Poor Verizon Reception In House

[olds]

Do I need to buy and extender or should Verizon do something?

 

[ControlD]

Verizon isn't going to do anything. I bought an extender for my house due to poor reception as well. It works fairly well but tends to lose the GPS signal every couple of days which requires a reboot. It also doesn't work perfectly with anything but stock ROMs (if running Android) so keep that in mind.

 

[olds]

Which one did you buy?

 

[ControlD]

This one:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/accessories/samsung-network-extender-scs-2u01/

I bought it for $89 on the Amazon marketplace (used).

 

[bearxor]

That's really a femtocell and not an extender.

If you want an extender, I've used several from Wilson and all have worked extremely well. This antenna in particular has worked extremely well:
http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/store/display/246/46/db-pro-4g-directional

I've been in places where I've gotten almost no service, used one of these, and gotten the signal down to levels never coming up above -80db. And we used it solely for data transfer so it should work great for voice.

It's more expensive than buying a used microcell. But on the plus sides it doesn't require any changes to your plan, doesn't require a gps lock to function and extends all of the major frequencies for AT&T and Verizon. You also don't need to add devices to it, so if someone comes over, they just get better signal.

 

[ControlD]

Just to clarify a little bit. The device I linked to does not require any plan changes and any Verizon device will connect to it automatically (there was no setup required on our phones). The GPS lock is a bit of a pain though and you are limited to six Verizon devices connected at one time. Anybody else that comes over with a different carrier's phone is out of luck.

 

[bearxor]

Just to clarify a little bit. The device I linked to does not require any plan changes and any Verizon device will connect to it automatically (there was no setup required on our phones). The GPS lock is a bit of a pain though and you are limited to six Verizon devices connected at one time. Anybody else that comes over with a different carrier's phone is out of luck.

That is contrary to my experience, but it's been a couple of years since I set up one of those so could have changed.

But I would guess that it was simply already activated on the account of the person you bought it from. Because even the webpage mentions activation a couple of times and managing it from your My Verizon page. Do you have a spot in your VZW account online to go in and specify numbers that take priority to use it?

 

[ControlD]

That is contrary to my experience, but it's been a couple of years since I set up one of those so could have changed.

But I would guess that it was simply already activated on the account of the person you bought it from. Because even the webpage mentions activation a couple of times and managing it from your My Verizon page. Do you have a spot in your VZW account online to go in and specify numbers that take priority to use it?

It was activated when I got it which was actually a problem. I had to wait until Verizon could reach the previous owner to make sure it wasn't stolen and the device could be reset. At that time the device was transferred to my account. I have never added any numbers to the device though. I believe you can restrict the device so only certain numbers can connect, but it seems like the default configuration is wide open. I have had friends come over and they get the extender connected beep when they use their phones.

It seems like Verizon ROMs have extender (what Verizon calls this device) functionality baked in. If I run a ASOP ROM I always show I am roaming when connected to the device. It still works and I don't get any roaming charges, but the phone doesn't recognize the device properly unless I am running a ROM built off of the US base image.

 

[bearxor]

It was activated when I got it which was actually a problem. I had to wait until Verizon could reach the previous owner to make sure it wasn't stolen and the device could be reset. At that time the device was transferred to my account. I have never added any numbers to the device though. I believe you can restrict the device so only certain numbers can connect, but it seems like the default configuration is wide open. I have had friends come over and they get the extender connected beep when they use their phones.

It seems like Verizon ROMs have extender (what Verizon calls this device) functionality baked in. If I run a ASOP ROM I always show I am roaming when connected to the device. It still works and I don't get any roaming charges, but the phone doesn't recognize the device properly unless I am running a ROM built off of the US base image.

Ok, so maybe I should clarify that by "plan changes" I really meant "have to call verizon and get them to activate it on your account". You don't have to make any "changes" really, you can keep your minutes and data options and whatever the same but they still have to go in and touch your account and bless the device. On AT&T, it shows up as a line item on the bill. Zero charge though, of course. I never paid a verizon bill at the company we used them at so I can't speak as to wether or not it shows up on the bill.

