how to find out cellphone band number ?

[rfuerst911sc]

So I am struggling with cellphone reception at the house . I get one to two bars inside but very spotty and no consistency at all . So I want to look into a satellite cellphone booster . This consists of an outside antenna , and internal booster and internal antenna . A quick internet search finds all kinds are available .

The catch ? The boosters work with certain providers but are specific on the band numbers they support . Yeah they all say they support the major players but when you drill down into the details it's not so clear if it will work .

My provider is Visible which is owned by Verizon and uses their network . The only way to contact Visible is via chat . No one has been able to provide the info I am asking for . Went to local Verizon store and got the deer in the headlights look . So how the heck do you find out what band number/channel a provider is broadcasting on in your area ?

Assuming I eventually find out the band number the next challenge is to register the booster . All websites state that the booster has to be registered with the provider . Have any of you done this ? Will a booster work without being registered ? Keep in mind this is not a simple plug into the wall socket , trying to boost the outside signal to indoors . I have tried to find a local subject matter expert but so far no luck . Any advice ?

[GH85Carrera]

I used to work in a metal building. It was a giant Faraday cage. Cell signals dropped to none, and to place a call we had to go stand by the front door, which had a glass foyer.

All the employees and the boss were on AT&T so we each called AT&T and whined. Finally they relented, and sent us a free booster that we connected to our cable internet on Cox business. Problem solved. The only problem after that was if you were talking on your cell and walked outside, the call dropped about a foot outside the building. No big deal to tell whoever, you will have to hang up and call right back.

So, go empty your bladder, get a fresh cup of coffee or beverage of your choice, call your provider's national tech support or customer service, and wait on a human to talk to you.

You might get lucky, and find the info on their web site, but don't hold your breath on that. Some good Google-fu may find the info on your specific provider and phones. Someone else out there has the same issue. There has to be a solution. Even if you have to buy the device.

Complex specific questions like yours are what I hope the emerging AI programs can solve. There is no way to type in a complex specific question to Google, but maybe the AI programs can understand and find that answer.

[unclebilly]

Enable wifi calling on your phone. This runs your calls over wifi when you have poor or no cell coverage.

[Zeke]

I think the solution is to call to cancel your service. They will turn you over to a customer retention person that will do anything to keep you. They get paid for performance.

I recently switched internet providers. When I called Spectrum to get a better deal the guy said no soup for you. So I called the competition and had installation within 48 hours. I then called back and told S to disconnect. They shifted my call and the lady would do anything to keep me.

I asked if she would have me call the new service and come rip it out after one or two days? I said don't be ridiculous, you had your chance because on the first call I had asked for a CR person and was denied. She kept on. I could feel her job slipping away as she became more desperate.

Sorry babe.

[rockfan4]

Take a look here -

https://www.wilsonamplifiers.com/blog/finding-cell-tower-locations-the-complete-guide/

Looks like LTE Discovery will do what you want, since it gives band info.
One of the other apps may do that as well. If they're free, why not try them?

[island911]

There are active repeaters and passive repeaters for boosting signals to towers. Version is CDMA ~800Mhz IIRC
There are also microcells that tie into your LAN, or, as Unclebilly suggests, use Wi-Fi calling.

[rfuerst911sc]

I can't switch to wifi calling because our wifi sucks . We have one choice and it is DSL feeding our modem . Crappy signal that at best provides 15 Mbps download speed . I have measured it as low as 0.65 . Just pathetic . So trying to boost our cellphone signal is the best option at the moment .

[rfuerst911sc]

A tiny step forward . Using the free app listed above I was able to determine we are on band # 2 . I spoke with a person at Wilson this morning . He couldn't guarantee their signal booster would work without knowing the band number . Now that I know I will call them back .

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I think the solution is to call to cancel your service. They will turn you over to a customer retention person that will do anything to keep you. They get paid for performance.

I recently switched internet providers. When I called Spectrum to get a better deal the guy said no soup for you. So I called the competition and had installation within 48 hours. I then called back and told S to disconnect. They shifted my call and the lady would do anything to keep me.

I asked if she would have me call the new service and come rip it out after one or two days? I said don't be ridiculous, you had your chance because on the first call I had asked for a CR person and was denied. She kept on. I could feel her job slipping away as she became more desperate.

Sorry babe.

