Cell Phone Booster

Synthesis

First off, I'm aware that this is a very long chance.

Can anyone recommend a cell phone booster kit that they've had some success with? Or anything that makes use of broadband internet/landline/whatever?

I recently had to move due to complex circumstances, but was not aware that I was moving into something of a cell phone black hole until it was too late to do anything about it. I've gone from having 3G in my apartment (not that I needed it, thanks to wifi), to regularly having my calls dropped just becaue I'm not lying on my floor with my head against the window. I'm not happy about it, but I'm fairly certain this is going to cost a few hundred dollars to improve even just by a bar or two--just part of living here.

My carrier, T-Mobile, suggested I use a device from Cel-Fi, which sounds like it might help a little, but I'm not quite prepared to drop +$525 on a device that might work. WIfi-calling isn't an option, much to my dismay, though my ISP is actually pretty good and consistent. Likewise, I have a landline (that I'd rather not use, but I may have no choice in the matter). I'm aware that cell signal booster kits basically can only improve ot signal to basically what you get if you're standing outside (or on your roof), but any improvement is better than none.

corky842

I've never used it, but you should be able to use google voice for your phone number, then (assuming you're using android) use something like this to make/receive calls over wifi.

Dark Shroud

There are home phones that let you link your cell phone to them. I believe your Dell Venus Pro does support Bluetooth.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-KX-TG6582T-Bluetooth-Cordless-Answering/dp/B0036D9YKA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312346650&sr=8-1

Synthesis

Dark Shroud wrote:

There are home phones that let you link your cell phone to them. I believe your Dell Venus Pro does support Bluetooth.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-KX-TG6582T-Bluetooth-Cordless-Answering/dp/B0036D9YKA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312346650&sr=8-1

I am, and it does. I will check this out, as I'v never heard of it...do you know if it would mean using my landlines' number?

EDIT: Actually, I found this doesn't really work--in the sense that, while your handset might sound better then your phone (bigger speaker, for example), it won't do anything about the number of calls dropped over the overall call quality. Antenna/Cell booster seemed to be the only option.

mspencer

I picked up a portable kit from powerfulsignal.com. I don't know the market for these sorts of amplifiers that well, so I have no idea if this is a good place to buy from or if they're any cheaper or more expensive than anywhere else. The amplifier works pretty well in areas with a little signal. The thing is, there has to be enough signal present (discernable above the noise floor) for the amplifier to work on.

So you would locate a place, impactical or uncomfortable as it may be, where if you hold your phone there it works reliably. That's where the antenna goes. You run a feed line to wherever you place the amplifier, and another RF cable to your inside antenna. The inside antenna needs to be as far from the antenna that has good reception as possible. Or you can use a kit that has a small antenna about the size of a business card. Use hook and loop tape (like velcro) to attach the little card antenna to the back of your phone. Then at least you can hold the phone comfortably and walk around -- but you're still attached to that card antenna, which is connected via cable to the amplifier.

If you have a smartphone capable of running Cyanogen 7, there's a T-Mobile WiFi calling app you can install. Just call T-Mobile and ask them to add free wifi calling. Then whenever you're on wifi your phone will work, for incoming and outgoing calls, texts, anything. My cell amplifier has been gathering dust ever since I got wifi calling for my Nexus One.

Synthesis

Yeah, I already bought an antenna (this one, which was the cheapest one I could find) and mounted it as high as I could (without having to rely on the person living above me). It works...sort of. Considering it only uses a booster, and not an additional unit on my phone, it works...so long as I don't leave my bedroom. Usually.

I don't own an Android or Blackberry phone, so wifi calling isn't an option. I'm not really in the mood to buy a new phone.

floobie

Does your carrier offer something like this? http://gizmodo.com/5501008/att-microcell-3g-salvation-for-your-crappy-reception-is-150-no-strings-attached

Seems to work pretty well, from what I've heard.

Synthesis

No, according to everyone I've spoken to T-Mobile. The most they have is their own version of a booster, which costs $525.

nirvanaball

Although mobile signal booster hold great promise to improve wireless coverage, malfunctioning and improperly designed or installed signal boosters can interfere with wireless networks and cause interference to a range of communication services, including emergency and 911 calls.

Synthesis

Well...as much as I'd hate to be unable to make a 911 call, that's just a risk I had to take.

5 months ago.

On the other hand, whatever that website is selling looks incredibly expensive, even with the smallest package. The fact that they don't show their prices reinforces that notion. My cable package came with a free land line. I just dislike using it because I get calls intended for the last person who owned the phone and my smartphone is much more useful. It worked quite well until recently, I think I need to use a thicker gauge coaxial cable to link the antenna and the booster.

LaPuzza

Not to super-old-school here, but if this is a short-term problem (you won't live there forever) have you considered a land line? That, combined will call forwarding or Google voice, would at least get you talking to people very easily. And if you have a TV package and internet, I think phone service is like 10 bucks a month before misc. fees.

Synthesis

As mentioned, I have a free land line with my HD cable/internet package. And I use it when I have to make a call out--but my actual phone is very much preferred, and I don't use Google voice at the moment.

Evander

Have you checked back with T-Mobile? Since August they have greatly increased their internal signal booster program (which consists of giving out the Cel-Fi units themselves on a free-loan, no hardware or service charge, just a restocking fee if you cancel service without returning it.) There are certain requirements you need to meet for it, but even then, it keeps expanding over time. Worth checking it out again, I'd say.

Synthesis

I wasn't aware of that. I wouldn't be opposed to giving them a call--there's a T-Mobile store about 15 minutes away, but I don't expect them to be much help.

I don't think it'd be any better than my booster, which is why I wouldn't pay the +$500 they were asking for last time. I'm not optimistic, but I'll give it a shot.

Synthesis

Well, follow up: Short answer is no.

Slightly longer answer: the only option they were offering was for homes only. When ask why, the voice on the other end politely explained it had something to do with how the signal might be shared with neigbors, and was only allowed in individual homes as a matter of policy. Soooo....no. That was also the only option she was aware of. And lying wasn't really an option, since the second they looked at my shipping address or account information, they'd know I lived in an apartment.

Now, naturally, one might think this might just be a poorly-informed rep from T-Mobile, but given how universally shitty cell phone boosters for any calling plan are--the outliers being the few lucky ones who usually end up forking over hundreds of dollars for systems that could just as well be a placebo effect as actually helping anything--it's not too surprising.

Oh well, at least I'm not actively losing money on this. Or something.