Cell phone amplifier

[CARS]

I use my HTC Thunderbolt as a mobile hotspot (wifi signal) in addition to using it as my phone. In my shop, the phone works great unless I am in the paint booth. Then it's kinda iffy but it allows me to get out of the metal box (within the metal building) to complete the call.

My question is will a cell booster/amplifier increase my 3G signal for faster internet in my shop or does it really just help the phone signal?

 

[nehog]

I *THINK* it will help... I sure need something because in my building the cell phones are dead unless I'm standing next to the window!

 

[Mike_C]

I have a booster at home, full 4g bars but its slow. at least I don't drop calls in the house anymore though.

 

[CARS]

I have a booster at home, full 4g bars but its slow. at least I don't drop calls in the house anymore though.

Well, I guess keeping a strong signal is better than speed. It's not that slow, but I have to just wait for videos to load and then watch them.

I was hoping it would increase speed too.

 

[bd8134]

I use something like this in my house.
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-KX-TG6582T-Bluetooth-Cordless-Answering/dp/B0036D9YKA/ref=dp_ob_title_def
When I come in the house I put my cell phone on a charger. Any calls that come in via the land line or my wifes or my cell, rings the Panasonic phone. Different rings for each.
With this you could leave your HTC where the reception is good on a charger and use the Panasonic phone around the shop.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

This-
http://www.digitalantenna.com/prods/cellantenna_yagi_1550-2350-mhz_14db.html
Along with this-
http://www.digitalantenna.com/prods/cellbooster_DA4000_directconnectamplifier.html

And you're set to go- with the exception that the phone is physically attached to the amp.

I had the marine setup on my Cat.

 

[CARS]

This-
http://www.digitalantenna.com/prods/cellantenna_yagi_1550-2350-mhz_14db.html
Along with this-
http://www.digitalantenna.com/prods/cellbooster_DA4000_directconnectamplifier.html

And you're set to go- with the exception that the phone is physically attached to the amp.

I had the marine setup on my Cat.

I suppose that if you didn't want to tether the phone to the amp, you would need to buy something else to "re-broadcast" the signal.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

I suppose that if you didn't want to tether the phone to the amp, you would need to buy something else to "re-broadcast" the signal.

Yes, they're called repeaters. But I'm not sure how good they are for cell phones. But they are out there.

 

[cashishift]

leave phone where good signal is.. use bluetooth headset?

 

[Gary S]

I have 8 wired phones so I have one everywhere I could need one. They always work with never a dropped signal. You have to love wire.

 

[CARS]

I don't really have a problem with making or receiving phone calls. (on most days)

I am trying to boost the data for my internet. (so I can watch youtube vids in real time)

My thinking is that 4 bars are going to be better than 1, I just need to find out what works and what is a waste of time/money.

My shop never had a land line run to it. And I spend enough on my cell service the way it is. I'd hate to trench in a land line, pay for basic phone, and then pay for internet service on top of that. If I was in a metro area that had "bundles" it would be a totally different story. I'm just trying to get as much out of my cell phone as possible. (i'm tight, or would rather spend that money on tools and beer)

 

[Stuey]

Those devices are designed to amplify the signal and probably won't do anything to speed things up.

 

[mooman]

We use the AT&T Micro Cell tower (s) in our office due to poor cellular reception.
For data to and from your phone, this device will not help the speed, only the reception.

Whenever available, Wi-Fi should always be used for data applications like streaming video, downloading files, or surfing the web. Wi-Fi is the optimal solution for home mobile data use, and doesn't count against your mobile data usage bucket.

 

[mlitt12345]

I bought a parabolic Wifi antenna, coax, adapter for my usb cell modem(dont know for sure about the thunderbolt) whether they make a adapter for it or not and depending on where cell tower is your gonna need a pole to attach the antenna to and point in the direction of the cell tower. This setup made a huge difference for my internet speed. I'm aprox. 8 miles from closest cell tower.

Mike

 

[Megadodo]

There is no difference in the signal that handles a call or one that handles data,
it's all 1s and 0s so your " booster" will "boost" both. However, there are all sorts of issue with boosters, if you are talking a true micro-cell then your OK but then the data may be restricted by the internet access that the micro-cell has access to. If it's just a signal booster then that may clash with the base station the handset is talking to and actually end up with a worse problem.
Just because a mobile (cell phone) has all its bars doesn't mean it has full service, it just means that it's above a certain level. Data rates are related to signal strength as well as cell site activity and load so you may not ever achieve maximum data rates just because the phone has al lit's bars active. Remember that some handsets are better than others at handling data.

 

[HOTFR8]

Some buildings work like a Faraday cage so if you can get an external antenna or put an antenna near a window.