Mobile signal booster?

10_66

As a result of my landline 'phone developing a fault, an engineer made a home visit ('phone still not working though, exchange problem). He wanted my mobile number as a contact and I was telling him I can't get a signal on my mobile (o2) at home, so he was telling me you can buy a mobile 'phone signal booster that plugs into the back of your router and suggested that I checked it out online. I've had a look and it seems that this is illegal (from what I've read it's not illegal to sell, but it is to use them). Can anyone throw any light on the subject for me, please?

grumbler

Illegal boosters are those that work through air, not through broadband: Home Signal Boosters? Some app for O2 smartphones is mentioned here that works directly with a router.

http://static.o2.co.uk/www/docs/business/boostbox_qsg_guide_standard_v4_lr.pdf
This one is legal, but I don't know if you can get it from O2.

10_66

Thanks for your reply. I don't have a smartphone, just a basic mobile. The link to the boostbox says you need a 3G mobile (not exactly sure what 3G is). I was hoping that I could just get something that enables me to receive and make calls (I don't use my mobile for internet connection).

DonnyDave

There is perhaps little point in spending money on a femtocell (which is a small base station such as O2 BoostBox or Vodafone Sure Signal). If the signal isn't good then it may be better to switch networks.

Unless usage is so great or there is another reason such as the network is the best somewhere else that you go then there seems little point buying your own base station because the network's own doesn't serve you.

10_66

Believe it or not, despite the practically non existent signal, o2 has the best coverage than any other. If swapping the network would work I'd willingly do so, but the area in which I live is just terrible for receiving mobile signals.

DonnyDave

10_66 wrote: »

Believe it or not, despite the practically non existent signal, o2 has the best coverage than any other. If swapping the network would work I'd willingly do so, but the area in which I live is just terrible for receiving mobile signals.

These days a phone doesn't have a connectors to attach an external antenna. If yours does then you would be able to put the aerial somewhere that you can get a signal such as on the window. That said, moving it about the house would be clumbersome!

Buzby

Have you tried them all? Voda, 3UK, Orange are the remaining core networks - it is rare only one of them have an area to themselves - if they (o2) are that bad, it could be because another provider has taken the strain!

gjchester

10_66 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. I don't have a smartphone, just a basic mobile. The link to the boostbox says you need a 3G mobile (not exactly sure what 3G is). I was hoping that I could just get something that enables me to receive and make calls (I don't use my mobile for internet connection).

Femto cells connect to your wifi and route calls through the internet to the network, if you have no landline then it won't work.

The Boostbox was o2's name for it's femtocell solution but it was aimed at businesses, o2 have the Tu Go app that routes calls to your a smart phone (not relevant to you) or computer, that may help. Again the problem of no landline means that won't work either..

10_66

I do have a landline normally, it's just faulty at present until BT get it fixed, so would the Boostbox be relevant to me (I thought you needed a smartphone for that). If not would the Tu Go app work for me, I have a basic mobile, a landline and broadband router?

10_66

I've just noticed that the Tu Go is only for pay monthly, I only have Pay As You Go.

grumbler

10_66 wrote: »

I do have a landline normally, it's just faulty at present until BT get it fixed, so would the Boostbox be relevant to me

Boostbox needs broadband connection. Does the landline fault affect telephone calls only while the internet remains alive?

(I thought you needed a smartphone for that).

You need a phone with 3g connectivity. Only basic phone don't have it. Use http://www.gsmarena.com/search.php3 to check yours.

If not would the Tu Go app work for me, I have a basic mobile, a landline and broadband router?

The app is for smartphones only, possibly even not for all smartphones.