How to boost weak AT&T signals?

[spacerog]

I get a full five bars of AT&T at work which is great but at home I am lucky if I get 1 or 2 bars and then only if I am in my kitchen or on the porch. If I try to answer a call in my office forget it, the call will drop.

Has anyone heard of or used a 'Wi-Ex zBoost Cell Phone Signal Booster'. This is sort of an antenna that acts as a signal repeater giving you a stronger signal for a short range. It isn't cheap at $300.

Here is one such product
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=YX510-PCS/CEL

I can't help be reminded of those glue-on antennas they used to sell for cell phones on late night TV.

- SR

 

[AngelJO008]

I get a full five bars of AT&T at work which is great but at home I am lucky if I get 1 or 2 bars and then only if I am in my kitchen or on the porch. If I try to answer a call in my office forget it, the call will drop.

Has anyone heard of or used a 'Wi-Ex zBoost Cell Phone Signal Booster'. This is sort of an antenna that acts as a signal repeater giving you a stronger signal for a short range. It isn't cheap at $300.

Here is one such product
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=YX510-PCS/CEL

I can't help be reminded of those glue-on antennas they used to sell for cell phones on late night TV.

- SR

I bought the YX-500-CEL version for my office where I only has 1-2 bars and now have a full 4-5. I love it! Simple to install. I never use PCS version phones so I didn't need to spend the extra on a dual band extender.

 

[shadowboxer]

I get a full five bars of AT&T at work which is great but at home I am lucky if I get 1 or 2 bars and then only if I am in my kitchen or on the porch. If I try to answer a call in my office forget it, the call will drop.

Has anyone heard of or used a 'Wi-Ex zBoost Cell Phone Signal Booster'. This is sort of an antenna that acts as a signal repeater giving you a stronger signal for a short range. It isn't cheap at $300.

Here is one such product
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=YX510-PCS/CEL

I can't help be reminded of those glue-on antennas they used to sell for cell phones on late night TV.

- SR

Gotta second that. I only had 1-2 bars at home. I went one step further and got a kit that included 2 sizeable antennas and an add-on internal antenna. I now get 5 bars through most of the house, and no less than 4 bars.
I ended up getting the zBoost YX610 Dual Band Repeater Kit from the repeaterstore.com. Took me all of an hour to mount the antennas in the attic, snake the coax down the wall to the amp unit, and get it all up and running. The kit included everything needed from the install and arrived within 3 days of order. Anyway, I am in no way affiliated with or spamming this company, but I highly recommend them. Here is a link to the kit I bought: http://www.repeaterstore.com/products/repeaterkits/wi-ex/zboost-dual-band-60db.html

 

[Hoshtaylor]

OK guys...so I have to ask...I was with Sprint for 8+ years...reception was fine at home (new home) and got pissed at them for issues regarding my Samsung Instinct and bailed out...went and bought 2 new iPhone 3Gs for my wife and myself since they wouldn't help me (after 8 years...great...)

Anywho...long story short...I get "no service" here at home...but if I put my iPhone in the windows or if I am upstairs, then they work. This makes me think I am a perfect "fit" for a booster.

What is everyone's experience...? Do you think it will work...? DOES it work...? Which one should I get...?

 

[greenjbhsd]

I switched to Verizon, now my signal is strong!

 

[AntonChigurh]

I switched to Verizon, now my signal is strong!

yes, but now you'll have hundreds of annoying people following you wherever you go.

 

[soilsample]

Hoshtaylor,
Yes, you are a perfect fit for the booster. I have similar setup at home, but my signal is only available in a couple of small areas. The zboost works well for me.
I did NOT have to buy the kit with all the extra antennas, I use only the little mast type (white cylinder about 10" long x 1" diameter) antenna with good results. I paid around $300 for my setup on ebay. http://www.repeaterstore.com/products/repeaterkits/wi-ex/zboost-dual-band.html
I am, however, considering buying the "yagi" type directional antenna to improve my signal a little more.

 

[memnautikus]

Hey. I had the same problem. Are we talk g about a booster to increase the AT&T signal? Or wifi?

Hoshtaylor,
Yes, you are a perfect fit for the booster. I have similar setup at home, but my signal is only available in a couple of small areas. The zboost works well for me.
I did NOT have to buy the kit with all the extra antennas, I use only the little mast type (white cylinder about 10" long x 1" diameter) antenna with good results. I paid around $230 for my setup on ebay.
I am, however, considering buying the "yagi" type directional antenna to improve my signal a little more.

 

[samblackaudio]

Really that good? I don't have any experience with that booster.

 

[Hoshtaylor]

Hoshtaylor,
Yes, you are a perfect fit for the booster. I have similar setup at home, but my signal is only available in a couple of small areas. The zboost works well for me.
I did NOT have to buy the kit with all the extra antennas, I use only the little mast type (white cylinder about 10" long x 1" diameter) antenna with good results. I paid around $300 for my setup on ebay. http://www.repeaterstore.com/products/repeaterkits/wi-ex/zboost-dual-band.html
I am, however, considering buying the "yagi" type directional antenna to improve my signal a little more.

Thank you Soilsample. Do you have a 3G...? Do you know if this would work for both EDGE and 3G...?

 

[soilsample]

This booster will increase any cell signal within the frequency range. My booster is the "pcs 1900 Mhz" by Wi-Ex. I do have a 3g iPhone and a v1 iPhone..... they both see increased signal strength.
The booster's antenna is located wherever you have best available signal. Sometimes you can put it in a window, sometimes it needs to be in the attic or outside.

The signal is gathered by the antenna, boosted by the wi-ex unit, then REBROADCAST throughout your house or office by the base unit. The Wi-Ex is like a Wifi for cell phone signals (but it boosts the signal strength first).

One thing you need to check out is which frequency band is being used by AT&T in your area. My area is obviously using the 1900 MHz, but some areas may use the 800 MHz range.
I think there is a web site that will give you this info (but I can't find it now!) or you may be able to call AT&T for the info.

Good luck
Donald

 

[Zanthe]

So Soilsample...how far away from the antenna do you have the base station? I envision running that cable from the antenna to the base station being a problem if it has to go into another room for example.

 

[soilsample]

There is a minimum distance from base unit to antenna.... if the two are too close together, there will be interference problems. I don't recall the required distance, but it may be something like 20 feet.
My antenna is outside the house, but only about 15 feet from base unit.

The cable looks like just a section of RG6 type coaxial cable (same as satellite tv). You may have to get creative to hide it, but it shouldn't be too intrusive.