iPhone 3GS External Antenna

[rd_aaron]

So I recently moved into a different building at work, and I get extremely poor reception at my desk. About 1/3 of the time, I manage to get 1-2 bars with data, another 1/3 of the time I get 1-2 bars but no data, and the last 1/3 of the time it's searching for the network which severely drains my battery. Sometimes when someone sends me a text, I don't get it until a couple hours later.

Essentially I'm looking for something that I could plug my phone into at work that would help give me a stable connection so I can actually send and receive messages when I want to.

Has anyone tried any kind of external antenna, or know of any way to help get a stable connection?

[Rathji]

A Cell Phone Repeater is what you are looking for.

Just Google it and you will come up with lots of DIY or purchased options.

[photon]

Yeah once I was in an office that was a big metal box, inside there was zero... Faraday cage basically.

We got a repeater and it worked fine.

[rd_aaron]

So my desk is in the middle of the building and I can get better reception by the window. I don't think I can just install an antenna somewhere on the building and run cable into the office, plus I don't want to spend a ton of money on something just so my personal phone works a little better.

Do either of you know of a really cheap repeater? I'm thinking the signal right up against the window is pretty decent, so I'm wondering if I just put the antenna and the amplifier right up against the window, would it strengthen the signal the 40 feet I am away from the window without actually having to run cable through the cubicles?

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by rd_aaron

So my desk is in the middle of the building and I can get better reception by the window. I don't think I can just install an antenna somewhere on the building and run cable into the office, plus I don't want to spend a ton of money on something just so my personal phone works a little better.

Do either of you know of a really cheap repeater? I'm thinking the signal right up against the window is pretty decent, so I'm wondering if I just put the antenna and the amplifier right up against the window, would it strengthen the signal the 40 feet I am away from the window without actually having to run cable through the cubicles?

Seems like it could work, but it really depends on the source of the interference. ie if the interference exists between you and the window, or local to your location, then a repeated might not work as well as it might otherwise (but it still would probably help some).

[McG]

i would recommend caution with respect to repeaters and amplifiers; many companies do not allow these in their work places.