signal boost, wifi phone etc.

[Mick-Kelly]

OK all here is a question that is hopefully posted in the right area. Has anyone developed any sort of system for boosting signal for communication devices when in areas that are just out of normal coverage. IE. I saw a setup through the week that involved a high extension antennae at a base camp put up with guy ropes for internet use. I assume he had one of those USB modems running to the external antennae. Has anyone done anything similar and is there also something that can be done to boost 3g phone signal. Like the old in car kits with the larger antennae. I notice the new phones like my omnia dont have any external antennae plugs. I think it would be useful for those areas where you are just out of coverage like Teewah Beach etc.

[Basil135]

To be truly effective, any external antenna needs to be able to connect directly to the phone.

This limits your choices for phones, as most these days dont have an external connection on them.

There was a thread on here the other day around 3G phones for country areas. Do a search & it should pop up.

[richard4u2]

be careful about using the term boosting the signal as that is very much illegal . i have found with nextg the only time an added aerial has improver reception is when you are inside a building or car and i have connected the aerial with an alligator clip to the aerial on the phone

[incisor]

you can buy re radiating antennae and by all accounts the decent ones work really well.

trying to find the guys making them is the hard bit...

[miky]

You can get a beam (like a very small version of your tv antenna) but you have to point it a tower. Easy to do actually since you slowly rotate the pole (with beam on top) and watch the bars on your phone.

I have seen someone do this.

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You can do the same for wifi. Stood on a roof once while rotating the beam and it was amazing (well, amazing to me) how many wifi we could find. Most of them had security... but not all ;)

[waynep]

You can get a beam (like a very small version of your tv antenna) but you have to point it a tower. Easy to do actually since you slowly rotate the pole (with beam on top) and watch the bars on your phone.

I have seen someone do this.




They are called a Yagi directional antenna.

There's a bit more infor here

How to Articles - Next G, 3G, CDMA, GSM Antennas: Getting a better signal for your mobile phone and wireless card (http://www.rfshop.com.au/Blogs/tabid/648/EntryID/12/Default.aspx)

It will improve your chances considerably on Next G. Only will work from a fixed location of course and you still need "line of sight" to a tower.

I wouldn't bother with their "passive repeater" idea I've seen this tried without much success.

[aferrier]

I've tried this and it actually works...

http://www.usbwifi.orconhosting.net.nz/

You could do the same with your 3G USB Modem into the focal point of your asian parabolic cookware and a USB extension cable..

[Ean Austral]

The Boat I work on has a set up I use on my car and is very good with 3g/nextG coverage,actually im using it now and im 50mls offshore in the gulf of carpenteria..It consists of an external airiel from Dick smith/Telstra shop $135 and I have a LG tu500 phone that takes a patch lead in the back to activate the external airiel $20.I have a usb plug that came with the phone into a laptop using the phone as a modem..
We have a booster on the boat that came from NZ, but think its not realy legal but it works and it makes telstra $$$ cause I can use the phone at sea.
I run the external airiel on the front bar or roofrack when I travel and had signal most nights on the gibb river road when I was there a couple months back...PM me and I will give you the details of the booster..
Cheers Ean