Not valk related (Verizon)

[robin]

I was looking today for a new phone at the Verizon store and ran across this new product called -Wireless Network Extender says it works like a mini cell tower in your house now i have crappy cell signal where i live have to walk outside to get a signal this product works off your computer line i have DSL does anybody have any knowledge of this thing and does it work?
verizonwireless.com/networkextender

[Shades]

E-Mail sent. Ride safe Shades

[Lyn-Del]

Shades, I'd like to know more as well.  I've asked at Verizon, but never been able to get a good answer.  Cell service here ranges from moderate to sketchy.  Especially in the living room (where my computer is, of course).

Please share with me also.

Thanks

[PAVALKER]

That extends the wireless network signal within the house... for your internet network and has nothing to do with your cellular service.  It may act like a smal cell tower, but only for your wireless internet network.  Verizon does DSL for internet and they use it to extend the range of the wireless network signal within your house.


But if by chance I am wrong.... I would be interested in knowing how they make that work.   

[Lyn-Del]

Hmmmm.... that's why they said I needed internet.  It didn't make sense. 

If we had  a land line, it would be Verizon where we are.  Our cell phones are Verizon.  DSL is not available here from anyone.  We ended up going with WildBlue through DirecTV.  We have not yet dropped our Verizon Wireless Broadband (and I'll keep it on the Netbook for trips). 

You'd think that they'd have explained it worked ON internet rather than THROUGH internet. 

Thanks.

[Shades]

As long as you have cable internet will work fine. I like the one I have and my girls love it. But now the bad news. It is analog which means you can talk with it but text messages and pitcher texts and such are off the reg. network which could be bad if you're out of range. And will not work no matter how close you are to it. If you have any questions just give me a call or email me. Ride safe out there. Shades

[Lyn-Del]

No cable anything.  Not available here.  TV and Internet are both satellite.

Oh, well.

[Piper]

I was looking today for a new phone at the Verizon store and ran across this new product called -Wireless Network Extender says it works like a mini cell tower in your house now i have crappy cell signal where i live have to walk outside to get a signal this product works off your computer line i have DSL does anybody have any knowledge of this thing and does it work?
verizonwireless.com/networkextender

Hey Robin

I also live in an rural area that cell phone reception is minimal. Internet is Wildblue with sat link, no tv (do not miss it though).
I installed a Wilson repeater with a inside antenna about center house mass with an external omni-directional antenna on a 20' pushup pole. Do a search on Wilson Cellular Repeaters.
It worked great until Verizon took down a tower, while not the closest, it was the one with the best straight line connectivity. Verizon of course denied they made any changes. I switched to AT&T.

A few notes:

When it worked, it worked very well.

Every once in awhile the phone would try to connect to a real tower when it detected it's signal. The tower's signal was not strong enough to carry the signal and the call was dropped. I learned where those spots were in the house and avoided them.

If I put up another one I would purchase a repeater designed to cover more inside the house area. (higher wattage output)
Also I would put up a directional (Yagi) external antenna to point at the closest tower. I believe the Yagi are single band though.

These are not cheap. But it beat walking outside to receive/make a call.
(I have to do this anyway with AT&T but with them I got a phone that can withstand my temper tantrums  )

Cellular repeaters have been around for awhile, do LOTS of homework before investing in one.

Hope this helps.