Improving Cell Phone Signal

[ventrman]

I have little to no Signal where I am for the Summer. What more can I do to improve it? I installed an outside Antenna with an inside Repeater. I now get a slightly improved Signal, but I still cannot do anything. I thought about hooking up another Repeater in line with the first one. Would that help? I may also try to move the Antenna. is there a Way to use the whole Trailer as an Antenna? After all, it is Metal. Can anyone tell me what frequency is used for Cell Phone Signals?

[Strabo]

I installed a complete hyper gain system at a local KOA we were living at as a work camper, expensive system with 2 large antennas on a 30' pole. They bought it from someone i dont know who, i just read instructions and installed it real profesionally.

Complete piece of junk..... 🙂

[wcjeep]

Hoosier Cruiser wrote:
I purchased a Wilson WeBoost 470103 from Solid Signal. Could not see an improvement. Called Solid Signal, and they had me call Wilson. The Wilson tech had me set my iPhone to 4G, not LTE and to show db level, not bars. I had -95db. The lower the number the better. The tech said that to be effective that the signal needed to be -85db or less, smaller number. Also, stated that Solid Signal should have told me that when I ordered and to return it which I did. Because the unit would work with a good signal, Solid Signal charge me about $30 restocking charge even though the unit I purchased was the one recommended by them.

Wilson /weboost is nearly magic. If there is not enough signal to start with their boost ability is hampered. I have helped a few people that had issues with the booster. Its usually an install error.

[Hoosier_Cruiser]

I purchased a Wilson WeBoost 470103 from Solid Signal. Could not see an improvement. Called Solid Signal, and they had me call Wilson. The Wilson tech had me set my iPhone to 4G, not LTE and to show db level, not bars. I had -95db. The lower the number the better. The tech said that to be effective that the signal needed to be -85db or less, smaller number. Also, stated that Solid Signal should have told me that when I ordered and to return it which I did. Because the unit would work with a good signal, Solid Signal charge me about $30 restocking charge even though the unit I purchased was the one recommended by them.

[Dutch_12078]

Our Maximum Signal MaxAmp RV Mobile amplifier/repeater has repeatedly given us solid 4G signals in a number of areas where we have no service at all without it. That includes some areas where the WeBoost 4G-M we had did not give us a reliable signal. We're using the supplied 13" magnetic roof antenna mounted on a 12"x 18" steel ground plane, and the supplied inside antenna gives us good signals and data speeds throughout our motorhome. We don't need to be within a couple of feet of the inside antenna, as we did with the WeBoost.

[wcjeep]

Yagi has its advantages. It also has its limits. The Yagi usually helps one of two frequency bands while hurting others. It might help 1x and 3g while hurting 4g. Or vice versa depending on design.

It will not hurt to call Weboost. Weboost was Wilson Electronics before the name change. They will prob ask for true signal level, not cellphone bars on your screen.

I helped a friend install a home base Wilson Electronics booster. We installed the internal antenna in the living room. Then placed his Mifi in front of the internal antenna. Thus gave the Mifi maximum signal. Connected the laptop thru wifi to the 4g Mifi. Strong data with great cell signal for calls in the living room.

[sue_t]

Our Wilson cell booster uses the yagi type antenna. I accidently discovered very limited cell service one day on our second floor exterior deck of the house - barely one bar. Can't find signal any other location here.

The Wilson booster gives us coverage throughout the house and 4 bars of service if we stand by the indoor antenna.

BUT our phones are vintage Blackberries with internal memory - no SIM cards. My newer Blackberry from work with a SIM card does not work - it goes into 911 mode.

[Jagtech]

The repeater system is probably the best option. But most of them come with a really small outdoor antenna. Try to pick up a larger yagi-type antenna for that frequency, and get it as high in the air as possible. Accurate aiming is imperative.

[wcjeep]

Frequency can differ from area to area. Wireless carriers do not always control their preferred frequency in every market. Verizon and AT&T usually have their 4g LTE in the 700mhz area. 3g and 1x is usually handled around 800mhz and 1900mhz. This is for Send/receive. I said usually. There are many exceptions.

You mentioned repeater. What is your definition of repeater? Is it an actual cellphone booster? What type? Brand? Model? External antenna type?

Cell boosters need something to boost. There are areas with no cell service at all. No booster can help in these areas. Some areas AT&T and Tmobile work while other areas are friendly to Sprint and Verizon. What is the actual signal level on your phone while outside? I'm not asking how many bars of service. Bars that indicate cell signal are mostly useless. The bar level can vary from phone to phone for no reason. Need real signal level. Google can help you determine how to find signal level on your phone.

Some boosters are better than others. Need more information to assist. What carrier and phone? Do any neighbors have usable cell signal?

[ventrman]

TechWriter wrote:

ventrman wrote:
I have little to no Signal where I am for the Summer. What more can I do to improve it?

MAX AMP RV

Thanks for the link. way too Pricey for me.

[2oldman]

What other options do you have for service, like local suppliers?

[magicbus]

And I was just laughing with (actually at) the guy who just rented next door for the week. He asked how we live with lousy cell service. I said "You must have Verizon" and he replied "Yup". I told him we have AT&T and so do all the year-round residents.

All depends on where you are.

Dave

[TechWriter]

ventrman wrote:
I have little to no Signal where I am for the Summer. What more can I do to improve it?

MAX AMP RV

[greenrvgreen]

A bigger, better antenna might help, or just be a waste of money. Google "Hypergain" for carrier-grade antennas.

The OP will have to do a search for his exact frequency in his exact location (with his carrier and his level of service). But with the right antenna ten times a teensy bit can become a little bit, which is sometimes enough, in my experience.

If it is just voice, I would walk around asking others if they have any reception, and then buy a prepaid burner phone with whichever service is working.

A metal trailer cannot be an antenna but if the treailer has a metal roof it will help as a "ground plane", which removes stray signals bouncing off the ground before they hit your antenna.

If the OP knew exactly what freq and where to point it, he could buy a 4-foot parabolic dish from Hypergain and it "might" work. But long before that I would do the recommended online search and educate myself, because it is very, very complex stuff.

[Sam_Spade]

Boxer Lovers wrote:
All the neighbor's AT&T phones have service. Mine does not.

Wow.
I wonder what could cause the signal to disappear ONLY wherever you go with your phone ?????
DUH.

Have you thought that maybe your phone is defective....just maybe ??

And for the OP:
It sounds like you are really fighting a no-signal problem and 10 times nothing is still nothing.
Take the advice already given and look into other carriers or check into satellite phone service (but that is just for phone).