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Mobile phone reception
mookaloid - 11/11/06 at 05:14 PM

Just moved house - Have 3 Orange phones and can't get a signal inside the house

Is there anything that I can get which will receive the signal and boost it so I can use the mobiles inside?

I think Orange used to sell something like this but I can't find any reference to it anywhere on their web site.

Thanks

Mark


Pants On Fire - 11/11/06 at 05:28 PM

In a word no.
Antenna diversity might help you out but not on a hand held mobile.
Digital radio signals find it very difficult to penetrate walls, its called Rayleigh Fade, the only way around it is for the operator to increase power in the PA's (power amplifiers) and alter the angle of the antenna array to point more at your house! Not ideal.


stevebubs - 11/11/06 at 05:33 PM

Bulldozer or move back where you came from

More seriously - no ; you won't get a GSM repeater you can fit in your house.

At least not without going down and spending some serious wonga...be cheaper to switch to a network with decent reception.


[Edited on 11/11/06 by stevebubs]


RazMan - 11/11/06 at 05:37 PM

A network change is probably the best option, but try and check the signal strength of the others in your area.


peterriley2 - 11/11/06 at 07:12 PM

it does partly depend on your phone i think, on the same network my old phone- sony p910i i got no reception at home , and my new phone, motorola slvr gets about 6 bars..... (thats on the same network- o2)


GeoffB - 11/11/06 at 08:18 PM

from what i remember usually t-mobile and orange use 1800mhz that has a shorter wave length that doesnt travel through buildings etc,whereas voda and 02 use 900mhz that has alonger wave length and travels through buildings better

Although it depends on your distance from the atenna though.
PS, this was about 4 years ago when i use to sell and repair phones


Danozeman - 11/11/06 at 08:34 PM

My phone (vodafone) works at one end of the sofa but not the other!! The missus's is the same.


mookaloid - 11/11/06 at 09:08 PM

unfortunately I have about 18 months to go on a business contract for the 3 phones

So changing networks is a pretty unattractive option.

I think I need something like this

Only problems - how do I get one and will it cost more than getting out of my contract?

Cheers

Mark


MkIndy7 - 11/11/06 at 10:06 PM

Move out of the barn and back into the house again

Are the phones different makes?

As mentioned before by some1, my Sony Ericson K800i has nowhere near as good a reception as my old Nokia 6230 had!
(might be worth pestering them for an upgrade for something thats known to have good signal strength!).

But the signal is bloody terrible up there!


mookaloid - 11/11/06 at 10:10 PM

I have a V3 Motorola an 2 Nokia 6280's

There doeesn't seem to be a lot to choose between them receptionwise


UncleFista - 11/11/06 at 11:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Danozeman
My phone (vodafone) works at one end of the sofa but not the other!! The missus's is the same.


How big's yer sofa though ?


MikeRJ - 12/11/06 at 12:00 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
I think I need something like this

Only problems - how do I get one and will it cost more than getting out of my contract?


Almost certainly will cost more, and there may be some licensing requirements to use one.


Humbug - 12/11/06 at 10:54 AM

Radical idea - use your landline when you are inside the house?


mookaloid - 12/11/06 at 11:58 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Humbug
Radical idea - use your landline when you are inside the house?


Mmmm.......... a bit too radical that - giving all my customers my home phone number

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Mark


Peteff - 12/11/06 at 12:34 PM

Invite Orange to put a booster in your loft, they have them in petrol station price signs and various other hiding places, you might even get some rent off them. Personally I am very wary of businesses trading under a mobile number as it looks like pikey landscaping and plastic fascia and insulation scams.

[Edited on 12/11/06 by Peteff]


mookaloid - 12/11/06 at 02:07 PM

I'm not trading under a mobile number
, I have a proper office with 2 landlines and a fax line - It's so my customers can get me in an emergency after hours or at weekends


britishtrident - 12/11/06 at 02:11 PM

funny but in my experience Orange seem to have better coverage and signal strength than most networks.


mookaloid - 12/11/06 at 03:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
funny but in my experience Orange seem to have better coverage and signal strength than most networks.


I agree which is one of the reasons why I chose Orange - I seem to be in a slightly dodgy spot though


Peteff - 12/11/06 at 04:59 PM

You can have one of them rerouted to your home line outside office hours can't you? Try BT for a solution, it might be cheaper than swapping your contract.


mookaloid - 12/11/06 at 05:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
You can have one of them rerouted to your home line outside office hours can't you? Try BT for a solution, it might be cheaper than swapping your contract.


True just thinking about those options - it's juct a pain, I will have to remember to divert and undivert all the time.


MkIndy7 - 16/11/06 at 12:30 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
You can have one of them rerouted to your home line outside office hours can't you? Try BT for a solution, it might be cheaper than swapping your contract.


True just thinking about those options - it's juct a pain, I will have to remember to divert and undivert all the time.



Couldn't you set your mobile phone to divert to the house phone when not available, or whatever option suits best?

Would cost you on your mobile for the 2nd half of the calls tho, but if its only for emergencies...