Antenna for cell phone home use? UPDATE!

[horseshowmom]

We canceled our landline awhile back and just use our cell phones now. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked as well as we would like due to the erratic signal we get.

Someone told my husband that we can get an antenna of some sort that will boost our signal considerably when the phone is at home (plugs into the side of the phone or something). Does anybody know anything about this - how well it works and how expensive it is?

Thanks!

 

[disney1990]

We canceled our landline awhile back and just use our cell phones now. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked as well as we would like due to the erratic signal we get.

Someone told my husband that we can get an antenna of some sort that will boost our signal considerably when the phone is at home (plugs into the side of the phone or something). Does anybody know anything about this - how well it works and how expensive it is?

Thanks!

Sorry, I don't. But my DD has the same problem at her house. We call it the no cell phone zone. You have to go outside to talk -- not a very good option in bad weather or if somebody is trying to break into your house.

Hope somebody helps you out.

 

[nd5056]

WiFi and VOIP is the only option. Check with your cell phone service provider

We have T-Mobile Cell phone plan, and we took advanage of their @home plan for $10/month (must be T-Mobile costumer to qualify). Works geat!!!


You could use it with your cell phone (must have WiFi capable cell phone) and all calls done thrue WiFi would used this plan Unlimited minutes rather then your cell phone minutes.

..T-Mobile @Home gives you unlimited nationwide calling from your home phone, plus convenient features like VoiceMail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, and conference calling.

Just plug your home phone line into a T-Mobile @Home HiPort™ wireless router or adapter (you'll need a broadband Internet connection) and you’re good to go.

.

 

[Goopy]

This is something I know a ton about. before I worked for Disney (yes I just had to say that because I love the sound of it) I managed a Radioshack store.

Dont mess with those little sticker antennas that claim to boost your signal, they simply don't work.

What you need is something very similar to this http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2189115

There are quite a few different makes out there that do a great job. You need to remember though that there first needs to be some sort of signal coming in for it to amplify. Some of them are used outdoors and some indoors. Alot depends on the carrier you have. An amplifier made for a GSM phone such as what ATT and T-Mobile use wont work on a CDMA or IDEN network such as Sprint, Verizon or Nextel.

Different carriers use different frequencies so you would need to find out from your carrier what frequency they are using and match it to the correct booster.

They work, I sold many of them and had lots of happy customers. The key thing to remember is you do need some sort of signal. They can be expensive, some of the high quality outdoor ones can run as high as $1000.

Anyway I hope this information helps and if anyone has any other questions let me know.

 

[horseshowmom]

This is something I know a ton about. before I worked for Disney (yes I just had to say that because I love the sound of it) I managed a Radioshack store.

Dont mess with those little sticker antennas that claim to boost your signal, they simply don't work.

What you need is something very similar to this http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2189115

There are quite a few different makes out there that do a great job. You need to remember though that there first needs to be some sort of signal coming in for it to amplify. Some of them are used outdoors and some indoors. Alot depends on the carrier you have. An amplifier made for a GSM phone such as what ATT and T-Mobile use wont work on a CDMA or IDEN network such as Sprint, Verizon or Nextel.

Different carriers use different frequencies so you would need to find out from your carrier what frequency they are using and match it to the correct booster.

They work, I sold many of them and had lots of happy customers. The key thing to remember is you do need some sort of signal. They can be expensive, some of the high quality outdoor ones can run as high as $1000.

Anyway I hope this information helps and if anyone has any other questions let me know.

Thanks very much! This information is definitely helpful.

I used what you said and found a site (http://www.wirelessadvisor.com/) that tells me what frequency I needed (since it was ATT, the item you linked to was exactly what I need).

My husband had been looking at some antennas that were only $20 or so, and I really doubted that they were going to work. This, on the other hand, looks like it's exactly what we need. I read the reviews on the product, and they were very good as well.

Thanks again!


ETA: If anybody is interested in a booster like the one Goopy linked to, it can be ordered from amazon.com for $206.78 with free shipping. It's the same booster but is less expensive. Thanks, Goopy!

 

[3boymthr]

Be aware though that if you have no signal in your area a booster just won't help.

Due to topography we are in a trough (not quite a valley) - hills to the immediate north, hills to the immediate south. There are signals passing over our house and that's just the problem they are OVER our house, by about 100 feet or maybe more. Before investing in the booster check your carrier's map to make sure that they say they have coverage at your house. Most carriers will tell on their websites you just by entering your address what the signal strength is in your neighborhood if you can't find the link for your carrier go to their store and ask for them to check. When we did this we found out that NO carrier offers coverage in our house or our neighbor's on either side or our other neighbors across the street or the people beside them, but four houses down the street as you climb out of the trough in either direction there is excellent 5 bar coverage.

 

[horseshowmom]

We do have coverage, it just varies a lot. Sometimes we have 3 bars, sometimes 1, sometimes none. Hopefully, this will solve our problem. If not, it can always be returned.

 

[horseshowmom]

We ordered this from Amazon, and it arrived Friday. My husband has been moving it around the house to find the best place to leave it.

We are consistently getting 4 and 5 bars now (and that's without even mounting it on top of the house). We are definitely pleased and will be keeping it. Very positive review here!

Thanks, Goopy!