Help!! Mobile Phone Signal at Home

Hoops · 08-12-2009, 02:00 PM

I really need some help and advice and any info would be gratefully appreciated. Basically, im with o2 and i hardly get any service INSIDE my home, typically where i use and need my phone the most. Im with a company called VIP Platinum, Charles Porter and i spoke to their helpdesk today who told me that the signal strength in my area is very strong. So why on earth do i have little to no signal inside my home??? They couldnt answer this question. They suggested i take the 3G option off on my phone and just use 2G - but this has made little difference. So they then suggested, off the record that i try a signal booster.

They have suggested the following two devices and i was wondering if anyone knew anything about these devices first hand and personally and if they do indeed work and boost signal significantly. They are quite expensive and i dont want to waste my money if anyone knows they dont work or can suggest something better??

The one that is specific to the 3g signal is £335 and can be found here: http://mobilerepeater.co.uk/shop/pro...products_id=90

The one that is a general signal booster which works for the 900mhz frequency is £195 and can be found here: http://mobilerepeater.co.uk/shop/pro...products_id=95

Any help and/or advice would be much appreciated as i need to sort this problem out asap!!

Steve

rogerxp · 08-12-2009, 05:40 PM

I know nothong about Signal Boosters (never heard if them before) but feel your pain. I've been with O2 for years but recently switched to Orange. No signal at all in my house but full signal at the end of my drive or bottom of my garden. Switched to Vodafone within 14 days and similar situation but not so bad - signal not too bad upstairs. Still on Vodafone but wishing I'd not moved away from O2. No matter what the Network's 'official' figures say there are always certain places the signal doesnt reach.

DaveC · 08-13-2009, 01:40 AM

Before lashing out on a product that might not work it could be worth playing with different handsets. I have exactly the same issues as the OP ... inside the house reception is marginal to non existant, outside it's fine. What I've noticed though is that it depends a lot on the handset. Recently swapped to an iPhone and that has made the problem *much* worse than with the Nokia I had before that. If I dig out an old Samsung and switch sims to that its even better than the Nokia was.

Need to pester your friends and family to see what sort of signal they get on your network.

Beaky · 08-13-2009, 01:59 AM

In building solutions are normally the domain of the business teams but most networks have been trailling pico cells that act as mobile transmitters but work of your broadband line (I used to work for Orange and ran a technical trial). Not sure whether o2 do it but that is the official way to get the signal at home. Never heard about the repeaters but I would guess tackling the network first would be the answer.

Here's one of the old press releases you can read up on so you can show 02 you know what you are talking about, there is plenty more about it on the internet.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10...nge_picocells/

Cheers.

xenon · 08-13-2009, 04:12 AM

We had a repeater in an old stone office building out in the sticks. You could get one bar outside the building but FA inside. The repeated helped a bit but not totally. Several years ago though so things might be better. Ask them if they'll do a sale or return if it doesn't work. If they have confidence in their product then they should.

Hoops · 08-13-2009, 04:15 AM

Thanks Beaky - that all sounded like a foreign language to me - but i will look at the link and see what i can figure out!! Thanks again though.

trixman · 08-13-2009, 04:27 AM

Have them at work Steve, inside the office couldn't get any signal whatsoever just blank. Installed the repeaters and now they work fine, probably 2-3 bar (out of 5). They do work but I'd imagine it depends on the quality of the booster itself. Ours were installed by the actual supplier (i.e. telefonica) as there were so many mobiles there.

dxb335d · 08-23-2009, 05:13 AM

I've recently left orange for o2, been with orange for over ten years still got treated like shit. Just waiting for the first o2 bill. Loving the I-phone, signal is not as good in my home compared to orange but it's fine though strangely miswah's o2 struggle with signal but I think that's her phone which is a samsung.

SiKkBaSs · 08-23-2009, 06:57 AM

O2 FTW. I have a K850i and get reception everywhere even when my girlfriend doesn't get any.

jus sayin'

