Cell phone 'booster' antenna for homes/offices?

[tmk50]

We got a letter in the mail last week from Altell saying that Ryan Newman sucks and that they will be shutting down their analog cell phone towers this summer.

Situation: We currently use a 3 watt Motorola bag phone and a outdoor YAGI antenna mounted about 40' in the air to get cell phone service to our cabin. Our digital cell phones will not work in the cabin, but if we walk up to a ridge about 1/8 of a mile away we can get service and SOMETIMES make calls with our .8 watt units. The ridge is probably 60-70' higher in elevation and has a clear shot to the southeast where I suspect the signal is coming from. A few times this summer I left my digital cell phone on in my truck at the cabin and it picked up a signal long enough to tell me that I have new VMs, but I could not call out.

Question: Does anyone on here have a reccomendation as to whether or not a cell phone 'booster' might be an option for us? (example: http://www.ksantennasolutions.com/north-america-products#naindoor)

Any experiences pos/neg with any of these units?

 

[Turtlehead]

Not 10 minutes after I read your post I walked out and got the mail, Flipping through the new PC World magazine I found this. http://www.wi-ex.com/ and save 10% by using promo code PCW

 

[tmk50]

Thanks!

Anyone ever tried one of these things?

 

[Elevation]

a good booster

I live in a very rural area. we have poor cell service so I sell line of cell phone amplifiers. These are made in the USA. Being as you already have a Yagi you need a amplifier and a adapter for the phone you have now. You may need to get some low loss cable but I would try with what you have) here is what I would recommend http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/ViewProduct.php?ID=2These boost you power to that of a bag phone. If you tell me what phones you have I will see if there is a adapter to plug it in. Please call me @ 1888-459-4906 & I can tell you more.

 

[BU1]

What about the Motorola M 800 bag phone. Isn't that a digital with 3 watts?? I've seen them advertised for rural areas but don't know anyone with one. Anyone have any experience with one????

 

[03doo800]

I have had a booster a unit that runs on 12v cost me about $300 I had 0 luck with it, My boss has four of them and swears by them he get geat service, I just switched to T-mobile and got away from Alltel best thing I have ever done great service near everwhere I go

 

[03doo800]

Alltel will sell them to you from over telephone and ship them to you takes them about 4 days to get to you (me anyway)

 

[XC700116]

I live in a very rural area. we have poor cell service so I sell line of cell phone amplifiers. These are made in the USA. Being as you already have a Yagi you need a amplifier and a adapter for the phone you have now. You may need to get some low loss cable but I would try with what you have) here is what I would recommend http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/ViewProduct.php?ID=2These boost you power to that of a bag phone. If you tell me what phones you have I will see if there is a adapter to plug it in. Please call me @ 1888-459-4906 & I can tell you more.

I'll second the Wilson. Best if your digital has an external antenna port but if not the passive repeater will work but use the little one that you hold/velcro to the phone or get the really big one made for a building setup. I have a wilson for my truck and really have been happy with it. make sure you get the dual band one though so anyones phone will work with it. I travel about 80 % of the time for my job and in very remote areas and there's not too many times that I don't have a near full signal. It works for my aircard on my laptop and my blackberry too.

 

[Aug]

 

[tmk50]

Thanks!

Bruce we'll give you a shout (probably when the snow melts) so that we can work on it.

TK

 

[Elevation]

Sound good. I have set allot of cabins up and they work well.

 

[summitman]

I sell a WIRELESS booster that would be perfect for your use as far as in car. I also have a in house system that would work inside your cabin.