Best mobile phone for rural reception

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Sancho

119 posts

Master Geek

#112556 12-Dec-2012 15:19

Hey all, we recently moved out to a rural location that is a bit of a blackhole for mobile reception. Very annoying as I work from home and use the cellphone a lot. I was advised to move to Telecom which I did and its marginally better. Just wondering if any phones are better than others in regards to reception?

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#731443 12-Dec-2012 15:23

Where did you move to approx?

If in very low coverage then really it will still be poor no matter what handset you use,

Do you have a ADSL connection?

Behodar

10513 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#731444 12-Dec-2012 15:24

Telecom has a list of devices with above-average reception.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#731446 12-Dec-2012 15:27

If you have ADSL with Vodafone then Sure Signal works great, If you would like one to try let me know

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/services/femtocell/

These units take 0 coverage to full 3G coverage and 3G traffic used does not come off the fixed line data cap

Zeon

3918 posts

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Trusted

#731450 12-Dec-2012 15:32

Head mounted antenna?

Speedtest 2019-10-14

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#731452 12-Dec-2012 15:33

I want one of those!

Sancho

119 posts

Master Geek

#731454 12-Dec-2012 15:35

johnr: If you have ADSL with Vodafone then Sure Signal works great, If you would like one to try let me know

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/services/femtocell/

These units take 0 coverage to full 3G coverage and 3G traffic used does not come off the fixed line data cap

Crap! Just signed up with snap unfortunately...

Sancho

119 posts

Master Geek

#731456 12-Dec-2012 15:35

johnr: Where did you move to approx?

If in very low coverage then really it will still be poor no matter what handset you use,

Do you have a ADSL connection?

We are in Loburn, North canterbury

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johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#731458 12-Dec-2012 15:39

We have some new RBI sites going in around Canterbury very soon let me do some checks

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/about/rural-broadband-initiative/

coffeebaron

6235 posts

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#731461 12-Dec-2012 15:41

I like Nokia's and generally find they are above average for good signal quality.

+1 for sure signal, I have installed a some of these for a few of my customers and they work very well. You do need a Vodafone ADSL connection though.

There are also antenna kits that can be used, but these days with generally no antenna connectors on phones, millage will vary. Of course there are more "active" means of doing this; but stuff up the 3G network and you'll be in trouble, and cost is way higher than a sure signal anyway.

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