I’m in an area where cell coverage is weak at best. Any such thing as an antenna I could mount at the jobsite that would pull in better signal? What about something for my truck?
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Check out this site.
Especially the Wilson Trucker's Antenna.
http://3gstore.com/index.php?main_page=site_map
You'll need to get an adapter for your phone as well. That is also available on the site.
Meeeee toooo.
No. They are all gimmicks.
How far is the tower Vs how much you can handle no service.
And I have that from the horses mouth, so to speak.
My supplier tells me that I canget an antennae toy addon of some sort that 'might' modestly improve my reception, but that is reception only. My own broadcasting is limited by the fed FCC rulkes for how powerful the cell phone can be, so it is basicly a waste of time to improve what I canrecieve when the folks on the other end still can't hear me now
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
On my last phone I had an extension antenna with a magnetic base. If I stuck it on the roof of my car it helped somewhat.
A. None, let the old girl cook in the dark.
Most phones have a teeny-tiny plug you can pull out to plug in an antenna. However, I have my doubts as to whether many phones then have enough power to drive an external antenna very effectively.
(Oh, and don't waste money on those things you paste into the battery compartment.)
Buy a bigger phone. The larger units have enough battery capacity that the power management can allow more power to/from the antenna.
I loved my "brick"... 'til it got laundered.
Troy Sprout
"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should also have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
-- George Washington
I doubt that. Every time I trade phones, it gets smaller and the reception gets better.And the FCC limits the amt of power the cell phone can put out. You gotta go to a bag phone for the next step up ion power.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
The FCC puts a cap on power, but the phones adjust their power levels based on how much they think they need, how much battery power they have, etc.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
I have successfully used a magnetic mount on top of the car with the wire going to the back of the phone. This has provided good performance. Who ever is trying to state that an external antenna doesn't help transmit is misinformed. If the external antenna is properly tuned to the band that is being used, and the lead wire is kept short, the transmission improvement should be noticeable. Not to get too technical but the car top antennas work by focusing the transmitting energy closer to the horizon rather than transmit in all directions (as the cell phone does). This is what provides the improvement. A good store will provide the ratings of antennas in db and you can compare performance in that manner.
Just as a caution - I found that whatever I did in a house that I was building cellphone operation was not possible. After some testing - I realized that the lack of signal was due to the metal roof!
"Who ever is trying to state that an external antenna doesn't help transmit is misinformed. "That would be me, and the info comes from the main tech guy for this area, which because of topography is famous for bad cell spots, so maybe the translation is that for where I live, the improvement would be so negligable as to be un-noticeable.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
It is true that if you don't have reception - then an external antenna won't help. But a good external antenna should provide about "1 bar more or receive and transmit" (the cell phone usually shows the reception with up to 5 bars. The area that I am working in NH is near Mt. Sunapee and quite hilly but the external antenna helps significantly.
Most of the time my problem with the bare phone is transmit side as the individual on the other end says that I am breaking up. When I plug in the external antenna, then the signal becomes clear. The bottom line from my experience is that if there is NO cellphone reception in an area, then an external antenna will probably not help. If the coverage is spotty, then an external antenna should help. Sometimes it depends on the carrier. I have Verizon and others on Sprint in my area have had problems. Just my experience.
Topography is often the reason that external antennas make sense.That is if you can get high enough.I live on a lake with the road being the highest point and downhill from there.I have 2-3 bars in the driveway. but on the lowest level only 1. And sometimes, but rarely loose connections. If I had an antenna on the peak of the roof I would get 3-4 all the time.Last week worked on another house of similar layout at a different lake. very strong in the dryway, but in the lower level (only one flight down whereas mine is 1.5 flights) I would regulary loose service.but if you are being blocked by a big hill at the highest point then the antenna won't help much..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I'll toss out one other thing.
Call your provider, or look online to see if they have update codes. It's normally something like *1234 (numbers made up), something you dial that connects you with your providers network.
Periodically, providers update their network of cellphone towers, or add user agreements with other companies networks to carry your call.
By dialing the *1234 you'll update the network on your phone, hopefully resulting in better coverage in your area.
Mongo
Digital Antenna and Shakespeare both make repeaters/amps for better cell phone coverage. I use the DA daily in my house. Takes the near useless signal and puts 4 bars on my display.
Like some others said there are some good quality antennas out there, Digital Antenna appears to be one. There are also some repeaters that will really do a good job if you want to spend around $300. They are bi-directional and will accomodate multiple phones at the same time.
I did try one of the Radio Shack external antennas and it did not do enough to merit the hassle.
Now repeaters ARE a good option given a specific area, but they are a whole different story from simple antennas!
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I still believe a good quality antenna will help most situations. Just not having the car/truck mask the signal is part of it. Part of the"good quality" description is matched or tuned to the proper frequency for your phone.
Agree that you have very low signal power out but with properly matched ant and quality minimal length cable it should probably double signal out. May end up with less battery time but I would be using the charger in that situation anyway.
Not an engineer but had quite a few years in the Army Signal Corps and taught a lot of radio stuff. Worked with the development of GPS and many satellite radio systems.
Bob
In a previous life I worked at a company that makes antennas. There are a couple of items that should be addressed here.
So, go ahead and buy an external antenna rated for cell phone use. A little magnetic one will be fine; all the antenna really consists of is a small matching circuit. Don't spend a lot of money, as all you are buying is glitz.
Good post.Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
hold a graphite fishing pole section up against it as you use it...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I could possibly just drill a hole in my head and wear the graphite rod that way. Another hole in the roof of the truck for when I'm driving, just be careful getting in and out.
that will work...
but why are ya driving and on the phone at the same time...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!