Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Anyone here use the Wilson cellular amp?. I just bought one to hook into my
VX6100 I have on Verizon. I have 15 days to decide if this was a prudent
investment before the refund grace period runs out. I have a few questions
that maybe someone can answer.
1......are these things supposed to run very warm, bordering on hot, even
when the phone isn't being used?
2.,.....If these things get such superior range(up to a 50 mile increase)
why would it, in a prime area(Waterloo, IA), go from a full signal indicator
to a no signal & drop the call & then back to full signal in less than a
block?
3.......Do these things really work as well as Wilson claims, or is this a
high dollar high tech version of the stick on cell booster?


--
Roughrider50

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

"Roughrider50" <corkyf56@hotmail.com> wrote in
newse0Me.59077$D21.20424@fe07.news.easynews.com:

> Anyone here use the Wilson cellular amp?. I just bought one to hook
> into my VX6100 I have on Verizon. I have 15 days to decide if this was
> a prudent investment before the refund grace period runs out. I have a
> few questions that maybe someone can answer.
> 1......are these things supposed to run very warm, bordering on hot,
> even when the phone isn't being used?

Absolutely not! Something is wrong with that unit.

> 2.,.....If these things get such superior range(up to a 50 mile
> increase) why would it, in a prime area(Waterloo, IA), go from a full
> signal indicator to a no signal & drop the call & then back to full
> signal in less than a block?

The amp isn't going to solve dead zones caused by things blocking cellular
signals, like buildings, bridges, mountains, etc. It isn't magic.

> 3.......Do these things really work as well as Wilson claims, or is
> this a high dollar high tech version of the stick on cell booster?
>
>
I've got the DA4000 from www.cellantenna.com and it works very well out in
the country on CDMA and AMPS. It's not used here in the city.


--
Larry

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

1) They do run warm, and they need some "room to breathe" -- the outer case
is basically a large heatsink. Also, the amp still functions when the phone
is "not being used" -- it allows you to receive calls that would have been
missed before.

3) I use a similar product from Criterion Cellular
(http://www.criterioncellular.com/amplifiers/index.html)-- the performance
is outstanding as long as there is some signal available to amplify.

"Roughrider50" <corkyf56@hotmail.com> wrote in message
newse0Me.59077$D21.20424@fe07.news.easynews.com...
> Anyone here use the Wilson cellular amp?. I just bought one to hook into
> my
> VX6100 I have on Verizon. I have 15 days to decide if this was a prudent
> investment before the refund grace period runs out. I have a few questions
> that maybe someone can answer.
> 1......are these things supposed to run very warm, bordering on hot, even
> when the phone isn't being used?
> 2.,.....If these things get such superior range(up to a 50 mile increase)
> why would it, in a prime area(Waterloo, IA), go from a full signal
> indicator
> to a no signal & drop the call & then back to full signal in less than a
> block?
> 3.......Do these things really work as well as Wilson claims, or is this a
> high dollar high tech version of the stick on cell booster?
>
>
> --
> Roughrider50
>

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

tgw Wrote:
> 1) They do run warm, and they need some "room to breathe" -- the outer
> case
> is basically a large heatsink. Also, the amp still functions when the
> phone
> is "not being used" -- it allows you to receive calls that would have
> been
> missed before.
>
> 3) I use a similar product from Criterion Cellular
> (http://tinyurl.com/95quc)-- the performance
> is outstanding as long as there is some signal available to amplify.
>
> "Roughrider50" <corkyf56@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> newse0Me.59077$D21.20424@fe07.news.easynews.com...
> > Anyone here use the Wilson cellular amp?. I just bought one to hook
> into
> > my
> > VX6100 I have on Verizon. I have 15 days to decide if this was a
> prudent
> > investment before the refund grace period runs out. I have a few
> questions
> > that maybe someone can answer.
> > 1......are these things supposed to run very warm, bordering on hot,
> even
> > when the phone isn't being used?
> > 2.,.....If these things get such superior range(up to a 50 mile
> increase)
> > why would it, in a prime area(Waterloo, IA), go from a full signal
> > indicator
> > to a no signal & drop the call & then back to full signal in less
> than a
> > block?
> > 3.......Do these things really work as well as Wilson claims, or is
> this a
> > high dollar high tech version of the stick on cell booster?
> >
> >
> > --
> > Roughrider50
> >

"...as long as there is some signal available to amplify"

I've tried the trucker antenna to no avail... I get 1-2 bars of signal
(vzw) but the phone cannot complete a call... any ideas how I can judge
how much signal IS available?

