One of my offices has poor cell reception. I think it's just mostly the cement walls. Are there any viable options for some sort of cell repeater or booster?

Way out of my comfort zone on this one. Owner is dollar sensitive. So if it's more of a budget fix. Even better.

Switch to WiFi while in the office (assuming you have a good WiFi signal).

These run $400-$500 and work fairly well, most carriers also have BDAs you can buy.

https://www.wilsonsignalbooster.com/

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
Switch to WiFi while in the office (assuming you have a good WiFi signal).

Yep. Most modern cell phones have an option to turn on Wi-Fi calling. Just enable that, and save the Wi-Fi network for the office so your phone automatically connects when it's in range. Calls will then utilize Wi-Fi, instead of the cellular signal.

quote:

Originally posted by dewhorse:
These run $400-$500 and work fairly well, most carriers also have BDAs you can buy.

https://www.wilsonsignalbooster.com/

The boosters work well, with one caveat. I've used one for years here at home with excellent results.
 
They use an outside antenna to pick up the cell signal, then carry it to an inside amplifier and antenna via coax. The caveat is that the outside antenna must be able to pick up a good cell signal. The best antenna to use is a yaga directional antenna. If you can see the cell tower when outside, line of sight, then you can boost it very well. If you have poor coverage even outside, the booster will not do you any good. It has to have a decent signal to boost.
 
I have good line of sight to my tower. I tried the omnidirectional antenna at first, and it was a flop. The yagi pointed right at the tower gets great results. But, as dewhorse mentioned, they are not exactly "budget" solutions. I wouldn't even bother with anything less than the $500+ units, as your results will likely be disappointing.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
Switch to WiFi while in the office (assuming you have a good WiFi signal).

Yep. Most modern cell phones have an option to turn on Wi-Fi calling. Just enable that, and save the Wi-Fi network for the office so your phone automatically connects when it's in range. Calls will then utilize Wi-Fi, instead of the cellular signal.

Do the carriers give you a discount when you can't/don't use the service you're paying for and instead use another service that you are paying for? If not, fuck that idea. I'm really surprised ISPs haven't found a way to bone wifi calling - it's using their infrastructure while cell provider is getting paid.

If you all have the same provider and/or are on a business account - call the cell provider, they'll probably give you a solution.

I have used the wilson listed above. I now use their Pro 70.

quote:

Originally posted by snidera:
Do the carriers give you a discount when you can't/don't use the service you're paying for and instead use another service that you are paying for? If not, fuck that idea. I'm really surprised ISPs haven't found a way to bone wifi calling - it's using their infrastructure while cell provider is getting paid.

... It's no different than choosing to connect to a Wifi network instead of using cellular data when you're using your phone to check email, stream video, or surf the web.

Do you demand a partial refund from your phone company for those times you use Wifi to post to Sigforum instead of the cellular data plan that you're also paying for?

If your carrier is AT&T you could use a Microcell

I use it in our main office for those with AT&T as the Verizon signal is good, for other locations we use a cell booster like a wilson

While WiFi will provide coverage for cell calls at no additional cost to you or the company, you will have to allow all workers to attach to the company network via wifi.

You can do this provided your IT wants to allow people to get on your WiFi network using phones, Ipads, streaming music, streaming video and tie up the company network with data requests for whatever internet browsing, facebook posting, instagram posts etc.

The advantage of the booster is nobody will be on your corporate wifi updating facebook etc.

If your employees have problems getting calls out then they have problems getting on the web as well with their phones. You let them on WiFi and you may open a can of worms.

sprint gave me a micro cell like in the post above by tiwimon has.
it didn't cost me anything.
I just told them that I would cancel if I couldn't use the phone at home, they sent it out next day.

I think wifi calling resolves this now but if it doesn't, that would be your next best option

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
While WiFi will provide coverage for cell calls at no additional cost to you or the company, you will have to allow all workers to attach to the company network via wifi.

You can do this provided your IT wants to allow people to get on your WiFi network using phones, Ipads, streaming music, streaming video and tie up the company network with data requests for whatever internet browsing, facebook posting, instagram posts etc.

The advantage of the booster is nobody will be on your corporate wifi updating facebook etc.

If your employees have problems getting calls out then they have problems getting on the web as well with their phones. You let them on WiFi and you may open a can of worms.

This isn't that hard to resolve if abuse occurs. Even at my home I set up a separate WiFi network for guests to use. That network has limited bandwidth allocated to it. Plenty for calls and texts and maybe light web access, but not enough to slow down the rest of my network. You could also turn on network monitoring and track whoever is a data hog and 'encourage' better behavior, or block them from attaching to the network. One of my son's friends was blocked from my guest network because of some of the content he was accessing. Problem solved in a few keystrokes.

The speed and stability of WiFi is far better than cellular at my home.

verizon sells this one.

https://www.verizonwireless.co...er-2/?sku=sku2490003

They will sometimes give you a discount if complain enough

They have two, the older one is obsolete the new one extends LTE, the old one was 3g

At&t discontinued their microcell and recommends wifi calling

Sprint provides them for free. I was able to order a booster online with Sprint. It shows as a piece of equipment on my bill at no charge.

I have the same problem, and try to use Verizon WIFI calling. My iPhone7 won't always remain on the WIFI, sometimes reverting to cellular, with choppy communication. I have not found a way to force WIFI when in the shop. Airplane mode doesn't do it.
WIFI calling works somewhat for me, but far from perfect.

quote:

Originally posted by BDA220:
I have the same problem, and try to use Verizon WIFI calling. My iPhone7 won't always remain on the WIFI, sometimes reverting to cellular, with choppy communication. I have not found a way to force WIFI when in the shop. Airplane mode doesn't do it.
WIFI calling works somewhat for me, but far from perfect.

I'd suggest that either your WiFi network has an issue or your iPhone7 isn't functioning as it should if you're encountering the problem you mentioned. I have a 3 year old off brand Android phone that transitions seamlessly from cellular to WiFi and back again, whenever I come and go from my house/office.

I have ATT cell service on my iPhone X, wife has Verizon on he iPhone SE... Both services suck and are basically unusable here at the house.

Wifi calling to the rescue!

It works flawlessly for both of us.