improve signal device

[unwashed potato!]

i work out and about all over, and some how in 2017, even in areas i'd expect to get good signal, there are too many times when i struggle and i'm looking for a solution to this issue.

anyone know of a device that plugs into the mobile or something that boosts the strength? we work at domestic properties and can use the power there, but can't use their internet.

 

[Myshra]

There is no way to extend the antenna is a current generation consumer phone. Your best bet would be a double SIM phone and using a network that is on Beacon (O2 & Voda are on beacon but I'd go Voda right now due to coverage / spectrum) and one that isn't (basically EE). This gives you the best chance of signal considering how the operators run their networks.

 

[unwashed potato!]

ok thanks for the reply. what sort of dual sim phones are out these days? currenlty have the 6P, was considering the pixel 2 for my next upgrade. i wouldn't be able to settle for anything less than top of the range mobile.

 

[Christmas themed thank]

The issue you have with a dual SIM phone is they are unlikely to support VoLTE and so you won't get enhanced coverage on EE via 800MHz (band 20).

 

[Myshra]

Sure but 2G fallback would be fine for most users, you use the handset for calls much? Any phone for the Asia market will do dual SIMs (Indian users have one sim for long distance and one for local, well until Jio ripped the market apart) so Chinese manufacturers like xiaomi, hauwei et al will have a model but Gigabit is eluding to the problem they come with - Asian markets don't use the same LTE frequencies we do so you need to check which bands they do support and check which one your UK networks will use. I think the oneplus 5 is a dual setup and supports a lot of bands but im not a great fan of the company personally (straight personal opinion there). The other thing is networks are blurring the lines of what freq they use, Voda have started re-farming 2100Mhz (the 3G band) for 4G recently for extra capacity. Other networks are starting to do this too, it's a great way to get more capacity. So even if you buy today, picture might change sorry.

 

[unwashed potato!]

i also assume dual sim phones will mean 2 phone numbers?

 

[Christmas themed thank]

Sure but 2G fallback would be fine for most users, you use the handset for calls much? Any phone for the Asia market will do dual SIMs (Indian users have one sim for long distance and one for local, well until Jio ripped the market apart) so Chinese manufacturers like xiaomi, hauwei et al will have a model but Gigabit is eluding to the problem they come with - Asian markets don't use the same LTE frequencies we do so you need to check which bands they do support and check which one your UK networks will use. I think the oneplus 5 is a dual setup and supports a lot of bands but im not a great fan of the company personally (straight personal opinion there). The other thing is networks are blurring the lines of what freq they use, Voda have started re-farming 2100Mhz (the 3G band) for 4G recently for extra capacity. Other networks are starting to do this too, it's a great way to get more capacity. So even if you buy today, picture might change sorry.

800MHz LTE on EE exceeds 2G.

 

[Dangerous]

i also assume dual sim phones will mean 2 phone numbers?

Yes as they would be on different networks.

Another option would be an Anywhere SIM

 

[paradigm]

i also assume dual sim phones will mean 2 phone numbers?

Just set your primary number to forward to the second when you are unreachable (have no signal).

 

[reflux]

The nearest thing I can think of to what you're describing is a femtocell (like a Three Home Signal), but you'd have to have the householder's permission to plug it into their broadband. So it looks like no use for you.

 

[koooowweeee]

mifi?