Cell phone booster?

[Lynnie]

Anyone have one/use one?

DH and I both have cell phones, and we moved here last year and never got a landline. Problem is, reception is spotty in the house. We live near an airport, and it seems the whole block has this problem... I believe there's a lack of towers b/c of the airport.

Anyway, with a baby on the way, I don't think spotty reception is gonna cut it anymore (plus, it reeeealy irks me when I can't get a hold of DH! haha). So I've been looking online, and there's devices that you can add to your cell to boost your reception. They range anywhere from $20 to $200... from little things you actually stick in your phone, to devices that look like a wireless router.
I was wondering if any of you have one, and if they actually work? If they do, I would seriously consider getting one, and just forget the landline for now...

TIA!

 

[kelpie]

I have one, it was like $300 and the reception boost is limited to one room because of the thick plaster walls. However our coverage was pretty much limited to one bar or no bars before so we just go to that room to make a call. It's worth it for us because we don't have a landline so really wouldn't be able to use our phones otherwise.

 

[Hera]

I have one and it was $100 from Sprint (I got the $5/a month waived also). I love it!!!!!!!! My reception used to be terrible and someone told me they thought I was on a landline the other day. As a bonus, in January, this cell booster will be able to be used for VOIP services so if I want a landline-type number, it will just be an additional $10 fee. I know other internet type phones (Verizon, I think) can be around $40 a month.

 

[Steel]

I didn't know there was a booster. I must look into that.

Lynnie we have the same problem here except we did get a landline but the company took it out because they couldn't guarantee service; the line was so old and crappy. Everytime the wind blew the line crackled and then it came down in storms. So we only have mobiles and the reception there is poor too - we have block internal walls plastered and foil backed plasterboard in the ceilings so we have to make calls near windows or doors. It is very annoying to be expecting a call and have it not ring but go staight to voicemail.

great news!

 

[Lynnie]

Thanks for the replies!

Hmm.. we have plaster walls, too. Now that I think about it, one of the best places in the house for reception is the basement, with its cinderblock walls (NOT plaster!). I didn't even realize that would have something to do with poor reception! There are certain areas of the house that get reception okay, but there are definitely dead spots/rooms. Dropped calls are plentiful . It slightly annoyed me before when I couldn't get a hold of DH (we work opposite shifts), but now my crazy preggo brain thinks 'what if I go into early labor, and can't get in touch with him??'. Drives me nuts!
I'm so glad to see that boosters actually work! I can't see paying another 30/month for a landline, esp if a booster will pay for itself in less than a year.

 

[Steel]

Thanks for the replies!

Hmm.. we have plaster walls, too. Now that I think about it, one of the best places in the house for reception is the basement, with its cinderblock walls (NOT plaster!). I didn't even realize that would have something to do with poor reception! There are certain areas of the house that get reception okay, but there are definitely dead spots/rooms. Dropped calls are plentiful . It slightly annoyed me before when I couldn't get a hold of DH (we work opposite shifts), but now my crazy preggo brain thinks 'what if I go into early labor, and can't get in touch with him??'. Drives me nuts!I'm so glad to see that boosters actually work! I can't see paying another 30/month for a landline, esp if a booster will pay for itself in less than a year.

This is completely rational. I have said the same thing to DH especially as our current bedroom and eventual master bedroom are both in blackspots. If you remember, please post an update when you get it - I would love to hear how you get on.

 

[IdLikeToBuyAVal]

We have AT&T and just got the micro-cell (I think that's what it's called, my non-techy self fails to remember the proper name). It has solved our dead zone issue we had downstairs. Our coverage is also better upstairs (the cell is in the living room where we had the worst reception). We had called customer service and complained a couple of times and asked if we could get a discount on the thing and didn't get any help. We called our local store (where we've bought three phones in the past 6 weeks) and they checked out our account, saw the notes for poor service and gave us a discount. Its pretty small (looks a little like a Wii) and we tucked it under one of the end tables in the living room. Works great!

 

[Siamese Kitty]

Plaster walls and near an airport here! We have a booster from Sprint. I definitely think it has improved our service, but the problem is not 100% better. It's tolerable, though. Before renewing our Sprint contracts, we called to discusss the service issue and see what they could do. They suggested this, and since service was so bad in our area (lack of towers or something in addition to the other factors), I believe they are not charging us for the booster. HTH and good luck!

 

[zoebartlett]

I've never heard of cell phone boosters. I'm sure my husband would love one though since our reception (through Verizon) isn't the greatest in my neighborhood. I'll have to look into it. It sounds like it would be really helpful!