Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty Kohler
Frank,
Can you explain what a phone booster is, where you can get one and do they come with different capacities?
Does it work well for you?
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Marty, I'm happy to oblige. Cell phone boosters are made to provide enhanced voice and data reception in remote areas that have a weak signal due to distance from cell towers or physical obstructions. I bought a Wilson Electronics unit some years ago and more recently got a Fusion2Go made by SureCall. They’re available on Amazon etc. It’s made for vehicles and with a plug in power supply, but I also use it at the hunting cabin up in the mountains where unfortunately the cabin is in a small valley and the signal without the booster will switch between “No Service” and at most 1 bar of 1X, not enough for connection. I’ve adapted the
outside antenna (magnetic base, made for a vehicle roof) with an extension lead-in wire and I’ll put it on a bracket just above the roof line, and also use an AC power supply. Signal is increased is to 3 bars 3G and occasional LTE and I can send or receive voice or text any time day or night. Booster setup is moved to the vehicle while hunting out there, it's fairly remote, where it's on standby if needed for an injury or such. I occasionally use it on my side by side ATV while at Hidden Hollow where I get a similar boost. I told Steve Barnett about the booster while there and he bought one too although his is newer and made by another manufacturer. I’ve also used the SureCall at Deep River and can make or receive calls while in the vehicle anywhere on the grounds. Readers should note that the cell phone must be within a foot or so of the
inside antenna which is on a cable attached to the booster. I generally will place my phone against it in the console cup holder on my truck and use the cell phone in the speaker mode. Alternately you can hand hold the cell against the inside antenna and use it that way for private calls.
Different capabilities? The more recently made boosters are regulated for 1 watt max output whereas earlier ones made < 2014 were 2-3 watts and the cell phone could be farther away from the indoor antenna. My Fusion is 1 watt.
frank