Anybody use a mobile cellular booster?

[lman]

The signal around here is too weak to use the phone inside the house. I now use wifi calling on my cell phone. Most phones now are able to use your wifi signal to make and receive phone calls. It even worked with my crappy dsl.

 

[rontaki]

For working with cellular signal strength and band number information on Android, the app
Network Cell Info Lite - Mobile & WiFi Signal by M2Catalyst, LLC. is essential. So useful to me that I bought the paid version. Used it a lot when house hunting, to see what signal was available. Great for when driving around and looking for service. Also essential for troubleshooting the signal booster T-Mobile lent to me (never got it working but knew it was not my fault).

Along with that I use LTE Discovery (5G NR) by Simply Advanced to restart the cellular radio in the phone, handy for getting the radio to see a newly found signal.

When we lose power or a butterfly farts near one of the microwave dishes in the signal path of my internet link, the signal from the femtocell attached to it goes bye-bye also. I use the above tools to find which magic locations in the yard or near a window have a usable signal. That changes on the whims of the lunar cycle and what color shirt Mike Sievert is wearing at the time. Without the above apps to assist, I'd decimate the digital device in frustration.

 

[kenmbz]

Same here with the tower. It loses power sometimes, and we have line of sight to one tower only.
The booster they gave me works, but it is not ideal and only covers one floor of the house, barely.
But it was free.
I use Wifi calling, but even that has glitches. It fails sometimes, even though a laptop nearby can stream hd video fine.

 

[rjpotts]

Not a booster, but I remember many years ago (way before smart phones) I purchased a antenna that stuck to my rear window of my car. The antenna wire plugged into my phone, and that would give me more bars where I had few, or none.
I have no idea if they still sell those or not

I don't know why but modern cell phones don't have a jack for external antennas.

 

[rjpotts]

I installed a Wilson weBoost Drive Sleek OTR Signal Booster in my 5th wheel camper. You have to use your phone "hands free", but it does give me service where in the past I've had none. It turns my phone into a very capable hotspot allowing me to use a television wherever I go.

 

[kenmbz]

They have as few ports as possible to save space. Why a lot of them today do not even have swapable batteries, no less antenna ports.

 

[oosik]

I thought of a mobile signal booster. But most of the areas I go have zero signal. Hard to boost a zero.

 

[civilian]

My cell signal is bad at the house. Tried to use a WeBoost system to get a better signal. Didn't improve the cell signal here. Was able to return it. And yes in northern Michigan there are dead spots in the cell coverage when driving. Jon

 

[lman]

My cell signal is bad at the house. Tried to use a WeBoost system to get a better signal. Didn't improve the cell signal here. Was able to return it. And yes in northern Michigan there are dead spots in the cell coverage when driving. Jon

I assume you have internet at your home, It might be good enough for wi-fi calling with your cell phone.

 

[oosik]

I'm beginning to think - the only folks with a good cell phone signal must be urban. VERY urban. If I stand out on my front porch - two bars out of four. Makes for some very exciting calls during a snow or rain storm.

Coyotes provide the background music.