[Closed] Mobile Phone Signal Boosters

3g is about to be shutdown, you're better off getting a phone with WiFi calling

3g is about to be shutdown,

Only some operators have announced shutting down theirs. IIRC O2 hasn't yet.

So, what are the options, if any?

Two options - some operators do a mobile phone booster as part of the Wifi box you get - no idea about O2.

The other option is a stand alone booster which are technically illegal to use but legal to buy (same as electric scooters). You have an antenna in / on the roof pointing at the nearest cell site and another antenna in the house repeating the signal where you want better coverage.

In an ideal world yes wifi calling would be better but its for an old blind man who doesn't like change, for obvious reasons.

He has a phone which he is 100% savvy with and its an old 3G o2 phone.

Pretty limited - o2 is refarming 3G frequencies to be used on 4g and 5G - with a view to turning it off completely as Vodafone has already announced.

Ee and Voda have already announced plans to decommission their home / office 3G boost boxes.

It’s probably easier to get a handset that supports 4g / Wi-Fi calling - albeit all 3G handsets will work on 2g anyway.

o2's wi-fi calling roll-out has been tediously slow and only supports a handful of phones

Someone has asked me about getting them a signal booster.

This is an answer, not a question. What are they trying to achieve?

it has to be 3G only, not smartphone

I don't understand this bit?

The chap has a Doro 3G phone, its not a smartphone but the signal isnt great throughout the house and I am asking if its possible to boost the signal in any way.

I am looking at 4G phones which are as basic as they can be, a smartphone or touchscreen is out.

If there is already broadband in the house WiFi calling is seamless assuming the handset has the facility. Just involves flicking a setting in the menu. O2 enable it generally on lots of phones.

If this isn't an option perhaps talk to RNIB they have been excellent sorting out a diverse range of kit for a family member of mine

is a GSM 4G/5G booster a thing? ie to boost phone signal rather than boost wifi signal?

is that what we're looking for? if so i need one too. While i've boost teh wifi around the around with a few mesh systems and boosters, the phone signal is awful for actual phone calls so want to get that fixed.

The chap has a Doro 3G phone

FIL has one of those - great phones for the elderly. Upgrading to a 4G variant might be a long term solution but only if they have decent 4G coverage in the house (if 3G doesn't work then 4G is unlikely to be much better).

is a GSM 4G/5G booster a thing?

Yep - huge in the US but technically not allowed here but you can still buy them (legal to sell and install, just not legal to switch on).

Ofcom did ask a few prominent UK sellers to stop selling (they didn't have to comply) so maybe not widely available locally.

1st google hit

https://www.mobile-signal-boosters.shop/repeater-65/

Need to hunt around for a 4G one for the UK - make sure it covers the right bands.

Do they get signal anywhere in the house? Can't boost it if it's not there.

I believe the only legal boosters are those made by Cel-Fi.

The chap has a Doro 3G phone, its not a smartphone but the signal isnt great throughout the house and I am asking if its possible to boost the signal in any way.

Is there a practical reason (eg, thick walls, out in the middle of nowhere) or just spotty coverage? If the latter, maybe changing providers might be the answer? A Smarty SIM (resellers of 3) is £6/month on a month-to-month contract for their basic package.

I have tested my 4G phone over in the house and its not much better than the 3G.

Is there a practical reason (eg, thick walls, out in the middle of nowhere) or just spotty coverage? If the latter, maybe changing providers might be the answer? A Smarty SIM (resellers of 3) is £6/month on a month-to-month contract for their basic package.

I think the main reason for lack of signal (or so I have been informed) is that there is a couple of large antenna towers in nearby fields. The area isn't that rural.

I think the main reason for lack of signal (or so I have been informed) is that there is a couple of large antenna towers in nearby fields.

With a bit of luck they'll have some signs saying which operators are uisng them (on their cabinets at the mast base) if you wander up and take a look.

Although more often than not it's all anonymous if it's a publicly accessible site (I assume to dissuade people with a grudge against Network X etc).

If the OP can post a link to the masts on Google streeview we can work out from that which networks they relate to.

I did used to have a set of O2 cabinet keys somewhere, could post those to the OP and if they open up the local mast - we know it's an O2 installation. However, think they got lost in an office move....

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/network-coverage-and-international/boostbox-guide

I think this a femtocell - ie a mini cell in your. Runs calls and data over your broadband. It will improve battery on phone too.

I’m in Australia but have recently bought the only legal option available here. It’s made an incredible difference. Also, it’s switchable between 3G/4G so I would look for one of these if possible. Using the app you can fine tune it quite well.

https://boostersformobiles.com.au/collections/telstra-building-repeaters/products/copy-of-cel-fi-go-mobile-phone-booster-building-lpda-pack

Its probably worth asking theneighbours which network gives the best signal in that street. Then get a payg sim with £5.00 of credit and try in in his phone.