Cell Signal Boosters

MossRoad · Mar 16, 2016

N80 said:
The answer is.........6.

BKBoiss · Mar 17, 2016

We haul logs from hundreds of km in the bush so cell service is always a problem. I tried the cheap Wilson booster and it worked ok but after two years it quit. This time I bought the good one and it goes from no service to three or four bars. HOWEVER the booster and components (power supply cord, antennas etc) came to around $780. My radio shop sells these all pre set up for only about $50 more than buying all the components separately and I can grab it and throw it in the log truck pickup or camper simply by unplugging it.

ultrarunner · Mar 17, 2016

It's great when tech works... if someone wanted to buy one... how would they find out more about it?

I've never been to Slave Lake... my parents did visit and had fantastic trip of a lifetime...

They were bumped on a Air Canada Flight and received two travel vouchers... Dad said let's go somewhere we would never otherwise go... and that was Slave Lake!

BKBoiss · Mar 17, 2016

ultrarunner said:
It's great when tech works... if someone wanted to buy one... how would they find out more about it? I've never been to Slave Lake... my parents did visit and had fantastic trip of a lifetime... They were bumped on a Air Canada Flight and received two travel vouchers... Dad said let's go somewhere we would never otherwise go... and that was Slave Lake!

I'm not sure where you would find out more other than google or go into a radio/communications shop and ask. I already knew the big Wilson boosters were good because around here that is what everyone else runs. When I went to the shop they said the cheaper ones were ok but hands down the Wilson was the way to go, other than the price I have no regrets. And yes I love slave lake, I moved here in 01 and hope I never have to leave. We are finally starting to get some of the beauty back after the fire but sadly it will never be the same.

ultrarunner · Mar 17, 2016

As luck would have it I have 3 no coverage areas/zone... one in Washington minutes from the capital in Olympia... might as well be in the middle of nowhere which is nice in many ways.

The other two are in the SF Bay Area which is a very large metro... yet plenty of no coverage pockets.

Thanks for the Wilson tip.

I think it was 97 or 98 when the folks were up you way... don't remember talk about a fire... Dad passed in 2000 so it was great they were able to make a few good new memories.

jlgurr · Mar 17, 2016

N80 said:
Anyone have experience with a cell phone signal booster? The cell phone reception at my cabin (Verizon) has gotten worse over the last 5 years. Texts arrive hours late. Calls dropped. Internet access almost zero. We can go outside about 20 feet from the cabin and get good enough reception. So I'm looking at these folks: Cell Phone Signal Boosters | Wilson Amplifiers Just wondering if anyone else has had good/bad experience with this type of device. I understand that if there is "No Service" that a signal booster won't help. Edit: A "booster" that uses the internet will not work for me. The cabin has no cable, no phone lines, no satellite service, etc.

The booster we installed in our home works great but requires internet connection. Also does not support LTE. FWIW.

Sent from my iPhone 2.0 using TractorByNet

ultrarunner · Mar 17, 2016

Don't currently have internet... unless dial up counts?

N80 · Mar 17, 2016

I think one of the "cheap" Wilson small house/one room units ($400) will be fine for me. My needs are pretty modest. Just need to be able to receive texts and make an occasional call with some level of reliability. Data/internet would be nice but not critical.

Ford850 · Mar 17, 2016

N80 said:
I think one of the "cheap" Wilson small house/one room units ($400) will be fine for me. My needs are pretty modest. Just need to be able to receive texts and make an occasional call with some level of reliability. Data/internet would be nice but not critical.

Be sure you read the Coverage Specs on each of those. That "cheap" one says it covers 1,500sf, but when you look at the specs it says if you have 1 -2 strong bars outside, the indoor coverage is only 150sf.

N80 · Mar 17, 2016

I noticed that. For me, that doesn't matter that much. As long as I can use the cell phone somewhere indoors I'll be happy.

But that brings up another technical question: The larger the coverage are, the higher the price, as one would expect. But, just because one unit covers a larger indoor coverage area does that mean it is also more effective at receiving the signal from the cell tower?