zboost cell phone extender

[Scottshotz]

Someone please google and link the results for this. I know its $170, and is said to boost cell phone reception. Which includes......EDGE!!!

[ZipZap]

These boosters do not work (at least it did nothing for me). It is also only designed to boost voice not data. You need a cell repeater with an outside antenna to do the job. Those will set you back 3 to 5 hundred.

[Tinman]

These boosters do not work (at least it did nothing for me). It is also only designed to boost voice not data. You need a cell repeater with an outside antenna to do the job. Those will set you back 3 to 5 hundred.

For starters this device does use an external antenna, and it did (does?) cost $300.

Second, the review in the NY Times, as well as a few other reviews I have read, claim it works well.

So to me Zboost would be very attractive if I wanted better cell reception at home. Heck if I can find this for $170 I might buy it.



--
Mike

[Scottshotz]

there is a $300 external I believe. But I'm talking about a smaller "stick on your window" type device. They said the small one boosts edge. And this was in la where apparently at&t has horrible reception. They highly reccomended it. (both iPhone users) It was on g4.

[Tinman]

there is a $300 external I believe. But I'm talking about a smaller "stick on your window" type device. They said the small one boosts edge. And this was in la where apparently at&t has horrible reception. They highly reccomended it. (both iPhone users) It was on g4.
The reviews on that cheaper model are not nearly as impressive or consistent.

If you buy one make sure you can take it back.



--
Mike

[ZipZap]

Let me rephrase a bit.....

You have to have a good signal to see a boost with these cheap devices. Even the instructions will tell you that this is the case.

So if you have a solid 3 bar signal, you will see 4 and might (loosly stated) see 5.

If you have 1 or 2 bars you will not see any appreciable change. Unless you mount an outside, and high up antenna.

Finally, the antenna provided with zboost is meant for attic install. It is also not the best design of cell antennas (there are better ones).

My direct experience with these, and I bought it after reading positive reviews, it that it does not work for those folks who really need it (weak signals).

My testing was with ATT in Maryland. Areas and signal frequencies vary.

The only real way to consistently boost a weak signal is to buy a repeater with an amplifier built in, and mount an external antenna. A repeater, will however, still work reasonably well with an inside antenna.

Here is a reference to this equipment:

http://www.mycellularsolutions.com/DB_wirelessmobile.html

[Tinman]

Let me rephrase a bit.....

You have to have a good signal to see a boost with these cheap devices. Even the instructions will tell you that this is the case.

So if you have a solid 3 bar signal, you will see 4 and might (loosly stated) see 5.

If you have 1 or 2 bars you will not see any appreciable change. Unless you mount an outside, and high up antenna.

Finally, the antenna provided with zboost is meant for attic install. It is also not the best design of cell antennas (there are better ones).

My direct experience with these, and I bought it after reading positive reviews, it that it does not work for those folks who really need it (weak signals).

My testing was with ATT in Maryland. Areas and signal frequencies vary.

The only real way to consistently boost a weak signal is to buy a repeater with an amplifier built in, and mount an external antenna. A repeater, will however, still work reasonably well with an inside antenna.

Here is a reference to this equipment:

http://www.mycellularsolutions.com/DB_wirelessmobile.html

That's a car product. The zBoost device is for a home or office.


We took a gamble on the zBoost product, installed it right after the winter holidays and it’s done an amazing job of solving our cell phone reception problems. Jason reports that it’s practically doubled his Motorola Q’s battery life (Verizon service). I can comfortably take and make calls on my cell phone sitting at my desk (Cingular service) — no more needing to step outside and battle with the noise of traffic. For anyone considering getting one of these things, I highly recommend the zBoost product. We bought ours from here at Wi-Ex for $399.http://rake.sh/blog/2007/01/31/zboost-cell-phone-signal-booster/


The zBoost Dual-Band grabs cell signals and strengthens them inside homes and businesses, often bumping up the signal display on a phone by two or three bars. The system supports G.S.M. and C.D.M.A. phones, so it works with all systems except some Nextel phones. It is available online at www.wi-ex.com (http://www.wi-ex.com) and other sites for less than $400.
Installation is fairly simple, and unless you have experience in radio engineering there is little need to tweak things. The system comes with a large outdoor antenna and a long cable. You mount the antenna to an outside wall or just stick it out a window. Then you move the receiver to your low-signal zone and plug it in.
In a test in a basement that has traditionally been a dead zone, reception improved from one or two bars to a full four bars. Cave dwellers now have one less excuse for being antisocial.http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/30/technology/30cell.html?_r=1&oref=slogin



--
Mike

[patrickj]

Has anyone tried out THIS (http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2008/02/14/boosting-iphone-signal-strength-with-scotch-tape/) free method at all?

[JWilliams]

I have the zboost zp (the $170 unit) on my desk at work and it works great for me. i wasn't getting any of my messages and my phone kept dying by the end of the day because the battery was working so hard to find signal. i read a lot of articles about it before i purchased and from what I've gathered they work with all smart phones. considering the phone was more expensive than this booster I've thought it has been a great investment. Here are some of the articles I read:

http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2008/01/29/increase-in-dropped-phone-calls-under-iphone-113/

http://blogs.pcworld.com/tipsandtweaks/archives/006240.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/10/AR2008011004286_2.html


They sell them all over the internet but I just bought mine direct from the manufacturer because they honor a guarantee (though as of now I don't think I'll need it). Obviously they can explain the ins and outs much better than I can. www.wi-ex.com

[ZipZap]

Tinman, Its a wireless product that will work in the home or in the car. Search the site as there are many other options.

I can only tell you my experience for my situation. I tried numerous products and all of them did not work.

The repeater/amplifier product I noted was $595 when I was looking. If I was staring today, I would start with a repeater/amplifier.

If the zBoost works for you, then great....it did not work for me at all.

[ZipZap]

Make sure you have a 100% return guarantee.

[psherris]

zboost only improves my reception when I have 3g turned off. The same was true for my son's iPhone so I don't think it's my handset. With 3g on I have one bar or no connection, with it off I get 5 bars. With 3g on I cannot make calls, with it off no problem. Is this Apple or Zboost?

[ZipZap]

zBoost only works on certain frequencies so it could be the boost.

I would buy a real cell amplifier/repeater....and mount an antenna. I dont think anything else will work.

Zboost cannot help 1 or 2 bar folks.

[cjl_08]

I have the zBoost YX510 (http://www.repeaterstore.com/products/repeaterkits/wi-ex) and it works great. I live in a house with concrete floors and before I got the repeater I only had a good signal in one corner and in the attic. It boosted the signal so I could get reception in my entire house. If you are planning to install it yourself, just make sure that the internal and external antennas are seperated from each other to prevent them from picking up each other's signal. Oh, and place the external antenna in an area where you can get the best signal.

I recommend that you read this article before buying a repeater.
Amplifier Kit Buyer Guide (http://www.wilsonamplifierstore.com/buyer-guide#coveragearea)

[Chex]

Use a Wilson product.

http://www.everythingicafe.com/forum/iphone-accessories/wilson-ibooster-45749.html

http://www.wilsonelectronics.com//

[soilsample]

I have a zboost set up at home.
If you have one area where you can get a steady signal (even one bar) it will boost that signal and broadcast it to a much larger area.
If you have no signal it will not help.

The unit is shipped with a non directional antenna. They offer a "yagi" antenna which is supposed to allow you to aim it at a tower for better performance.