How to boost mobile signal?
Discussion
We have really low mobile signal at home. (in Pembrokeshire.)
Can I buy an antenna or something to try increase our chances of getting a better signal?
We've got broadband coming in (via telephone line) in 2 weeks but that isn't going to help with the Mobile reception.
Any ideas gratefully received. Thanks
Can I buy an antenna or something to try increase our chances of getting a better signal?
We've got broadband coming in (via telephone line) in 2 weeks but that isn't going to help with the Mobile reception.
Any ideas gratefully received. Thanks
Google for "<ntweork name> femtocell" and you should see what your provider offers (or has offered in the past).
Vodaphone had Sure Signal
EE/Orange/T-Mobile had Signal Box
O2 had BoostBox
The O2 and EE versions don't seem to be available new, but I'll bet you can pick them up on eBay or similar.
Vodaphone had Sure Signal
EE/Orange/T-Mobile had Signal Box
O2 had BoostBox
The O2 and EE versions don't seem to be available new, but I'll bet you can pick them up on eBay or similar.
In the past I've looked at these, never actually tried one though. http://www.mobilerepeater.co.uk
SlidingSideways said:
Google for "<ntweork name> femtocell" and you should see what your provider offers (or has offered in the past).
Vodaphone had Sure Signal
EE/Orange/T-Mobile had Signal Box
O2 had BoostBox
The O2 and EE versions don't seem to be available new, but I'll bet you can pick them up on eBay or similar.
This.Vodaphone had Sure Signal
EE/Orange/T-Mobile had Signal Box
O2 had BoostBox
The O2 and EE versions don't seem to be available new, but I'll bet you can pick them up on eBay or similar.
At least the EE and 3 ones will keep me in fast cars.
Note - you do need half decent broadband.
Nick Grant said:
Most phone service providers have an app now, I'm with EE and they have one, when you are connected to Wifi calls and messages are routed online so you don't need a phone signal.
How did you manage that? Been after one for ages as cant get wifi calling as bought several phones through a broker.Nick Grant said:
Most phone service providers have an app now, I'm with EE and they have one, when you are connected to Wifi calls and messages are routed online so you don't need a phone signal.
I've got a similar one through three called "inTouch" - works through the WiFi although you need to have a mobile signal when first setting it up which for me involved being upstairs with my arm out of the bedroom window Works great though, get calls and texts through the app even with no mobile signal indoors.
SlidingSideways said:
Google for "<ntweork name> femtocell" and you should see what your provider offers (or has offered in the past).
Vodaphone had Sure Signal
EE/Orange/T-Mobile had Signal Box
O2 had BoostBox
The O2 and EE versions don't seem to be available new, but I'll bet you can pick them up on eBay or similar.
O2 is only suitable for corporate users and even then they don't like it (they refused to enable my company phone)Vodaphone had Sure Signal
EE/Orange/T-Mobile had Signal Box
O2 had BoostBox
The O2 and EE versions don't seem to be available new, but I'll bet you can pick them up on eBay or similar.
£50 gets you a repeater on ebay, shipped from china in a few days, make sure you get one for your network as they use different frequencies. Technically illegal as you're broadcasting but in reality the range of them is only a room or two. If you can get decent signal (say 3 bars) somewhere outside, usually higher the better, place the receiver bit there and the other bit as far away as possible from it inside with walls between the two. The reason is the same as a microphone too near a loudspeaker, you want to avoid signal feedback. Some devices include lights to tell you if its working.
I know someone that does this and it works well, I know someone else who's signal was so bad it didn't help.
megaphone said:
In the past I've looked at these, never actually tried one though. http://www.mobilerepeater.co.uk
Are these illegal to use but not own? Some quirk of law? had massive problems with O2 signal. Just about anywhere in the house was st for reception. Solved it by setting the phone to 3g (not 4g as O2 insisted) and added an external aerial to the phone. Now I get full bars at home or pretty much where ever I go.
Aerials in phones these days are st. They are more interested in adding another useless app than actually using them as a phone.
To solve the problem we need to know your provider and what phone you are using.
Aerials in phones these days are st. They are more interested in adding another useless app than actually using them as a phone.
To solve the problem we need to know your provider and what phone you are using.
No. I have a Samsung. Inside there are 2 x aerial sockets. One is for the an external antenna which is by the volume control. All I did was use the central core and sleeve from some thin coaxial cable, push it in the hole and stick a bit of insulation tape over it to hold it in place. Then put the back cover on with the wire hanging down/out.
The only tricky bit is getting the correct length. An antenna needs to be a multiple of the radio wave length to get good reception. Generally phones have the antenna at 1/2 the radio wave length but the higher the multiple the better the reception. So its a matter of playing convenience off against reception. My external antenna is 250mm. The original internal antenna is 50mm. As far as I can see on the net both Vodaphone and O2 use the same wavelength so you should be safe at 250mm or 200mm or 150mm etc, whatever you find most convenient. The easiest way is add an antenna longer than you want then trim it back 10mm at a time until you get the happy medium between reception and convenience.
I'm sure if you google "Iphone external antenna" you'll find something commercially available.
The only tricky bit is getting the correct length. An antenna needs to be a multiple of the radio wave length to get good reception. Generally phones have the antenna at 1/2 the radio wave length but the higher the multiple the better the reception. So its a matter of playing convenience off against reception. My external antenna is 250mm. The original internal antenna is 50mm. As far as I can see on the net both Vodaphone and O2 use the same wavelength so you should be safe at 250mm or 200mm or 150mm etc, whatever you find most convenient. The easiest way is add an antenna longer than you want then trim it back 10mm at a time until you get the happy medium between reception and convenience.
I'm sure if you google "Iphone external antenna" you'll find something commercially available.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff