Cell Phone Signal Booster

[Zero Knievel]

It's gotten to the point of being intolerable on dial-up.  Cell phone WiFi hot spots don't work because we are too far from the nearest tower to get a strong signal.  My AT&T iPhone gets no signal but my parents' Verizon phones get 1 bar...enough to make a decent call if you stand in the right spot of the house.  Needless to say, Verizon is the carrier over the local tower.  When I tested the Verizon hot spot, I got a connection but slower than dial-up speed.

 

There is talk of upgrading our wiring to fiber optics, but if that ever happens there's still the question of monthly cost for broadband service.  We don't use a lot, but just checking e-mail is becoming insufferable...forget doing anything more than that.

 

I'd be looking for something simple and reliable for boosting reception/transmission to the nearest tower.  Affordable would be nice as well, but I want an "install it and forget it" system that does the job when it's powered on.  Whether it comes with the WiFi transmitter or not doesn't matter.  WiFi routers can fail, and it might be better to keep it separate...just in case.  I've searched Amazon, but I honestly don't know what is best for my needs.

 

Suggestions?

[Furbird]

Sometimes the cheapest solution is the best.

Stand on the roof.

In all seriousness, for in-home use, the key is to have an antenna outside the house.  Even the "amp" and "booster" kits you see all use an eave- or roof-mounted antenna for better signal.  The higher the antenna, the more likely to receive signal.  I have several businesses I have to go to that are in areas with great signal but they are in a low-lying area.  I have one guy in particular that I can drive up his driveway to the main road, which is at about roof level of his business, and go from no signal to 3 bars.  If you can get signal on the roof but it's crap in the house, then I'd go with just the antenna.

[Zero Knievel]

I'm looking for hardware recommendations.  We are not line-of-sight to any towers...mountains in the way.  It's amazing we get signal at all.  I fully expected the antenna portion would likely need to be mounted on an eave.

[SwampNut]

I have a Wilson RV system that sometimes works miracles.  It's the type that supports multiple devices and carriers.  There's an antenna to mount up high, and another to point towards the inside of the RV.  I have the outside antenna mounted on a long piece of EMT which I attach to the top of the ladder that goes to the RV roof.  It works great in most places.

 

One thing you can try also is to simply connect a good antenna to the Mifi directly, using its antenna ports.  In some locations that's all I need.  That would mean an antenna on a mast on the roof and putting the Mifi close to it to minimize cable length.

 

[Zero Knievel]

I tried a well-rated unit.  Sent it back.  It did a massive improvement on the signal we do get (basic cellular), but no 3G or higher.  It can't pull in what isn't there to start with.  We're just too far away from the tower.

[The Krypt Keeper]

Move

[Zero Knievel]

I’m resurrecting this one.

 

We’ve been without landline for over a month now.  With Verizon, we get weak or intermittent signal.  Mom’s iPhone 12 gets more consistent connection than my iPhone 12 Pro Max.  We’re about ready to give up on landline entirely.  Call or chat, you’re talking to a dispatcher, not a technician who has any clue what the status for repair work in your area.  What cell phone signal boosters are recommended so we can reliably send and receive calls from home?

[SwampNut]

https://www.starlink.com

 

100% solves everything, in a few minutes

 

 

[blackhawkxx]

3 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

With Verizon, we get weak or intermittent signal.

Have you tried someone other than Verizon?  Maybe speak to people in your area that use other providers to see if it is better.

[Zero Knievel]

1 hour ago, blackhawkxx said:

Have you tried someone other than Verizon?  Maybe speak to people in your area that use other providers to see if it is better.

Verizon IS the best one.

[SwampNut]

Aside from the obvious solution above, have you tested T-Mobile *recently* at your location?

 

Would you rather spend $2800-3500 on a cell repeater, really, just to avoid Starlink?  If so then yeah, I can give you info on them.

[Zero Knievel]

T-Mobile has some of the worst coverage in rural areas.  I went from AT&T to Verizon because Verizon was the only carrier where people were able to get signals out here.  I researched this before changing carriers.

 

I don’t need a cell repeater.  We’re in the coverage area, but the phones’ antennas aren’t always enough.  A booster that will enable us to maintain a strong enough signal inside the house is more than enough.

Edited June 14 by Zero Knievel

[SwampNut]

2 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

T-Mobile has some of the worst coverage in rural areas.

 

Old info that is no longer true for many areas.

 

3 hours ago, SwampNut said:

have you tested T-Mobile *recently*

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

A booster that will enable us to maintain a strong enough signal inside the house is more than enough.

