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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Cellular Range Extender
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Borrego
Member
# Posted: 29 Nov 2011 16:41
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Someone else must have this problem: there are lots of mountains around us and as well we are away from the city. We get coverage (Verizon) even 1/4 mi away from our property, and very rarely even on the property for a few seconds. So do they make something I could get to boost the signal? It would need to be battery powered, for now................

TomChum
Member
# Posted: 29 Nov 2011 16:48 - Edited by: TomChum
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This is discussed somewhat on small-cabin thread Off-Grid Living / Internet with your Cellphone

Check www.amazon.com for item "801212" ~$240
I'm using this amplifier. It boosts my reception from 0-2 bars, to 4-5 bars. It runs on 12v and uses about 0.5w on 'idle', then about 3w during a phonecall.

A small animal chewed thru my antenna wire. If you have critters protect your wire if you can.

brandywine
Member
# Posted: 30 Nov 2011 20:23
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This is a great place to go to learn about this topic.
URL

Bzzzzzt
Member
# Posted: 30 Nov 2011 20:34
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Quoting: TomChum
Check www.amazon.com for item "801212" ~$240

Holy Cow! Those things are expensive. I was reading the info on them and it says it requires no contact with the phone. What is it then, some kind of a repeater for the signal?

TomChum
Member
# Posted: 30 Nov 2011 21:27 - Edited by: TomChum
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I think there are others at lower cost than $240. When I bought mine it was $336, so the price has come down. I have not investigated lower cost units. Also I only looked at 12vDC units.

For the amplifier I have, the phone needs to be about "8 inches" from the re-radiating antenna. It gets sketchy at 2 feet away. It's like having a ~2 foot cord on your cellphone..... but at least it works.

I am currently investigating a more powerful unit. Most large department stores have a repeater inside the building so customers don't have to go running outside the store to take a call. These units cost a lot more .... $500-$700. I'm currently interested in a unit that might allow use of my cellphone up to 25 feet away from the amplifier:

Here are the items I'm looking at, all www.wilsonelectronics.com

Outside antenna 304411
12vDC (actually 6v) Amplifier 805045
Re-radiating antenna 301135
(and the antenna cables)

I'll look thru the link from brandywine too (thx!)

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