How to boost cellular signal?

[horseshowmom]

DH has been impressed with all of the information I get from this board, so he suggested that I ask about the following:

We live in a very rural area and in somewhat of a dead spot (not completely but not good reception by any means). Sometimes our cell phones work and sometimes they don't. Also, I have a laptop with a Cingular wireless card. It almost never works (worked great one time when it was very, very cloudy outside ).

We wonder if there is some way to boost the signal. Anybody have in any experience with this?

(I know we can try to call the company, but calling Cingular requires a long, long time on hold! )

 

[horseshowmom]

Bump?

 

[WebmasterAlex]

http://www.alternativewireless.com/cellular-antennas/wilson-antennas/wilson_cellular_amplifiers/wilson-smart-tech-building-cellular-amplifier.html


Not exactly cheap but that would be the best way.
You could also try just an antenna but that means being plugged in. Stay away from the cheap gizmo's they sell everywhere that are supposed to "boost" your cell phone signal, they don't work

 

[mtblujeans]

I was watching to see what type of a reply you got, too. We also live in a rural area and our phones sometimes won't work depending upon the weather....which is quite frustrating! Cell phones are interesting pieces of equipment....

 

[horseshowmom]

Thanks for the link. You're right, it's not cheap, but I think we may consider getting it anyway. We have dial-up service on our desktop, and, realistically, you can forget using it during the day. If I can make my laptop work, it would help a lot. (Plus, it would help with the cell phones.)

Thanks again!

 

[horseshowmom]

I was watching to see what type of a reply you got, too. We also live in a rural area and our phones sometimes won't work depending upon the weather....which is quite frustrating! Cell phones are interesting pieces of equipment....

Amen and amen!

 

[mtblujeans]

Thanks for the link. You're right, it's not cheap, but I think we may consider getting it anyway. We have dial-up service on our desktop, and, realistically, you can forget using it during the day. If I can make my laptop work, it would help a lot. (Plus, it would help with the cell phones.)

Thanks again!

Gosh, we have dial up, too! I hate it! The DSL is so limited here! None of the national companies offer DSL here yet. We are on a waiting list for our local phone company to get a "branch" out our way so we can get the service! I am getting so impatient with this slow stuff!

 

[horseshowmom]

Gosh, we have dial up, too! I hate it! The DSL is so limited here! None of the national companies offer DSL here yet. We are on a waiting list for our local phone company to get a "branch" out our way so we can get the service! I am getting so impatient with this slow stuff!

As soon as we can get it, we'll be switching to DSL too, but considering how far out we are, it won't be anytime soon. Good luck to you on getting yours!