Cell Phone Amplifiers?

rv_safetyman · October 31, 2007, 10:06:10 AM

I am starting a new thread as opposed to getting the Verizon aircard thread off topic. We are spoiled since we have satellite internet, so the subject does not directly apply to us. However, I still like to follow the technology.

We were in Shoshone, CA last week and did not have a cell phone signal most of the time (got one bar once in a while using our Wilson Trucker antenna (301101)). However, we could not reliably make a call.

As a side note to this thread, you will have a problem with cell signal if you go to the MAK Rally, unless things have changed. We had to drive about a half mile to the top of a hill to get a signal.

Back to the subject. I got to researching cell phone amplifiers. The industry now has wireless amplifiers where the amplifier also acts like a repeater with a small antenna inside the bus. An example is the Wilson 801201.

There is some discussion in various places where the wireless amplifiers are not as strong as the direct connect (Wilson 811201).

So, my question to the great folks on this board: What experience/recommendation do you have for improving cell signals (beyond a good antenna) in very marginal areas?

BTW, the purchase of the system is a bit pricey. I think the list price for the 801201 is right at $400. I found one site that had it for close to $300 with one exterior antenna:

http://www.powerfulsignal.com/KitsVehicle/VehicleKits.html

One other side note: While we were in Shoshone, we had 24 hours of very heavy winds. We had to put the Internet/TV dish down. So we had no Cell/Internet/TV for a WHOLE day

. We had to revert to primitive survival (watching DVD movies on the TV

) and reading. Aren't we spoiled?

Appreciate your thoughts.

Jim

Kristinsgrandpa · October 31, 2007, 06:36:10 PM

I purchased a Wilson cell phone Amplifier from ALF Enterprises on 4/17/04, model NO. 801101. It was supposed to work like a repeater even from outside the vehicle.

I called them in July of 04 to find out where it was.
They said it was an oversight and would send it right out.

The day I recieved it I hooked it up to my Wilson magnetic mount antenna, and it wouldnt work. I called Wilson and they hooked me up to a technician. He had me try several things and it still wouldn't work.

He said I had to have a signal before it would work, so I told him how many bars I had without the antenna and signal booster. He couldn't get it to get as good a signal as I got with the built in antenna on the cell phone.

I immediately called ALF Enterprises,18933 59th Ave. NE Ste 108, Arlington WA 98223 and told them I was going to send it back using the 10 day try out return priveleges.
They gave me their UPS account no. and I returned it.

About a month later I called them to inquire about the refund and they said they would mail it out the next business day. I never heard from them again. About a dozen emails later I quit trying to contact them.

I never did get the $308.50 refund from ALF but I had their UPS shipping account number, so I sent them a little over 300 pounds of creek gravel on their account number. I listed it as "special landscaping material". I sent the 10 boxes on one day,as a lot, so they couldn't refuse any of them.

You do what you want but I will never spend another penny on anything with Wilsons name on it because they allow one of their vendors to treat/cheat people like that.

As far as I'm concerned the amp. was a piece of junk.

Any questions about this my email is in my profile.

Ed Jewett

RJ · October 31, 2007, 10:25:10 PM

Quote from: Kristinsgrandpa on October 31, 2007, 06:36:10 PM

I never did get the $308.50 refund from ALF but I had their UPS shipping account number, so I sent them a little over 300 pounds of creek gravel on their account number. I listed it as "special landscaping material". I sent the 10 boxes on one day,as a lot, so they couldn't refuse any of them.

Ed -

We busnuts are a creative bunch, aren't we? Wouldn't you have loved to have been a fly on the wall when UPS delivered that shipment?

That was priceless!

larryc · November 01, 2007, 01:53:43 AM

My office for Coach Information Network

www.coachinfo.com

is located in the basement of my home and for a long time I have had a problem with cell phone reception and transmission.
I recently purchased a WI-EX Signal Extender Model YX-510 and now have consistent full 5 bands of signal. You can locate them at

www.wi-ex.com

I have no connection with this company except as a satisfied customer.

scanzel · November 01, 2007, 05:01:38 AM

Just to add to the gravel being sent. I read once where a person was having problems with a neighbors dog in their yard so they accumulated the poop sealed it in a bag and UPS it to the neighbor. Never a problem after that. You should have sent 300 lbs of fresh cow poop from the local farmer.

TomCat · November 01, 2007, 07:21:39 AM

Quote from: scanzel on November 01, 2007, 05:01:38 AM
Just to add to the gravel being sent. I read once where a person was having problems with a neighbors dog in their yard so they accumulated the poop sealed it in a bag and UPS it to the neighbor. Never a problem after that. You should have sent 300 lbs of fresh cow poop from the local farmer.

LOL...you guys think just about like I do!
In the 20th century it would probably be funny as hell.
However, in the 21st century if you shipped a load of $#!% to someone, Homeland Security would probably brand you a terrorist, and bust you for spreading a biologic hazard.

Jay
87 SaftLiner

RJ · November 01, 2007, 09:02:07 AM

Way back when, I lived next door to a fellow who had a dog that would literally bark all day long. As soon as he'd get home from work, the barking would stop. I was working a graveyard shift, and tried to sleep during this racket. Several times I told the neighbor about his dog, but he didn't believe me.

So I set up my old radio studio 15" three-speed reel-to-reel tape recorder, ran a mic cable & mic out the window and draped it over his fence. Pushed "record" as soon as he left for work in the morning and taped almost 9 hours of yap, yap, yap. (Stupid little rat dog.)

That night he got to listen to this barking for 8 hours while he tried to sleep, as I set the recorder to play, pointed the speakers at his house, turned the volume up LOUD and went to work.

Never had a problem with that barking dog again. . .

Of course, nowadays, as Jay mentioned, I'd probably get hauled in for "noise pollution" by the environmental wackos.

FWIW. . .