cell booster - AT&T

wiredgeorge · 11-03-2021, 12:58 PM

Well, Dish pay as you go didn't work out so I will use my phone as a hotspot. Turns out Consumer Cellular has both my wife and I on the unlimited data plan and we can use a hotspot. We each get 35 gigs before they throttle back. Our CC cell provider uses AT&T towers. Looking for cellular booster that doesn't cost an arm and a leg for better and more reliable data. Suggestions? (I am poor so $400-600 boosters won't fly).

rhagfo · 11-03-2021, 01:24 PM

Well can’t be much help, we use WeBoost large room home right at $400. We spend about five months in an spot where my AT&T phone shows no signal. We
Get one to two bars of LTE inside the 5er.

NH_Bulldog · 11-03-2021, 03:14 PM

Most boosters don’t differentiate between carriers, they boost all signals within a specified band or bands. I use a WeBoost and we are very happy with it. We use AT&T for our cell and data services

Hblick48 · 11-03-2021, 03:28 PM

I use the Weboost Drive Reach OTR, one of their lowest priced models. Phone reception goes from -113 db to -83db. You have to place phone in cradle. I use a portable wi-fi router connected to the phones hot spot for all of our internet needs. Works great!

Millertyme76 · 11-04-2021, 01:44 AM

I have several different band boosters I got off ebay. I recently set up on a permanent site but before then almost always in a different campground. The boosters off of ebay have required several soldering sessions because of poor build. I have saved money going this route but definitely not set it and forget it quality.

RickV · 11-04-2021, 02:00 AM

At the house we couldn't get consistent signal to use our cellphones for calls let alone streaming inside. We have Verizon and it worked OK outside but no other carriers would. I put in a HiBoost amplifier system and now we have 4 bars and great 4g in the house and found out that other carriers piggybacked on the same Verizon tower so now when friends are visiting their phones work too. I even have Verizon 4g true (no throttling) Unlimited Internet for the house. I have had the Hiboost system for over a year and never have had a issue.

Scttw · 11-04-2021, 03:52 AM

When you do shop for them, make sure they boost 3G as well as LTE.

Then, after install, test BOTH 3G and LTE. On an i-phone this is done through "Cellular/Cellular Data Options/Voice & Data" - where you can select either 3G or LTE.

Depending on where you are, you could boost the LTE to 1 or 2 bars, but where I camp the 3G goes to 5 so I keep it forced at 3g. Just remember to turn it back when you get home

This trick works for non booster cell towers as well. 3G goes FURTHER than LTE. But LTE is way faster as long as you have bars!

wiredgeorge · 11-05-2021, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scttw

When you do shop for them, make sure they boost 3G as well as LTE.

Then, after install, test BOTH 3G and LTE. On an i-phone this is done through "Cellular/Cellular Data Options/Voice & Data" - where you can select either 3G or LTE.

Depending on where you are, you could boost the LTE to 1 or 2 bars, but where I camp the 3G goes to 5 so I keep it forced at 3g. Just remember to turn it back when you get home

This trick works for non booster cell towers as well. 3G goes FURTHER than LTE. But LTE is way faster as long as you have bars!

I have an Android and I don't believe you can select 3G or 4G LTE.

Millertyme76 · 11-05-2021, 02:17 PM

I use an android as well. It may depend on the phone but I can select any version to use from 2g up to 5g. I also use network cell info lite app to check what my phone is seeing. I an not sure if that app works on iphones.

RickV · 11-06-2021, 01:53 AM

From what I have been seeing the major carriers are getting ready to shut down 3g.

wiredgeorge · 11-06-2021, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickV

From what I have been seeing the major carriers are getting ready to shut down 3g.

My question was more in the context of streaming TV so 3G isn't real important to me; no phone calls? Oh well!

Scttw · 11-06-2021, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

My question was more in the context of streaming TV so 3G isn't real important to me; no phone calls? Oh well!

Yeah, but if you are too far away for LTE, and you can pull in 3G, that is what you will use to get your data for streaming

RickV · 11-07-2021, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

My question was more in the context of streaming TV so 3G isn't real important to me; no phone calls? Oh well!

Me neither, I don't think streaming is even possible on 3g you could maybe download and then play but to actually stream I doubt it.

ChuckS · 11-07-2021, 06:17 AM

nice read on the subject of streaming with 3G

https://www.whistleout.com/CellPhone...on-Your-Mobile

Dallasrules · 11-11-2021, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Well, Dish pay as you go didn't work out so I will use my phone as a hotspot. Turns out Consumer Cellular has both my wife and I on the unlimited data plan and we can use a hotspot. We each get 35 gigs before they throttle back. Our CC cell provider uses AT&T towers. Looking for cellular booster that doesn't cost an arm and a leg for better and more reliable data. Suggestions? (I am poor so $400-600 boosters won't fly).

I have a cell booster for att. I was using it at a campground, but am no longer there. It is the webmaster basic home. I attached the antenna to the top of my ladder. It sells on Amazon for $245. I would let you have it for $100 obo. It worked well enough for me to take the signal from very poor to enough to connect my laptop to and work. PM me if interested.

Ibdagriz · 11-11-2021, 09:22 AM

This is new from Dish.

TravlFi™ Journey1 LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot

Griz

KarenK · 11-11-2021, 12:45 PM

Husband just got new cheaper Samsung 5G phone (his 1st smart phone). Our old WeBoost antenna on the cabin in Mi's UP did 3G and 4G. First time up there he had to call from a friends phone to let me know if an emergency to call his friend. He got another We Boost, not sure on model or price, is 4G and 5G.

Folkie · 11-13-2021, 10:37 AM

I tried to assist a friend with his cobbled together WeBoost system and could never get it to work properly on his old camper even after replacing all the components. His new camper has the Wingard 360+ and I installed the Wingard 4GLTE/wifi booster for him and it works great on ATT (he also has a Verizon sim for areas with no ATT coverage) when he is working on the road.

I thought of doing the same for our camper but we also have a vacation home with no internet. I got the following more portable solution from Netgear:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have had good luck with it so far in both the camper and the vacation home. It has an option for an external antenna to help bring in weak signals. I can put the antenna on the inside of the window and it works well for us on Verizon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

TomTerrific · 02-19-2022, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Well, Dish pay as you go didn't work out so I will use my phone as a hotspot. Turns out Consumer Cellular has both my wife and I on the unlimited data plan and we can use a hotspot. We each get 35 gigs before they throttle back. Our CC cell provider uses AT&T towers. Looking for cellular booster that doesn't cost an arm and a leg for better and more reliable data. Suggestions? (I am poor so $400-600 boosters won't fly).

Surecall works for us.
As fulltime RVers we have Verizon unlimited with 60gig shared between us.
Surecall Fusion2go 3.0 has saved us in remote locations many times.

Word to the wise. Buy cheap get cheap.

OBTW, speaking of fly over country, I think Verison flew over the entire state of Missouri. All ATT there.

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