Cell Phone Signal Booster

[nace33]

I was wondering if anybody has any ideas about how to boost a cell phone signal. I was looking into buying one of those repeaters, but they cost in the $300 range. Does anybody have a DIY they point me in the direction of.

Tekzilla Hosts this would be a great segment.

Ps. I have an iPhone that is using the normal ATT service.

[Serafina]

http://revision3.com/tekzilla/krose/

[nace33]

Thanks, but I had already seen that. I was looking for a cheaper DIY solution. Sorry if i wasn't clear before.

[MD2389]

I'm afraid they don't come much cheaper than that.

[tokenuser]

Not happening. Hardware signal boosters are not readily homebrewable. I have head mixed results about the other ones as well, because they rely on you installing an insane length of wire (two stories) to be effective.

I am laughing though ... YOU GOT AT&T (BWAHHHHHH HHHHHAAAAAAA HHHHHAAAAA HAAAAAA). Lousy signal. 5 bars? Not even close across most of America. CDMA signals (Verizon/Sprint) seem to have better coverage and penetration (inside buildings).

[nace33]

CDMA signals (Verizon/Sprint) seem to have better coverage and penetration (inside buildings).

Unfortunately for me coverage was never the issue with Verizon. Verizon just lacks options in general. Their phones were crap they cost to much and their plans cost too much. I don't live in an area that ATT covers very well and I still chose them. Granted, ATT has the iPhone.

[tokenuser]

Unfortunately for me coverage was never the issue with Verizon. Verizon just lacks options in general. Their phones were crap they cost to much and their plans cost too much. I don't live in an area that ATT covers very well and I still chose them. Granted, ATT has the iPhone.And yet I can be sitting at an airport, surfing the net either on my blackberry, or via my blackberry tethered to my laptop thanks to Verizon.

Hope the iPhone is working out for you.

[nace33]

And yet I can be sitting at an airport, surfing the net either on my blackberry, or via my blackberry tethered to my laptop thanks to Verizon.

Hope the iPhone is working out for you.

Tokenuser, I am not attacking you, I am saying I didn't have a great experience with Verizon. There is no need for this discussion to lead to petty attacks.

[tokenuser]

Sorry - not a petty attack, just saying that choosing a cellphone is often more than choosing a cool phone. You need to use it to make calls - if you have lousy reception, you have defeated the purpose of having the phone.

[nace33]

Two things.

1. I can't defend the reception issue. I do have lousy reception. Funny thing about the iPhone is that if you put it in the dock you get like 3 or 4 more bars, whether the dock is plugged in or not. Weird.

2. Part of the reason I got the iPhone is that I use the data capabilities of it far more than the phone part. I really communicate with most people through email so the actual calling feature is not a deal breaker. It is definitely a bummer sometimes though.

[KichigaiMentat]

Go look around on the back of your phone for a little pull-open door, and there's your external antenna jack. Go search "home made cell phone external antenna" and you'll have something that might work.