Booster questions

cavedog

cavedog

Honorary Master
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So basically I have very very poor coverage with most networks. MTN and Vodacom I have EDGE only with Telkom Mobile I have full 3G coverage and with cellc I have 2 bars 3G signal with basically no data throughput.

Now I have 3 contracts with Cellc and 1 prepaid 60GB sim. I do not think its the tower that is too badly congested cause I do get 3Mbps+ in certain area's around the house but nothing very good.

The thing I want to find out is how would one get like a booster or antenna installed from cellc? Do they even do it or do I need to pay for it. I mean I'm already paying about R1100 p/m in contracts with them but can't use data.....

How does a booster work anyways I always just heard people talk about it but never saw one or really know how it works. :confused:
 
So after logging network query after network query they simply do nothing and don't even call or if I get 1 missed call from 084140 then nothing at all. No way to contact them directly at all just logging query after quary and nothing works...

I now purchased a Chinese booster on ebay which should solve my problem. Illegal or not they not comming to the party even though I pay R1010 per month in cellphone contracts with them. I think that is a significant amount of money to have a legal booster installed but they just don't call me to get things rolling......
 
Illegal or not is secondary issue. Main concern of using boosters is that it can run unstable and put your family at risk. It is why professional installation is mandatory.
 
I am very interested in this as I have the same problem, live in a Block of Flats and they have tested the signal 140m from my flat and say its fine. However I know this as on the ground its perfect but 13 floors up I can hardly talk to people.

....? I am also with Cell C and also have that amount of potential money to spend with them 2 contracts due for upgrade now...
 
Well my Chinese booster has been shipped should be here in the next 2 to 3 weeks so I will let you know if it actually works or not. It was 1k for the booster so will let you know. Cell C told me it can take 3 months before they decide on a antenna or booster installation....
 
So I got my booster and tested it and wow it actually works great with Cell C but I have a problem though. It does boost the signal and with it on I get full bars of signal with -60dB signal strenght.

The problem is data speeds are not that much faster in fact it might be a bit slower. Now I think it can only be the fact that the tower is congested which I doubt cause I took a drive to it and its fast if you are near the tower. There are too many tree and I can't get a line of sight from where I want to put the antenna. I think its not getting good enough signal where I placed the yagi antenna outside....
 
@Cavedog

Your booster via Ebay arrived quickly :)
Are you getting the -60dBm signal strength reading on 2G or 3G ?
I'm keen to get a booster for a Cell C signal too.
Please keep us posted on how your booster performs particularly with regards to data throughput.
 
Booster if installed incorrectly can work unstable and radiate above the norm. Lower amplification, should get better speed. Warn your family about health risk.
 
sajunky said:
Booster if installed incorrectly can work unstable and radiate above the norm. Lower amplification, should get better speed. Warn your family about health risk.
Click to expand...

Trust me since I'm already through 6 months of chemo hell and still have to do radiation for hodskins the health risk from this thing is nothing.......
 
Brunette Babe said:
@Cavedog

Your booster via Ebay arrived quickly :)
Are you getting the -60dBm signal strength reading on 2G or 3G ?
I'm keen to get a booster for a Cell C signal too.
Please keep us posted on how your booster performs particularly with regards to data throughput.
Click to expand...

It did actually and SARS ripped the packaging open to inspect it too. But its here and works well in terms of voice but data is still no real improvement.... I have no line of sight to the tower cause its blocked by HUGE trees from my neigbours so doubt I will get good data speeds but works great for voice and works on 3G. Shows on my iphone 5 from 1 bar 3G to full bars 3G the closer I go to the booster.
 
Budza said:
Do you have ADSL in addition to your mobile data contracts? :confused:
Click to expand...

Yes I have adsl. I only got one 2GB data contract. All the other data is on my phone package and 1 prepaid data sim that cellc sponsored me for reporting the website flaw. So instead of it all going to waste I would like to use it.
 
cavedog said:
Trust me since I'm already through 6 months of chemo hell and still have to do radiation for hodskins the health risk from this thing is nothing.......
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear it. Did you think about your family, not only yourself? Did you pass to them my warning?
 
cavedog said:
Yes I have adsl. I only got one 2GB data contract. All the other data is on my phone package and 1 prepaid data sim that cellc sponsored me for reporting the website flaw. So instead of it all going to waste I would like to use it.
Click to expand...

Ahh, OK.

How fast is the 3G there? Pop past the good reception area once a month to klap it :)
 
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