Cell phone signal booster

[Albert Hodge]

Has anyone used a cell phone signal booster, and would like to share their experience?

The one i'm considering can be seen at
https://www.ebay.com/itm/850-1900MHz-Cell-Phone-Signal-Booster-GSM-3G-4G-Amplifier-Kit-for-AT-T-Verizon/181961955840?epid=712424363&hash=item2a5dc71a00:rk:1f:0

 

[Rob]

Albert Hodge <albert_h@isp.org> wrote:
> Has anyone used a cell phone signal booster, and would like to share their experience?

Their experience in jail, you mean?
Or their experience working to pay the hefty fine they got?

 

[John-Del]

On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 8:29:09 AM UTC-5, Rob wrote:

Albert Hodge <albert_h@isp.org> wrote:
Has anyone used a cell phone signal booster, and would like to share their experience?

Their experience in jail, you mean?
Or their experience working to pay the hefty fine they got?

We're out in the sticks in a town that is itself in the sticks, so our cell reception is sketchy at best. My son installed an "M-Cell" which is sold by AT&T and connects to our cable wifi. Works great anywhere inside the house, not so much outside though. Without the M-Cell, we'd have to go on the front porch to use the cells.

 

On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 8:29:09 AM UTC-5, Rob wrote:

Albert Hodge <albert_h@isp.org> wrote:
Has anyone used a cell phone signal booster, and would like to share their experience?

Their experience in jail, you mean?
Or their experience working to pay the hefty fine they got?

What laws would be broken if one used a repeater? AFAIK, it is not illegal to use a signal booster/repeater. IIRC, they need to be registered with the cell phone company and the devices need to be FCC certified. I doubt the stuff from China is certified. The OP should probably check into this.

I have no user experience with any of the repeaters.

According to the ATT website, they no longer sell the M-cell repeaters. Instead, they suggest enabling 'wifi calling' on the cell and configure the att internet service to accommodate wifi calling.

 

[Rob]

jjhudak4@gmail.com <jjhudak4@gmail.com> wrote:

On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 8:29:09 AM UTC-5, Rob wrote:
Albert Hodge <albert_h@isp.org> wrote:
Has anyone used a cell phone signal booster, and would like to share their experience?

Their experience in jail, you mean?
Or their experience working to pay the hefty fine they got?

What laws would be broken if one used a repeater? AFAIK, it is not illegal to use a signal booster/repeater.

The laws to operate any transmitter without the appropriate license or
certified to be operated without a license.

> IIRC, they need to be registered with the cell phone company and the devices need to be FCC certified. I doubt the stuff from China is certified. The OP should probably check into this.

That is the problem.
And the phone company will probably not register your repeater.

I have no user experience with any of the repeaters.

According to the ATT website, they no longer sell the M-cell repeaters. Instead, they suggest enabling 'wifi calling' on the cell and configure the att internet service to accommodate wifi calling.

M-cell are not repeaters but microcells (although such things for
consumer use are usually called picocells).
That is an entirely different beast. It is like a WiFi access point
running the protocol for mobile phones, allowing you to make a call
over internet using your mobile phone. It does not amplify a cell
tower signal but it uses your internet line.

 

[John Robertson]

On 2018/11/20 7:27 AM, Albert Hodge wrote:

Has anyone used a cell phone signal booster, and would like to share
their experience?

The one i'm considering can be seen at
https://www.ebay.com/itm/850-1900MHz-Cell-Phone-Signal-Booster-GSM-3G-4G-Amplifier-Kit-for-AT-T-Verizon/181961955840?epid=712424363&hash=item2a5dc71a00:rk:1f:0

Cell phone reception in our warehouse is likewise compromised even
though there is an antenna farm within 1 click. Metal framing, metal
roof...annoying for our customers (film industry, etc.) who have to go
outside to call someone. I've looked into it but in Canada it would cost
around $800CAD for the repeater then someone has to install it on the
roof...

