FAQ: How can I get better cell service inside?

<http://www.antennas.com/products.php?id=116>

A friend has been complaining of almost no cell service in her house -- she
had to go outside to make and receive calls on her Motorola V551 -- so I
recommended she try the ARC Freedom external antenna. She did (purchased from
DiscountCell.com), and she's been thrilled -- reception inside her house is
now clear and solid -- the improvement is about 2 bars of signal on her phone.
Highly recommended.

Note: I have no connection to these companies or this product -- this is
public service info, not spam.

--
Best regards, FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

---

› See More: FAQ: How can I get better cell service inside?

"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> <http://www.antennas.com/products.php?id=116>
>
> A friend has been complaining of almost no cell service in her house --
> she
> had to go outside to make and receive calls on her Motorola V551 -- so I
> recommended she try the ARC Freedom external antenna. She did (purchased
> from
> DiscountCell.com), and she's been thrilled -- reception inside her house
> is
> now clear and solid -- the improvement is about 2 bars of signal on her
> phone.
> Highly recommended.
>
> Note: I have no connection to these companies or this product -- this is
> public service info, not spam.
>
> --

So- a 'friend' who probably does NOT read this group has a question and it
has now become an FAQ that points to a specific product? I googled the
group- this falls somewhere below the top 200 in frequency of posting-
hardly a frequently asked question.

Hmmmmmm- interesting. Navas is now nothing more than a cheap salesperson.
It seems to fit better than his former role as uneducated 'expert'.

Scott wrote:
> "John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>><http://www.antennas.com/products.php?id=116>
>>
>>A friend has been complaining of almost no cell service in her house --
>>she
>>had to go outside to make and receive calls on her Motorola V551 -- so I
>>recommended she try the ARC Freedom external antenna. She did (purchased
>>from
>>DiscountCell.com), and she's been thrilled -- reception inside her house
>>is
>>now clear and solid -- the improvement is about 2 bars of signal on her
>>phone.
>>Highly recommended.
>>
>>Note: I have no connection to these companies or this product -- this is
>>public service info, not spam.
>>
>>--
>
>
> So- a 'friend' who probably does NOT read this group has a question and it
> has now become an FAQ that points to a specific product? I googled the
> group- this falls somewhere below the top 200 in frequency of posting-
> hardly a frequently asked question.
>
> Hmmmmmm- interesting. Navas is now nothing more than a cheap salesperson.
> It seems to fit better than his former role as uneducated 'expert'.
>
>
Scott you really need to get a life.

"Billy Greer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>>
>>
> Scott you really need to get a life.

Got one, thanks- actually a very good one.

Don't try to associate play time with real life- its not the same thing.

In alt.cellular.cingular John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:

> A friend has been complaining of almost no cell service in her house -- she
> had to go outside to make and receive calls on her Motorola V551 -- so I

I bought a pair of $1.50 extendable antennas from cellphoneshop.net. That
has made a substantial difference, both on a v551 and a v220.

I also bought their $10 "external" antennas, one plug in for the v551, one
velcro-to-the-back for the v220. I haven't tried those yet. I don't like
the exposure of internals on the v551 when the little tiny antenna plug is
removed.


--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

Scott wrote:

> So- a 'friend' who probably does NOT read this group has a
> question and it has now become an FAQ that points to a
> specific product? I googled the group- this falls somewhere
> below the top 200 in frequency of posting- hardly a frequently
> asked question.
>
> Hmmmmmm- interesting. Navas is now nothing more than a cheap
> salesperson. It seems to fit better than his former role as
> uneducated 'expert'.

Why does Mr Navas attract such criticism? Strict definitions of
"frequently" aside, he's addressing a problem that many people
have.

I use car kit with an external whip antenna at home. It can
make a huge difference to signal strength.

The problem is that the phone is no longer "mobile". That gets
solved very nicely with a bluetooth headset.

John

John Henderson wrote:
> Why does Mr Navas attract such criticism?