But yes, it should be wide open. The devices you specify just take priority over devices that may be attached to it but not in the priority list.

 

[RockinZ28]

That's really a femtocell and not an extender.

If you want an extender, I've used several from Wilson and all have worked extremely well. This antenna in particular has worked extremely well:
http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/store/display/246/46/db-pro-4g-directional

I've been in places where I've gotten almost no service, used one of these, and gotten the signal down to levels never coming up above -80db. And we used it solely for data transfer so it should work great for voice.

It's more expensive than buying a used microcell. But on the plus sides it doesn't require any changes to your plan, doesn't require a gps lock to function and extends all of the major frequencies for AT&T and Verizon. You also don't need to add devices to it, so if someone comes over, they just get better signal.

What were the db levels at first? Had considered getting one of those cheap ebay kits, but believe they said you already need a signal of -70 or -80 or it won't do much.

Right now my signal is -100 to -115 when phone is placed outside...that nets me around 8-12mbps down. Indoors it's unreliable and will drop to 3G, unless I set it in known spots. Guess I need to climb up on the roof, could very well be better up there. Kind of in a little depression on all sides. Can drive 5 minutes north or south and get 50mbps and full bars.

Serves as my home internet. I'd be happy if I could get a reliable 20mbps+. Heck I'd even be happy with 8mbps if I could leave my phone indoors and not plugged into a big ass battery placed in a tupperware container out on my deck .

 

[notposting]

I believe their policies have changed on extenders to make them cheaper (if not free) if they verify poor coverage at your home. Think I saw that on HoFo.

FWIW, I have an extender/femtocell I'm not using anymore. Worked fine for several years but we've moved and it's not really necessary anymore (plus, when Verizon's network goes down hard enough, it is often in the backend switching too so the extender won't help us).

Re: GPS lock -- make sure to run the antenna extension near a window if are having consistent problems with GPS lock. Ours was only a few feet from a window, but I ran the extension so it was always outside the drapes/blinds.

Re: account -- it goes on your account, but no bill otherwise. Doesn't save you any minutes though, either. You can add priority access to it, they get it ahead of others. Range is limited and you have to get *really* close to first initialize it on the extender.

 

[ControlD]

What were the db levels at first? Had considered getting one of those cheap ebay kits, but believe they said you already need a signal of -70 or -80 or it won't do much.

Right now my signal is -100 to -115 when phone is placed outside...that nets me around 8-12mbps down. Indoors it's unreliable and will drop to 3G, unless I set it in known spots. Guess I need to climb up on the roof, could very well be better up there. Kind of in a little depression on all sides. Can drive 5 minutes north or south and get 50mbps and full bars.

Serves as my home internet. I'd be happy if I could get a reliable 20mbps+. Heck I'd even be happy with 8mbps if I could leave my phone indoors and not plugged into a big ass battery placed in a tupperware container out on my deck .

Before you move forward, by this do you mean that your cell connection is your only internet access at home? If that is the case then the Verizon device isn't going to work for you. You need broadband internet for this device to work (it plugs into your router). I may have completely missed how this works, but I believe you are pretty much doing VOIP through your internet connection once the device is connected.

 

[olds]

Just got off the phone with Verizon. They are sending me the Network Extender. It's $249 and they are crediting me $20 a month for 12 months.
End up costing me about $30 with the tax.
Twice the rep said that he'd put the credit on mine and my wife's lines. But I doubt that it's a $40 a month credit. I didn't ask.

 

[bearxor]

What were the db levels at first? Had considered getting one of those cheap ebay kits, but believe they said you already need a signal of -70 or -80 or it won't do much.

Right now my signal is -100 to -115 when phone is placed outside...that nets me around 8-12mbps down. Indoors it's unreliable and will drop to 3G, unless I set it in known spots. Guess I need to climb up on the roof, could very well be better up there. Kind of in a little depression on all sides. Can drive 5 minutes north or south and get 50mbps and full bars.

