Wilson cell phone booster not working with Samsung Galaxy S6

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xormin

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#194892 29-Mar-2016 08:06

About three years ago we purchased a "Wilson Electronics DB Pro Indoor Cellular Signal Booster Kit" to enable us to use our cell phones at our house with the Telecom network. This has worked flawlessly with multiple cell phones over the past couple of years with no issues. A few weeks ago I broke my old phone and ended up getting a Samsung Galaxy S6 to replace it. For reasons I don't understand this handset will not work with my cell phone booster. My wifes S4 still works fine, as does a Note 3, a S3, and a few cheaper android phones. They all get full bars in our lounge, whereas my S6 gets nothing. I tried turning off all other phones but it makes no difference. The cell phone tower transmits on 870.015000 - 885.000000 MHz which seems to be what the S6 should work on.

Any suggestions?

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#1521992 29-Mar-2016 08:17

I don't have a reason why it's not working but do want to point out that the device you're using is potentially illegal and you will be breaking the law by using it in NZ unless it's ben approved by Spark and RSM. If you've simply imported this device and it's not legal I'd be very careful as you're liable for a fine of up to $30,000 for using illegal radio equipment if Spark or RSM track you down.

lxsw20

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#1521993 29-Mar-2016 08:22

But they won't, they will just tell you to stop using it.

johnr

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#1521994 29-Mar-2016 08:25

lxsw20:
But they won't, they will just tell you to stop using it.

Not correct people have been fined they can also increase interference levels on sites

@xormin I suggest you think about turning the unit off and throwing it away

sbiddle

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#1521996 29-Mar-2016 08:27

lxsw20:

But they won't, they will just tell you to stop using it.

RSM convict plenty of people every year for breaking the rules. They even have a page on the RSM site somewhere that lists all prosecutions.

Yes they might just warn you, but a fine is a very real risk if you're using illegal radio equipment.

xormin

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#1522000 29-Mar-2016 08:32

It may or may not be allowed to be used in NZ, I don't know. For the sake of this augment lets say that it is. If you are really worried about it lets say I am using it on my boat to get cell phone reception outside the 12 mile limit (which I could quite legally do). What I am really after is a technical answer to the question.

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#1522004 29-Mar-2016 08:34

Coverage sites for marine go over 100km

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xormin

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#1522006 29-Mar-2016 08:38

johnr: Coverage sites for marine go over 100km

Still not answering my question!

andrew027

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#1522010 29-Mar-2016 08:41

You should be able to tell if it's allowed to be used in New Zealand or not - Chorus (or is it MBIE now?) operates the "permit to connect" approval system and if a device is approved it will have a "green tick" Telepermit sticker. If it's not approved you could be in breach of the Telecommunications Act 2001 (s106).

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#1522011 29-Mar-2016 08:43

xormin: It may or may not be allowed to be used in NZ, I don't know. For the sake of this augment lets say that it is. If you are really worried about it lets say I am using it on my boat to get cell phone reception outside the 12 mile limit (which I could quite legally do). What I am really after is a technical answer to the question.

If you are relying on cellphone communication at sea and at a range of 12 miles or 1 mile you have far greater problems.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

lxsw20

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#1522013 29-Mar-2016 08:48

johnr:
lxsw20:

But they won't, they will just tell you to stop using it.

Not correct people have been fined they can also increase interference levels on sites

@xormin I suggest you think about turning the unit off and throwing it away

If you keep doing it after they tell you not to, then yes I'm sure they will come down hard on you.

I've personally been in a situation where I've had a visit from RSM at work because we had imported a DECT headset that was transmitting on 900MHz.

He didn't even want to take the headset away, which I offered him. He just took some photos and said, don't use it again.

sbiddle

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#1522014 29-Mar-2016 08:48

xormin:
johnr: Coverage sites for marine go over 100km
Still not answering my question!

I'm not sure if anybody can. Without knowing *exaxctly* how this device works it's not possible to really know how it is actually working and how it integrates with the mobile network.

Since the device is likely illegal I wouldn't want to be involved in any way with assisting with it's use as that raises a lot of issues as well. That may sound like a bad answer but there are people from RSM and Spark on here that I know that certainly wouldn't be happy if I did.

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coffeebaron

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#1522015 29-Mar-2016 08:49

Maybe phone is picking up 2100 signal, or 4G signal, so not camping on to the stronger 850. Or maybe there is too much noise being generated.

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tripp

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#1522019 29-Mar-2016 08:57

xormin: It may or may not be allowed to be used in NZ, I don't know. For the sake of this augment lets say that it is. If you are really worried about it lets say I am using it on my boat to get cell phone reception outside the 12 mile limit (which I could quite legally do). What I am really after is a technical answer to the question.

No, for the sake of augment lets say it's illegal and you are asking others to help you break the law now that you know your equipment may not meet NZ law.

It's like saying money is legal help me rob a bank.

Now vodafone has a system that could work for you but I don't think spark has the same so if you don't like the reception from spark it might pay to shop around.

xormin

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#1522023 29-Mar-2016 09:01

coffeebaron:
Maybe phone is picking up 2100 signal, or 4G signal, so not camping on to the stronger 850. Or maybe there is too much noise being generated.

Good point I will have to look in to that. The specs for the booster are

Frequency: 824-894 MHz / 1850-1990 MHz

Gain: 62dB / 62dB

Max Output Power: 2.5 watts

Max RF (downlink): +15.7dBm

Noise Figure: 3.5dB nominal

Flatness: +/-5dB

Isolation: > 90dB

johnr

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#1522025 29-Mar-2016 09:06

I can tell you now the OP is breaking the law and the @RSM should follow up on this

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