Posted by Sarah/CA on 1/9/08 2:52pm
Msg #229846

Cell phone boosters?

Does anyone know if there is a cell phone booster that actually works? Every once in a while I will get a voice message come through about an hour after the call came in. I was available, my phone is on loud but due to the hit and miss of the Verizon towers around here I don't get the call. The signing gets assigned to someone else by that time. It is very frustrating and I have talked to Verizon about it and they say it is just the tower location. Just wondered if anyone else uses one. I called one cell phone gadget store and they say they don't work. Any other opinions? It does not happen all the time just occasionally. Thanks.

Reply by Steven Carter on 1/9/08 3:04pm
Msg #229851

As a cell phone seller in the past, they do not work, but some people swear they do!!! They do make actual antenaes to put on the car that supposedly work but I never knew anyone that used them. I believe the company is called Wilson, if you do a search on them and put in cell phones you can probably find them.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 1/9/08 3:27pm
Msg #229855

Cell phone boosters: Don't waste money. They don't work. n/m

Reply by desktopfull on 1/9/08 3:32pm
Msg #229857

Talk to other people and see if they have the same

problem you do and if the don't find out what company they are with and switch your service, afterall you get to take you number with you.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 1/9/08 3:36pm
Msg #229860

Hi, Sarah

I have one that I bought from this company a couple of years ago.

http://smoothtalker.com/



I got their info from the Good Sam club and I use it when I am way out in the boonies traveling or doing another kind of work that I have my fingers in. Keep in mind that any booster needs to have a physical connection to the phone and antenna. Those ones that just clip on the antenna and use through the glass antennas are not worth the paper they are packed in. Be prepared to pay $300-$400 for a system that works and they do not work with all cell phones. If you are still interested after reading this, then call their customer service line and ask questions. I have found that I have about a 60 miles range and even then it is line of sight, so if you are in a hilly area, then you won't get that kind of distance. For example, they won't work when you are in an area such as the Northern Nevada area and such. Then I still communicate with a high powered mobile vhf radio.

I can't really believe you have too much in the way of cell phone problems in the Vista area. It could be you phone is not up to the task. I have found that a Motorola phone that has an antenna and without all the garbage on it works the best for distance. Unfortunately, there are only a couple to choose from because that type of phone is not "cool" I am still using a V220 that is very plain, but when I travel to remote areas with friends, mine seem to be the last one that still has service before I need to hook it up to the booster.

Probably, if I had it to do over again, I would save the money. Even though they work from this company as advertised, I really don't use it that much and I have yet to use it at all while doing signings and I cover a pretty rural area ....

Good Luck

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 1/9/08 3:46pm
Msg #229862

There is a lot of info to read on that site also. n/m

Reply by janie/vt on 1/9/08 7:54pm
Msg #229888

car antenaes

I used a remote antenae for my car. You plugged it into the phone. Seemed to help in some of the remote areas here in VT. I find that the biggest problem for service here depends on who your carrier is.

Reply by CaliNotary on 1/9/08 8:54pm
Msg #229890

This site was recommended by Leo Laporte, who does a tech show on KFI radio

http://www.alternativewireless.com/cellular-antennas/index.html

He says that the cellular repeater systems work really well for increasing signal strength.

I don't know too much about them, but apparently it's some sort of antenna that you put in a location at your house, it picks up a weak signal and repeats it back into the house. So it's not for use with the phone itself, it's for use at a specific location which results in a much stronger signal for any phone around it.

Reply by Sarah/CA on 1/9/08 9:27pm
Msg #229897

That sounds interesting. My husband and I do listen to Leo Laporte when we are driving around on the weekend. I would trust his opinion. The reception where we are is so spotty. I even checked the coverage for the other carriers but they are about the same as we have here. I might give one of these repeater systems a try. Like I said, it is not all the time that I have this problem but when I miss a scheduler and I was available it is frustrating. Thanks for everyones imput.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 1/9/08 9:40pm
Msg #229899

Another Thought

I live in an area with a hill between me and the tower and the service can be spotty. Since my cell is my business phone, whenever I am home, I call forward the cell phone to my home phone then turn the cell off. It then rings to my home and I never miss a call. All carriers should have this feature. I have ATT. If you are just having the issues around your own home or a friends, then this would be a free solution.

My daughter has Verizon. But still, both my wife and daughter have those do everything superphones without an external antenna (like an iphone or a Razer or some such and I always pull an extra bar and connect better with my old phone with the antenna.

Reply by MichiganAl on 1/10/08 11:47am
Msg #229979

I miss Leo Laporte

I'm going to have to see if his show is syndicated. I used to watched him religiously on Tech TV's Call For Help & The Screen Savers.

Reply by KSNotary on 1/9/08 11:33pm
Msg #229913

I ordered mine from wi-ex.com as they have a personal area, house-wide models and even a car model that if the house works like I think.. I will get one for my car as well. If it catches only 3 lost jobs.. then it's paid for itself!

I too live in a remote area and was losing BUSINESS BECAUSE MY PHONE DIDN'T RING.. or voice mail was delivered late. I should have it in by next week and can let you know.

Bob

Reply by aatatusko on 1/10/08 8:16am
Msg #229949

Try changing phones

We just switched our LG phones for Motorola and went from zero bars to full coverage, my son even gets full bars in the basement. It was no cost to us to change as we had the LG's
for less than a year. Not only do the new phones get excellent coverage but the batteries are lasting almost a week ...the LG's less than 36 hours. We have ATT, it was a little bit of a hassle waiting on the phone but well worth it.

Reply by Dave_CA on 1/10/08 9:59am
Msg #229955

This one works

"Designed for consumers, the zBoost dual band cell phone signal booster extends a zBoost Cell Zone for single or multiple users in homes or offices simultaneously. ZBoost Dual Band is compatible with all phones operating on PCS(1900Mhz) and CEL (800 MHz) except Nextel. Package includes everything you need -- amplifier base unit, power supply, base unit antenna, low-loss SATV coaxial cable (RG6), signal antenna and mounting hardware. The omni-directional antennas are easy to orient and receive from multiple cell towers."

I've had this for about 2 months and have not missed a call, at home, since I installed it.
Prior to installing I was experiencing several calls a week that would just go to voice mail.
I did change phones and that helped some but the ZBoost fixed the problem. As soon as it was set up I could see a 2-3 bar increase in signal strength on my phone.

I installed the antenna in my attic with the intention of moving it to the roof when I had someone to help but now I don't think I'll bother.

The system is available on EBay as a "buy now" item for about $290.