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meister member
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bad cell phone reception in house. What to do?
I live out in the country. We just discontinued our land line and long distance service. My wife and I each have a cell phone (verizon) and new to us broadband wireless (sprint). For cell service if I stand right at the front door of my house I can get 2 bars but if I move into the interior of the house I get 0 bars. I frequently drop calls or miss calls when I am inside my house.
I want to increase the reliability of the cell service. I was thinking of buying a cell repeater to mount inside the house to boost reception. I am hoping this will also boost our internet speed as well. What do you guys suggest? Here are some repeaters I am thinking about... http://www.repeaterstore.com/products/repeaterkits/index.html from what I understand our cell phone service and broadband internet run off the same frequency. Regards, Speedy 
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1983 944 guards red with 16" Fuchs, Host of Wisconsin area timing/ balance shaft belt tensioning party 1987 944S Purchased from Legion. Corvette LT-1 V-8 conversion with Mega Squirt II Check on progress ---> www.porschehybrids.com/gallery/speedracing944 Favorite Road = www.tailofthedragon.com 318 turns in 11 miles (11 min 20 sec best run) |
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02-27-2008, 03:12 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: outta here
Posts: 53,037
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It might be easier to switch cell phone providers. If another provider has a tower closer to your house than Verizon or Sprint, you'd get better signal. Niether of those companies is well know for good coverage out in the sticks. They do better if you live in a city.
Different phones can help as well. Some of the newer phones compromise reception and battery life to the false god of the small size. I use a large boat anchor for a phone, which works much better than the little cute one my wife uses. JR |
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02-27-2008, 05:06 AM
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Parrothead member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Monmouth county, NJ USA
Posts: 13,827
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Is it both phones or just yours? In my house, the service on my personal cell phone sucks. My wifes cell and my work cell have excellent service. Sometimes its just the phone itself.
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Vinny Red '86 944, 05 Ford Super Duty Dually '02 Ram 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually, '07Jeep Wrangler '62 Mercury Meteor '90 Harley 1200 XL "Live your Life in such a way that the Westboro Baptist Church will want to picket your funeral." |
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02-27-2008, 06:29 AM
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Work in Progress
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I have the same problem. The only solution I have come up with is to leave the cell phone where it receives the best signal, and have a bluetooth headset to use in a 20ft area. Not the best option but it is as good as I can do right now. Never tried a repeater.
Rich
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"The reason most people give up is because they look at how far they have to go, not how far they have come." -Bruce Anderson via FB -Marine Blue '87 930 |
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02-27-2008, 06:33 AM
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 55,844
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Yes, you may be able to change phones. I haven't researched them, but a repeater should work well.
I think I'd have checked this out before I canceled my working service.  My wife wanted to cancel our landline. I compromised with changing it to the cheapest setting. I'm allowed 25 outbound calls a month and unlimited inbound. Now I know 911 will work if I ever need it.
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa  SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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02-27-2008, 06:34 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,650
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I used to have this same problem. Now it's a bit better but not stellar.
I have set up and used a wireless repeater in the past. Basically what you need to do is get an antenna outside (where you have signal) and run the antenna cable inside to an area where you have no signal. Then hook the wireless repeater up to the cable. It will rebroadcast the signal in the area where you have no signal. Here's a catch - the repeater can sense where there's an overlapping signal and scale it's power back. If you have a room (or floor) that truly has no signal then it will work well for you. If there's even a weak signal there it will interfear with the repeater. This may mean you'll only have a small coverage area inside the house - but that coverage area will have signal strength as good as being outside. I still have a wireless dual band repeater, antennnas, very low loss cable, and some connectors that I'd be willing to sell cheap. If you're interested send me a PM and we can figure something out. Direct wire repeaters work very well but you have to plug them into your phone (or wireless internet card). Against FCC rules some people use a wireless repeater as a direct wire repeater (more power!!!). Oh yeah - your wireless broadband is on one of 2 frequencies that the repeaters cover. It can help your internet signal as well (which may mean faster speeds). I spent a lot of time on this stuff. Feel free to ask any additional questions. |
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02-27-2008, 08:12 AM
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Banned
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 18,162
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I told ya' that faraday cage was a bad idea....
(if you get that, pat yourself on the back......geek )
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02-27-2008, 08:25 AM
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least common denominator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Pedro,CA
Posts: 22,506
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Quote:
 Speedy, I'm with T-Mobile and just upgraded to a Nokia WiFi/Bluetooth phone (6086) for $50 For another $50 I could get a WiFi hub for my house, all WiFi calls are free... be it at home, Starbucks, Barns & Noble etc. I personally don't need Wifi at home but you might check with Verison of Sprint to see if they have a deal like that. If either of you have a laptop it might be handy for that too.
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Gary Fisher 29er 2019 Kia Stinger 2.0t gone 1995 Miata Sold 1984 944 Sold I am not lost for I know where I am, however where I am is lost. - Winnie the poo. |
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02-27-2008, 08:42 AM
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Bruiser