I had the same experience a month ago. I called two times and politely asked for a cheaper package. They refused both times. Second time I said I'd be looking for a different provider. I found a deal I could live with and fired Spectrum. A few days later they called and offered a huge discount. I said I was done with Spectrum. All I needed was $20 off my monthly bill. They lost a good customer and I found a better provider.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I can't switch to wifi calling because our wifi sucks . We have one choice and it is DSL feeding our modem . Crappy signal that at best provides 15 Mbps download speed . I have measured it as low as 0.65 . Just pathetic . So trying to boost our cellphone signal is the best option at the moment .

Voice is only 32k/sec at full quality.....you are gonna be limited by your up speed for quality, but even 128k (1/8 of a mb) should support 3 full calls no issues and possibly a 4th if the planets align

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I think the solution is to call to cancel your service. They will turn you over to a customer retention person that will do anything to keep you. They get paid for performance.

I recently switched internet providers. When I called Spectrum to get a better deal the guy said no soup for you. So I called the competition and had installation within 48 hours. I then called back and told S to disconnect. They shifted my call and the lady would do anything to keep me.

I asked if she would have me call the new service and come rip it out after one or two days? I said don't be ridiculous, you had your chance because on the first call I had asked for a CR person and was denied. She kept on. I could feel her job slipping away as she became more desperate.

Sorry babe.

I do that with my cable and internet provider. About every 24 months I call and say cancel service. I complain about the price, and they always seem to have access to some mystery discount price regular customer service can't find.

Last time they said if I took their home phone service, it would be a package deal and drop my total bill. I need a land line like I need a punch in the nose or a kick to the nuts. So they said to come in to pick up my new equipment. They have a good restaurant next door, so my wife and I went to eat, and I got a box of something. I shoved it in my closet untouched. I have a reminder on my phone to call them when the discount is up, and cancel the phone. I have no idea what that land line phone number is, and I don't care.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by id10t

Voice is only 32k/sec at full quality.....you are gonna be limited by your up speed for quality, but even 128k (1/8 of a mb) should support 3 full calls no issues and possibly a 4th if the planets align

Sounds good but doesn't work here . Last week my wife was talking to her mom who lives 5 miles away . Her mom has a land line . The conversation dropped twice within 2-3 minutes .
I was talking to my brother in NY last week . Both ends on cell phones . Dropped calls so many times we hung up . Our DSL just sucks . Our provider is updating to fiber in our area next year . I have to limp along until then . The Verizon network is the best in our area which Visible uses .

[KFC911]

^^^ How do you know that Verizon is the best "at your house"? It might be worth trying AT&T or T-Mobile "at your house" .... that's what I would do. Sign up with Consumer Cellular with their cheapest SIM (they use AT&T mostly, or T-Mobile here) option for 15-20 bucks.... or whatever it is now.... try it for a month. See which carrier the free Bush/Obama/Trump/Biden phones use.... if not Verizon, get/try one (with a new temp #) and evaluate the carrier "at your house" .... currently. Old history with any carrier is moot .... one will likely beat what you are putting up with now....

Good luck!

edited: Though Visible might be using the Verizon cell network .... it might not be getting 100% that is available either.

[rfuerst911sc]

Based on a small sample size Verizon is the best . Our next door neighbor has Verizon . Her 3 son's and their wives/girlfriends have AT+T or T Mobile or other carriers . Various aunts and uncles also have other carriers . NONE of them can make calls unless they have Verizon if they are at the neighbors house .

[KFC911]

^^^^^ Got it ..... then disregard my post...

They all truly suck .... some less than others

[flatbutt]

This has been most illuminating. My dBm is -96 but it reports my Band as 66...

[rfuerst911sc]

My band number toggles between 2 and 13 .

[Steve Carlton]

My service is good.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by JackDidley

I had the same experience a month ago. I called two times and politely asked for a cheaper package. They refused both times. Second time I said I'd be looking for a different provider. I found a deal I could live with and fired Spectrum. A few days later they called and offered a huge discount. I said I was done with Spectrum. All I needed was $20 off my monthly bill. They lost a good customer and I found a better provider.

One of the many things I simply do not understand about so many large "service" providers, is the catering to new clients over established customers.

My bill is paid electronically, all automated. Never ever late, never wrong, just paid in full for many years. Yet a new client signs up, and they get a hefty discount, and is sometimes late to pay and they will change to another company for a nickle less.

They really should work hard to keep the long time clients at the cheapest rates. It just does not happen. It makes no sense.

[stevej37]

When you call...just ask for the 'customer retention associate.'