I did my search, some people suggested old bag phones that had more watts. Has anyone used amplifier? Or is it better just to get an old phone since your not going to get anymore than 3 watts? thanks abe
Cell Phones.... has anyone used amplifier?
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Amp
I am thinking that an amp will be my next purchase for the boat. The link shows the unit I am looking at. It gives a "cable-free" boost, so I can still plug the cell phone into the computer to do e-mail and weather updates. It amps everything in the harbor, so you can also be somebody's best friend when the unit is turned on. Steve
I am thinking that an amp will be my next purchase for the boat. The link shows the unit I am looking at. It gives a "cable-free" boost, so I can still plug the cell phone into the computer to do e-mail and weather updates. It amps everything in the harbor, so you can also be somebody's best friend when the unit is turned on. Steve
Digital Antenna
Hi, Abe. We used a Digital Antenna cell phone amplifier and antenna all summer along the cost of Maine. It worked very well, and made a big difference. The whole deal cost about $450. We even had wireless internet and email much of the way. We would highly recommend it. CarlDupre s/v Syzygy
Hi, Abe. We used a Digital Antenna cell phone amplifier and antenna all summer along the cost of Maine. It worked very well, and made a big difference. The whole deal cost about $450. We even had wireless internet and email much of the way. We would highly recommend it. CarlDupre s/v Syzygy
Digital Antenna Too
Abe, We also used the Digital Antenna setup with the booster and a four-foot external antenna on the West Coast of Vancouver Island this summer. It definitely enhanced the range (and signal strength) from the cell phone towers in which we could get a signal and enabled us to stay in contact with both voice and internet connections. You still have to be line of site to the cell phone tower though. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust H37.5
Abe, We also used the Digital Antenna setup with the booster and a four-foot external antenna on the West Coast of Vancouver Island this summer. It definitely enhanced the range (and signal strength) from the cell phone towers in which we could get a signal and enabled us to stay in contact with both voice and internet connections. You still have to be line of site to the cell phone tower though. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust H37.5
I have one, but not sure...
Problem I've found is that there really is no way I've found to check whether the amplifier and remote antenna is working OK. The amp reduces it's output to minimum when you've got good coverage in your cell site and it's not needed. But then when I still have little or "no service", is it because the unit isn't putting out correctly (or antenna wired in corredctly), or because there truly is no coverage? I do get more bars of coverage when my phone is hooked into the amp/antenna combination (assuming I didn't get full strength w/o using it), but not the dramatic inprovements I was led to expect. Problem with bag phones is they are analog, and you can't get the good deal fixed-price plans you can with digital phones, plus analog is dieing as a cell technology.
Problem I've found is that there really is no way I've found to check whether the amplifier and remote antenna is working OK. The amp reduces it's output to minimum when you've got good coverage in your cell site and it's not needed. But then when I still have little or "no service", is it because the unit isn't putting out correctly (or antenna wired in corredctly), or because there truly is no coverage? I do get more bars of coverage when my phone is hooked into the amp/antenna combination (assuming I didn't get full strength w/o using it), but not the dramatic inprovements I was led to expect. Problem with bag phones is they are analog, and you can't get the good deal fixed-price plans you can with digital phones, plus analog is dieing as a cell technology.
Antenna
Morning Abe: In my primary sailing area, cell phone signals are at best intermittant, with almost no signal at the marina itself. Two years ago, I set out to go with the antenna/amplifier configuration and started with a 4 foot digital antenna mounted on the arch, total about 120.00 bucks. I immediately picked up two to three bars on my phone and haven't been out of signal since the antenna installation. I've been so satisfied with the signal, I've yet to actually purchase and hook up an amp. You might try the antenna first and see if it helps before dropping the additional money for the amp. Luck!
Morning Abe: In my primary sailing area, cell phone signals are at best intermittant, with almost no signal at the marina itself. Two years ago, I set out to go with the antenna/amplifier configuration and started with a 4 foot digital antenna mounted on the arch, total about 120.00 bucks. I immediately picked up two to three bars on my phone and haven't been out of signal since the antenna installation. I've been so satisfied with the signal, I've yet to actually purchase and hook up an amp. You might try the antenna first and see if it helps before dropping the additional money for the amp. Luck!
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