So...new to newsgroups? <snicker>

[email protected] wrote:
> In alt.cellular.cingular John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>A friend has been complaining of almost no cell service in her house -- she
>>had to go outside to make and receive calls on her Motorola V551 -- so I
>
>
> I bought a pair of $1.50 extendable antennas from cellphoneshop.net. That
> has made a substantial difference, both on a v551 and a v220.
>
> I also bought their $10 "external" antennas, one plug in for the v551, one
> velcro-to-the-back for the v220. I haven't tried those yet. I don't like
> the exposure of internals on the v551 when the little tiny antenna plug is
> removed.

Correct me if I am wrong but that little tiny antenna plug is a rubber
gasket to prevent liquid or dust from entering the antenna socket. So
by removing to connect an external antenna would have ZERO increase in
radiation around the phone, it would in fact almost decrease it to ZERO
with the radiation being emitted from the external antenna rather than
the built in one.



--
The views I present are my own and NOT of any organisation I belong to.

73 de Simon, VK3XEM.
http://www.aca.gov.au/pls/radcom/cli...IENT_NO=157452

"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> <http://www.antennas.com/products.php?id=116>
>
> A friend has been complaining of almost no cell service in her house --
> she
> had to go outside to make and receive calls on her Motorola V551 -- so I
> recommended she try the ARC Freedom external antenna. She did (purchased
> from
> DiscountCell.com), and she's been thrilled -- reception inside her house
> is
> now clear and solid -- the improvement is about 2 bars of signal on her
> phone.
> Highly recommended.
>
> Note: I have no connection to these companies or this product -- this is
> public service info, not spam.
Thanks, John. Your tip was much appreciated!

DustyB

>
> --
> Best regards, FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS
> John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

In alt.cellular.motorola Simon VK3XEM <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > the exposure of internals on the v551 when the little tiny antenna plug is

> Correct me if I am wrong but that little tiny antenna plug is a rubber
> gasket to prevent liquid or dust from entering the antenna socket. So
> by removing to connect an external antenna would have ZERO increase in
> radiation around the phone, it would in fact almost decrease it to ZERO
> with the radiation being emitted from the external antenna rather than
> the built in one.

I wasn't thinking about radiation. I was thinking, as you note, about
liquid or dust entering the phone after I lost that tiny plug because it
wasn't intended to be removed and reinserted many times.

My Nokia's rubber plug exposed an antenna connector, but the socket seemed
to be sealed from the interior of the phone.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

[email protected] wrote:

> I bought a pair of $1.50 extendable antennas from cellphoneshop.net. That
> has made a substantial difference, both on a v551 and a v220.

Glad I read this thread. Thanks for the heads up, Clarence. Just ordered
one for my 551. Maybe it'll help with home reception, here. I'm in a
"greyhole" area where slightly turning can lose audio -- no matter which
carrier or technology.

> I also bought their $10 "external" antennas, one plug in for the v551, one
> velcro-to-the-back for the v220. I haven't tried those yet. I don't like
> the exposure of internals on the v551 when the little tiny antenna plug is
> removed.

The only worthwhile external I saw was the one with a 7' cord. Not much
use, here, going from room to room or between floors. ;-)

Bill K

Here we go...

"Scott" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> <http://www.antennas.com/products.php?id=116>
>>
>> A friend has been complaining of almost no cell service in her house --
>> she
>> had to go outside to make and receive calls on her Motorola V551 -- so I
>> recommended she try the ARC Freedom external antenna. She did (purchased
>> from
>> DiscountCell.com), and she's been thrilled -- reception inside her house
>> is
>> now clear and solid -- the improvement is about 2 bars of signal on her
>> phone.
>> Highly recommended.
>>
>> Note: I have no connection to these companies or this product -- this is
>> public service info, not spam.
>>
>> --
>
> So- a 'friend' who probably does NOT read this group has a question and it
> has now become an FAQ that points to a specific product? I googled the
> group- this falls somewhere below the top 200 in frequency of posting-
> hardly a frequently asked question.
>
> Hmmmmmm- interesting. Navas is now nothing more than a cheap salesperson.
> It seems to fit better than his former role as uneducated 'expert'.
>

The absolute best and usually the cheapest way to resolve signal problems is
to terminate your service. You will be charged an early termination fee of
$150, however this is less than the cost of the $250-$300 repeaters that you
would have to install in your attic to improve signal. If you are not handy
with tools, you will have to hire someone to do this installation even
adding more cost.