Wi-Fi enabling would mean that every customer who comes in would need to
join our wi-fi network compromising security. I shall see if our
provider will do a free hot spot here - that might work...

John :-#(#

 

[Ralph Mowery]

In article <aMudnRwT-aHfKWjGnZ2dnUU7-VXNnZ2d@giganews.com>,
spam@flippers.com says...

Wi-Fi enabling would mean that every customer who comes in would need to
join our wi-fi network compromising security. I shall see if our
provider will do a free hot spot here - that might work...

There must be some way to provide security on the wifi network for you.
Many places seem to . They have privite and public networks in the same
place.

 

[Clifford Heath]

On 22/11/18 6:38 am, John Robertson wrote:

On 2018/11/20 7:27 AM, Albert Hodge wrote:
Has anyone used a cell phone signal booster, and would like to share
their experience?

The one i'm considering can be seen at
https://www.ebay.com/itm/850-1900MHz-Cell-Phone-Signal-Booster-GSM-3G-4G-Amplifier-Kit-for-AT-T-Verizon/181961955840?epid=712424363&hash=item2a5dc71a00:rk:1f:0
Cell phone reception in our warehouse is likewise compromised even
though there is an antenna farm within 1 click. Metal framing, metal
roof...annoying for our customers (film industry, etc.) who have to go
outside to call someone. I've looked into it but in Canada it would cost
around $800CAD for the repeater then someone has to install it on the
roof...

Passive repeater. Put a panel antenna on the roof attached by co-ax to a
radiating element underneath the tin.

Clifford Heath.

 

[tom]

"Clifford Heath" <no.spam@please.net> wrote in message
news:z0kJD.661268$Ac3.353686@fx45.iad...

On 22/11/18 6:38 am, John Robertson wrote:
On 2018/11/20 7:27 AM, Albert Hodge wrote:
Has anyone used a cell phone signal booster, and would like to share
their experience?

The one i'm considering can be seen at
https://www.ebay.com/itm/850-1900MHz-Cell-Phone-Signal-Booster-GSM-3G-4G-Amplifier-Kit-for-AT-T-Verizon/181961955840?epid=712424363&hash=item2a5dc71a00:rk:1f:0
Cell phone reception in our warehouse is likewise compromised even though
there is an antenna farm within 1 click. Metal framing, metal
roof...annoying for our customers (film industry, etc.) who have to go
outside to call someone. I've looked into it but in Canada it would cost
around $800CAD for the repeater then someone has to install it on the
roof...

Passive repeater. Put a panel antenna on the roof attached by co-ax to a
radiating element underneath the tin.

Clifford Heath.

Be sure you do the math beforehand.

 

[Rob]

tom <tmiller11147@verizon.net> wrote:

"Clifford Heath" <no.spam@please.net> wrote in message
news:z0kJD.661268$Ac3.353686@fx45.iad...
Passive repeater. Put a panel antenna on the roof attached by co-ax to a
radiating element underneath the tin.

Clifford Heath.

Be sure you do the math beforehand.

This actually works. You wouldn't think so, but it does.
Of course only when there is good signal where you place the outside
antenna and poor signal inside, but that can be the case in such metal-can
buildings.

 

[John Robertson]

On 2018/11/21 1:22 PM, Clifford Heath wrote:

On 22/11/18 6:38 am, John Robertson wrote:
On 2018/11/20 7:27 AM, Albert Hodge wrote:
Has anyone used a cell phone signal booster, and would like to share
their experience?

The one i'm considering can be seen at
https://www.ebay.com/itm/850-1900MHz-Cell-Phone-Signal-Booster-GSM-3G-4G-Amplifier-Kit-for-AT-T-Verizon/181961955840?epid=712424363&hash=item2a5dc71a00:rk:1f:0

Cell phone reception in our warehouse is likewise compromised even
though there is an antenna farm within 1 click. Metal framing, metal
roof...annoying for our customers (film industry, etc.) who have to go
outside to call someone. I've looked into it but in Canada it would
cost around $800CAD for the repeater then someone has to install it on
the roof...

