Mobile phone signal booster

[Coolasluck]

As the thread states I am interested in boosting my mobile phone signal for those areas that are not good enough. It seems you can either fix an antenna to a booster and then the booster to an internal aerial which is my preferred method of use an external aerial that goes via a router. I also read somewhere that you can buy a one off SIM from your provider that means you then have two Sims sharing your one data allowance. So then obviously you would use one of the Sims in the router. I'm puzzling this over and wondering which other route others have gone down and how they have achieved something that works well

 

[witzend]

As the thread states I am interested in boosting my mobile phone signal . I'm puzzling this over and wondering which other route others have gone down and how they have achieved something that works well

Have you tried other service providers changing from 3 to Vodafone was all we needed to do

 

[mistericeman]

We have a Teltonika rut 950 with a EE Data sim and external antenna mounted on the lift up pole of the TV antenna (gives about an extra metre of loft )

Works well for the Internet signal and we now have signal in places we struggled with before ...
Obviously if there is NO signal then nothing at all will help .

 

[Coolasluck]

Have you tried other service providers changing from 3 to Vodafone was all we needed to do

I knew someone else would say that. That's not an option I want.

 

[Coolasluck]

We have a Teltonika rut 950 with a EE Data sim and external antenna mounted on the lift up pole of the TV antenna (gives about an extra metre of loft )

Works well for the Internet signal and we now have signal in places we struggled with before ...
Obviously if there is NO signal then nothing at all will help .

Looking on Amazon it comes with the basic aerial. Did you buy a better aerial. ?

 

[Fisherman]

I knew someone else would say that. That's not an option I want.

Sorry but changing from a poor provider to a better one may make more difference than all of this stuff. I changed from three to EE, and this made a remarkable difference. Many places were I could not even check emails before changing, we can watch tv now. I will be installing the Motorhome WI-FI 5G system on our new van, but I doubt if even that would have got us tv in certain places on three.

Motorhome WiFi | 4G/5G Built in WiFi for Motorhomes and Caravans

Since 2012 we have provided fast, secure and reliable solutions for motorhomes and caravans for use in remote and rural locations. We have a range of 4G and 5G products with installation available form over 150 dealers across the UK.

www.motorhomewifi.com

 

[mistericeman]

Looking on Amazon it comes with the basic aerial. Did you buy a better aerial. ?

When I bought the router it was used and without an antenna (think it was £70 or close from ebay)
I added a used Poynting directional antenna ...
Though I'm currently using the mobile router to watch freeview/internet in the house using a Poynting omni directional one ,works well as long as its close to an outside wall/window .

 

[barryd]

I gave up on my antenna and router and just got a second SIM on ee. That and the Vodafone one I normally have covered all bases last year. I'll be getting shot of the booster kit if guess if anyone is interested.

 

[wildebus]

Just a little comment on the original question .... unless the laws have changed recently, mobile phone signal BOOSTERS are not legal in the UK and I would think in the EU as well.
Improving the signal with an aerial (and often changing the router itself) is the limit in terms of improving the signal.

As far as getting a second SIM on your number to allow sharing your data allowance, I don't know if anyone offers that? The closest option to that which is fairly common is having a contract that allows multiple SIMS to share a group or 'family' package.


On my own Motorhome, I use the Avtex AMR985 Router+Aerial system and have a SKY (O2) SIM in it, and the data used by that system is part of the Data allowance that I also use on my own phone.

 

[Coolasluck]

Sorry but changing from a poor provider to a better one may make more difference than all of this stuff. I changed from three to EE, and this made a remarkable difference. Many places were I could not even check emails before changing, we can watch tv now. I will be installing the Motorhome WI-FI 5G system on our new van, but I doubt if even that would have got us tv in certain places on three.

Motorhome WiFi | 4G/5G Built in WiFi for Motorhomes and Caravans

Since 2012 we have provided fast, secure and reliable solutions for motorhomes and caravans for use in remote and rural locations. We have a range of 4G and 5G products with installation available form over 150 dealers across the UK.

www.motorhomewifi.com

Sorry no that's not what I meant lol. I was with three and put up with their rubbish service for years. Last year I changed to e.e and it's the best thing I did. Like you it was a welcome change. I believe I'm with the best service now and are happy. What I meant was a secondary SIM with another company. I don't want another sim with an inferior service but I just want to boost my signal when in remote places,most places we go to are great however some places are a real nuisance with 1 to 3 mb of signal.

 

[Coolasluck]

Just a little comment on the original question .... unless the laws have changed recently, mobile phone signal BOOSTERS are not legal in the UK and I would think in the EU as well.
Improving the signal with an aerial (and often changing the router itself) is the limit in terms of improving the signal.

As far as getting a second SIM on your number to allow sharing your data allowance, I don't know if anyone offers that? The closest option to that which is fairly common is having a contract that allows multiple SIMS to share a group or 'family' package.


On my own Motorhome, I use the Avtex AMR985 Router+Aerial system and have a SKY (O2) SIM in it, and the data used by that system is part of the Data allowance that I also use on my own phone.

There are a few booster kits now available that are legal. Wish I had saved the website however you are right in that most are illegal. I do want to remain that way. I had read about the sim option being available with three which was an eye opener for me however I have not contacted them to see if it's true or not. For me I have no router but I'm guessing an aerial wired to a new router is the way most go then which would wirelessly transmit to my phone a booster signal. Hopefully

 

[Coolasluck]

I gave up on my antenna and router and just got a second SIM on ee. That and the Vodafone one I normally have covered all bases last year. I'll be getting shot of the booster kit if guess if anyone is interested.

What kit do you have Barry?

 

[maingate]

This has been my practical experience at trying to improve my wifi at home (using the same kit that I use when away in the van).