--
jeaniesing
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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jeaniesing wrote:
>
> "...as long as there is some signal available to amplify"
>
> I've tried the trucker antenna to no avail... I get 1-2 bars of signal
> (vzw) but the phone cannot complete a call... any ideas how I can
> judge how much signal IS available?

You may want to try something that works, (but is rather pricey).. Check
www.cellantenna.com for a repeater.
I couldn't get a signal in the house (steel roof), and have a yagi outside
on the TV antenna tower, and the repeater inside (like what they do in some
stores to make cellphones work good). Used to use the wilson, but it was
cabled to the phone.. This one (about $500) lets up to 10 people use their
cellphones at once. Now I can walk around and get 5 bars inside... Works
great for data connections too.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

jeaniesing <jeaniesing.1tu60y@nospam.cellphoneforums.net> wrote in
news:jeaniesing.1tu60y@nospam.cellphoneforums.net:

> I've tried the trucker antenna to no avail... I get 1-2 bars of signal
> (vzw) but the phone cannot complete a call... any ideas how I can judge
> how much signal IS available?
>
>
>

Your problem is probably more related to multipath signals hitting the
phone, which amplifiers will not solve, than weak signals. The further you
are from a cell, the more signals bounce around to get to you just like the
ghosts you see on a UHF TV on an antenna far from the TV transmitter. In
the old AMPS days, a simple FM radio, you got noisy when the reflected
signal cancelled the main signal. You moved a foot and both signals
reinforced each other, instead of cancelling, and your call was clear as a
bell. The microsecond differences in the time the signals got to you made
no difference on analog FM. But, alas, now you are talking through a
computer (digital). Everything in a computer depends on timing. Signals
arriving microseconds late end up making a 1 on the direct signal and a 1 a
little late on the reflected signal. The computer, now confused because
the timing of the data is all wrong, simply gives up as it is programmed to
do and resets. Your call is dropped.

Wanna test it? Force the phone into analog and make the call. Move around
by a foot or two and see if you don't hear the signal fading in and out as
you move....that's multipath. The amplifiers won't fix this defect in
digital. They amplify the long path as well as the direct signals.

--
Larry

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

"Peter Pan" <PeterPanNOSPAM@NOSPAMAkamail.com> wrote in
news:3md7iaF168hk4U1@individual.net:

> have a yagi outside

He has solved the multipath problem. The yagi, just like a good TV
antenna, allows him to point to the cell he wants and away from the
multipath reflections, just like TV. So, his calls are all coming, no
matter where he is in the house, from a single high point with a directive
antenna array. The repeater amplifies the signal in and out overriding the
multipath signal, entirely, so there are no dead spots.

America needs what Europeans have.....lots of COMPANY repeaters on
buildings, light poles, billboards, and other places to fill in the gaps.
Don't hold your breath.

--
Larry

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Larry Wrote:
> "Peter Pan" <PeterPanNOSPAM@NOSPAMAkamail.com> wrote in
> news:3md7iaF168hk4U1@individual.net:
>
> > have a yagi outside
>
> He has solved the multipath problem. The yagi, just like a good TV
> antenna, allows him to point to the cell he wants and away from the
> multipath reflections, just like TV. So, his calls are all coming, no
> matter where he is in the house, from a single high point with a
> directive
> antenna array. The repeater amplifies the signal in and out overriding
> the
> multipath signal, entirely, so there are no dead spots.
>
> America needs what Europeans have.....lots of COMPANY repeaters on
> buildings, light poles, billboards, and other places to fill in the
> gaps.
> Don't hold your breath.
>
> --
> Larry

Alrighty... if I have the issue of bouncing signals then the ONLY WAY
any antenna or repeater will work is by focusing on one of those
signals... can anyone steer me to a tutorial of sorts that will show me
what equipment I would need to make something work? ...the geek streak
in me that cannot let this die...

--
jeaniesing
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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"jeaniesing" <jeaniesing.1tvt1z@nospam.cellphoneforums.net> wrote in message news:jeaniesing.1tvt1z@nospam.cellphoneforums.net...
>
> Larry Wrote:
>> "Peter Pan" <PeterPanNOSPAM@NOSPAMAkamail.com> wrote in
>> news:3md7iaF168hk4U1@individual.net:
>>
>> > have a yagi outside
>>
>> He has solved the multipath problem. The yagi, just like a good TV
>> antenna, allows him to point to the cell he wants and away from the
>> multipath reflections, just like TV. So, his calls are all coming, no
>> matter where he is in the house, from a single high point with a
>> directive
>> antenna array. The repeater amplifies the signal in and out overriding
>> the
>> multipath signal, entirely, so there are no dead spots.
>>
>> America needs what Europeans have.....lots of COMPANY repeaters on
>> buildings, light poles, billboards, and other places to fill in the
>> gaps.
>> Don't hold your breath.
>>
>> --
>> Larry
>
> Alrighty... if I have the issue of bouncing signals then the ONLY WAY
> any antenna or repeater will work is by focusing on one of those
> signals... can anyone steer me to a tutorial of sorts that will show me
> what equipment I would need to make something work? ...the geek streak
> in me that cannot let this die...
> --
> jeaniesing
>

