faraday cage apartment / cell phone
 

I searched the archives and found this question addressed but not
fully. I have a verizon cell with a dual-band radio 800/1900. I get
service everywhere except...my new apartment. Ofcourse, probably a
typical scenario. The second I walk into the apt, the signal drops to
nothing. Outside, I have full strength. My assumption is that it must
be the construction of the building that's creating some type of
faraday cage.

The obvious solutions to my problem a
Buy a new phone from a different provider
Use a land line
Purchase a cell repeater for the 800/1900 freq (unsure which is being
used in my area but I will find out)
Connect an external antenna to the phone

Switching providers is not an option due to the fact that I've tried
'em and Verizon has the best coverage in my area...w/ the exception of
my apt.

I hate the idea of having multiple phone numbers so I dont want a land
line.

I am honestly considering the cell repeater but the cost is putting me
off. They cost around $500-700. I get the feeling this could be built
for pretty cheap but I'm not an electrical engineer so ... Apparently,
they use them in my office building for sprint since our company has a
very large contract with them.

I'd prefer to remain wireless so an external antenna, unless it's small
enough to strap to my flip phone(which I have been unable to find) is
out of the question.

What about a passive antenna? I know that traditionally they are
looked down upon and can even cause signal degradation but in my case,
the signal is VERY strong just outside. Is it a possibility? If so,
what size antennas should I purchase for the 800 or 1900 bands?
Obviously, I will have to figure out which is being used in my area but
there must be a simple formula for the size. Also, coaxial type,
placement, etc?

I'm using the samsung sch-i600 smartphone with windows mobile 2002 on
the verizon cdma network. This phone is dual-band, digital. No
amps/analog.

Any other ideas?

My gawd, I am coming over to do a study of your apartment in the hopes I
can get theatres and stores to implement the faraday construction--sick
of fools with cell phones glued to their heads or disturbing others with
"cutsie rings!"

Warmest regards,
John
wrote in message
oups.com...
I searched the archives and found this question addressed but not
fully. I have a verizon cell with a dual-band radio 800/1900. I get
service everywhere except...my new apartment. Ofcourse, probably a
typical scenario. The second I walk into the apt, the signal drops to
nothing. Outside, I have full strength. My assumption is that it
must
be the construction of the building that's creating some type of
faraday cage.

The obvious solutions to my problem a
Buy a new phone from a different provider
Use a land line
Purchase a cell repeater for the 800/1900 freq (unsure which is being
used in my area but I will find out)
Connect an external antenna to the phone

Switching providers is not an option due to the fact that I've tried
'em and Verizon has the best coverage in my area...w/ the exception of
my apt.

I hate the idea of having multiple phone numbers so I dont want a land
line.

I am honestly considering the cell repeater but the cost is putting me
off. They cost around $500-700. I get the feeling this could be
built
for pretty cheap but I'm not an electrical engineer so ... Apparently,
they use them in my office building for sprint since our company has a
very large contract with them.

I'd prefer to remain wireless so an external antenna, unless it's
small
enough to strap to my flip phone(which I have been unable to find) is
out of the question.

What about a passive antenna? I know that traditionally they are
looked down upon and can even cause signal degradation but in my case,
the signal is VERY strong just outside. Is it a possibility? If so,
what size antennas should I purchase for the 800 or 1900 bands?
Obviously, I will have to figure out which is being used in my area
but
there must be a simple formula for the size. Also, coaxial type,
placement, etc?

I'm using the samsung sch-i600 smartphone with windows mobile 2002 on
the verizon cdma network. This phone is dual-band, digital. No
amps/analog.

Any other ideas?

On 7 Jun 2005 10:30:13 -0700, wrote:

The C. Crane Company (see their web site) sells a cell phone whip
antenna with a magnetic mount -- stick the antenna to your metal
refrigerator or whatever and it may give you the oomph you need.

bob
k5qwg

Try simple installation using leaky coax (radiating coax) cable.
Put some antenna at the end and set it in place where signal is ok.
Then use standard coax - next in Your apartment connect few meters of
leaky coax hidden on the floor for example.
This could help as it's common solution in buildings.
If You doesn't have any possibility to buy leaky coax /it costs
quite - about 4 Euro per meter/ then on the other side of coax from
antenna - connect another antenna - just like the first one.
Those solutions are quite cheap to test.
Good luck.


Regards
Andrzej Rusiecki

Why not just set up a "passive repeater", having one end though a window
or such...

Warmest regards,
John

wrote in message
oups.com...
I searched the archives and found this question addressed but not
fully. I have a verizon cell with a dual-band radio 800/1900. I get
service everywhere except...my new apartment. Ofcourse, probably a
typical scenario. The second I walk into the apt, the signal drops to
nothing. Outside, I have full strength. My assumption is that it
must
be the construction of the building that's creating some type of
faraday cage.

The obvious solutions to my problem a
Buy a new phone from a different provider
Use a land line
Purchase a cell repeater for the 800/1900 freq (unsure which is being
used in my area but I will find out)
Connect an external antenna to the phone

Switching providers is not an option due to the fact that I've tried
'em and Verizon has the best coverage in my area...w/ the exception of
my apt.

I hate the idea of having multiple phone numbers so I dont want a land
line.

I am honestly considering the cell repeater but the cost is putting me
off. They cost around $500-700. I get the feeling this could be
built
for pretty cheap but I'm not an electrical engineer so ... Apparently,
they use them in my office building for sprint since our company has a
very large contract with them.

I'd prefer to remain wireless so an external antenna, unless it's
small
enough to strap to my flip phone(which I have been unable to find) is
out of the question.

What about a passive antenna? I know that traditionally they are
looked down upon and can even cause signal degradation but in my case,
the signal is VERY strong just outside. Is it a possibility? If so,
what size antennas should I purchase for the 800 or 1900 bands?
Obviously, I will have to figure out which is being used in my area
but
there must be a simple formula for the size. Also, coaxial type,
placement, etc?

I'm using the samsung sch-i600 smartphone with windows mobile 2002 on
the verizon cdma network. This phone is dual-band, digital. No
amps/analog.

Any other ideas?

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I think it won't hurt (my wallet or my
phone) to try such a passive repeater. I will try and see if I can
source leaky coax too. I'll let you guys/gals know how it goes.

Actually, I read a while back somewhere that a company had developed
wall paper to do specifically that. They could manufacture it for
specific freq. ranges.

LOL... I already have fallen behind times, will see if I can find a bit
to read about it... thanks...

Warmest regards,
John
wrote in message
oups.com...
Actually, I read a while back somewhere that a company had developed
wall paper to do specifically that. They could manufacture it for
specific freq. ranges.

Skin back both ends of a piece of coax - stick one end out in the 5-bar
zone - and the other end inside the house.
might work - might not - but don't cost too much to try



wrote in message
oups.com...
Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I think it won't hurt (my wallet or my
phone) to try such a passive repeater. I will try and see if I can
source leaky coax too. I'll let you guys/gals know how it goes.

Andrzej wrote:
"It costs quite - about 4 Euro per meter -"

Then substitute 300-ohm TV teinlead for the expensive leaky coax.
Twinlead works well in many sites to distribute 2-way VHF
communications. At UHF it just has slightly more loss, but not too much.

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI