Phone Signal Boost in Remote Places

[68c]

Is the OP looking to improve the voice telephone side of things or internet access via phone data?
Improving data reception us easy with a MIFI, improving the voice signal is harder.

 

[Pausim]

Is the OP looking to improve the voice telephone side of things or internet access via phone data?
Improving data reception us easy with a MIFI, improving the voice signal is harder.

There are legal ways of doing this since Ofcom changed their rules. My signal booster is due for delivery in the next few days.

 

[Cush]

One option is to look at Manx Telecom SIM cards - they behave like 'foreign' ones in the UK so will roam to any available network, which saves having SIMs for the 3 main networks.

They do choose provider when roaming off Island but I don’t thnk there’s a roaming agreement and it can be expensive. 50p / Mb

 

[autorouter]

Is the OP looking to improve the voice telephone side of things or internet access via phone data?
Improving data reception us easy with a MIFI, improving the voice signal is harder.

A relative living in Central London finds it hard to get a good phone signal inside his flat. All the providers are much the same. His solution is to use 'Wifi Calling', which improves voice reception dramatically. No phone voice transmission is analog any more, it's all sliced into IP Packets, transmitted to the destination, assembled in the right order and unsliced back into sound again. 'Wifi Calling' simply provides an alternative path for the IP packets - in this case via the land line broadband.

It's quite possible, if you have a good mifi router, to enable 'Wifi Calling' and use the mifi comms to supplement or even supplant the phone's attempt at a voice call.

 

[Coolcats]

. No phone voice transmission is analog any more, it's all sliced into IP Packets,

Not strictly true, the network is still a mixture of analogue, IP and digital (ISDN) However the move is to make all voice calls IP based. You are correct in that if you have a mobile that can make WiFi calls via your broadband router instead of the cellular network this will be IP based.

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[Trevor Wbm]

They do choose provider when roaming off Island but I don’t thnk there’s a roaming agreement and it can be expensive. 50p / Mb

Just looked - you're right. I know a lot of fell walkers use Manx, but just for emergencies rather than prolonged data use.

 

[ctc]

When I worked in Ireland, a long time ago, if you were in range of ANY mast you could use your phone. Always had a signal from some company at no extra cost. Couldn't we ask the Irish to build our masts for us?

 

[Coolcats]

When I worked in Ireland, a long time ago, if you were in range of ANY mast you could use your phone. Always had a signal from some company at no extra cost. Couldn't we ask the Irish to build our masts for us?

Drove all around Iceland in a Motorhome we had a strong signal all way around given Icelands spars population it was impressive. So impressive we downloaded Trapped........wacthing this in the evenings in barren landscape we made sure the Doors were locked

 

[ambulancekidd]

We have four sims in our two mobile phones, one from each of the major carriers - EE, 3, Vodafone and O2 - as it's the only cost effective way to maximise the possibility of mobile signal in a number of areas \ locations in Scotland.
Currently in D&G with from 5 splodges to 0 splodges on the carriers.
Having said that we don't stream using these as the most cost effective option for TV for us was a satellite dish and box and mifi and external aerial for internet.

The 3 network works remarkably well in the middle of the Galloway Forest Park, even in the deepest darkest places, I get a good signal & tinternetmabob.

 

[buntyb]

We struggled getting decent signal at Glenmore site. one mobile on Three, the other on EE and mifi on O2. Mind you, couldn’t get a tv signal either .

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[Pausim]

We struggled getting decent signal at Glenmore site. one mobile on Three, the other on EE and mifi on O2. Mind you, couldn’t get a tv signal either .

You are supposed to climb the nearest Munro if you want a phone signal in that part of Scotland.

 

[Gellyneck]

The 3 network works remarkably well in the middle of the Galloway Forest Park, even in the deepest darkest places, I get a good signal & tinternetmabob.

3 and EE tend to struggle on the C&MC site at New England Bay. All 4 networks are just above marginal at Garlieston on certain pitches! Mifi works better though.

 

[roadwarrior]

These are all great answers, aside from price I know shmbo will never allow holes to be made in the roof (we have had roof leaks in the past and they have haunted us) so an internal Aeriel only.

 

[faraway]

I have ordered a Nikrans signal booster. It may take a week or two before it arrives but I will post some results when I get a chance.

Do you have to pay customs and import duties?

 

[Trevor Wbm]

These are all great answers, aside from price I know shmbo will never allow holes to be made in the roof (we have had roof leaks in the past and they have haunted us) so an internal Aeriel only.

OK - but that does rather limit your options.

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[Pausim]

Do you have to pay customs and import duties?

I think the price covers all that. The item has just reached the FedEx Poole depot (but too late for todays delivery) so I guess it hasn’t encountered any duty problems in transit.

 

[autorouter]

These are all great answers, aside from price I know shmbo will never allow holes to be made in the roof (we have had roof leaks in the past and they have haunted us) so an internal Aeriel only.

Not necessarily, there are alternatives, such as this one. Fixed by suckers to a window.

Solwise - 5G-XPOL-1 POYNTING Antenna (OMNI 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO) | Solwise Ltd

www.solwise.co.uk

 

[Off da Grid]

we use a netgear M2 and never fail to get a signal, we used it with a MIMO roof mounted aerial

I’ve just got a netgear M2 mifi the speed was better without the poiynting X pole 1 antenna at least at home
Double the speed of my iPhone 7plus on the same SIM card on EE the only network that I can get a decent signal on at home.
Was expensive but got it so hopefully she can maintain contact with her mum better when we’re away

 

[Pausim]

Do you have to pay customs and import duties?

No, the booster arrived without further charges. I also got a discount of 15% (code NOCORONA15OFF).

I have now experimented with the kit at home and at our storage site. At home we have a couple of rooms with no reception and I was able to extend the coverage to those rooms. At our storage site there is usually no coverage in our motorhome but a weak signal can sometimes be picked up outside. With the aerial on the roof we managed to get steady reception inside but with varying levels of strength.

The first thing to remember is that an amplifier can amplify a weak signal but if there is no signal to amplify it can do nothing about it. It also seemed that the range of the inside aerial was limited to a few feet. I think this is necessary because 1) the Ofcom rules require this and 2) if the external aerial can pick up the retransmission from the internal one it would cause signal oscillation and stop working. The unit has automatic or manual settings to avoid oscillation.

I was pleased to find that the unit improved data download/upload speeds and ping times as well as a providing a more reliable connection.

I was disappointed that the unit arrived without written instructions for use but I had already downloaded the online ones.

My conclusion would be that if you are only interested in boosting data download then a mifi with an external aerial is probably better. If, like me, you also need to improve phone communication a signal booster can help but the results are not dramatic. When I go away next I will hopefully be able to find out how well it does at boosting the quality of ok reception to good reception.

 

[TDub49]

You could always try one of these

Pardon our interruption...

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[Otter Spotter]

You can fit a MiFi or home broadband router, which will get much better signal. However, it won't use your phone's SIM, so you either need another Data SIM, or to swap your phone SIM into it every time you need it.

It should use your phones sim ! Mine are all interchangeable between phones and mobile router, same size.

 

[Pausim]

It should use your phones sim ! Mine are all interchangeable between phones and mobile router, same size.

True but then you can’t make or receive phone calls.

 

[Off da Grid]

I’m on EE with way too much data on my phone plan so Ive got the cheapest pay monthly plan £8.10 so I can gift data to the sim in the mifi, or my dear ladies phone.
EE 4g phone sims can acces the network faster than 4g data sims.
Got this plan so I can also put the sim in an old phone when we go kayaking fo4 emergency’s

 

[roadwarrior]

all good answers gents. thank you

 

[Pausim]

My conclusion would be that if you are only interested in boosting data download then a mifi with an external aerial is probably better. If, like me, you also need to improve phone communication a signal booster can help but the results are not dramatic. When I go away next I will hopefully be able to find out how well it does at boosting the quality of ok reception to good reception.

After a few days away and testing my signal booster in 2 further locations I can confirm that it works but not dramatically well. On balance I would say the cost is too high for the benefit received. If it is data download you are after the mifi/mimo route seems to be the better one.

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[Coolcats]

This is an interesting thread when car phones originally were installed many years ago each install had a car kit for both hands free and signal booster, whilst I never saw the bills for this I suspect the phone package would not have been far short of £1k

 

[Gellyneck]

This is an interesting thread when car phones originally were installed many years ago each install had a car kit for both hands free and signal booster, whilst I never saw the bills for this I suspect the phone package would not have been far short of £1k

Still got a couple of old Nokia ones in the loft somewhere!
Both yours for £1k (a fabulous discount of 50%!).

 

[TheBig1]

Has anyone tried of of these Chinese cell boosters?
https://www.wish.com/product/5d5287...0&campaign_id=6493229882&exclude_install=true}&guest=true&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvYSEBhDjARIsAJMn0ljW7UAMTK-fiMsCS5nnXXbnxSH_uWncfJzlNcEdtUHGs6rqWSdbJ1EaAsAAEALw_wcB&share=web

 

[Pausim]

Has anyone tried of of these Chinese cell boosters?
https://www.wish.com/product/5d52875bab6bfd1aac7e839d?hide_login_modal=true&from_ad=goog_shopping&_display_country_code=GB&_force_currency_code=GBP&pid=googleadwords_int&c={campaignId}&ad_cid=5d52875bab6bfd1aac7e839d&ad_cc=GB&ad_curr=GBP&ad_price=25.00&campaign_id=6493229882&exclude_install=true}&guest=true&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvYSEBhDjARIsAJMn0ljW7UAMTK-fiMsCS5nnXXbnxSH_uWncfJzlNcEdtUHGs6rqWSdbJ1EaAsAAEALw_wcB&share=web

I have a different make, Nikrans. I went for one that operates on a wider range of frequencies, I think 900MHz may not cover the newer services. The Ofcom rules for mobile use are stricter than for building ones which may be why I am disappointed in the performance of my device.

 

[Coolcats]

Still got a couple of old Nokia ones in the loft somewhere!
Both yours for £1k (a fabulous discount of 50%!).

I am sure someone would have them......particualy if they are analogue

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