[geeks] Opinions on T-Mobile and Verizon

[Michael Parson]

On Thu, 29 Nov 2007, Lionel Peterson wrote:
> Phil Stracchino wrote:
>> Dan Sikorski wrote:
>>> Phil Stracchino wrote:
>>>> Michael Parson wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> One thing I've found recently is that personal cell-phone
>>>>> repeaters are surprisingly affordable.  You can get one for your
>>>>> house for <$300.  Both Fry's and Thinkgeek have them for $249 for
>>>>> the single-band or $349 for the dual band units.  Google/products
>>>>> found them for cheaper elsewhere.
>>>>
>>>> Unfortunately they can only amplify and rebroadcast signal that's
>>>> there in the first place.  We don't have reliable GSM signal here
>>>> even outside.  It's highly typical around here for me to pull out
>>>> my phone at the school bus stop, see three bars, think "Aha!  I
>>>> have signal!", try to dial a call, and watch the signal drop to
>>>> zero and stay there before I can even finish dialling the call.
>>>
>>> The one we have at our office has a directional antenna.  Point
>>> that antenna and your nearest cell tower, and while the low gain
>>> omnidirectional antenna of your phone near ground level might not
>>> get any signal, a higher gain directional antenna can.  I'm not in
>>> that office very often, so I cannot comment on how well it works
>>> first-hand, but my coworkers reported a big improvement when it was
>>> first installed about eight months ago.
>>
>> Hmmm.  Interesting.
>>
>> Of course, it'd still only help in the vicinity of the house, where
>> I have landline anyway.  What I really need is cell signal when I'm
>> *not* at home.
>
> Of course, you could take your repeater with you ;^)

Well, they sell in-car repeaters too, but they seem to be a bit more:

http://store.treocentral.com/content/accessories/148-149.htm

> On a mre serious note, I wish I could get a real car phone installed
> with a reasonable antenna and appropriate power output (you know, like
> they used to sell)... Little handie-talkies are fun, but of little use
> in fringe areas between cells - full-power radios might have a better
> chance.
>
> I wonder how powerful the inpcar "on star" and other phones are...
>
> Anyone ever look at using one of those phones as their mobile phone?

That would require I drive a GM vehicle, ick.

-- 
Michael Parson
mparson at bl.org