Any way to boost cell reception?

[KDOG]

I am in the process of trying out different cell providers in my area because where I live gets poor reception. (Bridgeton, South New Jersey). So far, Cingular/ATT is the absolute WORST. I have a Tracfone that is kinda "meh" on reception, and I'm taking advantage of the 30 day tryout that Verizon is offering. I picked up their sleek Samsung flip phone with the screen on front/camera, everything, etc, SCH-u540 V-Cast music phone. Its kinda "meh" on the reception as well. I get 25-50% reception (1-2 out of 4 bars). Argh, I really like the phone but I need as good reception as I can get. The only thing I have left to try in my area is the Sprint/Nextel/Boost network and T-mobile.

Are there any tips/tricks I can do to improve reception on this phone? Do any of those aftermarket signal booster things actually work? Thanks for any help you can give!

 

[intogamer]

Nokias have good receptions...

 

[nweaver]

don't worry about the bars, worry about how many calls you drop.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: KDOG
I am in the process of trying out different cell providers in my area because where I live gets poor reception. (Bridgeton, South New Jersey). So far, Cingular/ATT is the absolute WORST. I have a Tracfone that is kinda "meh" on reception, and I'm taking advantage of the 30 day tryout that Verizon is offering. I picked up their sleek Samsung flip phone with the screen on front/camera, everything, etc, SCH-u540 V-Cast music phone. Its kinda "meh" on the reception as well. I get 25-50% reception (1-2 out of 4 bars). Argh, I really like the phone but I need as good reception as I can get. The only thing I have left to try in my area is the Sprint/Nextel/Boost network and T-mobile.

Are there any tips/tricks I can do to improve reception on this phone? Do any of those aftermarket signal booster things actually work? Thanks for any help you can give!

if you mean those sticker things that go on behind the battery - stay far away from them

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: nweaver
don't worry about the bars, worry about how many calls you drop.

Bingo. Verizon phones always get "a full signal" (all bars) at my house, but frequently drop calls. Cingular/AT&T phones always have a signal, rarely show all of the bars, but never, ever, drop calls.

 

[SoulAssassin]

that area sucks for cell phone reception...get out of the sticks.

 

[Aluvus]

Change provider
Change phone
Move

Those are your best options.

The stick-on "boosters" are useless crap. The beefier devices have a better shot at doing something, but I haven't seen any reviews that really take a close look.

 

[KDOG]

Originally posted by: Aluvus
Change provider
Change phone
Move

Those are your best options.

The stick-on "boosters" are useless crap. The beefier devices have a better shot at doing something, but I haven't seen any reviews that really take a close look.

That think looks like it would do it, but ouch 259 - 359bucks....

I may just have to try a new phone/provider

 

[KDOG]

BTT

 

[dug777]

The only thing that really works is a proper car kit

My Nokia (CDMA) has an antenna you can put up, it helps me not drop calls when i'm on the absolute edge of usable signal out country, but that's it.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Interesting. I have Verizon, and even like 10 feet underground, I still have 75% signal. I've never gotten a dropped call either

 

[QurazyQuisp]

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/a...e.aspx?categorycode=40

If you go with one of those phones, you can get t-mobiles @home routers, which allow you to make calls from wifi while at home, then once you get out of range of your wifi, you switch to the cell service.

Samsung has a device that makes a cell signal from an internet connection. T-Mobile is rumored to be the company that'll get it, although it's nost supposed to be out for a few months. (This means any tmobile phone will work if you have the device plugged into the internet.)

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: tenshodo13
Interesting. I have Verizon, and even like 10 feet underground, I still have 75% signal. I've never gotten a dropped call either

i'm lucky to get 1 bar even outside my house on verizon.

 

[FoBoT]

get closer to the tower
get the tower closer to you

http://forums.anandtech.com/ca...tid=66&flcache=3707405

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Aluvus
Change provider
Change phone
Move

Those are your best options.

The stick-on "boosters" are useless crap. The beefier devices have a better shot at doing something, but I haven't seen any reviews that really take a close look.

I actually saw that the other day and did some googling to find a review on it. CNET has one and says it's pretty good, it's just wicked expensive for what it does. They give it an 8.6 out of 10, which means "pretty dang good" from CNET (even the iPhone only got an 8.0!):

http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-p...-32156398.html?tag=txt

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: KDOG
I am in the process of trying out different cell providers in my area because where I live gets poor reception. (Bridgeton, South New Jersey). So far, Cingular/ATT is the absolute WORST. I have a Tracfone that is kinda "meh" on reception, and I'm taking advantage of the 30 day tryout that Verizon is offering. I picked up their sleek Samsung flip phone with the screen on front/camera, everything, etc, SCH-u540 V-Cast music phone. Its kinda "meh" on the reception as well. I get 25-50% reception (1-2 out of 4 bars). Argh, I really like the phone but I need as good reception as I can get. The only thing I have left to try in my area is the Sprint/Nextel/Boost network and T-mobile.

Are there any tips/tricks I can do to improve reception on this phone? Do any of those aftermarket signal booster things actually work? Thanks for any help you can give!

Sprint uses the same towers as Verizon, so if it doesn't work with Verizon then chances are it will not be any better with Sprint, unless the phone you get from Sprint gets better reception.

If you're in a house and want better reception, then you can always get an external antenna but then you're tethered to an external antenna every time you want to talk.

I'd suggest just trying every provider out there to see what works best.

When I moved to where I am now from another state, I tried Cingular (now AT&T) Tmobile, and Verizon. Out of the 3 of them Verizon worked the best for me and my location, but of course YMMV.

 

[ForumMaster]

there are external anntenas that you can connect to some phones that can improve reception. but then you lose the portability of your cellphone and that sucks.

 

[User1001]

This company makes some products that could help. http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/

 

[middlehead]

Originally posted by: User1001
This company makes some products that could help. http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/

My office has a Wilson booster installed, it's nice. I can stand outside and get 2-bars with degraded sound (no drops, but it sounds bad), step inside the building and it jumps to 5 bars. This is a 6-story building that takes up most of a city block.

 

[Safeway]

Stand on a hill. 42

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: nweaver
don't worry about the bars, worry about how many calls you drop.

Bingo. Verizon phones always get "a full signal" (all bars) at my house, but frequently drop calls. Cingular/AT&T phones always have a signal, rarely show all of the bars, but never, ever, drop calls.

Just the opposite here. Cingular sucks in my area, but I can make calls on Verizon on the 3rd level of my office building's basement.

 

[KDOG]

Thanks guys, I'm going to go back to the Verizon store today to either return it, or try another phone, I'll also ask them about external antennas'.