http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/ Engadget Comments for Ask Engadget: phone boosters http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://ecitywireless.zoovy.com/product/ASOT_ANT_BOOST?META=froogle-ASOT_ANT_BOOST

right there, baby. works like a charm.]]>Mar 3rd 2006 1:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 1:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=301

right there, baby. works like a charm]]>Mar 3rd 2006 1:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 1:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
http://www.digitalantenna.com/cellamprep_DA4000MR.html
]]>Mar 3rd 2006 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 1:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 1:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
Honestly, I just replaced my SLVR with a Nokia 6682 and I went from no service or 1 bar to 4 bars solid and up. It's that much of a difference. The SLVR wasn't even bad, the 6682 is just that good.

That's the only advice I have, if you use GSM, try the 6682. If you use CDMA, try the Motorola V710 or the E815 if you want EV-DO and don't use AMPS.

Short of that, Wilson makes external antennas for most phones, but that is a pain, why plug in if you have a cell phone? Not so portable after that.. :)

There are actually signal boosters out there - wireless ones at that. I see them advertised on Phonescoop a lot, but can't remember the name.. :(]]>Mar 3rd 2006 1:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
hmmm...]]>Mar 3rd 2006 1:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 1:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 1:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 2:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 2:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 2:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 2:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 2:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.jdteck.com/
I have their booster, and it works perfectly. Support service (questions, returns, etc) are also friendly and fast.]]>Mar 3rd 2006 2:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 2:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/ - All antennas are not created equal
- Antenna placement is key

The antennas that come with most cell phones are crap. Buy a better, external one, and an adapter for for specific phone - yes, you can still get them for almost *every* phone. One such vendor is: http://www.cellantenna.com/Antennas/magneticmount.htm Even itty bitty antennas can easily boost 3dB (that's 2x power/sensitivity folks!)

Get that antenna outside! Or at least near a wall or window closest to your cell provider's tower. Walls, concrete, even windows can *dramatically* cut signal power - put the antenna where the signal is! If you live in Canada, one awesome provider equipment map site is: http://www.geckobeach.com/cellular/maps/

]]>Mar 3rd 2006 3:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Buy two cellular car antennas and connect one to another.
Then put one outside your apartment and the other inside.
This is what is called a "passive repeater"
]]>Mar 3rd 2006 3:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
The only real suggestion is the two mobile antennas, but could that really honestly help?

Engadget, I clicked on this link hoping you'd have a few suggestions yourself. What can YOU tell us? :)]]>Mar 3rd 2006 3:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 4:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/ http://www.misregalosgratis.com]]>Mar 3rd 2006 5:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
Simple: use wifi! More and more phones come with Wifi, among them the Nokia N91, N92, 6186, 9500... the other brands too...
You'll also save money, isn't it nice?
By the way there's a nice way of saving on text messaging too (crickee.com)

Cheers
Ben]]>Mar 3rd 2006 5:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 5:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 6:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
Those stickers are a scam. Those cell watt boosters arent cost effective, not will they ever be. You either just have to live with it, or user something eles in your apartment, like skype out, or vonage. Providing you have a broadband connection. Vonage=500 monthly minutes anywhere in the US and Canada, $15.

Go nuts.]]>Mar 3rd 2006 6:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.wpsantennas.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2
]]>Mar 3rd 2006 7:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.spotwave.com/zen/

]]>Mar 3rd 2006 8:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.criterioncellular.com or http://www.cellantenna.com are the only real solutions. Those sticker-type boosters are snake oil. Read up on antenna theory in a copy of a ARRL book (http://www.arrl.org) at your local library to see.

I personally have used several antennas from criteron, but if your current phone does not have an antenna port (usually behind a rubber plug at the base of the internal antenna), you need to make sure your next phone does.]]>Mar 3rd 2006 8:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 9:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
-chip]]>Mar 3rd 2006 9:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
Bill
]]>Mar 3rd 2006 9:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 10:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
I agree with Kohana. Does anyone know of a cost-effective way to do this? Hell, we're mostly tech-heads here; I'm sure we don't mind breaking out the soldering iron and pulling parts and slapping together if we have to. C'mon... sub $100 would be decent, sub $50 would be a godsend! ]]>Mar 3rd 2006 10:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 10:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 11:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
Get a bluetooth headset and leave your phone in the hall. Maybe you can stash it behind the fire extinguisher or something.]]>Mar 3rd 2006 12:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 12:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.phonelabs.com/prd05.asp

You dock your cellphone to it (or use the bluetooth option), and then you can use your cellphone through regular old wired phones.]]>Mar 3rd 2006 12:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 12:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
http://www.wirelessextenders.com/]]>Mar 3rd 2006 2:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 2:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 3:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/Mar 3rd 2006 6:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
step 1- buy a cheap metal TV antenna at a garage sale or something. you know, the ones with a center pole and a bunch of tines on it.

step 2- buy some copper pipe.

step 3- buy a lot of wire.

step 4- make a solinoid around the copper pipe. connect the wire to the TV antenna on the outside.

step 5- curse at it if it doesn't work and stick a pringles can on it.


hey, it might work.

]]>Mar 4th 2006 12:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
In a nutshell:
The Wilson Direct Connect amplifies the signal while the amplifier/repeater just repeats the signal that it has outside, so a Direct Connect system would work the best in a place with pretty much no reception.

Oh, and a shameless plug for the company I work at as well as more info on the Wilson Direct Connect and Wilson Amplifier/repeater.

http://www.alternativewireless.com/cellular-antennas/wilson-antennas/wilson_cellular_amplifiers/index.html
http://www.alternativewireless.com/cellular-antennas/wilson-antennas/wilson_cellular_amplifiers/direct-connect-amplifier.html

I hope that the info that I've provided is good (despite the fact that the website can be a bit confusing).]]>Mar 4th 2006 12:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/]]>Mar 4th 2006 3:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
Step 1: Go to a big truckstop. You know the ones. Usually out in the middle of nowhere.

Step 2: Walk past all the CB radios and 20' tall fiberglass antennas.

Step 3: Start looking for Cell Phone Antennas. They'll be anywhere from 1' to 4' in length, depending on the gain you want, and from $10 to $50.

Step 4: Find the adaptor specific to your cell phone. Newer phones may not have an adaptor out yet, but since cell phones only use about 5 different types of antenna hookups, you should be able to find one for yours.

Step 5: Pry off the small cover on the back of your cell phone, typically right next to the antenna. This is where the antenna adaptor hooks in. This will enable you to see what adaptor you need.

Step 6: Walk past the truck nutz and naked lady mudflaps to the counter. Pay for your new toy.

With this simple hookup, I've been able to travel all through western nebraska, and not drop a call. In fact, I've had issues with the phone trying to stay on a tower TOO long, when I know I'm looking at the one it should be on. ]]>Mar 5th 2006 10:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/
Yes Canadian, they are essentially tape and a metal compound that’s like what your car uses for the defroster. But it’s the length of the strips that makes it work. Kinda like the security tags that electronic stores use.

This picture might help you as well:
http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/cellbear.jpg
]]>Mar 6th 2006 9:48PM