While I enjoy the freedom the cell phone allows me when away, the signal strength at home in my next of the woods is pitiful. No amount of service provided assistance could help me boost the signal strength. Then too, with the economy as it is, I am looking to reduce expenses and consolidate redundancies in our home. Paying for a landline, plus a long distance service in addition to the cell phone seemed a terrible waste of resources. Thus began my investigation into signal boosters.
Over a year’s time, I hemmed and hawed over this model and that, researching their reliability and effectiveness. I finally settled on the zBoost. It was the CNET editor’s ratings that convinced me I should select this model.
(CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent Detailed editors' rating )
Yet I hesitated. The thought that I might be one of the unlucky folks that would need to run an external antenna kept me from spending the cash. While the rating is good, I couldn’t really find any information on the technology behind the “boosting.” The best I could come up with had information similar to boosting your old analog TV signal. It seemed archaic to me. Then I stumbled upon a suggestion to check with my own provider.
I went to my provider, Verizon Wireless, and discovered the “network extender.” This unit connects to your DSL line, and includes a GPS locator.
I still thought I would need to run the external GPS locator outside the window, but decided to try this anyway, being proprietary to Verizon equipment.
Not only was this the easiest thing I’ve ever installed, the unit was up and running in no time at all. The directions will say that it may take up to an hour to fully connect with the system and locate a GPS signal. My total time from installation to operation was a full 10 minutes. I am happily receiving five bar signal strength and taking calls at home. We will experiment for a while, and my intent is to drop long distance service on the landline first, saving $150 a year. When comfortable we will drop the landline as well. I am not concerned with loss of electrical power, as I can receive a signal in certain spots in the yard, and can charge the phone in the car. When comfortable, I intend to drop the landline saving an additional $300 a year.
That I am not alone in poor reception at home is a certainty. Check your own provider. Some charge a monthly fee, but if you are a Verizon customer, you will be pleased to hear that there is no monthly fee and your only investment is the purchase of this unit. If your company has employee discounts, you might even save $50 on the purchase as I did. Once I drop the long distance, the unit will have paid for itself in one year. That is the whole point after all.
