Mobile Signal Boosters
Discussion
Hi All
I have dodgy mobile signal in my house (in Croatia). Generally only 1 bar inside and 2 outside. Sometimes it's enough to make/receive a phone call, sometimes it's not.
I'm considering getting a mobile signal booster - has anyone any experience of these?
Something like this - https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Amplifier-Band-20-Recep...
Any advice or recomendations (something available on amazon.de) would be much appreciated!
Thanks in advance
I have dodgy mobile signal in my house (in Croatia). Generally only 1 bar inside and 2 outside. Sometimes it's enough to make/receive a phone call, sometimes it's not.
I'm considering getting a mobile signal booster - has anyone any experience of these?
Something like this - https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Amplifier-Band-20-Recep...
Any advice or recomendations (something available on amazon.de) would be much appreciated!
Thanks in advance
I'm not familiar with current models, but many people have done OK with MiFi type units or 4G dongles and wifi hubs.
If you can get a decent signal via an outdoor 4G aerial on a stick, then use wifi calling on your phone, it can work well enough.
It may still be limited because you share that 4G capacity with other punters who are closer than you.
20 years ago, the answer might have been a 'car kit'.
If you can get a decent signal via an outdoor 4G aerial on a stick, then use wifi calling on your phone, it can work well enough.
It may still be limited because you share that 4G capacity with other punters who are closer than you.
20 years ago, the answer might have been a 'car kit'.
OutInTheShed said:
I'm not familiar with current models, but many people have done OK with MiFi type units or 4G dongles and wifi hubs.
If you can get a decent signal via an outdoor 4G aerial on a stick, then use wifi calling on your phone, it can work well enough.
It may still be limited because you share that 4G capacity with other punters who are closer than you.
20 years ago, the answer might have been a 'car kit'.
Sadly can't use wifi callingIf you can get a decent signal via an outdoor 4G aerial on a stick, then use wifi calling on your phone, it can work well enough.
It may still be limited because you share that 4G capacity with other punters who are closer than you.
20 years ago, the answer might have been a 'car kit'.
Mr E said:
Changing to a carrier that does would be easier than messing about with licensed RF bands?
Sadly no way at all of using wifi calling easily. I've a seperate thread on that issue, but in summary:Network is o2. They don't allow wifi calling abroad. I have to stay with o2/a UK network as it's a number I use for my UK business, and have done for nearly 20 years so can't change the number to a Croatian one. Technically I could change the number to a virtual one which diverts to a croatian one that does allow Wifi calling, but would be expensive. Also, I'm currently locked into an o2 contract for about 18 months. I could pay this off, but again, would rather not. Hence exploring this avenue.
Can you set up call forwarding?
Might be easiest to set up the mobile number to forward to a VOIP or landline phone when at home abroad, then you can take it off divert or re-divert the call forwards to another mobile with a local network when out the house. Would also mean if/when you're in the UK or away from Croatia you could simply take the call forwarding off.
Might be easiest to set up the mobile number to forward to a VOIP or landline phone when at home abroad, then you can take it off divert or re-divert the call forwards to another mobile with a local network when out the house. Would also mean if/when you're in the UK or away from Croatia you could simply take the call forwarding off.
Tbh you are unlikely to get much data on the wireless extenders here as we have wifi calling so there’s likely minimal data out there.
If you look around you’ll see that your charges to forward your o2 account to a forwarded number comes out of your existing units first so depending on the service you have subscribed to it could be completely free depending on the subscribed minutes included.
Obviously that would need a voip line but Andrews & Arnold have a line for £1.20 p/m so the cost could be minimal l believe it’s around £15 to initially set a U.K. line up.
& obviously i’ed just expect this is a cost of doing business if working from a remote location for some time.
If you look around you’ll see that your charges to forward your o2 account to a forwarded number comes out of your existing units first so depending on the service you have subscribed to it could be completely free depending on the subscribed minutes included.
Obviously that would need a voip line but Andrews & Arnold have a line for £1.20 p/m so the cost could be minimal l believe it’s around £15 to initially set a U.K. line up.
& obviously i’ed just expect this is a cost of doing business if working from a remote location for some time.
Another thing to look into is what frequency bands are actually present locally in Croatia and whether your phone handset covers them all.
4G is scattered across a lot of sub bands, and it used to be the case that not every 4G phone covered every band, and not every band was in use in every country.
You might find that a different handset gets a decent signal, perhaps not one bought in the UK.
At one point you could buy identical looking phones of various makes and models which had different hardware and firmware inside according to the market they were sold in.
Also the performance of a phone will not be uniform across all bands and channels, and some phones are better then others from a pure radio perspective.
Does anyone, with any phone get a better signal?
Then there's the possibility that the network is not exactly prioritising a 'roaming' foreigner relative to its paying customers.
4G is scattered across a lot of sub bands, and it used to be the case that not every 4G phone covered every band, and not every band was in use in every country.
You might find that a different handset gets a decent signal, perhaps not one bought in the UK.
