Cell Signal Boosters

[Fozzie_DeBear]

We live outside of the city and there is only one place in the house where I can get decent cell coverage...it also seems an epic waste for us to spend $50 a month for a landline...

Sooooo...has anyone tried a cell signal booster?

[GP_Matt]

We use the truck mounted ones and they work really well.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Use magicjack for a landline. You can get cell boosters for $500 I think... Call your cell provider for guidance then look around for cheaper places to buy.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

Use magicjack for a landline. You can get cell boosters for $500 I think... Call your cell provider for guidance then look around for cheaper places to buy.

Magicjack looks sweet...that would solve pretty much solve all our problems.

[schteve_d]

Yes, I have two experiences with the Wilson kits.

The first was on a rural property south of Fort McMurray. We had spotty service at best. I set up the kit with the omni-directional antenna and it was better but I was disappointed for the money.

Then I set up a shop on a remote work location North of Fort McMurray. We had ok service outside but the metal building blocked all signals inside the building and I needed to make and receive calls from inside. I bought what I thought was the same kit from Wilson but it came with the directional antenna. I set it all up, found the nearest tower on the internet, aimed the antenna, plugged in the unit and bam...full bars (I was getting 2-3 at best outside).

I then bought the directional antenna separately and set it up with my home unit and bam...full bars.

If you are going to go this way, get the directional antenna! Magic.

I'm sure this is the kit I bought: http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/sto...irectional-kit

I got both at a place called Tridon Communications up here so I don't know where you would get it in Calgary.

I highly recommend this system.

[schteve_d]

Meant to also mention that in both places I had no internet service so it was done by cellular as well. I set up a cellular router close to the inside antenna and service at both places has been great. I don't know if I'd go as far as to call the internet lightning fast but it's pretty good. Good enough that I watched all the Olympic hockey on it with no issues!

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Magicjack looks sweet...that would solve pretty much solve all our problems.

If you do get it get the plus so you don't have to leave your PC on. It plugs into the back of your router.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

it also seems an epic waste for us to spend $50 a month for a landline...

For starters, you should be able to get a landline for about 1/2 that; unless you add a bunch of calling features.

The main point would be that your situation sounds like a landline would be good to have. If you ever had to call 911- do you want to have to worry about spotty cell coverage in an emergency?

Plus if your coverage is spotty, do you want to have to worry about having clear conversations? One of the main reasons I keep my landline is that I have found phone conversations with my elderly parents a bit of a challenge on a cell phone. A landline is just always better; and always consistent.