Reddit reviews AT&T Microcell Wireless 3G Cell Signal Booster Tower Antenna
We found 3 Reddit comments about AT&T Microcell Wireless 3G Cell Signal Booster Tower Antenna. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Consumer Alert: Most users do not need a license to operate this wireless microphone system. Nevertheless, operating this microphone system without a license is subject to certain restrictions: the system may not cause harmful interference; it must operate at a low power level (not in excess of 50 milliwatts); and it has no protection from interference received from any other device.Purchasers should also be aware that the FCC is currently evaluating use of wireless microphone systems, and these rules are subject to change. For more information, call the FCC at 1-888- CALL-FCC (TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC) or visit the FCC's wireless microphone website at fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones.
A metal roof will most definitely cause a problem. A point to point RF connection requires Line of Sight to the tower with 40% or less occlusion. At the frequencies most GSM/CDMA/LTE phones operate on a signal will penetrate most wooden structures with little signal loss. Metal is a whole other story. Metal is typically RF opaque. Metal will reflect almost all the RF, both from the tower and from the phone. (not sure about Aluminum, but steel or tin will reflect)
At this point, if you are completely sold on metal, you'll need some sort of repeater or micro-cell. A repeater would be an externally mounted antenna, attached to a powered amplifier in the house. They are not cheap. Some carriers should offer some sort of micro-cell that will work on their network. While they are not inexpensive either, they are usually cheaper than a repeater. Keep in mind, a micro-cell will require some sort of high speed internet.
Here's an example of one offered by ATT
EDIT: Verizon
Sprint
EDIT2: No love for T-Mobile. They currently don't offer booster or micro-cell.
you're not going to have any luck with cellphones out there, but if you can get DSL, you may be able to use one of these: Microtel Cellular Signal Booster. We have some property in the Federal Quiet Zone (near White Sulphur Springs), and this has worked for us around our cabin.
The router has a few other devices connected to it like a mini cell tower - both this and my parents' computer use ethernet. So if I were to move the router I'd need a switch in their room.