Cell phone signal boosters

doc · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:54 pm Post subject: Cell phone signal boosters

Anyone have any experience or knowledge they'd like to share regarding signal boosters for cell phones. Effectiveness, costs, applications? We recently moved to an area that has poor coverage. We are not much further from our previous home and actually closer to a tower than before but we are in a little pocket with a mountain to one side and the ocean on the other. Coverage improves dramatically a short distance away. We have intermittent low signals. I would be interested in reading about both home and marine applications.

Aurelia · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:03 am Post subject:

I put one of these brand units in my mother in laws place to help her with reception. She only has a mobile phone and wanted it to be reliable at her house but the reception was weak and calls were very frequently dropped and she could only talk in one extreme end of the house. Now she has no problems and it works for anyone in the house.

http://www.wi-ex.com/YX540.aspx

Very good product! I see they have some travel versions as well.

Adeline · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:51 am Post subject:

I get spotty reception at home so I complained to Sprint and they gave me an Airave(femtocell). Now I′ve got full bars, clear calls, and fast data.

Basically, it′s a repeater that connects to a router or cable-modem and sends/receives cellular signals throughout a home(up to 5000 sq. feet).

If you′ve got broadband then this could be the answer.

Ask your carrier if they offer a similar device.

doc · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 3:31 am Post subject: Cell Booster

Great information. Thanks. Keep it coming. I'm looking at all options but don't know much.

cbgale · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 8:34 am Post subject:

I have a Wilson Amp, with Yagi directional antenna. Works great. I can use in the boat, or car.

thataway · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 4:36 pm Post subject:

I also have the Wilson amp, with several different antennas--boat, trucker (RV) and car.

getzold · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:08 am Post subject:

We use with cell phone and Verizon MiFi - fantastic range with marine antenna.

Wilson - http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/Mobile-Solutions.aspx

JamesTXSD · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 6:49 am Post subject:

We bought the Wilson Sleek cradle while in the Tetons last summer. We went from no data and barely able to get/make calls to decent on both. The only downside of the Sleek is that whatever device you're using has to be in or very near the cradle. In order to get a decent ground plane with the mini-antenna, I put it on a cookie sheet; the device was designed to be used in a truck or car with the antenna stuck magnetically. We use it in our RV or on the boat, so it needs that extra ground plane.

One thing we did discover: you could put the Mifi card IN the booster cradle and the cell phone on top of that, and the signal to both was greatly improved. That means using a bluetooth earpiece with the phone, but that hasn't been a problem.

The signal difference went from a single bar at best to at least 3 bars. It made the difference for us in being able to stay connected.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

doc · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:17 am Post subject: Cel phone booster

Thanks for the great replies. I am looking into the various options, especially the Wilson setups.