Redirect/Reflect a Cell Signal?

[EVPohovich]

Does anyone know of a way that you can redirect, reflect, bounce, etc.....a cell tower's signal.

Here is the scenario.....I have ZERO cell service at my house, but after a little experimentation I found that when I go out into the clearing in my back yard I can get a nice signal (4 bars actually). The difference.....no foliage, and I can just see a tower waaaaaaaaaaaaaay off in the distance. Is there a way I can aim that signal (at a 90 degree angle) towards the house?

I haven't tried anything yet, so all (serious) ideas are welcome.

[robbmcaulay]

Dunno about bouncing the signal but whenever I gotta make a long call in my flat I sit my phone on the window ledge and use a bluetooth headset

If you can control your phone using bluetooth just leave it in your back yard while you make calls

[gerbick]

if it were wifi, I'd have an answer.

but as far as cell phones go, I've not found a way to "collect" or get the signal to extend... I'm wouldn't be surprised Loyal Rogue if he had a few solutions up his sleeve though.

[theallan]

A huge sheet of something which reflects the cellular signal would do the trick. You just need to find something which bounces 1-2GHz radio frequencies and stick it in you back garden...

[hanratty21]

One of these should help. And it'd be quite the fashion statement too! EVP - I thought you were going with IP phone (packet8?)...
*anxiously awaits referral bonus*
- wouldn't that solve all your problems at home anyway?

[mark_my_words]

its been provin that using large amounts of foil (spread out, touching) will boost the signal of the phone,

For example, cut a large square from cardboard, and wrap foil around it, then place it outside.

(I havent tried this part, but im thinking it will work)

Either use wires to connect the foil, or wrap a long string of foil, and connect it to the antenna on your phone.

[Brainiac actually performed this experiment, and proved to have worked, only the phones antenna touched the foil platform, rather than using a wire]

worth a try, hope its what your looking for

[random25]

what you need is a cellular extender or repeater.

Wireless Extender:
http://cellphones.engadget.com/2005/...cell-coverage/

Repeater:
http://www.mycellularsolutions.com/Inbuilding.html

Or you maybe able to rig up one with those car cell antennas that work through the glass.
take two of the antennas, put one inside the window and one in the same spot outside the window

[Loyal Rogue]

I'm wouldn't be surprised Loyal Rogue if he had a few solutions up his sleeve though.

How'd my name get mixed up in this thread? I didn't see anything about politics or revenge...

Anyway, random25 beat me to it.
The cheapest route to go is a passive repeater like the glass mount one that random mentioned at the end of his post.
I've seen them as cheap as $7 and you just mount them on your windows.
Put one on each side of the house for best reception all through the house.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...ssive+repeater
Whatever you do don't buy one of those little printed circuit stickers that you stick under your battery compartment on the phone.
Although in theory they're based on the same scientific principle they're not worth a damn.

If you want to go a little more high-tech and higher budget then go with one of the powered external antenna.
It'll cost you around $250 or more but they really do boost the signal more.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...ternal+antenna

Of course the answer might be something else like changing your phone or your carrier.
You'd have to know someone with the same carrier and/or same phone to come over and compare signal strength to really troubleshoot the cause of your problem.

[EVPohovich]

The cause of my problem is too many damn trees blocking the signal. Once I get out into the clearing in my back yard.....about 200 feet from the house.....I get a decent signal. If anything, and I mean ANYTHING, is in the way then I get zilch.

The only carrier that has service up here is a small hokey local company that, honestly, is crap from end to end. They have the absolute smallest coverage area of any provider I have ever seen.

hanratty, I did go with packet8.....you should check into your referral with them. I am actually very happy with the service so far. I still want my cell phone to work here though. No point in upgrading if it hardly works while I am at my own damn house.

[hanratty21]

hanratty, I did go with packet8.....you should check into your referral with them. I am actually very happy with the service so far...

Referral Statistic
Total Referred Customers: 1

WOO HOO! Glad to hear you are liking the service...