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#302193 - 13/09/2007 21:36 Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please
Robotic pooh-bah Registered: 06/04/2005 Posts: 2026 Loc: Seattle transplant	After dealing with really, really weak (but still existent) cellphone signal at my remote property, I've found something that might help the situation. There exists a class of signal 'repeater' for cell phones that is typically used inside large office buildings. This technology is shrinking in capacity and price for the home market. Got weak signal inside your home? No problem (they say!). The company I'm most interested in (Wi-Ex) is by far the cheapest- ~$300 The units are available all over the internet- Amazon, ThinkGeek, NewEgg, RadioShack, Fry's, etc. Here's the cheapest I've found. I'm concerned primarily with the dual band model either for the home (YX-510 PCS/CEL 120VAC $300) or the car (YX-200 PCS/CEL 12VDC $200). The 12V system is nice- haven't got grid power at the property anyway. Obviously I'd be rigging my own poles, power, and perhaps improvisational dishes. Anyone had any dealings with such devices? Tips, tricks, advice, anecdotes, and opinions are all welcome! _________________________ 10101311 (20GB- backup empeg) 10101466 (2x60GB, Eutronix/GreenLights Blue) (Stolen!)
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#302194 - 14/09/2007 00:24 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: Robotic]
newguy1 enthusiast Registered: 26/01/2002 Posts: 278 Loc: Massachusetts,USA	I briefly looked at getting a similar product as I have no signal at my property.From what I was told it only works to improve/boost the current signal up to its current level. When in a house or a building the outside signal gets shielded from getting to your phone, so the device spreads the current signal throughout the house or business to reach your phone. I was told it wouldn't boost the signal coming from the tower any more than it is. Here is a quote from the website FAQ... Quote: How can I tell if it will help extend coverage in my home or office? You can run a simple test. If you can place a call outside your home or office, the Wireless Extender unit will help you by boosting the signal inside the building. If there is no signal outside, this unit will not give you an improvement in coverage. Remember, we can only help improve your signal strength if you have enough of a signal outside to place a call. _________________________ MIKE 80Gb RIO
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#302195 - 14/09/2007 02:29 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: Robotic]
Attack addict Registered: 01/03/2002 Posts: 599 Loc: Florida	I have this model and it works for the room I put the device in but not anywhere else. I haven't had a change to find the best place for the external antenna. _________________________ Chad
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#302196 - 14/09/2007 03:55 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: Robotic]
tanstaafl. carpal tunnel Registered: 08/07/1999 Posts: 5549 Loc: Ajijic, Mexico	Oh, c'mon. $300? Really, all you need is one of these! tanstaafl. _________________________ "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"
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#302197 - 14/09/2007 10:20 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: Robotic]
maczrool pooh-bah Registered: 13/01/2002 Posts: 1649 Loc: Louisiana, USA	What you really need is a femto cell like this one. Not sure if they are available yet, but I would love to have one myself. Stu _________________________ If you want it to break, buy Sony!
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#302198 - 14/09/2007 11:13 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: Robotic]
Dignan carpal tunnel Registered: 08/03/2000 Posts: 12338 Loc: Sterling, VA	This podcast just reviewd the YX510. _________________________ Matt
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#302199 - 14/09/2007 12:36 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: newguy1]
Robotic pooh-bah Registered: 06/04/2005 Posts: 2026 Loc: Seattle transplant	Quote: I was told it wouldn't boost the signal coming from the tower any more than it is. This is true, but... The extender has a much better antenna than your phone does (more gain) and therefore can do much more with a weak tower signal. I was trying to explain this to my brother a few days ago, but couldn't get my head around the proper answer. I hope (for my sake!) that I have now! I was thinking about also having some fun with various cheap 'dishes' (aka woks, BBQ covers, fan shrouds, etc) in order to directionally enhance the 'main' or 'exterior' antenna and possibly also the 'interior' antenna. Thanks for the replies! _________________________ 10101311 (20GB- backup empeg) 10101466 (2x60GB, Eutronix/GreenLights Blue) (Stolen!)
