Cell phone boosters

[CorvallisBMW]

Does anyone know much about active, powered cell phone signal boosters? I've been considering getting one for my office but I don't know if it's worth dropping $150-$250 on one. Do they really work? I get maybe 1 bar of 'edge' or whatever the non-data roaming thing is on Sprint. I never get 2 bars, or any 3G. No data whatsoever :(

something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Exten...3667248&sr=8-1

Has anyone ever used on or had much success with them?

[e34john]

call sprint to complain, I've heard of people doing that and sprint will look up the reception in your home or office and give you the signal booster they usually sell.

[TwoJ's]

Hmm, I might have to give them a call too. I very rarely get any service in my office at all. Every once in a while I will randomly get a call or a text will make it to me while I'm in the building. But for the most part I get absolutely no service until I leave... and even then, it takes 10-15 minutes before I get texts that were sent during the time I was without service. I'm on Sprint too.

[CrusherCurtis]

I need to try this with T-mobile. My phone doesn't even ring in my house, goes straight to vm. I have to go outside to make phone calls. I called T-mobile and they said its not in the contract to have signal in my home. Talk about angry.

[brutus87]

Its called an airave.

[blunttech]

Same thing here. The Freedom Bunker doesnt allow any signals in or out. I have verizon and it just sits there and searches for a signal all day

[nomansland92]

I usually have to drive up my road like 2 miles to get reliable service, anywhere the house its lucky to last a minute if it even rings. I got Verizon here

[priapism]

On Verizon they sell their own microcell which works great, I have one. AT&T has one too that a friend uses. Sometimes if you bitch enough they send you one for free. T-Mobile has wi-fi calling which uses any open wi-fi network and works great, I use it. Sprint, no clue.

The problem with signal boosters is they need a signal to work, right? Microcells use the interwebs and make their own signal, so they work better.

[scabzzzz]

Yes, they work. And yes, Sprint gives them out. Never heard of Verizon or anyone else doing it though.

[Ryan Stewart]

Def check the airwave things. Its basically your own little cellular tower you can run over your network. The only thing that is kind of unknown to me (only used them commercially) is if you could control what devices could connect to it to keep people from using your cellular "tower" and eating up bandwidth on your wired broadband.

[CorvallisBMW]

OK, I'll give Sprint a call this week and see what they can do.

WTF is an Airwave? The only thing that comes up on Google is a bunch of shitty albums and wireless mic system

[pureaudio]

I have the Verizon one and it works perfect. I have a full 5 bars in and surrounding my house.

[e34john]

OK, I'll give Sprint a call this week and see what they can do.

WTF is an Airwave? The only thing that comes up on Google is a bunch of shitty albums and wireless mic system

The Airwave is what you want. Complain to Sprint, don't pay for the device or its monthly charges, you are already paying them for service, it should work without the need for additional devices that they make you pay for.

http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phone-and-smart/sprint-airave/4505-6448_7-33226984.html

[MR 325]

I've got shitty home service with Verizon. Going to check in to this Microcell thing.