SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0: SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0
The Shakespeare and Powerful Signal systems both use the same amplifier, the SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0. The Fusion2Go is SureCall’s mobile amplifier used in cars, trucks, RVs, and boats.
The SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0 has excellent performance for a mobile booster, with a maximum of 50 dB of gain and an average uplink power of 23.7 dB for connecting to distant cell towers. The Fusion2Go 3.0 has more uplink power in low cellular bands (699–849 MHz) than any other mobile booster we sell, which gives it better reach in weak-signal conditions.
A mobile booster like the Fusion2Go is designed to project signal only a short distance from its inside antenna. Our experience has been that 2 to 10 feet is about the typical range, depending on the strength of ambient cell signal outside.
(Online photos of the Shakespeare SuperHALO kit show it with the older SureCall Fusion2Go 2.0 with manual gain knobs. We’ve confirmed with SureCall that the SuperHALO now includes the Fusion2Go 3.0 with automatic gain control and no knobs.)
Outside donor antenna
- Shakespeare SuperHALO: Shakespeare Galaxy® 5239 cellular/WiFi antenna
- Powerful Signal Marine SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0: Top Signal 5G marine omni antenna or RFI 38″ quick-release marine whip antenna
The SuperHALO includes Shakespeare’s Galaxy 5239 antenna. This antenna is 9.25″ tall and has a frequency range of 698 to 2700 MHz with 2 to 4 dBi of gain. Shakespeare’s kit includes a stainless steel ferrule for attaching the antenna to 1×14″ threaded marine mounts.
Powerful Signal’s standard Marine SureCall Fusion2Go kit includes the Top Signal 5G marine antenna. At 9.8″ tall, it has a frequency range of 600 to 4000 MHz and 2 to 4.5 dBi of gain. It also has a stainless steel ferrule for 1×14″ marine mounts.
Our upgraded Marine SureCall Fusion2Go kit has the RFI 38″ marine whip antenna with a quick-release base and a 1×14″ threaded ferrule. This 698–2700 MHz antenna has 4.5 to 6.5 dBi of gain, with its highest gain in the lowest frequency range (698–960 MHz). That gives RFI’s antenna 2.8 times the gain of the Shakespeare or Top Signal antennas for longer-range connections to frequencies that travel the farthest and are most likely to be available far from shore.
Antenna mount
The Shakespeare SuperHALO kit includes a stainless steel flange mount (probably the Shakespeare 4710) for mounting the Galaxy antenna to a flat, horizontal, drillable surface.
Powerful Signal’s Marine SureCall Fusion2Go kits offer the stainless steel Shakespeare 4190 ratchet rail mount as an optional add‑on for $59.99. You can also purchase a marine mount separately that meets your vessel’s specific needs. (Learn more about marine antenna mounts.)
Shakespeare Galaxy (left), Top Signal 5G Marine (center) & RFI 38″ Q‑Fit Marine (right). Antennas are to scale. (Click to enlarge.)
Inside broadcast antenna
- Shakespeare SuperHALO: Shakespeare 248 W‑M panel antenna
- Powerful Signal Marine SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0: Top Signal EDGE flex‑mount panel antenna
The Shakespeare SuperHALO kit includes a traditional indoor panel antenna. This antenna mounts vertically to a wall with a bracket and screws. We were unable to locate the specifications for 248 W‑M antenna, but its performance is probably in the range of 4 to 9 dBi of gain, similar to Top Signal’s compact panel antenna.
Our Marine SureCall Fusion2Go kits feature the Top Signal EDGE flex-mount panel antenna. This antenna has 5 to 6 dBi of gain, plus four mounting options (wall-mount, ceiling-mount, adhesive-mount, and freestanding) for versatility and convenience.
Top Signal EDGE flex‑mount panel antenna (left) & Shakespeare 248 W‑M panel antenna (right).
Coax cables
- Shakespeare SuperHALO: 240-type coax cable
- Powerful Signal Marine SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0: RG58 & 195-type coax cable
The Shakespeare SuperHALO includes a 40′ and a 20′ run of white CM-240 coax cable to connect the antennas to the booster. 240-type coax is a little less flexible and requires wider bends than RG58 and 195-type coax, but it has less signal loss; because of this, the 40-foot run of 240 coax in the SuperHALO has about the same amount of loss as a 20-foot run of RG58.
Powerful Signal’s Marine SureCall Fusion2Go kits have a 10′ run of black 195-type coax from the booster to the inside broadcast antenna. Our standard kit uses a 20′ run of white RG58 coax from the outside donor antenna to the booster, while our upgraded kit with the RFI Q‑Fit antenna has a 16.4′ run of white RG58. These runs of flexible cable are usually sufficient to connect the antennas to the booster and still get enough required vertical separation between the antennas, but setup can be a little more challenging in longer or taller vessels. If you need longer runs of cable, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help you with any extensions you need.
Power supply
- Shakespeare SuperHALO: 12V DC hardwire with 18′ cable
- Powerful Signal Marine SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0: 12V DC socket with 6′ cable and 120V AC outlet with 6.5′ cable
The SuperHALO kit includes an 18′ power cable with exposed leads that connect directly to your vessel’s 12V DC power supply.
Our Marine SureCall Fusion2Go kits include both a DC 12V socket (“cigarette lighter”) power supply and a 120V AC wall outlet power supply. Along with the bonus antennas (see below), these two power supplies allow you to use the SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0 booster in your boat and in your car.
Bonus features
- Shakespeare SuperHALO: None
- Powerful Signal Marine SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0: Car antennas (2)
Powerful Signal’s Marine SureCall Fusion2Go kits include a magnet-mount antenna and an adhesive dash-mount antenna for use in a car, truck, or other vehicle. Combined with the dual power supplies in our kits (see above), you can use your SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0 booster in your boat and in your personal vehicle.
Our Marine SureCall Fusion2Go kits include magnet-mount (right) and adhesive-mount (left) antennas for use in vehicles.
Learn more
For more information about our custom SureCall Fusion2Go marine cell signal boosters, click the kit images below.
SuperHALO® and Galaxy® are registered trademarks of Shakespeare®.
