BajaNomad

Cell Phone Booster Antennas ???

Diver - 12-16-2006 at 01:01 PM

I have used a cell phone booster antenna when I've had a jobsite on the edge of the service zone. I was wondering if they wouold help in Baja ?
Is cell service line-of-site or might an 11 db antenna get me Telcel service 15 miles south of Mulege ??

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Neal Johns - 12-16-2006 at 01:43 PM

It is line of sight, but 11 db will help if there is no serious hill or mountain between you and cell tower. A little signal leaks around and over and sometimes is reflected, etc. Mount that antenna high.

Three watt boosters are available also. Your phone usually puts out 0.6 watts.

Bob and Susan - 12-16-2006 at 02:08 PM

they are selling cell phones and antennas in conception that work

the signal the guy told me shoots over to the mainland

my builders have one and call punta chavito all the time

my neighbor also has one

they look like the line of site units they use in san felipe
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uh yea... we're only 8 miles south of mulege

[Edited on 12-16-2006 by Bob and Susan]

Neal------

Barry A. - 12-16-2006 at 04:08 PM

----I have a WILSON cell phone magnetic roof top antennae for the car, and it seems to work pretty good-----certainly better than just using the phone inside the car. Are you familiar with the WILSON antennae?? It costs about $50 with the pigtail for your particular phone.

And if so, your opinion?

mtgoat666 - 12-16-2006 at 04:15 PM

I have seen people at San Ignacio Lagoon (near Kuyima) use a directional antenna (yagi) to pick up mobile phone service. To give you and idea of distance, I think they were picking up a tower in Guerro Negro.

bajalou - 12-16-2006 at 07:55 PM

I used to use a Yagi in San Felipe to pick up Yuma and El Centro. When conditions were right,k just like next door. Haven't for a while as Skype/Gizmo and a local phone eliminated the necessity.

I too, used a yagi from Puertecitos---

beercan - 12-17-2006 at 07:27 AM

but that was with the old 3 watt analogs (bag phones) --remember them ??
I tried the Wilson antenna with my "little" phones, but it doesn't seem to help.

bajalou - 12-17-2006 at 09:20 AM

I just got rid of my bag phone about 6 months ago. --- since I wasn't using it down here, figured might as well get something I could carry around when I'm in the old country.

Neal Johns - 12-17-2006 at 10:29 AM

Barry, the Wilson for cars has 6-7 db gain in all directions which is good for an omnidirectional antenna. However, a Yagi has 10-13 db in one direction and would far better for a fixed base (house) when pointed in one direction.