Rural Internet/Cell Phone Suggestions

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Rural Internet/Cell Phone Suggestions

Posted: 10/6/2017 5:07:45 PM EDT

I have a cabin in the mountains where I'm essentially in a dead zone (-123db to closest tower, -128db to secondary) for cell. Is anyone having success using a cell phone booster to their home? Can I get enough of a boost to where I could use my phone as a decent hotspot?

Brand reviews, recommendations, and deployment suggestions welcome.

Posted: 10/6/2017 10:17:40 PM EDT

[#1]

Check out Wilson cell phone boosters, I've used one in the past with great results(weak signal outside the house and zero inside before the booster, worked perfectly with the booster). Whichever you choose, use a panel antenna for the outdoor antenna and an omnidirectional one inside, mount the panel as high as possible and aim for that nearest cell tower.

The problem is your signal is almost not a signal at all. If you can get the db up to -100 or so you'd be in great shape, is there a higher/better spot than where you've tested so far? Wilson wants -115 or better for their $399 option to work, the next step whether weboost or Wilson or others can be $1k plus.

Posted: 10/7/2017 9:28:33 AM EDT

[#2]

Thanks Capt Ron. I actually called T-Mobile to complain that they have our address listed as getting 4G LTE but that I'm not getting squat. I told them I don't want to have to switch 5 lines to Verizon.

So here is something that is nice to know - they offer a free signal booster for customers like us. I'm not super confident it will work, and neither was the tech support guy, but it's a free experiment and I may get lucky based on where I place the antenna.

If it doesn't work, or works kinda 'meh' then I'll go down the Wilson et al route.

Posted: 10/7/2017 11:10:19 AM EDT

[#3]

You might be able to improve your chances with a tower & directional antenna pointed towards the closest (or best sight line) tower, used in conjunction with a Wilson repeater. What is the topography around your site & between you and the towers? There are a lot of options for free standing or guyed towers & masts.

Nick

Posted: 10/7/2017 8:23:52 PM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
You might be able to improve your chances with a tower & directional antenna pointed towards the closest (or best sight line) tower, used in conjunction with a Wilson repeater. What is the topography around your site & between you and the towers? There are a lot of options for free standing or guyed towers & masts.

Nick

View Quote

Exactly, hopefully a little altitude gets him a better sight line to the nearest tower. BayEagle, keep in mind the wire lengths allowed between outdoor antenna and amplifier. They may come with a 25' cable but allow 70'. If you order the longer wire that gives you some room to run up a mast/tower 50' with 20' to get inside, etc. Also NO splices/joints/connectors allowed anywhere, get one cable for each segment that's at least as long as you need.

Posted: 10/8/2017 7:45:30 AM EDT

[#5]

I'm at about 2000ft up a 3200ft mountain looking into a valley/gorge that has the main road.

Can I mount the antenna on a tree or does it need to be more stable and not sway? I have lots of trees

I'm guessing 'no' is the answer.

Posted: 10/10/2017 7:13:29 PM EDT

[#6]

I guess it depends on the tree and how much it sways, but any foliage at all would affect and maybe kill your signal.

Posted: 10/10/2017 11:38:32 PM EDT

[#7]

We purchased a booster system and it worked ok for a few months until lightening took it out. I was exploring new systems and my a/c guy, who was fixing my outside unit, same lightening strike, ask me what type of phone I had. I phone, he showed my how to activate my WiFi setting on my phone and I have the best phone connection I have ever had. I have satellite internet, which works great. So with the right phone and internet satellite, you don't need a booster.

Posted: 10/11/2017 9:12:30 AM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
We purchased a booster system and it worked ok for a few months until lightening took it out. I was exploring new systems and my a/c guy, who was fixing my outside unit, same lightening strike, ask me what type of phone I had. I phone, he showed my how to activate my WiFi setting on my phone and I have the best phone connection I have ever had. I have satellite internet, which works great. So with the right phone and internet satellite, you don't need a booster.

View Quote

I considered that. But sat is like $40-50 a month and my neighbors in NC say it's spotty. Even if I got a $1000 booster, it would pay for itself in maybe two years.

Incidentally, I ran a test yesterday on my 'new' Spectrum 100mb internet service at my home in Florida. I got upgraded from an old 20mb plan. With my old plan, I got 2.5mbs down and 2mbs up. Terrible. With my blazing new service I got 6 down and 6 up, lol. So I tested my iPhone with T-Mobile as a hotspot - I got 14 and 11. That's with 3 bars. It's sad my cell phone provides better internet service than a copper cable coming into my house. So I'm going to give T-Mob a try first at the cabin, if it doesn't work, I'll try satellite next.

Posted: 10/11/2017 10:27:52 AM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
We purchased a booster system and it worked ok for a few months until lightening took it out. I was exploring new systems and my a/c guy, who was fixing my outside unit, same lightening strike, ask me what type of phone I had. I phone, he showed my how to activate my WiFi setting on my phone and I have the best phone connection I have ever had. I have satellite internet, which works great. So with the right phone and internet satellite, you don't need a booster.

View Quote

What does using your phone via internet do to data usage? Is it a data drain?

Thanks,

Posted: 11/8/2017 12:12:52 PM EDT

[#10]

Update - the free booster that T-Mobile gave me didn't pick up any signal at all. Kinda figured on that. I'm clearing some trees off on the property and hoping I get a bit more reception - if so, I'll try one of the real boosters.

Posted: 11/8/2017 2:46:19 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:

What does using your phone via internet do to data usage? Is it a data drain?

Thanks,

View Quote

If you watch videos from the internet or game, it uses a lot of data. Between my wife on her IPAD and me on my IPhone, we rarely go over. I think we had 25 GB and she just updated it to 40 or so. The internet is fast enough to game if you want.

Posted: 11/13/2017 6:19:41 PM EDT

[#12]

Wilson probably still has for around 100 to 200 bucks an automotive cell phone booster thingy. Had a magnetic little antenna.

I had a useable signal outside the house.

House was built in such a way or signal was so weak that could not use the phone inside.

Booster allowed me to use phone inside and I used phone back then for internet and phone use.

But the booster needed a useable signal to boost.

Another neighbor bought it first and it did not work. I got to try it out when they said they were going to send it back and I wound up just buying it from them.

My booster would not work in your situation.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Rural Internet/Cell Phone Suggestions

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