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MN_Ben's avatar
MN_Ben
Explorer
Nov 04, 2015

Do you have experience with cell phone boosters?

I live in a dead zone, or nearly dead. One block in any direction and the signal jumps up. Just not in my little community.
Are any of you familiar with cell phone boosters? My carrier is Straight talk and I am not going to change carriers. Currently doing some research on what may be available for me, what works, and what doesn't.
Ben
  • We use a Wilson Amp and a trucker antenna mounted on a 10' PVC pole that I bungee to the ladder. Run the cable thru the engine compartment to the inside antenna. Boosts a one bar signal to usually 4-5. Data is a different matter, but for phone usage, it works well.....Dennis
  • Net work extender
    It uses your home internet to provide a connection to the Verizon network
    Essentially it's Voip , only better quality
    Wi-Fi from your cell phone to the extender, extender to Verizon via internet, the call is then handled as IF it originated at the cell tower
    Same thing for incoming
    Verizon r receives a call for your number, sends out via internet to the extender, which sends it to your phone via Wi-Fi

    Works well if you have good home internet

    I have the Wilson sleek, but would suggest a different device for home use
    Something with a wider area coverage
  • http://cell-phone-booster-review.toptenreviews.com is a good source of information.

    I used to use a Smooth Talker, and found that it added two bars to a weak signal, which meant that some "no signals" could be boosted to a usable two bars. (I don't know much about phones; my phone showed up to five bars for signal strength, and two bars were needed to have a decent connection.)

    That was an analog phone. My Smooth Talker would not work with a digital phone. I never upgraded to a digital-compatible Smooth Talker, so my information may be somewhat dated.
  • One of the sites I work at has two buildings. One building has no cell phone booster and I get no cell phone signal. The other building has a cell phone booster and I get a strong signal. The buildings are only 25 ft apart.

    The booster works well.
  • I called Verizon, which is the network my devise uses, and they told me to purchase a Network Extender. It costs $250 and connects to my Wi-Fi. If I have issues with it, I could contact Verizon support. I will have to get more feedback before dropping that amount of change. (Besides, I would rather buy a gadget for the camper.)
  • Many people claim benefit from the Wilson Sleek. I have one, along with all manner of antennas and amps from years past, and none of them every did much of anything for me.

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