Signal Boosters

I'm sure you've all heard of those little self-adhesive signal booster that are supposed to boost your phone's reception. They go underneath the battery of your cell phone.

http://www.daydeal.com/Signal_Booster-p-3761.html

But my question to you all is...has anyone actually bought one? Does it really work? Is it worth it? How effective can these little innovations be? Thanks!

If you paid $.50 for it you paid too much

Ha, well thanks...that's what I kinda figured. Anybody else got an opinion??

I know because I am in Cell Phone Sales save your money, is your problem a weak signal?

Yes sir...especially in my house. How does zero bars or maybe one sound when tryin' to make a call? Any ideas that will actually help "boost" my signal? I have a Samsung e335 under T-Mobile

If your phone has a conection for a external antanna you can try that, Cell phones do not do well in houses because of all the metal and wiring in the house, how long have you had the phone, if not long you might be able to return it and try a different model , I have found that Motorola and nokia phones seem to be a little better in the reception area.

Hm...actually my phone has an internal antenna. It's funny that you ask how long I've had my phone cuz I just got it yesterday.

Well, I'm not sure if it's the phone or not, cuz my brother used to have a motorolla and we had the same problem. He either couldn't call people, or they would cut in and out. I think maybe it's just my house.

the name cell phones had in the begining was "Mobil phone, not being scartastic but they were really not made for the home they were for the outside, you might want to ask your carrier or the store where you got the phone what phone in your area does better, it also is determained by the distance from the tower, you might have better luck standing by a window that faces the direction that your nearest tower is. sorry i know it can be frustrating

Well, thanks for the info anyway. I'll try my best...

I'll survive.

Those 'signal boost' stickers are so useless that they are often given away as a freebee now when you buy something else for your phone.

hahaha, yeah, i heard they were garbage too

Actually, they tend to detune the phones internal antenna and can sometimes damage the finals in the phone. It is best to either hook an external antenna to the phone or use what you have.

What do you mean "Hook up an external antenna"? Most phones cannot have this done (With out MAJOR "Surgery" to the phone). Don't give out advice that can potentially damage a phone

Most phones have a rubber grommet on the back, near the antenna usually. You pull the grommet out and there's a jack you can plug into (kind of looks like the end of an RCA cable). You get an adapter that goes in there, then you can get an external antenna.

However, there is a better way to go. It's called a wireless amplifier, and this is how it works:



An external antenna outside the building, goes to an A/C powered amplifier, then to an internal antenna, and wirelessly to your phone. While rather expensive (some $299 USD), a VERY good solution

As _Abom_ described the jack on the back of most phones is for en external antenna hookup. Robb4248, I would not give out advice that I did not know about. By trade I am an RF engineer that happens to work for an antenna company that makes external cellular antennas for the Marine market to add in increasing cellular coverage on the water.