• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

recommend me a network extender / booster

jasondhsd

Member
Apr 28, 2010
88
3
While I've never dropped a call and I alway have 3G I always have either zero or one bar of signal showing. And my battery hits yellow midday with fairly light usage. Compared to my old house about 2 miles away (just moved last week) I would have full bars and my batter would last 16hrs before hitting yellow. So I think I need a network booster. First, do they actually work? Second, if so what is a good recommendation. Third, do they boost boost data evdo signal too or just voice? Thanks
 
I always liked the idea of a network extender but Verizon's gotta be nuts to be selling them for $250. They benefit from these installations as much as their users who invest in them. The spec's on the network extender says that they'll support 3 simultaneous calls and that any VZW customer within range can access them based on an optional access list (which will only prioritize access).

Oh well... I'm getting -81 dbm at my house. It's not what I'd describe as optimal but it could be much worse.
 
Upvote 0
Well 1x boost isn't good, I need data too and if its only boosting 1x then the phone is still gonna be using all its might to get a 3g signal and my battery will still be poor. I went and ordered one of theses that boosts data and voice Cell Phone Antennas and Cell Phone Boosters at Wilson Electronics

I'll post back when I get it and use it for a few days.

Congrats!

I'm hoping you checked to make sure that the network extender you purchased is compatible with your specific area:

Verizon Wireless Repeater Amplifier Frequency Information

The SignalBoost DT is an EXPENSIVE network extender. It looks like 3gstore sells it for better than $300. I hope it works out for you...
 
Upvote 0
Well 1x boost isn't good, I need data too and if its only boosting 1x then the phone is still gonna be using all its might to get a 3g signal and my battery will still be poor. I went and ordered one of theses that boosts data and voice Cell Phone Antennas and Cell Phone Boosters at Wilson Electronics

I'll post back when I get it and use it for a few days.

Please let me know how this does i've been looking at these myself and was thinking about the one that does 20000 sf.
 
Upvote 0
Dual-band device works with 800/1900 MHz frequencies from all major carriers--AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, Alltel, Cricket, and more (not compatible with Nextel)

Amazon.com: zBoost YX-510 Cell Phone Signal Booster Dual Band unit for Home or Office: Cell Phones & Service

419w2Aabi2L._SS500_.jpg
 
Upvote 0
Where can you get the info in your phone on how strong your signal is? I consistantly have 4 or 5 bars showing, but I would still like to know just how strong exactly that is.

Menu, Settings, About, Status. Look at the Signal Strength in -dBms. The larger the number the stronger the signal. So -76 dBm is better than -86 dBm. Additionally, the dBm scale is logarithmic not linear, so a difference of 10 dBm is 10x stronger or weaker. A difference of 3 dBm is roughly double/half.

You can also use an app like Mobile Signal Widget to see realtime signal strength on your homescreen.
 
Upvote 0
any body thats bought the wilson device going to give any feed back ?

I've used a Wilson repeater setup before, admittedly many many years ago, but think about it. You need a somewhat decent signal outside your house to begin with. Then you need to capture that weak signal (if it was strong, you wouldn't need it in the first place, right?), then the system passes that amplified signal to your device through an antenna that you place somewhere inside. Then the signal from your device is amplified and transmitted to the distant cell tower. Setting these repeater systems up is a little tricky. You need to somewhat isolate the outside antenna and the inside antenna from each other, or the system won't work very well.


IMO, the network extenders are much better because it is working over a broadband internet connection for a clean/reliable signal. With a network extender like the one Verizon sells, you can have essentially zero cell signal, and the NE will give you a strong, clean signal in your home/appartment. It's like you are moving the cell tower inside your home. As for data, use wifi on the same broadband connection your NE is setup on.
 
Upvote 0
I've used a Wilson repeater setup before, admittedly many many years ago, but think about it. You need a somewhat decent signal outside your house to begin with. Then you need to capture that weak signal (if it was strong, you wouldn't need it in the first place, right?), then the system passes that amplified signal to your device through an antenna that you place somewhere inside. Then the signal from your device is amplified and transmitted to the distant cell tower. Setting these repeater systems up is a little tricky. You need to somewhat isolate the outside antenna and the inside antenna from each other, or the system won't work very well.


IMO, the network extenders are much better because it is working over a broadband internet connection for a clean/reliable signal. With a network extender like the one Verizon sells, you can have essentially zero cell signal, and the NE will give you a strong, clean signal in your home/appartment. It's like you are moving the cell tower inside your home. As for data, use wifi on the same broadband connection your NE is setup on.
I can get full 3 g signal outside my house in spots but not inside. Im in the rural spot and can't get high speed I have to run sat internet so the Verizon thing wont work.
 
Upvote 0
call vzw, ask for a supervisor, complain about your home coverage...'i'd love to cancel my landline'...

they gave me a samsung extender for free. works great, for voice. 1x signal only...no 3g data via extender. but i have wifi, so that doesn't concern me.
Did the same thing here and got it for free. Seems Verizon only used one color of red if their coverage tickled the area where you live. After checking out all the towers in our area they reported back that all was good on their end but I was in a poor coverage to no coverage area (same red on the map as DC or San Antonio) and they sent me an extender for free.

Just be nice to whichever idiot you get on the phone and have the balls to ask for their supervisor so you can move up the chain until you get what you need.

After getting the extender my battery will last over a day just sitting around. Used to eat up a battery in half a day without it.
 
Upvote 0
Just buy the Verizon one. Why bother with anything else? It's only $99 after rebate. It uses your internet connection.

Did the same thing here and got it for free. Seems Verizon only used one color of red if their coverage tickled the area where you live. After checking out all the towers in our area they reported back that all was good on their end but I was in a poor coverage to no coverage area (same red on the map as DC or San Antonio) and they sent me an extender for free.

Just be nice to whichever idiot you get on the phone and have the balls to ask for their supervisor so you can move up the chain until you get what you need.

After getting the extender my battery will last over a day just sitting around. Used to eat up a battery in half a day without it.
some people dont have the high speed internet to be able to use it or they would .
 
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones