Cell phones in shop

[Fueler]

While we are on the subject of TVs and internet in shops I want to ask about cell phones.

I have considered going cell phones exclusively in the shop but I get stopped every now and then due to a couple of things. I have a Morton pole barn building. Metal roof, tig welding, machines running etc.

1: I notice that some walk in clients can get cell phone reception inside without too much hassle while others have to walk outside.
I always assumed it was a specific phone or service that allowed good signal but never asked. When I talk to the twits at the phone store they either lie (tell me what I want to hear) or don't know.

2: Sending a fax from a computer program like Word. How would this be accomplished?

3: Is there some kind of super repeater antenna that can be attached to the building to help the clients and myself down the road?

This is one of those things that when the time comes I only want to do it once. Not willing to experiment based on a first year sales techs say so.

 

[J Man]

Have ou ever asked the people that can get service what they use? That would be a good way to start deciding what may or may not work. I have AT&T and they d not actually offer service in my area. I am able to get a good signal in some areas and other areas are hit and miss. A lot of people I work with have Nextel, thay have a tower on the plant so service is great at the plant but once you get away from town the service gets worse. You will never make everyone happy but it is about what works for you.

As far as internet I have ireless for the house and you could probibly get it in the shop. It has been pretty reliable and it is a hell of a lot faster than dial up. The downside is that the cost is more as well.

To awnser your 3rd question, I did see something newer for people that what better service at home. It is some sort of amplifier for your signal that you use at home. I do not remember who offers it though.

Something to think about is that you could get the amp to increase your cell signal that way everyones signal might get better. Then change you land line to the most basic service you can. There is a company called USA Datanet, they can give you a 800 # that you call and then you dial the # you want to call. It is something like 10 cents a minute up to around 10 minutes and then it becomes a flat rate after 10 minutes, no matter how long you talk. You can be on the phone for 3 hours and it will be $1.99.We have been using them for about 6 years. The only adittional cost would be for faxes.

 

[kutza]

Just from experience and being in many different shops and distribution centers, I learned that it is not alway th cell phone carrier with the stronger, but the phone unit itself. Diffrent people with various cell providers have different signal strength in the buildings. It seems that the beeter Cell phones, I guess internally with a better signal processing have the best response. Just my thoughts on this topic. Also for using the word Twit!

 

[Tman]

I get damn good receptiion with my $20 phone. The $100 company phone I had wasnt as good in the same building.

Yes, they do make repeaters, I looked into that as we use our cells for long distance rather than pay the phone company!

 

[CraigFL]

One of the problems with cell phone service is that it is digital and faxes are sent with an analog method. Most services can't handle this on their regular lines.

Amplifier/Boosters-- Like this: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1829799&CatId=1739

 

[Fueler]

CraigFL,
That looks like the right idea BUT it's an indoor thing. What I was wondering about was an outdoor antenna to pick up the tower signal and route it into the building via hard line to a receiver/broadcaster. Getting through the steel exterior seems to be the main issue. Make sense?

 

[Fueler]

Faxes: Sounds like I need some kind of convertor/interface to pull this off. Anyone know if something exists and what is it?
Thanks

 

[timgr]

Do you have a computer/internet connection in the garage? One possibility might be wifi to the adjacent residence and a VOIP server like Vonage. I've used Skype (free) for conference calls and it's passable. Over long distances it gets weirdly distorted sometimes - compression artifact I presume.

 

[Fueler]

Not trying to get to another building. Just trying to find the best course for getting cell phone reception through a metal clad shop so that reception inside is stellar.

The fax was a secondary issue. If I can't get good reception all the time then I must stay with land lines. Sending faxes over the net is possible but I have a reistance to having to pay for it via a service.

 

[Palf]

Like mentioned a lot of factors will effect your reception. The metal building, or anything with that much metal is a deterrence to radio signals. As mentioned, it is not only the provider, but the phone, and one thing folks have not mentioned is atmospherics, weather to non-radio techs.

I live in an area where the weather/atmospherics are very erratic (Mississippi gulf coast) and it has a great deal of influence on what works/when. What you have in the shop also plays a factor. Florescent lights, how many and how they are positioned, plus the size and amount of electrical motors running also play a factor.

I have been involved with all kinds of communications with the military for a long while now and my $.02, if yo want reliability, you are better off with wire, run a phone line to the shop and do DSL.

Wireless/cell is convenient, but not always that reliable. As mentioned, for whatever different technology reasons some cable-based systems have a difficult time receiving fax and certain communications from cell systems.

If this is a business and your livelihood depends on reception, I would recommend wire-based.

 

[SC-Eric]

Cell phones are erratic in metal or concrete buildings. As someone already mentioned, it does have alot to do with the phone itself. I have the problem you talk about in my house. I'm just on the borderline of cell service which simulates what you are describing. So, I spent some time looking for a booster antenna and found that there IS such a thing.

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS255&q=cell+phone+booster+antenna

However, I had to look at what my main goal was... saving money. If I lost my home phone then I'd have to get more cell minutes... and... I'm on a national plan and it gets more expensive. I already had high speed cable internet... so... like someone else mentioned as well... I went with Vonage. I've had Vonage now for several years. It's hard to beat the cost... about $25 per month. The price includes unlimited local and long distance to the entire US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Guam... maybe more than that now. I 've never called anyone in Guam... lol. I haven't looked recently but I think I remember that it also may include several countries in Europe. Anyway, I've been pretty happy with Vonage. The call clarity is WAY BETTER than I had with regular phone service! The main difference is when the power is out... the phone is out. One feature I really like is the 'find me' feature. There are times when i have been waiting on a call and am 'stuck' in the house waiting. Now, all I have to do is go into my account on the computer and have the call forwarded to my cell. You can even direct it to send the call to other numbers if you don't answer your cell.

I'm sure that there are other companies that do VOIP as well. All I know is that I'm saving about $60 per month... and... I'm happy with the service!

 

[Jononon]

#2: If you have a landline and a good old fashioned 56k faxmodem, Windows XP has a built in fax client:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/crawford_02october21.mspx

If you're reliant entirely on a broadband service (cable, dsl, etc.) you have, as far as I'm aware, no option but to use Efax or the like. Efax is an excellent service, it's far more flexible than leaving your PC on all the time, but it's not cheap.

#3: http://www.jdteck.com/repeaters-consumer.htm - External antenna, internal repeater, designed for the very problem you're facing.

 

[PhantomEB]

As my bride and I strictly run cell phones, no land lines due to the fact that we can always get a hold of each other and no one half the time is in the house to answer calls anyways, I brought me an extra cell phone charger cord to put in the garage and never have problems with my cell phone but at the same time, we are also located in a major city.

 

[6768rogues]

I use Nextel at work (now Sprint) and they offered to put a repeater in one building where the phones will not work on the first floor. They would mount an antenna on the roof, a wire to an amplifier, and out to several broadcasters that are about the size of a smoke detector. They agreed to do it at their expense (we have 40 phones) but wanted me to sign a contract stating that I would keep 40 phones for 5 years. I did not want to commit to a long term agreement.

 

[Fueler]

Looks like these folks have what I was envisioning. In fact, it looks like they also have a variation that will work for my ole motorhome . There appears to be a few resellers out there.

http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/?gclid=CKb2gYasppECFQKHPAodZifXgQ

Now all I need to find is a magic interface box so I can create a fax on the computer as I do now and send it over a cell phone.