Antenna booster for 3G coverage?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Antenna booster for 3G coverage?

peejayw

1841 posts

Uber Geek

#12771 4-Apr-2007 17:43

At home I have marginal 3G coverage, is there a booster one can purchase to amplify the signal and re-broadcast it withing the home?

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

johnr

19282 posts

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Inactive user

#66338 4-Apr-2007 20:17

Has the device got a plug so you can plug in a external antenna

Remember the operator is the manager of the freq so this may not be possible

weatherman

99 posts

Master Geek

#66437 5-Apr-2007 12:15

There's a firm in Nelson (I think) that advertises on our favourite on-line auction. They produce an antenna which you mount up on your roof, with a cable into the house. The termination can either be a plug (if your phone supports this), or a sort of rod or pad, which you place close to the phone. I've not used one of these, so this is NOT a product endorsement. I suggest you look 'em up on the auction (Mobile Phones-Accessories-Antenna Boosters), and get in touch with the firm for more info. Price is indicated as $215.

If you do decide to buy one, could you please post a review of how well or otherwise it works, here on Geekzone? I'm sure there are a lot of geeks who'd be interested in your comments!

Cheers,

George

Jama

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#66438 5-Apr-2007 12:19

www.cellutronics.co.nz and www.pacificaerials.com are two other options. Both based in NZ.

coffeebaron

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#66508 6-Apr-2007 20:45

Check out the hardware from these guys. I've used a bit of their GSM & CDMA stuff. They now have 3G options too.
http://www.powertec.com.au/shop/

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on2it

94 posts

Master Geek

#66725 10-Apr-2007 15:01

You'll find the yagi antennas work well so long as there's some signal in the area and you don't have too long an antenna lead. But 15 times nothing is still nothing if there's no RF around.

The amplifiers sold by powertec are illegal in New Zealand as individuals don't have spectrum rights and they cause problems on the operator's networks e.g. reducing call capacity and or coverage by the amplified signal "swamping" the cellsite when it's close - or something like that. Jama knows the technical reasons. There are nanocells (femtocells) around which create a micro cellsite and could backhaul over DSL but not commercially available in NZ as yet.

pa7485

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#68804 29-Apr-2007 08:18

You do not have to have a yagi to get the gain you require. There are patch antennas that give high gain to the 3G card that can stand on a desk so that they do not require any installation. Have a look at www.panorama-store.com .

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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#68809 29-Apr-2007 10:37

Please take the previous post with a grain of salt, since the poster did not disclose he works or owns the company he mentions and recommends. This is a big no-no in terms of endorsement.

Please remember to disclose your relations to companies or products you recommend.

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Americancars

223 posts

Master Geek

#68852 29-Apr-2007 18:57

weatherman: There's a firm in Nelson (I think) that advertises on our favourite on-line auction. They produce an antenna which you mount up on your roof, with a cable into the house. The termination can either be a plug (if your phone supports this), or a sort of rod or pad, which you place close to the phone. I've not used one of these, so this is NOT a product endorsement. I suggest you look 'em up on the auction (Mobile Phones-Accessories-Antenna Boosters), and get in touch with the firm for more info. Price is indicated as $215.

If you do decide to buy one, could you please post a review of how well or otherwise it works, here on Geekzone? I'm sure there are a lot of geeks who'd be interested in your comments!

Cheers,

George

I didn't even know that these even existed. Wow.

Can't beat the burble of that American V8. Ohh yea!