08-12-2009, 02:00 PM	#1
Hoops Brigadier General 271 Rep 3,658 Posts Drives: E70 X5 xDrive35d M Sport Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chigwell, Essex iTrader: (5) Garage List 2011 BMW S1000RR Sport [10.00] 2009 E92 M3 DCT [0.00] 2010 Range Rover Sport [0.00] 54 Plate E46 M3 CSL [0.00]	Help!! Mobile Phone Signal at Home - Boosters I really need some help and advice and any info would be gratefully appreciated. Basically, im with o2 and i hardly get any service INSIDE my home, typically where i use and need my phone the most. Im with a company called VIP Platinum, Charles Porter and i spoke to their helpdesk today who told me that the signal strength in my area is very strong. So why on earth do i have little to no signal inside my home??? They couldnt answer this question. They suggested i take the 3G option off on my phone and just use 2G - but this has made little difference. So they then suggested, off the record that i try a signal booster. They have suggested the following two devices and i was wondering if anyone knew anything about these devices first hand and personally and if they do indeed work and boost signal significantly. They are quite expensive and i dont want to waste my money if anyone knows they dont work or can suggest something better?? The one that is specific to the 3g signal is £335 and can be found here: http://mobilerepeater.co.uk/shop/pro...products_id=90 The one that is a general signal booster which works for the 900mhz frequency is £195 and can be found here: http://mobilerepeater.co.uk/shop/pro...products_id=95 Any help and/or advice would be much appreciated as i need to sort this problem out asap!! Steve __________________ E70 X5 xDrive35d M Sport - Carbon Black - Panoramic Roof - 21" BMW Alloys - BMW Performance Gloss Black Grilles - LCi Rear Light Upgrade - BMW 4.8i Exhaust Trims
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08-12-2009, 05:40 PM	#2
rogerxp Major General 165 Rep 5,950 Posts Drives: M3 Comp Pack / QQ+2 Tekna Join Date: May 2008 Location: Stockport, Cheshire iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 350Z GT Roadster [2.00] 2004 Honda S2000 [0.00] 2005 Nissan 350Z GT ... [0.00] 2006 E92 BMW 335i SE [9.00] 2003 Maserati 4200 [6.00] 2006 E90 330d M Sport [0.00]	I know nothong about Signal Boosters (never heard if them before) but feel your pain. I've been with O2 for years but recently switched to Orange. No signal at all in my house but full signal at the end of my drive or bottom of my garden. Switched to Vodafone within 14 days and similar situation but not so bad - signal not too bad upstairs. Still on Vodafone but wishing I'd not moved away from O2. No matter what the Network's 'official' figures say there are always certain places the signal doesnt reach. __________________ Current -: MW E92 M3 Competition Pack / Qashqai+2 Tekna 1.6dci Gone -: 370Z GT Roadster; BMW X3 3.0d xdrive M Sport; E46 330i M Sport Coupe; Mazda RX8 231; Nissan 350Z GT Roadster; BMW E90 330d M Sport; BMW E92 335i SE; Maserati 4200; Nissan 350Z; Honda S2000; Astra Coupe Turbo; Ford Probe
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08-13-2009, 01:40 AM	#3
DaveC Captain 14 Rep 645 Posts Drives: 330 Touring Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Before lashing out on a product that might not work it could be worth playing with different handsets. I have exactly the same issues as the OP ... inside the house reception is marginal to non existant, outside it's fine. What I've noticed though is that it depends a lot on the handset. Recently swapped to an iPhone and that has made the problem much worse than with the Nokia I had before that. If I dig out an old Samsung and switch sims to that its even better than the Nokia was. Need to pester your friends and family to see what sort of signal they get on your network.
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08-13-2009, 01:59 AM	#4
Beaky Captain 2 Rep 104 Posts Drives: Audi A6 (C7) S Line Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxfordshire iTrader: (0)	In building solutions are normally the domain of the business teams but most networks have been trailling pico cells that act as mobile transmitters but work of your broadband line (I used to work for Orange and ran a technical trial). Not sure whether o2 do it but that is the official way to get the signal at home. Never heard about the repeaters but I would guess tackling the network first would be the answer. Here's one of the old press releases you can read up on so you can show 02 you know what you are talking about, there is plenty more about it on the internet. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10...nge_picocells/ Cheers. __________________ Previous: E90 Edition M Sport, e60 520d M Sport Auto Current: Audi A6 (C7) S Line
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08-13-2009, 04:12 AM	#5
xenon Major General 1397 Rep 8,083 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	We had a repeater in an old stone office building out in the sticks. You could get one bar outside the building but FA inside. The repeated helped a bit but not totally. Several years ago though so things might be better. Ask them if they'll do a sale or return if it doesn't work. If they have confidence in their product then they should. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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08-13-2009, 04:15 AM	#6
Hoops Brigadier General 271 Rep 3,658 Posts Drives: E70 X5 xDrive35d M Sport Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chigwell, Essex iTrader: (5) Garage List 2011 BMW S1000RR Sport [10.00] 2009 E92 M3 DCT [0.00] 2010 Range Rover Sport [0.00] 54 Plate E46 M3 CSL [0.00]	Thanks Beaky - that all sounded like a foreign language to me - but i will look at the link and see what i can figure out!! Thanks again though. __________________ E70 X5 xDrive35d M Sport - Carbon Black - Panoramic Roof - 21" BMW Alloys - BMW Performance Gloss Black Grilles - LCi Rear Light Upgrade - BMW 4.8i Exhaust Trims
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08-13-2009, 04:27 AM	#7
trixman Major 33 Rep 1,269 Posts Drives: A Rental Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Creepy Crawley iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW E92 335d [0.00] 2003 M3 CSL [0.00] 2007 E92 335i [0.00]	Have them at work Steve, inside the office couldn't get any signal whatsoever just blank. Installed the repeaters and now they work fine, probably 2-3 bar (out of 5). They do work but I'd imagine it depends on the quality of the booster itself. Ours were installed by the actual supplier (i.e. telefonica) as there were so many mobiles there.
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08-23-2009, 05:13 AM	#8
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 949 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	I've recently left orange for o2, been with orange for over ten years still got treated like shit. Just waiting for the first o2 bill. Loving the I-phone, signal is not as good in my home compared to orange but it's fine though strangely miswah's o2 struggle with signal but I think that's her phone which is a samsung. __________________ 997.2 GT3
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08-23-2009, 06:57 AM	#9
SiKkBaSs GTR'in it 169 Rep 4,434 Posts Drives: Nissan GTR Black Edition Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kensington, London iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	O2 FTW. I have a K850i and get reception everywhere even when my girlfriend doesn't get any. jus sayin'
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