Cell phones are a necessary evil that we all need especially if you have a business. The unfortunate fact is that many locations do not have the optimal coverage that is advertised. Our business is in a location where there are plenty of cell towers but there are lots of trees around our building. You could walk out to the street and get 3 or 4 bars but inside the building, the bars would fluctuate from 1 to 3 and sometimes the phone would completely loose the signal. After several calls to tech support, we finally found a potential solution, which I will talk about in just a bit.
It is unfortunate that over the years cell phone technology is now geared more to data then to voice. A couple of years ago, most cell carriers made their money from how many minutes you used each month and they would really reap when you happen to go over. I know with myself that was quite frequently. In today’s world, most of the money is now made from data usage and data overages. With all this emphasis on data speed, the cell networks are certainly a busy place with lots of information running through your local cell tower. This can sometimes create bottlenecks that can slow down the data or cause calls to drop.
Now, back to the solution. The cure is available with any carrier but the one we will be talking about today will be for ATT.
If you cant get a good signal from the cell tower that is closest to your location, why not simply put a personal mini-tower right in your home or office. That is exactly what we did. We purchased an ATT 3G Microcell Signal Booster from the local ATT store. The cost was just about $299.00 bucks. When you purchase the unit, the clerk will add the unit to your account and you are ready to bring it home. In my case, there was no monthly fee involved for the service because I bought the system outright.
Once you get your new gadget home, it’s time to get it hooked up and registered. After you remove all the stuff from the carton, place the micro cell near a window but close to a router or modem or other Ethernet connection so the unit can be connected properly. The first step is to get the serial number from the bottom of the Microcell, as you will need it when you register the unit. Once the unit is in place, connect the adapter and plug the Ethernet cord in the proper plug on the back of the Microcell. Plug the other end of the Ethernet cord into your router or switch. Now, if you are with ATT, call 611 from your cell phone and follow the prompts to customer service. They will guide you through the easy activation process. If you have a different provider, the process will be very similar.
Now you can just sit back and relax until the activation is complete. Once the 3G wireless symbol is solid green, you are ready to go. You might have to turn your phone on and off the first time to get the Microcell signal. Once connected, you will be blessed with a solid 5 bars throughout your home or office. When you leave, the phone seamlessly goes from your Microcell to the tower. When you return, your phone will again pick up the Microcell signal and switch over. If you are in a call when you arrive home, the Micro-cell will not switch until you end the existing call.
All in all this one of the best investments I have ever made. If you have been with your carrier a long time, you might be able to work out a discount and if you do not want to buy the unit outright, some carriers have monthly plans as well. All I know is that your cell phone will have the reliability and talk power of a landline once you have the system installed.
Article by, Joe Zelenak
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