Passive repeater. Put a panel antenna on the roof attached by co-ax to a
radiating element underneath the tin.

Clifford Heath.

Problem is I don't own the building so need landlords permission to
drill holes...plus the roof is higher than my extension ladder...

John :-#)#

 

[Albert Hodge]

John-Del<ohger1s@gmail.com> wrote:

On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 8:29:09 AM UTC-5, Rob wrote:
Albert Hodge <albert_h@isp.org> wrote:
Has anyone used a cell phone signal booster, and would like to share their experience?

Their experience in jail, you mean?
Or their experience working to pay the hefty fine they got?
We're out in the sticks in a town that is itself in the sticks, so our cell reception is sketchy at best. My son installed an "M-Cell" which is sold by AT&T and connects to our cable wifi. Works great anywhere inside the house, not so much outside though. Without the M-Cell, we'd have to go on the front porch to use the cells.

My outside reception is sometimes good, sometimes bad, depending if you stand in the right place, or walk around.

In the house, I can hang the phone in a window where it gets two bars, then create a wireless hot spot, and use another phone and tablet connected to the hotspot, using VOIP apps to make calls. It works pretty good but I'd like better reception in the house for the cellular network.

I've never heard or read anything about needing a permit or license to operate a booster.

There is only cell phone internet here so that m cell wouldn't work for my setup. There are some good deals on used ones on ebay.

 

[Rob]

Albert Hodge <albert_h@isp.org> wrote:
> I've never heard or read anything about needing a permit or license to operate a booster.

That doesn't really matter, does it?
At least over here, "everyone is supposed to know the law", i.e. when doing
something against the law you cannot use the defense "I've never heard or
read about that not being allowed".

> There is only cell phone internet here so that m cell wouldn't work for my setup. There are some good deals on used ones on ebay.

Such a device needs cooperation from the provider.
Before you buy one, first make sure that the provider still allows you
to register it on their network and use it.

The reason those devices are not very popular is that you have to furnish
your own internet connection, then you can make calls via the picocell
using your own bandwidth, but you still pay the normal call tariffs on
your mobile calls. So in fact you are paying twice, or at least you
are paying to mobile provider to make calls over your own network.

That does not land very well, usually.

 

[Pat]

On Wed, 21 Nov 2018 20:20:03 -0600, "Albert Hodge" <albert_h@isp.org>
wrote:


>I've never heard or read anything about needing a permit or license to operate a booster.

It's not that simple. In the US, the FCC must "type accept" things
that transmit to make sure they use the correct frequencies and do not
interfere with other services. If a device is type accepted for
unlicensed use, the end user does not need a license. Routers with
wi-fi fall into this category. However, lots of chinese stuff sold
over the Internet skipped the approval step. They may or may not use
the proper frequencies and may or may not interfere with legal
devices. Some even cheat and place a sticker claiming FCC approval.
Buyer beware.

 

[John Robertson]

On 2018/11/22 7:01 AM, Pat wrote:

On Wed, 21 Nov 2018 20:20:03 -0600, "Albert Hodge" <albert_h@isp.org
wrote:


I've never heard or read anything about needing a permit or license to operate a booster.

It's not that simple. In the US, the FCC must "type accept" things
that transmit to make sure they use the correct frequencies and do not
interfere with other services. If a device is type accepted for
unlicensed use, the end user does not need a license. Routers with
wi-fi fall into this category. However, lots of chinese stuff sold
over the Internet skipped the approval step. They may or may not use
the proper frequencies and may or may not interfere with legal
devices. Some even cheat and place a sticker claiming FCC approval.
Buyer beware.

Very true with Amazon and eBay 'products'. Brick and mortar businesses
are much less likely to sell you junk that interferes or is potentially
dangerous...

John :-#)#

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