 

Yes that's a repeater.  Again, are you really wanting to spend that money on a booster just so you can avoid Starlink?  If yes, then sure, I can tell you how, as I've done a few.

 

[Zero Knievel]

7 hours ago, SwampNut said:

Old info that is no longer true for many areas.

 

Yes that's a repeater.  Again, are you really wanting to spend that money on a booster just so you can avoid Starlink?  If yes, then sure, I can tell you how, as I've done a few.

Well, it is true here.  They aren’t erecting new towers in our area, and how do you suggest testing?  Nobody will give us a loaner phone to test reception…been down that rabbit hole already.

 

Don't want Starlink.  Nothing against Elon, but aside from having issues finding a spot for the dish (the reason I didn’t go with it before), I question how long the enterprise will run if anything happens to him.  Other companies might go under from mismanagement, but Elon’s projects rely heavily on him being at the helm, and my position is that when he’s gone, his companies might likewise expire…much as Apple has suffered on the innovation front since Jobs passed.

 

Go ahead and let me know what you’ve used.  I don’t need fancy.  In essence, I really just need a better antenna with a booster.

[superhawk996]

4 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

Nothing against Elon, but aside from having issues finding a spot for the dish (the reason I didn’t go with it before),

Yea, it's fucking nuts.  Carlos brought his fucking starlink to my house and hogged up almost 2 square feet of my dirt with it.  Then I stupidly decided to move it all by myself and damn near threw out my back, I can almost guarantee that monstrosity weighs over 5 lbs.

[superhawk996]

Oh, and the set-up/aiming process is a joke too.  He had to do a bunch of math to figure out which piece of dirt to throw it down onto because, get this...the stupid thing needs to be pointed toward the sky!  Not down, not sideways, the front has to face upward!!!  Stupid technology.

[Zero Knievel]

9 minutes ago, superhawk996 said:

Oh, and the set-up/aiming process is a joke too.  He had to do a bunch of math to figure out which piece of dirt to throw it down onto because, get this...the stupid thing needs to be pointed toward the sky!  Not down, not sideways, the front has to face upward!!!  Stupid technology.

Unless it’s changed, you need a cone of visibility above the dish.  Last I checked, I didn’t have it and would have to spend thousands to cut down the trees in the way.  A massive net loss.  Besides, I’m paying for cellular service already.  I’d rather pay a lump sum to improve cellular service at home so it’s reliable than pay another monthly fee for another service.

[SwampNut]

6 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

They aren’t erecting new towers in our area

 

Irrelevant because they did something that improves long-range coverage by a lot.

 

6 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

Nobody will give us a loaner phone to test reception

 

The reason I have T-Mobile now is that they gave me a loaner account and I tested it during NeXXt three years ago, side by side with Verizon.  T-Mobile was consistently better, so I switched.  I don't know if they still do those two month test accounts.  Instead of assuming what can't be done, perhaps look at solving problems with a positive attitude.

 

6 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

I question how long the enterprise will run if anything happens to him.  

 

Who gives a fuck, you solve the problem NOW for a very cheap price.  I do admire your ability to find the worst in everything and to avoid the well known, fast, and super easy solution.  Set aside your Musk Derangement Syndrome.  Is it because of the breakup with your orange Jesus?

 

6 hours ago, Zero Knievel said:

In essence, I really just need a better antenna with a booster.

 

A mid-scale repeater.  Wilson WeBoost 100 Office, and enough inside antennas to cover the house.  I'd go with the directional outdoor antenna upgrade, get it on the roof wherever the best signal is, then point it to optimize.  Semantics aside, what these things do is take the outside signal and repeat it inside, then back the other way.  They are not truly boosting things and the reasons for this get deep into RF knowledge that's not relevant here.  You are basically teleporting the antenna from the living space to the place that has signal.  I think you can probably do that entire thing for about $2500.  Oh, and yeah, LMR400 cable is stupid money, DO NOT buy cheap.

 

[SwampNut]

Oh, when you call them, if you engage them openly, they will spend a lot of time talking you through this.  Resist the natural arguing and negativity you use here.  If you can do that, they will tell you everything you need and much about how to install it.  Great company, but they are human and don't want to argue with you.

 

Or drive to the store and get a Starlink and some poles.

 

[SwampNut]

I know someone selling a barely-used normal-size residential dish if you'd like to actually solve this problem completely, instantly, and reliably.  She'd probably go with $300 or so with a very nice mount.

[XXitanium]

On 6/15/2025 at 8:46 AM, Zero Knievel said:

...you need a cone of visibility above the dish.