Mobile phone signal boosters?

[Mark300zx]

No signal in the middle of the countryside but have broadband.

The o2 signal booster is £180 but have noticed some generic ones that are cheaper, would they work with any network/phone?

Tia

[Blockbuster]

Can’t your phone do Wi-Fi calling? Those femtocell things are being discontinued in favour of Wi-Fi calling.

[mickyh7]

We bought a Vodafone signal booster years ago. Ironically we had to pay for it, because of their poor signal?
Cost around £70.
Bloody Useless.
Ended up changing to Giffgaff and never looked back.
If you must buy a booster, check ebay etc. Lots of used ones for sale from people changing providers!

[Spidersleg]

We have an EE one that we got free and it's been amazing. Plugs into the wifi router and gives full signal for calls and texts throughout the house. We suggested to EE that we could cancel both mobiles, home phone and broadband if they couldn't provide a solution to no mobile signal.

[survivalist]

Blockbuster said:

Can’t your phone do Wi-Fi calling? Those femtocell things are being discontinued in favour of Wi-Fi calling.

This. As long as your broadband is half decent and you've got good wifi coverage.

I had a Vodafone booster/femtocell and the range was very poor. WiFi calling is a much better solution and even if you have to spend a bit of money to improve your wifi, at least other devices benefit as well.

[Spidersleg]

survivalist said:

This. As long as your broadband is half decent and you've got good wifi coverage.

I had a Vodafone booster/femtocell and the range was very poor. WiFi calling is a much better solution and even if you have to spend a bit of money to improve your wifi, at least other devices benefit as well.

Are you able to send/receive sms with wifi calling ?

[Griffith4ever]

Actual signal boosters are actually frequency specific transceivers so you need to buy one that covers the frequency bands your phone co uses for 3g/4g / voice. The mobile signal booster sites ask you which phone network you use and then offer you what works for you.

You also get choice of multi band amplifiers to cover more networks.

I have a dual band that covers O2 voice and 3g and Three UK voice and 3g (other network on the same bands will work too). The more bands the more expensive.

Works brilliantly once the external antenna is mounted high.

[Spoke]

Spidersleg said:

Are you able to send/receive sms with wifi calling ?

Yes, operates just as it would on a mobile signal - certainly 3 which I'm on but I imagine the same on any network that supports WiFi Calling.