The various methods were all done with a 3, Vodafone and O2 sim.

1) Using a Huawei 5573 and a Huawei B315. The 5573 is very small and the B315 is much bigger. The difference between them was negligible in pulling in a strong wifi signal.
2) Using the B315 with a Poynting Omnidirectional aerial fitted high up on an external wall made no noticeable difference whatsoever.
While testing I used the Free Wifi Analyser app on my laptop which can show any change in signal strength.

I spoke to the owner of Motorhome wifi who was very helpful. He asked for my address and checked out the area. He said the only way for me to get a strong signal was to fix the Poynting aerial on a pole above roof level and I would pick up a nearby mast by line of sight.

To boost a weak signal needs a directional aerial, Yagi type aerials are allegedly the best ones. I did not waste my time making one or buying one becase there is no mast in line of sight anywhere near my house and sadly I have had to return to BT for my internet.

 

[Coolasluck]

The legal boosters on the market are by a company called cell fi. In a motorhome do I require a low gain repeater as initial I thought it was a static repeater I needed. Lol

 

[Coolasluck]

This has been my practical experience at trying to improve my wifi at home (using the same kit that I use when away in the van).

The various methods were all done with a 3, Vodafone and O2 sim.

1) Using a Huawei 5573 and a Huawei B315. The 5573 is very small and the B315 is much bigger. The difference between them was negligible in pulling in a strong wifi signal.
2) Using the B315 with a Poynting Omnidirectional aerial fitted high up on an external wall made no noticeable difference whatsoever.
While testing I used the Free Wifi Analyser app on my laptop which can show any change in signal strength.

I spoke to the owner of Motorhome wifi who was very helpful. He asked for my address and checked out the area. He said the only way for me to get a strong signal was to fix the Poynting aerial on a pole above roof level and I would pick up a nearby mast by line of sight.

To boost a weak signal needs a directional aerial, Yagi type aerials are allegedly the best ones. I did not waste my time making one or buying one becase there is no mast in line of sight anywhere near my house and sadly I have had to return to BT for my internet.

Cheers Jim. I understand. The equivalent to using a booster in an area where there is no signal. It appears that celfi are or were the only firm allowed to sell booster kits legally,however I believe there are a few others on the market but these are out of my price bracket lol. This is why the illegal ones are for sale which isn't illegal in itself but to install and use it it is It seems the router and a directional aerial is probably the way forward and possibly a lot cheaper too.
We stayed at a place in the summer and had decent internet but when we returned in November the signal was absolutely dreadful. It left me pulling my hair out at times, well it would if I had some

 

[maingate]

Here you go, make your own Yagi signal booster.

10 DIY Long Range Wi-Fi Antennas You Can Make at Home

Don't need to spend big bucks on Wi-Fi extenders, just build a budget-friendly Wi-Fi antenna at home.

www.makeuseof.com

 

[barryd]

What kit do you have Barry?

This is what I got. I never got it to work properly. They are supposed to be the dogs bollocks but I think it was the router that was the problem in that it didnt like my Vodafone sim.

ALFA WiFi 4G Camp Pro 2+ Long Range Repeater - Ideal for Boats, Yachts, Caravans, Campers and larger properties.

Instantly share your 4G network to Mobile Phones, Tablets, Smart TVs and Gaming Consoles. This device supports global carriers.

www.wifi-antennas.co.uk

Page 3 of this thread shows the conclusion after ages trying to get the thing working with my sim. The only way to get it to work was to link the antenna directly to my laptop and bypass the router. I had forgotten about it until I saw this thread. Open to offers if anyone wants to have a go.

Alpha 4G Camp Pro antenna.

No drivers required under linux, just plug and play with almost everything, windows is blind and deaf, head down now. That’s not true Trev, drivers are required for all operating system. Most Linux packages Mac OS’s and Windows all come with tons of drivers installed but only for kit that is...

wildcamping.co.uk

 

[Nabsim]

I must be the odd one out but I do like being the odd one out
I am with 3 and find their service pretty good. I could probably get a slight improvement moving to EE but not willing to pay their prices.
I use a Tektonik router with a Poynting puck2 (I think) roof antenna and it’s rare I get no signal. I still have the little Huawei 5577 dongle I can swap sim to if I need to try something else. Router is always a stronger signal that my phone although the exception would be some 5G areas in Scotland as my router is 4G.

Regarding second sim on same number. Are you meaning a physical SIM and and Esim?

 

[barryd]

I just have two sims in the same phone. One on Vodafone which is my long term number on contract and a second one on EE which I just buy a pack for if I am somewhere with no Vodafone coverage. I generally check online before I travel to a new area which will work and which wont. If I swap to the EE sim I just divert my vodafone number to the EE one. In five months last summer in the South west, Isle of Arran and the Lake district I always had a signal on one or the other. Arran and the Lakes was where EE was best.

 

[wildebus]

It is maybe not suitable for extended use, but as an economic emergency backup as well as for lower use needs, RWG Mobile (which was mentioned on the forum some time back) I think is very good.
I have two SIMS in my phone to give me two numbers, one for work and one for personal. One SIM is on SKY and which I use for all my mobile data needs as well as giving unlimited calls and texts and the other SIM is from RGW and gives 100 minutes of calls, 100 texts and 250MB of data (enough to check emails).

The SKY SIM, which runs on the O2 Network I pay £5 a month for.
The RWG Mobile SIM runs on the EE Network and that incurred a £5 payment to get the SIM, which goes onto your balance for out of contract use, the 100+100+250MB deal renews each month at no cost. Had that RWG SIM for coming up for a year now I think, not paid anything other than the initial £5 and my account balance is £5.