Need Something To Boost Cell Signal

[Horse Fork Farm]

Unfortunately we are both low tech people here and we know nothing about this! The problem is that we live out so far, and then down in between two mountains. If we drive about a mile and pull over on the top of the mountain we can use the cell phone.

The real problem is that our land line is a joke. Our service is out more than its on. If we needed an ambulance or something in the way of help, we'd be in real trouble! So I looked up cell phone boosters/antennas etc... and I got even more confused. Can someone tell me what it is that I should be looking at to help me find signal at home? Thanks for the help.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Here's an article with info:
http://www.ehelpfultips.com/how_to_g..._phone_rec.htm

We went to Radio Shack and got a system to transfer the signal into the house.

It has an antenna on the roof, a cable that runs from that into the house to a transmitter box, and that broadcasts the signal in the house.

It cost about $350.

Take your cell phone with you so they can select the right system for your phone.

This all assumes that the signal CAN reach your house.

[houndlover]

Microcell maybe? Call your cell company.

[deaconjim]

If you have broadband internet and are a Verizon customer, you can get a Network Extender that connects to your modem and acts as a mini cell tower inside your house. I've been using one for a couple of years now, and it works great. The cost is about $250 up front with no monthly charges.

[lonelytree]

I cannot get any internet or cell phone at my cabin. I do have VHF radio. It is a good thing.

[seagullplayer]

Don't call this crazy till you try it.

I am able to rest my Nokia straight talk phone against an empty aluminum pop can and sent and receive text when I could not otherwise. Simple to try, just lean it next to a can and look at your bars. Mine will go from zero to one or maybe two at our house. Enough for text, but not enough to make a call.

[10ecn]

My signal is stronger when I use a plug in hands free earphone. Must be the wire.

[cfabe]

The boosters that are available for a few hundred dollars do work if you have a usable signal outside the house. If you can get up on the roof and make a good phone call, they will probably work for you. I would also suggest calling your cell phone company to see if they have any suggestions. Also, consider if another company might have better coverage.

If you are really "down between two mountians" you might not get any cell service at all. I'd consider looking into a VHF or CB radio, contact your local law enforcement to see if they monitor any emergency frequencies you could contact them on, like CB-9.

[ronbre]

i use a wilson signal booster, we have them for house and car

[sidepasser]

Originally Posted by Heartstrings

Unfortunately we are both low tech people here and we know nothing about this! The problem is that we live out so far, and then down in between two mountains. If we drive about a mile and pull over on the top of the mountain we can use the cell phone.

The real problem is that our land line is a joke. Our service is out more than its on. If we needed an ambulance or something in the way of help, we'd be in real trouble! So I looked up cell phone boosters/antennas etc... and I got even more confused. Can someone tell me what it is that I should be looking at to help me find signal at home? Thanks for the help.

Who is your provider? I would contact the provider and ask them if they can provide a signal booster for you. Many will, such as Verizon, Sprint and ATT.

Here's a link that describes the unit:

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/wireless...news-3354.html

[BScout]

Since you have internet, is VOIP an option? I can't recommend any particular brands that are really cheap, but I'm thinking of something I see on TV like MagicJack.

[HDRider]

I use a micro cell device from AT&T, actually Cisco makes it. You need internet for it to work.

It was a fight, but AT&T "gave" me the device for free. Notice the word fight, it was not easy to get it for free.

[wife89]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Here's an article with info:
http://www.ehelpfultips.com/how_to_g..._phone_rec.htm

We went to Radio Shack and got a system to transfer the signal into the house.

It has an antenna on the roof, a cable that runs from that into the house to a transmitter box, and that broadcasts the signal in the house.

It cost about $350.

Take your cell phone with you so they can select the right system for your phone.

This all assumes that the signal CAN reach your house.

This is what we have. My dad sells them and sent one to me when my service kept cutting out while he was talking to me Anyway, it works pretty good, but we are also between two hills. My son jokes because we get better service in our woods, which are on a hill, than we do in the house. Kinda sad really. But check out what Alice suggested. My dad uses his at his camp which is out in the middle of the swamp and it works wonderfully. That is who he sells his to. All the LA swamp people.....