At one point you could buy identical looking phones of various makes and models which had different hardware and firmware inside according to the market they were sold in.
Also the performance of a phone will not be uniform across all bands and channels, and some phones are better then others from a pure radio perspective.
Does anyone, with any phone get a better signal?
Then there's the possibility that the network is not exactly prioritising a 'roaming' foreigner relative to its paying customers.
elise2000 said:
Caddyshack said:
Are you in the UK much. I have a very decent triband repeater on my office. No longer used. If you want it then you can come and remove it and have it.
sadly only every few months. that's a very kind offer. where are you based on the off chance?
Condi said:
Can you set up call forwarding?
Might be easiest to set up the mobile number to forward to a VOIP or landline phone when at home abroad, then you can take it off divert or re-divert the call forwards to another mobile with a local network when out the house. Would also mean if/when you're in the UK or away from Croatia you could simply take the call forwarding off.
It's an option. Need to find out which local network has the best reception. Might be easiest to set up the mobile number to forward to a VOIP or landline phone when at home abroad, then you can take it off divert or re-divert the call forwards to another mobile with a local network when out the house. Would also mean if/when you're in the UK or away from Croatia you could simply take the call forwarding off.
Captain_Morgan said:
Tbh you are unlikely to get much data on the wireless extenders here as we have wifi calling so there s likely minimal data out there.
If you look around you ll see that your charges to forward your o2 account to a forwarded number comes out of your existing units first so depending on the service you have subscribed to it could be completely free depending on the subscribed minutes included.
Obviously that would need a voip line but Andrews & Arnold have a line for £1.20 p/m so the cost could be minimal l believe it s around £15 to initially set a U.K. line up.
& obviously i ed just expect this is a cost of doing business if working from a remote location for some time.
Thanks - that's good re o2 cost. If you look around you ll see that your charges to forward your o2 account to a forwarded number comes out of your existing units first so depending on the service you have subscribed to it could be completely free depending on the subscribed minutes included.
Obviously that would need a voip line but Andrews & Arnold have a line for £1.20 p/m so the cost could be minimal l believe it s around £15 to initially set a U.K. line up.
& obviously i ed just expect this is a cost of doing business if working from a remote location for some time.
OutInTheShed said:
Another thing to look into is what frequency bands are actually present locally in Croatia and whether your phone handset covers them all.
4G is scattered across a lot of sub bands, and it used to be the case that not every 4G phone covered every band, and not every band was in use in every country.
You might find that a different handset gets a decent signal, perhaps not one bought in the UK.
At one point you could buy identical looking phones of various makes and models which had different hardware and firmware inside according to the market they were sold in.
Also the performance of a phone will not be uniform across all bands and channels, and some phones are better then others from a pure radio perspective.
Does anyone, with any phone get a better signal?
Then there's the possibility that the network is not exactly prioritising a 'roaming' foreigner relative to its paying customers.
There is a lot of 5g on the island, but annoying at the top of my village very patchy 4g. iphone 16 pro is what I'm using. No one has much signal up here - I've tried switching between all the available networks available on the phone and there's not much to choose between them 4G is scattered across a lot of sub bands, and it used to be the case that not every 4G phone covered every band, and not every band was in use in every country.
You might find that a different handset gets a decent signal, perhaps not one bought in the UK.
At one point you could buy identical looking phones of various makes and models which had different hardware and firmware inside according to the market they were sold in.
Also the performance of a phone will not be uniform across all bands and channels, and some phones are better then others from a pure radio perspective.
Does anyone, with any phone get a better signal?
Then there's the possibility that the network is not exactly prioritising a 'roaming' foreigner relative to its paying customers.
Caddyshack said:
I am about 20 miles south of Guildford. If I can get a spare bit of time I will remove it and let you know but likely to be two weeks from now.
thanks. don't worry on my account, as I haven't a firm date when I'm next back and it may not be until Oct time. very kind of you thoughI have a 2 frequency booster. We are in a ground floor flat in a very big old building. Cost around £300 with the antenna and cables. From somewhere like this:
https://mysignalboosters.com/uk/signal/4g-mobile-s...
Works a charm and 4g comes through fast too.
It will pay to talk with them to agree which netwoek/s you need and if you want 3g/4g/5g data etc, Based on the frequencies you use you get some or the other. We chose Three and O2 voice support, with 4g on Three. I didn't ask for help at first and bought the wrong frequency box and had to have it swapped.
I found wifi calling not reliable enough for incmoing calls, and run a business.
https://mysignalboosters.com/uk/signal/4g-mobile-s...
Works a charm and 4g comes through fast too.
It will pay to talk with them to agree which netwoek/s you need and if you want 3g/4g/5g data etc, Based on the frequencies you use you get some or the other. We chose Three and O2 voice support, with 4g on Three. I didn't ask for help at first and bought the wrong frequency box and had to have it swapped.
I found wifi calling not reliable enough for incmoing calls, and run a business.
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