In car phone signal booster

[Don 130]

I stumbled upon this, but thought some might find it interesting even at the price of over $1000.00

Cel-Fi GO Repeater for Telstra Stationary Packs, Cel-Fi Repeater for 4G, Telstra 4G Booster, Mobile Phone Booster for 4GX, Legal Telstra Repeater, Repeater for Telstra (https://www.cel-fi.com.au/cel_fi_go_telstra_stationary_nextg_4gx_repeater_bo oster.html)

and this vid Cell Fi Go - YouTube (https://youtu.be/uvGfRYCT47k)

This would solve the problem of boosting phones that don't have a jack for an antenna cable/patch lead

Don.

[roverrescue]

Don
Thanks to your tip-off I have been in contact
With the company that supplies this product

Service thus far has been exemplary

Will be installing their recommendation when we move south in February.
Our new place near Conondale has marginal reception but is only 7km from a tower.
Powertec have recommended a booster and directional antennas which we will install and hopefully get 4G...

Compared to other market offerings I like that
This is a Telstra approved offering &
30 day guarantee - so if it doesn’t do what we need
We get money back .....

You don’t get that from an ebay yagi ;)

Will report to this thread once installed and tested

Steve

[DiscoMick]

I have also checked on this for our place at Maleny, which also has dodgy mobile reception since the dishes are all pointed towards the coast, but haven't bought it yet.
Note that the Telstra one only works with Telstra phones. I believe Optus and Vodaphone have similar boosters.

[Milton477]

I stumbled upon this, but thought some might find it interesting even at the price of over $1000.00

Cel-Fi GO Repeater for Telstra Stationary Packs, Cel-Fi Repeater for 4G, Telstra 4G Booster, Mobile Phone Booster for 4GX, Legal Telstra Repeater, Repeater for Telstra (https://www.cel-fi.com.au/cel_fi_go_telstra_stationary_nextg_4gx_repeater_bo oster.html)

and this vid Cell Fi Go - YouTube (https://youtu.be/uvGfRYCT47k)

This would solve the problem of boosting phones that don't have a jack for an antenna cable/patch lead

Don.

I have a Telstra one in our van & it works a treat.
We often have good signal where there is none on a phone alone.
The biggest problem is keeping the incoming antenna separate from the outgoing antenna to prevent feedback. It also has an app for your phone so you can see the signal strength etc.

[LRT]

How specific are they to certain providers?

I'm using Vodafone due to its cheaper data cost but I also have a long expiry Telstra number to use when the Vodafone signal drops out so ideally I'd like something that worked with both rather than having to buy two of them.

[Milton477]

How specific are they to certain providers?

I'm using Vodafone due to its cheaper data cost but I also have a long expiry Telstra number to use when the Vodafone signal drops out so ideally I'd like something that worked with both rather than having to buy two of them.

The frequencies of the providers are different so you need a Cel-Fi Go for each provider.

[DiscoMick]

Car Signal Booster for all vehicle types – Mobile Repeater Australia (https://www.mobilerepeateraustralia.com/collections/car-signal-booster)

[DiscoMick]

OK, more reading reveals something I didn't know:

Mobile phone boosters, which connect directly to a phone in a vehicle, are illegal in Australia because they cause interference.
Mobile phone repeaters, which transmit to the phone, are legal.
Guide to Mobile Phone Boosters & Mobile Repeaters, Mobile Phone Signal Booster, Mobile Signal Booster, Mobile Phone Repeater (http://www.mobilephonebooster.com.au/)

[Tombie]

The frequencies of the providers are different so you need a Cel-Fi Go for each provider.

How do you figure that?

As an installer and user of these regularly I’ve yet to see how this is arrived at?

