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General discussion

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WILL IMPROVE CELL PHONE RECEPTION?

Aug 26, 2005 11:08AM PDT

Use Cingular (ok, I know all about them and their WAYS), but I have no choice. Am in rural area and no other provider choice!! WHAT ON EARTH CAN I DO TO GET ANY RECEPTION????

ANYTHING???? Have a Samsung x427m now - (previously a Motorola phone had same results - NO SERVICE).

Service is fine if I'm in a town some 40+ miles from my home!! So not phones.

Again - IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET RECEPTION?

THANKS!!

Discussion is locked

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IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WILL IMPROVE CELL PHONE RECEPTION?
Aug 26, 2005 11:27AM PDT

I don't know of any product that'll help with cellphone reception. Usually in rural america, there's usually 2 services. Where my brother lives in Knox Indiana, the only 2 carriers that serve his area are Verizon Wireless because the former GTE Mobile covered that area and Fort Wayne Indiana based Centennial Wireless, which operates on TDMA & GSM. I can tell you that cellphone reception in rural america can be tough. I know since Verizon Wireless doesn't cover Knox Indiana all that well. I've been fortunate to have good coverage in town like Kouts & LaCrosse Indiana, where Verizon has towers in town, but not Knox though. Rural areas typically operate on lower frequencies since they travel farther than higher frequencies. That's part of the reason there are fewer towers in rural towns because of the open space out there. I know once I get a chance to meet someone in Fowler Indiana, my phone will roam, but I don't know if it'll be US Cellular since they're the only CDMA service that's supposed to serve Fowler, or if my phone will switch to analog and roam on Centennial Wireless's network since their digital are both TDMA & GSM.

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I've heard of some productds
Aug 27, 2005 4:44AM PDT
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GOOD SITE FOR INFO - JUST WHAT I WAS WANTING
Aug 27, 2005 6:28AM PDT

THANKS A LOT. This site sure looks likes what I need -some information on what I should/can do - I hadn't found anything in my searches using ratings/cell phone antennas, etc. I really appreciate your help. Will let you know what happens!

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You can try what I did for receiving a stronger signal
Aug 28, 2005 2:22AM PDT

Of course I can not guarantee that it will work for you, but I went to www.bargaincell.com and clicked on antennas, found my phone make and model, and got one of the steel retactable antennas,similar to those on the old transistor radios. It works great for me, I am talking on the phone in places I never got reception before. I am with Cingular, and quite happy, for $10 plus shipping give it a try. Good luck

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reception
Aug 28, 2005 9:19AM PDT

If all else fails, try the home phone line.