Serves as my home internet. I'd be happy if I could get a reliable 20mbps+. Heck I'd even be happy with 8mbps if I could leave my phone indoors and not plugged into a big ass battery placed in a tupperware container out on my deck .

I can not speak to the cheap ones. The Wilson ones, like the one I linked, are pricey. It's $550 for the kit I linked.

Some background. I used to be a hardware engineer for a company that makes unatennded devices that sit under a power line to measure power flow. We deployed devices in some remote areas, including areas that did not have Verizon coverage. We would buy this antenna and a booster. The booster would screw directly in to a industrial-class cellular modem/router combo. We would go from no signal to -60db. And I think it didn't go lower because that was the lowest the hardware would measure.

So you'd lose some of the signal by routing it out again through another antenna but as long as you can point the antenna at a VZW tower, you should see a massive increase in signal strength. An omnidirectional antenna might also work for you but won't pick up as mush signal as the directional antenna in the kit I linked.

 

[RockinZ28]

I can not speak to the cheap ones. The Wilson ones, like the one I linked, are pricey. It's $550 for the kit I linked.

Some background. I used to be a hardware engineer for a company that makes unatennded devices that sit under a power line to measure power flow. We deployed devices in some remote areas, including areas that did not have Verizon coverage. We would buy this antenna and a booster. The booster would screw directly in to a industrial-class cellular modem/router combo. We would go from no signal to -60db. And I think it didn't go lower because that was the lowest the hardware would measure.

So you'd lose some of the signal by routing it out again through another antenna but as long as you can point the antenna at a VZW tower, you should see a massive increase in signal strength. An omnidirectional antenna might also work for you but won't pick up as mush signal as the directional antenna in the kit I linked.

Cool, good info. Only about 10% of the cost TWC wants to run lines to my house...

May give it a go once it comes back in stock direct from Amazon.com, easy to return if it doesn't help much. And after Oct 1, need to see how this network optimization aka throttling impacts me.

It does say you have to register this device with your provider? Is that something you did? Really don't want to contact those f'ers if possible.

 

[bearxor]

Cool, good info. Only about 10% of the cost TWC wants to run lines to my house...

May give it a go once it comes back in stock direct from Amazon.com, easy to return if it doesn't help much. And after Oct 1, need to see how this network optimization aka throttling impacts me.

It does say you have to register this device with your provider? Is that something you did? Really don't want to contact those f'ers if possible.

If you want to completely CYA, then yes you should contact them. Just say that you have very poor reception at your location and will be purchasing an extender to retransmit signal inside your own home.

Having said that, a setup like that does not require Verizon's assistance at all. We never contacted them.

However, our case was a little unique. We were grabbing signal and giving it directly to a device. That device was then transmitting back out through the same antenna. There was no chance for another device to be affected by our setup.

In your case, you will be grabbing the signal, then rebroadcasting it over a small area. There is a small chance that you could affect other devices, such as those at your neighbors. But I have the impression from your situation that your neighbors may not be close enough to be a concern (or complain about you to a carrier).

 

[RockinZ28]

If you want to completely CYA, then yes you should contact them. Just say that you have very poor reception at your location and will be purchasing an extender to retransmit signal inside your own home.

Having said that, a setup like that does not require Verizon's assistance at all. We never contacted them.

However, our case was a little unique. We were grabbing signal and giving it directly to a device. That device was then transmitting back out through the same antenna. There was no chance for another device to be affected by our setup.

In your case, you will be grabbing the signal, then rebroadcasting it over a small area. There is a small chance that you could affect other devices, such as those at your neighbors. But I have the impression from your situation that your neighbors may not be close enough to be a concern (or complain about you to a carrier).

Hmm yea I'm not completely out in the boonies. Actually a developing subdivision. Live on a cul de sac, 4 occupied houses + mine. Another under construction next to me. Around 50 ft between houses on the side. Beyond this houses are scarce.

Seems you can just register it online, but I assume they'll send me an email. Still using my former employer's email to get the bill discount.