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#302200 - 17/09/2007 19:16 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: Attack]
Robotic pooh-bah Registered: 06/04/2005 Posts: 2026 Loc: Seattle transplant	Quote: I have this model and it works for the room I put the device in but not anywhere else. I haven't had a change to find the best place for the external antenna. Hi Attack- Can you tell me the DC voltage that the base station is getting from the wall-wart? The Wi-Ex zBoost 510 is looking very attractive to me, but I'd like to know how easy it would be for me to power it with alternative sources. Thanks! Update: I've also been looking around at HowardForums (my favorite cellphone forum) for more info about these extenders. There are a few other home-market kits out there, but all seem to be 'challenging' to set up for maximum benefit. I'll probably have to borrow a signal meter from a friend in order to sort out the proper location. More fun with techtoys! _________________________ 10101311 (20GB- backup empeg) 10101466 (2x60GB, Eutronix/GreenLights Blue) (Stolen!)
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#302201 - 17/09/2007 20:45 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: Robotic]
drakino carpal tunnel Registered: 08/06/1999 Posts: 7868	If you are on Sprint, this might be an option. Their concept of an extender is to transition your phone off the cell networks completely and onto the internet. The box hooks up to your broadband internet, and emits a CDMA tower signal for your phone to switch over to. Interesting idea, and is a bit different then the T-Mobile route of having a WiFi/GSM phone that migrates between the two seamlessly.
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#302202 - 18/09/2007 15:07 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: drakino]
Robotic pooh-bah Registered: 06/04/2005 Posts: 2026 Loc: Seattle transplant	That Samsung AiRave for Sprint is certainly interesting. Strange to see our communication methods intermixing. Meanwhile, here's a CNet review of the zBoost 510. Following the 'Tips & Tricks' link from the review you can find yourself at a CNet forum where one member touts the advantages of Wilson Electronics repeaters. The Wilson stuff seems to have the quality over the competition, but at a price that is nearly double. Also, I've learned that dual band is (seemingly) not that important for me on Verizon. The 800MHz range is the typical cellphone workhorse while the 1900MHz range is used for more advanced/new data services. The single band (800MHz) repeater from Wi-Ex is $100 cheaper than the dual band. Hmm- more to think about. _________________________ 10101311 (20GB- backup empeg) 10101466 (2x60GB, Eutronix/GreenLights Blue) (Stolen!)
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#302203 - 18/09/2007 21:14 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: Robotic]
mlord carpal tunnel Registered: 29/08/2000 Posts: 14494 Loc: Canada	Quote: Also, I've learned that dual band is (seemingly) not that important for me on Verizon. The 800MHz range is the typical cellphone workhorse while the 1900MHz range is used for more advanced/new data services. The single band (800MHz) repeater from Wi-Ex is $100 cheaper than the dual band. Bull-pucky. 1900Mhz is what most modern N.A. mobiles use, most of the time. Of course Verizon may be different.
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#302204 - 18/09/2007 22:25 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: mlord]
Robotic pooh-bah Registered: 06/04/2005 Posts: 2026 Loc: Seattle transplant	Quote: Bull-pucky. 1900Mhz is what most modern N.A. mobiles use, most of the time. Of course Verizon may be different. Verizon may well be different- as you say, most others are on the shorter wavelength. http://www.wirelessadvisor.com/ shows the freqs used by your local carriers... most in the SF area are on 1900MHz. _________________________ 10101311 (20GB- backup empeg) 10101466 (2x60GB, Eutronix/GreenLights Blue) (Stolen!)
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#302205 - 25/09/2007 17:10 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: Robotic]
Attack addict Registered: 01/03/2002 Posts: 599 Loc: Florida	Quote: Can you tell me the DC voltage that the base station is getting from the wall-wart? The wall wart is 3.6V 2.0A. _________________________ Chad
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#302206 - 25/09/2007 21:47 Re: Cellphone 'Extender' ? Share your thoughts, experiences please [Re: Attack]
Robotic pooh-bah Registered: 06/04/2005 Posts: 2026 Loc: Seattle transplant	Quote: Quote: Can you tell me the DC voltage that the base station is getting from the wall-wart? The wall wart is 3.6V 2.0A. Thanks! I was thinking of the remote installation- running the repeater on DC from a car battery and having a couple solar panels feeding the battery through a charge controller. _________________________ 10101311 (20GB- backup empeg) 10101466 (2x60GB, Eutronix/GreenLights Blue) (Stolen!)
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