[HDRider]

Originally Posted by wife89

This is what we have. My dad sells them and sent one to me when my service kept cutting out while he was talking to me Anyway, it works pretty good, but we are also between two hills. My son jokes because we get better service in our woods, which are on a hill, than we do in the house. Kinda sad really. But check out what Alice suggested. My dad uses his at his camp which is out in the middle of the swamp and it works wonderfully. That is who he sells his to. All the LA swamp people.....

I knew Los Angeles had the tar pit, but a swamp?

[wife89]

Originally Posted by HDRider

I knew Los Angeles had the tar pit, but a swamp?

Ahem *stepping on soap box* L.A. does not have a swamp as far as I know...but LA does... this is where the AP has totally done the people of Louisiana a diservice. The PO has given all states two capital letters as their abbreviation, but the press has decided that since L.A. is more important than LA it deserves the LA abbreviation and LA gets La..... *stepping off box*


sorry, that is a sore spot for me...LOL

[Harry Chickpea]

Originally Posted by wife89

Ahem *stepping on soap box* L.A. does not have a swamp as far as I know...but LA does... this is where the AP has totally done the people of Louisiana a diservice. The PO has given all states two capital letters as their abbreviation, but the press has decided that since L.A. is more important than LA it deserves the LA abbreviation and LA gets La..... *stepping off box*


sorry, that is a sore spot for me...LOL

Must drive you nuts when someone goes "la-la-la-la-la-la" or sings fa-la-la-la-la-la-lah-la-la."

The postal abbreviations were thought out, but still have problems, which I guess is part of the reason for insistence on zip codes. Vermont VT and Utah UT are dependent on people printing clearly. Alabama, Alaska and Arkansas get confused. Going to two letters, in retrospect, was silly.

(sorry for the thread drift.)

[wife89]

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

Must drive you nuts when someone goes "la-la-la-la-la-la" or sings fa-la-la-la-la-la-lah-la-la."

The postal abbreviations were thought out, but still have problems, which I guess is part of the reason for insistence on zip codes. Vermont VT and Utah UT are dependent on people printing clearly. Alabama, Alaska and Arkansas get confused. Going to two letters, in retrospect, was silly.

(sorry for the thread drift.)

naaaa that doesn't bother me because it is all lowercse

Agreed...and La is the older postal abbreviation.... but why can't AP use L.A.??? Oh yeah, because the press is always right and doesn't need to change..

Ok... back to your regurally scheduled topic

[foxtrapper]

Originally Posted by seagullplayer

Don't call this crazy till you try it.

I am able to rest my Nokia straight talk phone against an empty aluminum pop can and sent and receive text when I could not otherwise. Simple to try, just lean it next to a can and look at your bars. Mine will go from zero to one or maybe two at our house. Enough for text, but not enough to make a call.

Make it into a parabolic reflector and you'll gain even more.

Turn the can over, so you can stick the cell phone antenna through the drinking hole. With a pair of scissors, cut the bottom off Then cut a slit down the side opposite the drinking hole. Last cut, go around the top almost to the drinking hole. spread the sides into roughly a parabolic shape. Plunk it over the antenna and watch what happens to your bars.

This will work with the wireless router, tv antenna, etc.

[ErinP]

One more quick dip into the drift:

My personal irritation is "NE"
Which, as anyone who was awake during 5th grade in the last 30 years SHOULD know stands for "Nebraska."

However, it has been hijacked to mean "New England".

Particularly irksome is when a customer service rep somewhere says, "Your city and state are Dunning, New England, correct?"
No, you nitwit. There is no state of "New England."

________________________________________________

To the original question, this is what we have: http://cellphoneboosterstore.com/pro...to-5000-sq-ft/ (shop around. We didn't pay that much)
Works like a charm.
We went from no bars in the house to two or three and sometimes a full board with data.
Always enough to text. Usually enough to call.

[HDRider]

Originally Posted by wife89

Ahem *stepping on soap box* L.A. does not have a swamp as far as I know...but LA does... this is where the AP has totally done the people of Louisiana a diservice. The PO has given all states two capital letters as their abbreviation, but the press has decided that since L.A. is more important than LA it deserves the LA abbreviation and LA gets La..... *stepping off box*


sorry, that is a sore spot for me...LOL

I thought it stood for "Lower Alabama" !

Just yanking your chain.