Improving cellphone reception.

[FROSTY:Me]

My Mum and Dad live out the back of beyond in Mangawhai.
They are in the middle of a 50 acre forest.
Cell reception is at times non existent.
The cost of running a landline in is huge.
SOOO
Can anyone think of a practical way of boosting vodaphone reception?

[Maha]

Build a hill???

[boomer]

if they're important they could get a mini repeater installed, but i know the reality of that is zilch.

best bet is to buy and install a new mobile network themselves if they want reception or get a nat sat fone

[CookMySock]

If you PM me their exact location on google maps, I can make some recommendations.

edit: if are not sure how to do that, then click here and drag the "A" marker to their place (zoom in or out as necessary) and then copy and paste the chain link icon (top right-hand corner) in a PM to me.

If you paste that link in the open form you will reveal their location to everyone and sundry.

Steve

[peasea]

My Mum and Dad live out the back of beyond in Mangawhai.
They are in the middle of a 50 acre forest.
Cell reception is at times non existent.
The cost of running a landline in is huge.
SOOO
Can anyone think of a practical way of boosting vodaphone reception?

If I lived in the back of beyond, in the middle of a 50 acre forest, I'd be grateful for no cell phone reception, it'd be good for the soul. People used to get along fine before cell phones, computers and hip-hop.

[p.dath]

If they are on the newer UMTS network, then in maybe 12 months vodafone are looking to sell femtocell transmitters. These devices plug into your DSL circuit, and boost the reception in the room, and use your IP connection for back haul. You can read more about the UK pilot here:
http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/chris-k...ve-vodafone-xt

If they are using the older GSM network then you can buy an illegal repeater. The repeaters are illegal to sell within a country, so you need to buy it from somewhere like Australia. There are a couple of companies that specialise in doing this. An example is Powertec. They have www.powertec.co.nz to sell to Australia, and www.powertec.com.au to sell to NZ.
Check out:
http://www.powertec.com.au/shop/-c-3...e552927da7ba9f

Note that you probably want to email them (or give them a call) and say what you are wanting to achieve, as the selection of antennas used can make a big difference to how well it works.

[p.dath]

ps. I should mention the other easy option. Ring 777 and make a "coverage request". If enough people make a request for an area then Vodafone will consider putting in additional capacity.

[boomer]

If you PM me their exact location on google maps, I can make some recommendations.

edit: if are not sure how to do that, then click here and drag the "A" marker to their place (zoom in or out as necessary) and then copy and paste the chain link icon (top right-hand corner) in a PM to me.

If you paste that link in the open form you will reveal their location to everyone and sundry.

Steve

I'm keeen to know what you're going to suggest, please share it with us all..!


Remember, i was vodafone RF & UMTS Performance and Optimisation Manager for 4 years and know ALL the options available...

[Maha]

I'm keeen to know what you're going to suggest, please share it with us all..!


Remember, i was vodafone Performance and optimisation manager for 4 years and know ALL the options available...

So did you manage to optimise the performance of Vodafone inside that four years?...

[boomer]

So did you manage to optimise the performance of Vodafone inside that four years?...

Thats an oxymoron; although i did go on to become the Network and Services Quality Manager.. ahahahah

[FROSTY:Me]

sorry guys just to be clear --they have NO phone except the cell.
I like the repeater idea

[boomer]

sorry guys just to be clear --they have NO phone except the cell.
I like the repeater idea

Frosty,

a repeater costs many thousands of dollars to buy the hardware never mind install.

Installation would only take place if it were economically viable for VF to do so. ( note, one residential customer is not economically viable ) Marketing budget so many a year as do the RF team, they are deployed where best impact for $$ and customer satisfaction is gained... im afriad your olds wont even register on the 'care' factor buddy

As for Dpaths idea of buying a mini repeater from over seas and fitting it yourselves, I applaud the kiwi inginuity but theres a fine line between being appluaded and laughed at.


Try Teleskum

[Gremlin]

The other problem will be their geographic location. Even if Vodafone eventually put a repeater in the area (but more general to get more customers, if thats possible) if your parents are down a hill, or in a valley, there could be less chance of even getting that coverage...

Telecom is probably your best option, but see if you can borrow one to test coverage (or ask a mate to visit, who has the new xt network) and if you can get coverage, go ahead and buy one I guess?

[Dave Lobster]

a repeater costs many thousands of dollars to buy the hardware never mind install.

Voda will put one in if you spend $5k+ a month.

As for Dpaths idea of buying a mini repeater from over seas and fitting it yourselves, I applaud the kiwi inginuity but theres a fine line between being appluaded and laughed at.

Followed closely by prosecution.

[Jantar]

Telescum quoted us $23000 to put a landline in. Eventually 2 other neighbours joined in and we hired a digger and did it ourselves. Total cost for a mini digger for 2 days, 3 km of cable and a 300 m of conduit was $1200. Telescum (well, their local contractor) checked the laying and did the final connection for only a few hundred.