Mobile signal in new build

[tom_loughlin]

Evening shaps and chapesses,
I am nearing the end of my chapel conversion, and since the Kigspan foil backed insulation has gone in, I cannot get any mobile signal inside the building - The entire building is lined with 100mm under the floor screed, 75mm on all walls, 175mm on the ceiling, and has K-glass windows - which I hear has a thin metal foil - so the entire house, in effect, is a farraday cage.

I am on Vodafone, but have tried Orange, T-mobile and o2 - all have decent signal outside (~4bars) but absolutely nothing inside.

This can't be a new problem - but I can't seem to get anywhere.

If anyone has experienced the same, or has any suggestions, I would be most grateful. I hear there are singal boosters on the market, but can't find any information I actually trust.

I have tried changing between 2G and 3G, to no effect.

Thanks people,

Tom

[LeeThePeople]

My mums house is about 8 years old and you cant get a signal in her house either, its a total nightmare when im visiting.

[richyb]

Tear it down and start again. Job done.

[Mark-C]

Just spoken to a friend and he had a similar issue .... did something with a "signal repeater" for around £500 and then went on about frequencies for a bit

He'll mail me a link to the one he's using for Vodafone and I'll post it here.

Here you go --> http://www.cellantenna.co.uk/index.php?id=50.

Cheaper than he thought and apparently no longer "a legal grey area". You apparently need the 900MHZ one for Vodafone. If you have the foil insulation on internal walls you'll be limited to how far the signal will go.

Edited by Mark-C on Wednesday 22 April 19:57

[NDT]

Would have thought the best solution is either a mobile that will run a UMA (IIRC) type solution where it runs off the wifi while inside the house, or a BT homehub type system (effectively the same thing) where they mobile which links to the BT homehub when you're inside.

But I'm not a mobile expert!

[crackedfinger]

tried 3?

[parapaul]

Tried not posting in the GG forum? Maybe the Lounge, or the gadgets and phoens forum?

Strange place to ask for advice...

[Zad]

In theory, it should be quite simple. I say in theory because I haven't tried it myself and I know how theory can go out of the window when the real world intrudes. Sometimes in road/rail tunnels, they use what is known as a leaky feeder. Which sounds like it should be purchased at a garden centre, or should be worth a visit to a urologist. Basically, an antenna is placed on the building at a reasonably prominent point outside. A coaxial cable is connected to it, but one where the outer screen has been partially removed. This is then run along the tunnel (or around the house). They are very effective but I imagine the proper ones cost a fortune.

Being the radio geeky sort, I would have a go at building my own. Mount a simple whip antenna outside, and feed it via coax to a similar antenna inside. It wouldn't be difficult to hide something like this. I know in the early days of mobile phones, you used to be able to get a similar product that fitted on your rear windscreen. How effective they were is another matter.

ETA: These are called passive repeaters. Googling produced quite a view US results but no really useful UK ones.

Edited by Zad on Thursday 23 April 03:49

[Pints]

crackedfinger said:

tried 3?

3 use Orange's network so if if can't get coverage with them it's unlikely he'll get with 3

[miniman]

Interesting, I tried to extricate myself from my Orange contract having just moved into a new build and getting bugger all signal. Tie this together with every time I put a plasterboard fixing in the wall it hitting something metal and breaking and I think we have the answer. Now, whether or not to put this on the snagging list

[garycat]

Pints said:

crackedfinger said:

tried 3?

3 use Orange's network so if if can't get coverage with them it's unlikely he'll get with 3

They ony use orange where they don't have their own coverage, so it's possible that there may be 3 aerial close by.


I had the same problem with WiFi in a new house and I had to solve it by using a USB WiFi dongle on 3 USB extension leads so it had line of sight to the router.

[spikeyhead]

Go with a leaky feeder, just get an antenna from a car phone kit. extend the coax to it and cut 115mm long slots in the outer every m or so. Wind that under the floorboards between the two floors and you should be fine.

[Simpo Two]

Plug the phone into the TV aerial?

Pragmatic, me.

ETA: Or use one of those phones that connect by copper to everything - 'landline' is the term I think

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 23 April 09:55

[Gingerbread Man]

This would explain why while I sit in my extended study I have no phone signal - walk back 3 meters and it's fine.

Funnily enough my dad just walked in with a new portable DAB radio. He looses signal in the extended bit. Walk back 3 meters and he is fine again....

[tom_loughlin]

Cheers guys,
I will have a go at this leaky feeder idea - would be a good starting point I think.

I originally posted this in General Gassing, But has been moved... Still haven't quite mastered all the sections of this site.

Thanks again, and I will let you know the outcome.

Tom

[theaxe]

Mark-C said:

Just spoken to a friend and he had a similar issue .... did something with a "signal repeater" for around £500 and then went on about frequencies for a bit

He'll mail me a link to the one he's using for Vodafone and I'll post it here.

Here you go --> http://www.cellantenna.co.uk/index.php?id=50.

Cheaper than he thought and apparently no longer "a legal grey area". You apparently need the 900MHZ one for Vodafone. If you have the foil insulation on internal walls you'll be limited to how far the signal will go.

My mate got one of these, from zero to full bars straight away.

[crackedfinger]

Pints said:

crackedfinger said:

tried 3?

3 use Orange's network so if if can't get coverage with them it's unlikely he'll get with 3

That is true, 3 uses other networks for GPRS roaming, but also has a rather huge 3G network themselves.

http://www.three.co.uk/Help_Support/Coverage

Try this link to see if it is in your area.

[john_p]

theaxe said:

My mate got one of these, from zero to full bars straight away.

+1

The only thing is his doesn't boost UMTS signal (3G) as he bought a GSM-only one. However, for home where you have wifi, who cares.