A cellular solution worth repeating

A cellular solution worth repeating

Where can I find signal-boosting antenna for my wireless laptop? It is on the AT&T wireless service using their EDGE technology. These computers are used on ships in coastal zones that have varied and unreliable wireless signal strength. I need a more consistent signal. Currently our cellular service signals are boosted through the use of external antennae, and we are able to achieve acceptable results. Are there products on the market that can improve the situation?

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Sounds like you have trouble, right there on the river (or coastal, in your case) close to nearby cities! What you need is a cellular phone booster to amplify those weak signals and improve the wireless connections with your PC. The problem, however, is that most boosters are designed to be installed between your cell phone and a separate and detached antenna assembly. If you were connecting to a cellular network through your cell phone (via a Bluetooth or direct cable connection), then a booster would provide an ideal solution since it amplifies the sniffing and reception capabilities of your cell phone and can be packed along to be used in virtually any location.

This type of a solution is not in the PCMCIA cards for you, though. Rather, you should investigate signal repeaters, which do not connect directly to your PC but can be installed in a building, onboard ships or wherever to pull in those weak signals and channel tem to your EDGE card. Cellular repeater packages can dramatically reduce dropped signals, improve performance and speed, and let you wirelessly tap into the Internet even within the deepest darkest regions of a building. Repeaters that are designed for relatively small applications -- covering roughly 2,500 square ft. and 10 cell phones on a single floor -- are priced at about $500. More extensive packages -- extending across 50,000 sq ft, multiple floors and handing up to 75 cell phones at a time -- can set you back about $4,000. All in all, a small price to pay for wireless reliability!

This was first published in May 2004

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