Before you terminate your cell service, invite all of your friends over to
your home with their cell phones. Try each cell phone to determine which one
offers good service at your home. Make a call and walk everywhere within
your home to ensure that the phone does not drop the call. Once you have
found the cell service that works for you, purchase a phone with that cell
phone provider. By law, you now have a two week period in which you can
return the phone for a refund. Try the phone in all of the locations that
you travel and in every room at home and at your work. Make sure that you
really test out the for the next two weeks.

-mij

"Craven Morehead" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Here we go...
>
> "Scott" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> <http://www.antennas.com/products.php?id=116>
>>>
>>> A friend has been complaining of almost no cell service in her house --
>>> she
>>> had to go outside to make and receive calls on her Motorola V551 -- so I
>>> recommended she try the ARC Freedom external antenna. She did
>>> (purchased from
>>> DiscountCell.com), and she's been thrilled -- reception inside her house
>>> is
>>> now clear and solid -- the improvement is about 2 bars of signal on her
>>> phone.
>>> Highly recommended.
>>>
>>> Note: I have no connection to these companies or this product -- this is
>>> public service info, not spam.
>>>
>>> --
>>
>> So- a 'friend' who probably does NOT read this group has a question and
>> it has now become an FAQ that points to a specific product? I googled
>> the group- this falls somewhere below the top 200 in frequency of
>> posting- hardly a frequently asked question.
>>
>> Hmmmmmm- interesting. Navas is now nothing more than a cheap
>> salesperson. It seems to fit better than his former role as uneducated
>> 'expert'.
>>
>
>

In alt.cellular.cingular Mij Adyaw <[email protected]> wrote:
> Before you terminate your cell service, invite all of your friends over to
> your home with their cell phones. Try each cell phone to determine which one
> offers good service at your home.

My neighbor said that a visitor with Verizon had wonderful signal in her
house, which offers minimal signal on Edge Wireless. I have Cingular, and
spotty signal.

I filed that thought, since Verizon doesn't offer service here, and the
visiting neighbor must have been roaming to USCellular, the third service
in the area. (Actually Cingular doesn't offer service here, but there is a
usable tower in a nearby town.)

This last weekend, There were three cellphones sitting on the same counter
in my house. Verizon showed no bars, but did receive calls with spotty
coverage. Cingular TDMA on Nokia showed one bar, and spotty coverage.
Cingular GSM on a Motorola v551 with a stubby replacement antenna showed
two bars, and offers stable coverage throughout almost all of the house.

The signal comparison has to be done carefully. With roaming possible (my
phone was toggling between a poor home signal and roaming), and different
telephones, and the simple addition of an aftermarket antenna, lots of
variations are possible.

---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

Did you try a Sprint Phone? I am not sure if Sprint has coverage in that
area, but they are one provider that you did not test.

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In alt.cellular.cingular Mij Adyaw <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Before you terminate your cell service, invite all of your friends over
>> to
>> your home with their cell phones. Try each cell phone to determine which
>> one
>> offers good service at your home.
>
> My neighbor said that a visitor with Verizon had wonderful signal in her
> house, which offers minimal signal on Edge Wireless. I have Cingular, and
> spotty signal.
>
> I filed that thought, since Verizon doesn't offer service here, and the
> visiting neighbor must have been roaming to USCellular, the third service
> in the area. (Actually Cingular doesn't offer service here, but there is
> a
> usable tower in a nearby town.)
>
> This last weekend, There were three cellphones sitting on the same counter
> in my house. Verizon showed no bars, but did receive calls with spotty
> coverage. Cingular TDMA on Nokia showed one bar, and spotty coverage.
> Cingular GSM on a Motorola v551 with a stubby replacement antenna showed
> two bars, and offers stable coverage throughout almost all of the house.
>
> The signal comparison has to be done carefully. With roaming possible (my
> phone was toggling between a poor home signal and roaming), and different
> telephones, and the simple addition of an aftermarket antenna, lots of
> variations are possible.
>
> ---
> Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5
>