Cell Phone Signal Booster for Perm

[vman11]

Want to hear what others have done to strengthen their cell signal in their permanent. I usually get really good service out on the open ice, but as soon as I step inside the Ice Castle I get next to nothing.

Are there specific signal boosters/antennas that will help? I don't know anything about this so all help is good help. Also looking to find something economical as this is more of a want, not a need. I can freeze for a call or two depending on the price of the solution.

[aanderud]

Yes, you can get repeater/signal boosters. Many large buildings do this. Also, they make models specifically for portable/vehicular installations. They also have cradle-style boosters that fit on your phone.

Go to "repeaterstore" (google it for their HSOforum) and you'll see plenty of options. You should be able to set yourself up for just a few hundred bucks. Browse by application and then select "Marine" or "car/truck/rv", for instance.

Here's one model the tout for "condos" that costs $299:

Quote:

The zBoost Metro YX540 is a dual band 52dB system released by Wi-Ex for single story urban dwellings up to 1,500 sq ft. Its patent-pending feedback technology allows there to be no vertical separation between the two antennas. This makes it the best solution for condos, lofts, and apartments.

The package includes everything you need to boost signal.

The signal antenna receives the signal, and mounts to a window in your apartment. The antenna mounts to the inside of the glass, meaning you don't have to go outside or up on your roof. This means the zBoost Metro can be installed in just a few minutes

Ultra-thin RG59-mini cable then runs from the signal antenna to the base unit.

The base unit, indoor antenna and power supply are then placed in the center of the 1,500 sq ft where you want to improve signal.

here's one that claims to do tri-band (verizon voice, 3g data, and 4g data) all for $129 (on that same repeater store):

[sjlund]

I have purchased from the repeater store for my place of business. Our building did not have reception in the basement, but after installing some hardware it's all good now. Keep in mind, even with those repeaters you can only get as good a reception as you can get outside your "building". If you don't get any signal standing out on the ice, you won't get any with a repeater either.

[LakeDocktor]

Check out Z-Boost.

[Sehulu]

If it's a pretty small space, I would go with the cradle based approach like aanderud mentioned. The Wilson Sleek is the cheapest option, but your phone has to stay in the cradle so you use it with a bluetooth headset or on speaker phone. Maybe it goes without saying, but I'm assuming you have power? If it's A/C, you also need the home accessory kit. I have the Verizon 4G one of these in my truck.

If you don't want to go the cradle route, something like a zBoost YX545 is a great unit. I just installed one of these in my hunting camp in Northwest PA and now I get a signal inside instead of just up at the road.

It looks like there are some Cyber Monday sales going on today.

[vman11]

Thanks all. For $100+ I might just elect to continue to suck it up and step outside for a few minutes.

Not that $100 is a fortune, but I didn't expect them to be that expensive. Plus, I would want all my fishing companion's phones to benefit from a signal booster, ruling out the sleeve option for just one phone.

[merkman]

Thanks all. For $100+ I might just elect to continue to suck it up and step outside for a few minutes.

Not that $100 is a fortune, but I didn't expect them to be that expensive. Plus, I would want all my fishing companion's phones to benefit from a signal booster, ruling out the sleeve option for just one phone.

Or just set your cell phone next to the window and use bluetooth inside the house.

[bobbymalone]

I wish there was a way I could prevent service from reaching inside my portable.

[AndRo]

Air rave http://now.sprint.com/airave/?ECID=vanity:airaveaccesspoint

[Hawg]

I bought a good one for hunting camp and did a lot of research. Both ZBoost and Wison are good units. The higher the price the more distance from the indoor antenna you get. In your app I would just put a moble antenna on the roof just like a car-cheapest way by far.

[Hawg]

With the cheap repeaters for $100 - $150 you can only be a few feet-5 or so, so a hard wired antenna would still be your best bet.