Updated Cell Phone Suggestions???

patman · 10-21-2014, 04:59 PM

If you have Verizon...and your house is in a dead spot...call customer service and make noise about switching and then ask about a femtocell, or "network extender" It's a gizmo that plugs into your home internet, and acts as a tiny ("femto") cell tower in your house. Retail was about $150, some reps will give it to you for free, others will give a deep discount. It depends on who you talk to and how good a story you can tell. That doesn't help on the road or on the lake, but it works great at home. Other providers may have similar deals, I only know about Verizon.

upthesaukee · 10-21-2014, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patman

If you have Verizon...and your house is in a dead spot...call customer service and make noise about switching and then ask about a femtocell, or "network extender" It's a gizmo that plugs into your home internet, and acts as a tiny ("femto") cell tower in your house. Retail was about $150, some reps will give it to you for free, others will give a deep discount. It depends on who you talk to and how good a story you can tell. That doesn't help on the road or on the lake, but it works great at home. Other providers may have similar deals, I only know about Verizon.

A friend has one. I borrowed it. If I remember the specs, it is good for an area of approximately 5000 sq ft. Sounds great, until you figure out that is about 40 foot radius from the antenna. From the most central place in my house, I could not be on my cell over at my detached garage, or standing across the street talking to my neighbor. My friend uses his at "the lakehouse" and it is just barely effective sitting on the beach with the unit sitting in the window of the cottage. In range, it worked quite well. I just don't want to spend the money on a gizmo when if the antenna was active on that tower, I would have great service on my phone anywhere in my 1.6 acres!

Thanks for the suggestion, Patman...can be a good solution for some folks, but just won't work in mine.

goldengirl · 10-22-2014, 11:10 PM

This subject has come up many times at our lake house. We are in Meredith and have Sprint and the service is terrible and got worse this year since they removed a tower in the Weirs area (we were told). Like some have said, "spotty" at best or no service at all. Most of our visitors have had good luck with Verizon. We plan to change providers and hope for better luck. Last weekend our landlines weren't working either so we had no phones at all! Ugggh

glennsteely · 10-23-2014, 12:49 PM

I have a sprint unlimited plan here in new jersey, 5 phones, unlimited everything, have had the same main number on the plan (mine) for almost 15 years. I come up to the lake 2-3 times a year, (on a good year) and i never have any issues at all.....besides the up and down the mountains and hills normal reception issues, my service ia always very good at the lake.

10-22-2014, 11:10 PM	#3
goldengirl Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 16 Thanks: 29 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	No luck with Sprint! This subject has come up many times at our lake house. We are in Meredith and have Sprint and the service is terrible and got worse this year since they removed a tower in the Weirs area (we were told). Like some have said, "spotty" at best or no service at all. Most of our visitors have had good luck with Verizon. We plan to change providers and hope for better luck. Last weekend our landlines weren't working either so we had no phones at all! Ugggh

10-23-2014, 12:49 PM	#4
glennsteely Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Mantua, N.J. Posts: 472 Thanks: 90 Thanked 111 Times in 38 Posts	Really funny.... I have a sprint unlimited plan here in new jersey, 5 phones, unlimited everything, have had the same main number on the plan (mine) for almost 15 years. I come up to the lake 2-3 times a year, (on a good year) and i never have any issues at all.....besides the up and down the mountains and hills normal reception issues, my service ia always very good at the lake. __________________ You have to go out on a limb sometimes, cause that is where the fruit is. You can't get to the fruit from that nice safe spot, clinging to the trunk of the tree......

10-21-2014, 04:59 PM	#1
patman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NH Posts: 380 Thanks: 56 Thanked 156 Times in 78 Posts	If you have Verizon...and your house is in a dead spot...call customer service and make noise about switching and then ask about a femtocell, or "network extender" It's a gizmo that plugs into your home internet, and acts as a tiny ("femto") cell tower in your house. Retail was about $150, some reps will give it to you for free, others will give a deep discount. It depends on who you talk to and how good a story you can tell. That doesn't help on the road or on the lake, but it works great at home. Other providers may have similar deals, I only know about Verizon.