Cell phone booster antennas??

Pulp · Apr 17, 2019

I use an ATT internet service, not really sure what it is called, but it is basically a cell phone that broadcasts internet signals through your house. The nearest ATT tower is somewhere west of me, on a really good day I can download 3 or 5 MB/s. Most of the time it's less than 1MB/s. Phone service sucks too, most of the time I have to go outside to make a call. The steel frame/siding/roof house doesn't help either.

Anyway, since my internet box relies on cell phone signal, would a booster antenna help both internet and phone? I don't know why it wouldn't, but have been told by some folks that are IT savvy that it won't help.

My bro in law has a booster that really helps his phone, but he uses something else for internet.

Rise just came out a bit ago, there is no tower in line of sight from my house so that's out of the question.

NightShade · Apr 17, 2019

As long as it supports 4G then it should help. So something like one of these https://www.ubersignal.com/att-cell-phone-signal-boosters-repeaters It's not cheap and you will have to know where the tower is with most of the systems so that you can properly aim the antenna.

The problem that will slowly creep up is when signal usage changes. A system sold ten years ago is nearly worthless today due to new spectrum being used and technology changes. So with the soon change to new tech it might be worthwhile to wait until the 5G stuff is released and stable. It's not a small investment to only have it really worthwhile for a couple years before the next tech change. Just something to think about.

TerryMiller · Apr 17, 2019

I don't know what is available nowadays, but in the past, we purchased an external antenna and placed a 10-foot PVC piece on our RV's ladder to get extra height. Then we had to run the cable in through a part of one of the slides and attach the other end to a "cradle," into which one placed their phone. However, we found it to NOT be the greatest of solutions, because if the signal is still too far away or blocked by something (mountain ridges in our case), one still might not get a good signal.

We used to have AT&T years ago, and out between Mustang and Tuttle, I would have to go outside to make or take a phone call. We switched our internet from @Link to Verizon's MiFi jetpack and got better internet. We then went to Verizon and got phones through them and dropped AT&T, which also had issues with dropping calls and not getting messages for 2 or 3 days. We've been with Verizon ever since.

Glock 40 · Apr 17, 2019

If your in a metal house or one with a metal roof that is the hardest thing to get penetration through other than a hospital full of cement and lead walls. So a booster should help you. Good ones aren't cheap. Cheap ones don't last. You will need a booster that does 4G LTE and includes the spectrum that ATT uses in your area. If they say multi-carrier or you purchase from ATT you should be fine. The biggest thing with a booster is make sure you get one with an external antenna and if its a Yagi point it at the nearest ATT tower. If you point it right at the tower you mentioned you should be fine. Make sure you keep the indoor antenna as far away as possible from the outdoor antenna. If you put them near the same window you can generate interference and ATT or another provider will probably be visiting you soon or you will see no noticeable improvement.

Edit: I forgot to mention you may look at your plan also and if its unlimited what the policies are on speed and throttling. 3 to 5mb may not be bad in a rural area depending on distance to the tower and the terrain in between. Without getting to deep into it. If you are within 1/2 a mile or you can see the ATT tower you speak about. Run the FAST speed test app or open fast.com and that will give you an idea of what your device is capable of at its peak.

Mos Eisley · Apr 17, 2019

PM me. I may be able to help.

Poke78 · Apr 17, 2019

NightShade said:
As long as it supports 4G then it should help. So something like one of these https://www.ubersignal.com/att-cell-phone-signal-boosters-repeaters It's not cheap and you will have to know where the tower is with most of the systems so that you can properly aim the antenna.

The problem that will slowly creep up is when signal usage changes. A system sold ten years ago is nearly worthless today due to new spectrum being used and technology changes. So with the soon change to new tech it might be worthwhile to wait until the 5G stuff is released and stable. It's not a small investment to only have it really worthwhile for a couple years before the next tech change. Just something to think about.

5G will be a very long time in arriving in rural OK or rural anywhere for that matter. In an urban area, you make an excellent point, especially when the frequencies covered are going to range from 600 MHz to 6GHz, with the better data speeds at the higher frequencies. Today, you'll be told 5G is available in OKC and that is true in limited areas. It's certainly not at full roll-out deployment in the entire metro.

ConstitutionCowboy · Apr 18, 2019

I think I'm SOL. My cell phone is 2G.

Woody

SoonerP226 · Apr 18, 2019

Talk to the folks at Wilson Electronics (https://www.wilsonelectronics.com/). Things change, but the last time I was looking into this, they were the best, and their pre-sales support guys would shoot you straight.

okietool · Apr 18, 2019

I’ve had success with them amplifying weak cell reception, but I have no idea about them boosting down/up load speeds.

Pulp · Apr 24, 2019

I ended up getting a Uniden product with a directional antenna. Got it mounted yesterday, did a test run this morning, it is great. While studying where to mount the inside panel antenna, I thought, "Try it in the attic, won't have to drill holes in the wall" Works great up there too!

I've been able to watch Netflix and Youtube all day with no buffering. And I don't have to go outside to make or receive phone calls.

Cell phone booster antennas??

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