cell phone boosters

[ameister]

Anyone have any luck with cellphone boosters. I fish offshore 25 mi at nite alot and would love the
safety of my phone working. I have heard they are mostly hype. I know cellphones are line of sight
so I'm thinking they aren't worth the $$

[Bob VH]

I agree, unless you look into quality amplifiers and antennas.
Bob

[steveyacht]

Digital, the same company that makes the hot new VHF antenna has a Cell phone antenna that will increase the range. A friend of mine is a Digital dealer and has installed several on boats. I have been told that they are happy.

[Tireless]

I know two guys that got the*digital antenna and digital amplifiers and they could use their phones more than 50 miles offshore.* I think the*amp cost around $450.*

[fostj10]

I bought one several months back and have got one of the digital antennas for it. I've only used it fishing several miles off of Morehead City, NC for Bluefin. I had full or almost full signal some 10 miles after I had lost signal without the booster. I don't know how far it would have gone. Alot depends on the way the cell tower is aiming too from what I hear. I don't know how it will work further offshore, but I'm anxious to see. I got mine off of ebay. It was a mobil kit that plugs into cigarette lighter. Got a car antenna and phone adapter and booster for $250 w/ shipping. You might want to look into that. They've also come out with the booster and repeater built into one unit so you don't have to be plugged in and use more than one phone. I think it works on all networks except iden (nextel)

[silverg]

Digital has one for Nextel and one for everyone else.

[unifliter]

I would try a good antenna first. I have a Shakespere w/o an amplifier and it works fine where I need to use it and in places where I couldn't use my cell phone before. If you still need more power, you can then buy an amplifier and you haven't wasted any money.

[Marlintini]

I have a Digital Amp w/ a tower mounted antenna...

I've been very disapointed with the performance... only to 4-6 miles, wo/ amp 2 miles.

I've seen many mixed reviews on this product...

I think it also has a lot to do with your cell service.
I have Cingular which I think ..... sucks in my area.
6 months left and I'm moving to Verizon... hopefully that will help

[horseradish]

Before you spend a lot of bucks "hot rodding" your cell phone go get some numbers on a satellite telephone. No gambling there. They'll work anywhere on the earth!

I know some guys that have bought a "pool" satellite phone they share when one goes offshore or into the "glades".

[autobaun70]

The company I work for is in a metal building and cell phones don't work well indoors there at all without a booster. We installed a Wilson Electronics unit, has an antenna on the roof of the building, and then it rebroadcasts the signal throughout the building. Works great so far. This was recomended by our verizon rep. I know they make unit for moble applications as well, a lot are used in OTR trucks.

[y-knot-fishing]

i use an old bag phone 3watts and a top mounted antenna and can talk 30-40 miles on most days. One day my phone rang in the gulf stream 53 miles off the beach!

[Elusive]

Digital has amp/repeater for all carriers except Nextel.* They do have an amp only for Nextel (and another model for other carriers). The amps require an adapter for the phone to make a "hardwire" connection to the antenna.* The repeater provides a "wireless" connection and does not require an adapter

[mgrant]

I use a Wilson amplifier (http://www.wpsantennas.com/index.asp...TS&Category=13). In my experience the wireless amplifiers are not near as good as the wired types. I can get reliable coverage out to 25-30 miles and have had it work at over 50 miles. A good 4-8' antenna is important with 6-9db of gain to make the system work.

Their dual band amplifier will work with just about any cell phone carrier, so if you do switch it shouldn't be a problem. Also if you get this setup. it may be worth trying it with someones verizon phone before you make a switch.

[Thom]

Hello Rick,

I have one of the Digital units connected to Digital's antenna. My old bagphone worked a lot better.

My phone (Motorola V60) will work up to about 5 miles off the beach (Oregon Inlet, NC) standalone. Before the booster, with just the Digital antenna attached to the phone that range was not increased. With the booster it moves out to 7~8 miles but that is about all. The best I've seen out of it was 12 miles. The old bag phone was good up to the 30 mile mark with an external antenna connected.

However .... we often stay in Rodanthe, NC and it is not a Mecca of cell phone reception. My son also had the same phone last year and we noticed that his phone could not receive incomming calls unless it was hooked up to the booster and antenna on the boat, but mine could - albiet with very weak signal reception. So clearly they do work on the margins, but not much. That would be my assessment.

To be absolutly honest I would not buy another one but at the same time I'm not getting rid of the one I already have. It works a little, and that's good. It wasn't worth what I paid for it.

By the way, I do not buy the argument that it would be worth it if that additional 2 miles of service was what allowed the call that saved a life. If that were the case then everyone with a cell phone but without an amplifier should be fishing 2 miles inshore of me or be cited for a manifestly unsafe passage and be plucked from the sea.

Thom

[bluewaterpirate]

I have a Shakespeare Dual Band Cell Booster connected to a Galaxy 4' Cell Antenna & have reliable cell comms*40 - 50 miles off shore. Had a bag phone that did the same using the mentioned antenna but because they're doing away with analog service I changed over. Did the install mysel ..... very easy. Cheers ......