No use baiting Larry.
He'll always believe multipath propagation is inherently bad.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Larry wrote:

> America needs what Europeans have.....lots of COMPANY repeaters on
> buildings, light poles, billboards, and other places to fill in the gaps.
> Don't hold your breath.

Not going to happen as long as there are NIMBYs harboring an irrational
fear of cell sites and repeaters.



--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

jeaniesing wrote:

> Alrighty... if I have the issue of bouncing signals then the ONLY WAY
> any antenna or repeater will work is by focusing on one of those
> signals... can anyone steer me to a tutorial of sorts that will show
> me what equipment I would need to make something work? ...the geek
> streak in me that cannot let this die...

Actually, where I am now, it's definately NOT a multipath thing (way out in
the sticks in northern idaho, 20 miles to the nearest town, Att/Cingular/etc
don't work here, only Verizon). Tried a stick/omni antenna at first but
there wasn't enuf gain, the yagi give me both gain and when elsewhere
directional abilities.

Lived full time in my RV traveling around, and got into the omni and
directional antennas, and a repeater Not having the phone wired to the amp
was worth it's weight in gold.

You may want to see what locations are near you.. Try this link I got from
an old post:
<start paste>
> Try this link:
>
> http://www.pciatowersearch.com/act [...] N=20650542
>
> David R. Goyer
>
<end paste>

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Peter Pan Wrote:
>
> You may want to see what locations are near you.. Try this link I got
> from
> an old post:
> <start paste>
> > Try this link:
> >
> > http://tinyurl.com/a7vj7
> >
> > David R. Goyer
> >
> <end paste>
Appreciated .. I see towers within 10 miles but, of course, geography
intervenes in hilly terrain like this. I am not subscribed to see the
companies... but a question: Does the site list active towers or all
towers? A company that operates locally built several towers just
before they went belly up but didn't manage to get them activated...
(the half finished golf course is even more depressing ).


--
jeaniesing
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jeaniesing wrote:
> Peter Pan Wrote:
>>
>> You may want to see what locations are near you.. Try this link I got
>> from
>> an old post:
>> <start paste>
>>> Try this link:
>>>
>>> http://tinyurl.com/a7vj7
>>>
>>> David R. Goyer
>>>
>> <end paste>
> Appreciated .. I see towers within 10 miles but, of course,
> geography intervenes in hilly terrain like this. I am not subscribed
> to see the companies... but a question: Does the site list active
> towers or all towers? A company that operates locally built several
> towers just before they went belly up but didn't manage to get them
> activated... (the half finished golf course is even more depressing
> ).

Fraid I can't answer that. I live about 30 miles outside (NE of) spokane
washington, and no other cellular company besides Verizon works anywhere
within 20 miles of me, so it's pretty easy to tell who's towers they are!
In my case, now that I have a home, I used it to find the nearest tower and
aim the directional antenna for the repeater that way.
Used to travel in the RV and aiming was hit or miss (used the TV antenna
mount.. turn the antenna, wait, see if the bars change etc, usually couldn't
watch TV when the directional was aimed for cell ), that's when I went for
the omnidirectional antenna (mounted it on the roof of the RV, always 12.5
feet above the ground that way), could usually use it and watch TV at night.

You shouldn't have to subscribe to see towes though at that website.. i
never did and used it for a few years of travelling. As for your q about
active or not, it is based on FCC locations of transmitters/antennas.. Can't
imagine someone spending 10 of thous constructing and licensing a tower, and
then not using it or selling space to others.

Just saw the part about the trucker antennas, I used one for a while, cabled
to the antenna jack on the phone, but since I got this (CAE-50
http://www.cellantenna.com/repeate [...] peater.htm about $449), it
has worked great, not only for me, but anyone that visits and has a
cellphone.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Peter Pan Wrote:
> Just saw the part about the trucker antennas, I used one for a while,
> cabled
> to the antenna jack on the phone, but since I got this (CAE-50
> http://tinyurl.com/cezcz about $449), it
> has worked great, not only for me, but anyone that visits and has a
> cellphone.Guess I'll just have to be certain there is a return polic