Devices to boost mobile phone signal

GAILEY

Hi all,

Just wondering if there were any devices on the market at present to boost mobile phone signal, and if so how effective they are.

I have struggled with signal for years at home (we are in a rural area and to add to my problems I live in a cottage with very thick sandstone walls and in a dip, surrounded by other buildings).

It is quite frustrating as I work from home a lot and use my mobile rather than my landline (because of the nature of my work I prefer to keep my landline private) but often only get voicemails much later than when they are left, or the phone shows voicemail or missed calls when a whiff of signal strikes - then I spend ages trying to get signal to rerieve the message or return the call.

My phone is an oldish iphone (3s) and I'm on 02 but just a sim contract as Ive had my phone years. I seem to have the same problem whatever the provider - my partner and daughter are on t mobile and thats no better (and their phones are newish)

Is there any tech kit that might help?

paddyrg

Yes repeaters are available. However, using them isn't legal in the UK (without consent of the network operator/frequency owner) as you're illegally transmitting, technically. Would you be caught? Unlikely, but if you are, it's bad news.

Instead ask your network - O2 may have a system like the Vodafone picocells which route voice traffic via your home broadband.

GAILEY

Thanks
Ive just contacted 02 and they've told me they can only do the booster for business
They've asked me to download Tu Go - I had never heard of that but will try and see what it does, if anything. I'll let you know how I get on

I_have_spoken

I naughtily had a GSM booster in a previous house, with the Yagi aerial externally mounted and pointed to the nearest O2 mast and the booster unit/whip aerial in the airing cupboard.



It did help a bit but a broadband linked femtocell like O2 Boostbox is certainly a better bet. I see there's one on Ebay

You can buy the Vodafone Sure Signal but you'd need to jump over to Vodafone SIM and get a MAC code from O2 to port your phone number

TBH iPhone radio engineering is rubbish, always the first to lose signal. Try a Nokia Lumia.

because of the nature of my work I prefer to keep my landline private

:eek:

techno12

You could spend a quid or so and try one of those "mobile signal boosters"



They genuinely do work, and I've used them on the several different phones over the past 8 years that I've owned, and in each case I get an extra bar. I'm in a basement flat with marginal signal - there are still deadspots but it's definitely better with the sticker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=255vpnyBwH4

Just used one again the other day on my new Galaxy S4 Mini.

Might be worth a shot.

earthstorm

techno12 wrote: »

You could spend a quid or so and try one of those "mobile signal boosters"



They genuinely do work, and I've used them on the several different phones over the past 8 years that I've owned, and in each case I get an extra bar. I'm in a basement flat with marginal signal - there are still deadspots but it's definitely better with the sticker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=255vpnyBwH4

Just used one again the other day on my new Galaxy S4 Mini.

Might be worth a shot.

You may find these on ebay. I used to sell these on ebay, but now selling at 99p as a business seller is pointless.

20p listing + the FVF
25p PP fee
50p RM 2nd class postage

matttye

GAILEY wrote: »

Thanks
Ive just contacted 02 and they've told me they can only do the booster for business
They've asked me to download Tu Go - I had never heard of that but will try and see what it does, if anything. I'll let you know how I get on

TU Go connects to the network via your WiFi connection at home. It's brilliant.

Just a shame it requires a separate app, as I'd rather have all of my calls go through the one app.

techno12

Yeah I got mine from eBay earlier this week - 5 for £2 something.

Gone up in price as I bought 10 for that amount several years ago and handed them out to people in the office. Everyone was skeptical until they tried them and they'd utter "ooh - extra bar! !!!!!!?". We're all techy types and couldn't understand why mobile manufacturers didn't build them into the phones.

grumpycrab

I_have_spoken wrote: »

...
You can buy the Vodafone Sure Signal but you'd need to jump over to Vodafone SIM and get a MAC code from O2 to port your phone number

+1 for Voda Sure Signal. Works very well assuming you have a basic working broadband connection. (>=2Mbps) AND initial configuration goes without a hitch. Well supported by Voda too.

benjus

Three has a similar system to Voda - called Three Home Signal. I got mine sent out free of charge from Three, but that's probably because I'd just started a 2 year contract. Not sure what the situation is with SIM-only.