Based on that statement - if I take my Telstra Sim from
My iPhone and put in an Optus Sim.. my phone won’t function due to different frequencies! [emoji12]

The reason it won’t function in those circumstances is more that there’s no tower to supply a signal (or the unit isn’t aimed that way)

[p38arover]

Based on that statement - if I take my Telstra Sim from
My iPhone and put in an Optus Sim.. my phone won’t function due to different frequencies! [emoji12]

The iPhone is multi-frequency capable and the frequencies may vary network to network: Australian Phone Networks and Frequencies Explained | WhistleOut (https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones/Guides/Will-my-phone-work-in-Australia-carrier-network-frequencies)

[p38arover]

Based on that statement - if I take my Telstra Sim from
My iPhone and put in an Optus Sim.. my phone won’t function due to different frequencies! [emoji12]

The iPhone is multi-frequency capable and the frequencies may vary network to network: Australian Phone Networks and Frequencies Explained | WhistleOut (https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones/Guides/Will-my-phone-work-in-Australia-carrier-network-frequencies)

[Milton477]

How do you figure that?

As an installer and user of these regularly I’ve yet to see how this is arrived at?

Based on that statement - if I take my Telstra Sim from
My iPhone and put in an Optus Sim.. my phone won’t function due to different frequencies! [emoji12]

The reason it won’t function in those circumstances is more that there’s no tower to supply a signal (or the unit isn’t aimed that way)


The Cel Fi go is a signal amplifier. Mine takes Telstra 700 or 850 mhz signals (4GX & 3G ) & amplifies or boosts them to Telstra phones in range of it's output antenna. The phones are connected to the nearest strongest signal which happens to be the Cel Fi go.

The Cel Fi go does not contain a sim card. The model for Telstra will not boost any other frequencies/phone service suppliers.

[roverrescue]

We’ve been in our new place a few weeks
Previously you could get 1 barbof 3G reception standing on the roof of the shed
The tower is only 7km away but obscured by a small hill

On advice from powertec we installed a cel-fi go and directional antennae
Ended up hoisting the aerial up on some 40mm Al tubing attached to an unused TV aerial mast
Already installed on the roof. Antennae is now approximately 10m above ground.

Units has been excellent, installed repeater in lounge and we get good reception throughout house and a fair distance outside too.

I would highly recommend powertec and the cel-fi go. Thanks AULRO for the tip off!

Interestingly we get a mix of 3G and 4G at different times
Always have 3G (thereby voice) but data speeds variable.
The 3G speed is only 8MBs down and at best 2 up
But 4G gives up to 30MBs down and up to 20MBs up
Varies throughout day and weather conditions

If only the 4G wasn’t so flaky we wouldt bother with NBN satellite which is due for install next month. Copper exchange full so no ADSL or NBN that way.
Have arranged an NBN plan with no contract just month to month so if things change we don’t get locked in to what I think will be a pretty average setup 25 down 5 up (plus satellite latency)
With only 150GB peak 150Gb offpeak....


I do wonder if I built up a bigger mast and hoisted the directional antenna another 5m whether we would get consistent 4G - then could turn the $100/m NBN cost into more mobile data.....

S

[Tombie]

Should work! What gains the Yagi?

[roverrescue]

Should work! What gains the Yagi?

From the invoice


Cell-Fi GO Telstra Stationary Repeater
Blackhawk LPDA 698-2700 MHz 12/14 dBi
Blackhawk Wall Mount 698-2700 7/8dBi Panel Antenna


So 12/14dBi I guess?

I’m a little leery going more height, even with stay wired a 10m stick of aluminium is still a wind catcher and lightening rod?
At the moment it sits a little lower than surrounding gums....

S

[DiscoMick]

There are legal and illegal ones.


Illegal mobile boosters causing dangerous drop-outs in outback
Illegal mobile service boosters causing dangerous drop-outs in outback towns - ABC Rural - ABC News (http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-02-24/illegal-mobile-service-boosters-causing-dangerous-drop-outs/9478436)

[roverrescue]

Very true
Which is why I went through an on the ground company who ensured I had authority prior to purchase.

Having said that All the piece of paper authority says is your address and that you have some (at least one bar) of reception.... I guess it also notifies comms authority as to what hardware is installed where....

S

[DiscoMick]

Yes and I think the aim is to ensure that frequency conflicts don't screw up the whole network in the area.