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Rocketbud's profile

Tutor

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16 Messages

Saturday, April 29th, 2017 8:42 PM

Signal booster for outside the home.

I have purchased a cabin in Centennial, WY and we get very weak wireless signal even outside the cabin.  Would a directional antenna signal booster help to improve reception for the phones?  We are only going to be at the cabin a limited amount of time so purchasing a separate plan on different carrier is not an option.

Accepted Solution

Official Solution

Master

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3.5K Messages

7 years ago

Thanks, @lizdance40, for mention.

 

@Rocketbud It's really a matter of IF you have signal, then you a booster works pretty well, IME.  If there's no signal to start with, well, it can't boost it, and it's going to frustrate you.

Make sense?  It sounds like you have a somewhat marginal signal, which is where I've found our booster to work really well, I use it traveling in the winters, mostly.  In areas where we'd hit "fringe" coverage before, we'd hang onto an (often really solid) signal, and it would transition to the next tower, or only briefly lose signal, instead of huge areas (we travel through an area that still needs better coverage, from almost all carriers).

You can use apps like "network cell info lite" to monitor your signal strength (or lack of one) where you plan to use it, to see if you have at least some signal going in/out, it's very good at putting some actual numerical values on the place(s) you're going to use it, and for figuring out where your best signal location is, for antennas and such.

 

Signal info aside, I have found both the SolidRF/MobileForce (good, solid, budget booster, for the car anyway) and Wilson models to be great for this, we have the lower-end travel models (they work fine in a structure too, if you get an adapter).

The downside to the cheaper ones (outside of a bit less reception), is that the indoor "antenna" range is very limited, typically to a foot or two, or maybe several, best-case.  

You can upgrade to a stronger internal antenna model, but it does start to get expensive fast, so if you get use the booster in such a way that your cell is close to the antenna (basically almost on top of it, like next to a car charge cradle, for example), it works consistently.

Outdoor antenna placement is pretty important too, and the orientation can be a bit of a factor too, although I went to a dual-enclosed antenna loop for travel, and now the orientation is less critical.  You can get big, fancy Yagi antennas for outside, that are directional, and people review them with spanning some pretty insane almost-dead cell areas, so I've read good things about these (obviously, again, you have to read reviews and not get the bottom-dollar one), although I've not used one (wouldn't do much for most of my use) of these higher-end antennas.

 

Hopefully this about covers the basics, and it does sound like one would work, in your signal-coverage scenario, as long as you can figure out the phone proximity issue.

Community Support

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230.4K Messages

7 years ago

Hi there @Rocketbud!

 

I’m so sorry to hear you do not have a strong signal in your new cabin. I understand how important it is to be able to connect to services, especially if you are in a heavily wooded area. I would be more than happy to assist!

 

You would have the ability to purchase a device which does help to boost the signal of the phone. This device is called an AT&T Microcell; it connects to your Wi-Fi to provide a stronger signal in areas where it may be weak. The AT&T MicroCell acts like a mini cell tower in your home and connects to your existing broadband Internet service.

 

You receive improved cell signal performance for voice calls, texts, and cellular data applications like picture messaging and Web surfing. The signal range is approximately 40 feet from the base station (in all directions), or about 5,000 square feet.

 

However if you currently have a Wi-Fi Internet connection established at your new cabin, I would highly recommend using Wi-Fi Calling instead. This is a free service, compatible with newer devices. This will allow you to use text, and use Visual Voicemail as you do on the cellular network.

 

I hope this information helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions. Have a fantastic rest of your day!

 

Austin, AT&T Community Specialist

Tutor

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16 Messages

7 years ago

Unfortunately internet access is the issue.  The cabin is in a remote area with NO internet access and the land line is not working.  My cell phone does not get adequate signal so I am looking for a solution that will enable me to use my existing AT&T account.  That is why I am looking into a directional antenna.  Is there a directional antenna that works with AT&T signal?

Thanks

Community Support

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230.4K Messages

7 years ago

Hello again @Rocketbud!

 

Thank you for the fast response!

 

I understand wanting to use just AT&T and our products.  You can try 3rd party signal boosters however I am not able to recommend or validate if they can work on AT&T’s network.

 

I hope this helps! Have a wonderful rest of your day!

 

Austin, AT&T Community Specialist

ACE - Sage

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116.4K Messages

7 years ago

@pgrey can suggest a booster and some tips for use...

From what I understand they have a limited range.

 

Tutor

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16 Messages

7 years ago

pgrey:

Thanks for the information.  Ya, I get some signal in the cabin but it fads in and out.  I have about an acre lot so I was hoping to find a place to put up and antenna that would help improve reception.

Thanks

 

Contributor

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1 Message

6 years ago

AT&T, Sorry, the answer you provide to this poor chap is worthless info. He is in a cabin out in the woods, if he has wifi in remote areas, it is via satellite internet. Therefor, your suggestion is not feasible with this configuration. This is what we live as a daily torment seeing we just came to AT7T from Verizon and our service within our area and home is terrible to say the least. Can you hear me now.... no normally nobody does

ACE - Sage

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116.4K Messages

6 years ago


@desmotoman wrote:

AT&T, Sorry, the answer you provide to this poor chap is worthless info. He is in a cabin out in the woods, if he has wifi in remote areas, it is via satellite internet. Therefor, your suggestion is not feasible with this configuration. This is what we live as a daily torment seeing we just came to AT7T from Verizon and our service within our area and home is terrible to say the least. Can you hear me now.... no normally nobody does


Which is why this is a customer forum, and we customers suggested a booster instead.  No carrier reaches every part of the US.  Thee are places where there are just no services from any carrier. 

A booster helps with fringe areas and weak signal.

 

Tutor

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2 Messages

6 years ago

I had great cell service inside my home until about a month ago, now I have to go OUTSIDE!

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