Mobile phone reception 'boosting'....

[catso]

Is there any kind of 'device' available to increase signal strength to a mobile phone in a room with poor reception?

I live in an area with a weak strength but can get reasonable reception upstairs or outside, however downstairs and specifically in my office, which is lower down, I have a problem, does anyone know of any type of signal booster/outside aerial/bluetooth gizmo or something?

[venom]

Ebay has a lot of stick on signal boosters for sale which may help, though personally I've not used them so wouldn't like to claim for their effectiveness.

Failing that give Orange a ring and offer your office space up for a new transmitter? They're always desperate to increase their coverage.

[MarkBarton]

venom said:

Failing that give Orange a ring and offer your office space up for a new transmitter? They're always desperate to increase their coverage.

I just boosted my signal by cancelling my contract with Orange and signing up with o2 instead (got a flash new phone to boot!)

[dave_s13]

Those stick on things are a loadashite I'm afraid.

I'm the same, no reception downstairs, some reception upstairs a bit more in the garden, full reception in the street.

Which is a right pain but don't won't to change from o2 cos their PAYG is cheap.

[Mr E]

Not much apart from a new cell will help I'm afraid.

[catso]

I had Vodafone, changed to Orange no better, no worse, O2 is worse, it's just a 'geographical' thing but I was thinking that there must be some kind of external aerial with a 'booster' for the office or even whole house, anyone?....

[Liszt]

Could you fit a car kit with the aeriel upstairs?

[rolyrat]

Yeah, what he said! Great minds and all that...

[jas xjr]

if you have a bluetooth set could you not leave your phone upstairs, and have a bluetooth hands free downstairs, i have seen one in argos or some such place.if you have no joy let me know and i will dig out the leaflet. i think its called angel something or other and was about £60

[Pigeon]

Liszt said:

Could you fit a car kit with the aeriel upstairs?

Best idea so far.

A better idea would be to replace the omnidirectional whip antenna of the car kit with a Yagi pointed at the nearest base station.

[catso]

jas xjr said:

if you have a bluetooth set could you not leave your phone upstairs, and have a bluetooth hands free downstairs, i have seen one in argos or some such place.if you have no joy let me know and i will dig out the leaflet. i think its called angel something or other and was about £60

Interesting idea I'll look into that, the car kit might work but a tad impractical. But would prefer to have the phone with me and some kind of receiver transmitter (Bluetooth?) upstairs or on the roof, I did a 'Google' and found something that does this so I will enquire (bit expensive though).

www.cellantenna.com/repeater/building_repeater.htm

Thanks for the ideas.






>> Edited by catso on Thursday 10th November 22:53

[jas xjr]

the kit i am refering to is not by the look of it intended for use in a car. i will have a search and post 2moro. it will be from boots,argos or comet. have all the booklets so my nieces and nephews can circle what they would like for xmas!

[zzr]

catso said:

I had Vodafone, changed to Orange no better, no worse, O2 is worse, it's just a 'geographical' thing but I was thinking that there must be some kind of external aerial with a 'booster' for the office or even whole house, anyone?....

I had a repeater system installed in our basement at work, it basically picks up all networks and repeats it by using small aerials off of an amplifier.

Paul

[PJLarge]

Yes I got our place one of those too. I managed to get it free off Vodafone, but seeing as our bills are about £1k a month they wanted to stop us going elsewhere. If you're with VF ask to speak to their corporate accounts dept who should be able to sort you out with a repeater.

Phil.

>> Edited by PJLarge on Friday 11th November 21:29

[mybrainhurts]

Try one of these....

[jas xjr]

the gadget i mentioned before is the stingray handsfree from tesco,well know suppliers of cutting edge technology. it is £6o. might be an option. hth

[Mr E]

zzr said:

catso said: I had Vodafone, changed to Orange no better, no worse, O2 is worse, it's just a 'geographical' thing but I was thinking that there must be some kind of external aerial with a 'booster' for the office or even whole house, anyone?.... I had a repeater system installed in our basement at work, it basically picks up all networks and repeats it by using small aerials off of an amplifier. Paul

Does that not break certain transmission laws though?

[catso]

zzr said:

I had a repeater system installed in our basement at work, it basically picks up all networks and repeats it by using small aerials off of an amplifier. Paul

That's the sort of thing, any recomendations?

[zzr]

catso said:

zzr said: I had a repeater system installed in our basement at work, it basically picks up all networks and repeats it by using small aerials off of an amplifier. Paul That's the sort of thing, any recomendations?

I'll get the details out when I get into work on Monday and send them on.

The good thing is you can spec it to the size you need and it's expandable should things change later on, as I'm going to do in the new year.

Paul

[g_attrill]

Mr E said:

zzr said: catso said: I had Vodafone, changed to Orange no better, no worse, O2 is worse, it's just a 'geographical' thing but I was thinking that there must be some kind of external aerial with a 'booster' for the office or even whole house, anyone?.... I had a repeater system installed in our basement at work, it basically picks up all networks and repeats it by using small aerials off of an amplifier. Paul Does that not break certain transmission laws though?

If it is from Vodafone it would probably be licensed and administered by them. Anything else imported and self-fitted would be illegal under the W&T Act.

As for the OP's original problem, if they are near a window then some kind of sucker-mounted antenna would be a good solution. AVOID any of the stickers which you are supposed to stick to your batttery or phone, they are all scams and don't work at all.

Gareth