CELL PHONE SIGNAL BOOSTER? REALLY?

Let me re-phrase your question: DO Cell Phone Boosters Really Work?

YES, they do.. Cell Phone boosters come in a few flavors.
And the nice thing is if you start small and build up the additional cost is usually around 20 bucks.

First is a what is called a "Passive Repeater"

You get two cell phone antennas, some cable, and a device to connect the two together (Double Female Connector)

One goes up as high as possible, atop your Television Antenna mast (if you have one) or put a mast up on the roof, HIGH up. NOTE.. This antenna can be an "Omin" or it can be a yagi directional, (More range, more gain) but to use a directional antenna, you need to know the direction. (more on this in the next chapter)... The other antenna is mounted indoors, Where your phone can see it.

Next chapter:

Replace indoor antenna with a clip or plug that attaches to/plugs into/ your phone, This means the phone is "Tethered" to the antenna, but it works much better than the passive antenna method.

Using the clip while up on the roof... you can aim the yagi (I promised more in this chapter)

Chapter 3: Active bi-directional repeater.

In this case that double female connector is replaced by a box that eats 12 volts DC (usually) from a wall wart or power brick.

This device gives you a much, much, much stronger signal but now you have rules as to how far apart the two antennas have to be. I use one, Can make a big differenc.

Robocop wrote:
I saw the lesser priced Sleek 3G amp listed for $89. Those with 4G phones commented that it works well. I suspect the newer 4G Sleek model boosts signal more efficiently. I wonder if the signal boost is more significant with the 4G model and worth another $45? Rhetorical question only. That's what the credit card is for!

4g for the sleek is a signal addition. The 4g version doesn't handle 3g signal differently. The sleek would work on T-Mobile or Verizon in case the OP changes carriers later.

I saw the lesser priced Sleek 3G amp listed for $89. Those with 4G phones commented that it works well. I suspect the newer 4G Sleek model boosts signal more efficiently. I wonder if the signal boost is more significant with the 4G model and worth another $45? Rhetorical question only. That's what the credit card is for!

We've had a Wilson Amp and magnetic antenna for 5/6 years now with good luck. Even when we have 2/3 bars we may put the antenna out and 'dock' our phone in the cradle and either up the number of bars or will hold a good signal. Have been happy with the investment.

Thanks to all. Now I need to decide if I should buy a Wilson or dump T Mobile

Wilson Sleek. Used it all over the US with Verizon service and it does help if you have a weak signal. About $100 on www.walmart.com Also need to purchase a taller antenna and window mount.

I have the WILSON SLEEK Cradle for my Verizon 2200 MIFI unit. This has an external antenna and really brings the MIFI unit to life both in reception of the Verizon Cell Phone signal and extending my resulting WIFI foot print around my camp site. ALthough the WILSON SLEEK cradle I have setup in my off-roaf trailer is designed to have the cell phone or mifi unit devices sitting in the cradle to work I also see an increase in BARS on my cell phone when I am inside my trailer apparently picking up the VERIZON cell phone signal from the passive antenna embedded in the WILSON CRADLE unit. This is acting like an indoor antenna...

When I am driving down the road in my truck with my cell phone sitting in one of these WILSON SLEEK cradles with external antenna I certainly get a big boost in the performance of my cell phone while moving down the road.

Well worth the $150 to setup one. My systems are using 3G but the newer WILSON Sleeks provide great 4G connections.

Roy Ken

My Smooth Talker adds three bars to the signal level. It also depends on the antenna length -- longer for higher boost.

Yes they work and you can spend up to $400. I have a older 3G Wilson amplifier that is not mobile. It overloads if the RV is near a tower in which case I don't need it anyway.

Consider installation before purchase. I have a non directional antenna on the rear roof, then amp and indoor antenna which must be 20' from the outdoor antenna.

Lots of options and lots of threads on this subject.

I have a wilson sleek 4g and if there is service when I am using it the booster will give me 20-25 percent better signal. I've gone from 1x - 2 bars of 4g in some cases.