Improve AT&T iPhone voice and EDGE data reception with a Repeater
Over the weekend, hundreds of thousands of users switched over to the AT&T network to take advantage of Apple’s iPhone. Unfortunately, AT&T’s network is often spotty, and EDGE data rates are constrained by the quality of the signal. One way of improving AT&T coverage and ensuring fast EDGE rates is installing a cell phone repeater.
Since AT&T and Cingular merged a few years ago, the joint company has owned licenses for both frequency bands in most areas. In order to ensure an improvement on voice and data coverage, we recommend purchasing a dual band repeater for AT&T customers. Once installed, these repeaters will also improve the cell signal on every other network (except for Nextel). Here are our recommendations:
Medium reception: For users with medium signal quality outside their building (3 bars or more), the zBoost YX-510 kit will improve your cell phone signal to full bars for AT&T voice and data services, even if you currently have no AT&T service at all inside. This unit will usually cover up to 2,500 square feet. The kit is very easy to install, and comes with everything needed to set the system up. You can find our product page here: Wireless Extender zBoost YX-510.
Low reception: For users with low quality outside their building (2 bars or less), the YX-510 kit Premium Kit can be used to amplify the AT&T signal. This repeater will usually cover up to 3,000 square feet (or 5,000 square feet if you currently have 3 bars or more of signal outside). You can find our product page here: Wireless Extender zBoost YX-510 (scroll half way down the page).
Large coverage areas: For users with 2 or more bars of signal outside their building, and who wish to cover up to 10,000 square feet, we recommend : Digital Antenna DA4KSBR-50U 60dB Repeater Kit (scroll half way down the page). This more powerful antenna also comes with a high-gain omni-directional antenna, and is perfect for large-building installations.
If you have any questions about repeaters, or want a custom recommendation, feel free to call us at 1-800-761-3041 or e-mail us at support@repeaterstore.com.
August 9th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
I have the iphone but my AT&T reception is terrible. no bars in my office or the first floor but 3 bars on second floor and 3 or more outside the building. Strangle enough when on the charging base I see 4 bars butey vanish when I take it off the base.
Please make a reomendation as to what I should purchase
thanks
Ted Sas
August 9th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Hi Ted, give us a call and we can discuss your problem and recommend a good repeater. Our number is 1-800-761-3041.
November 9th, 2007 at 7:24 am
Ted - I have to say that I independently discovered the same phenomenon earlier today and searched the internet for verification. Your post seems to be the only one! I would agree that seating the iphone in the base improves reception greatly - from 0-1 bar up to 4. I have noticed no improvement when simply connected to my mac by the USB cord.
January 18th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I’m using a Wireless Extender product and having great results. I have the YX300 model, the one for small areas like offices or apartments and I’ve loved it. I can only imagine that the YX510 works just as well. I’m very pleased.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:42 am
[...] Use a Repeaters to boost iPhone reception [...]
February 18th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I bought the Wireless Extender zBoost YX-510 and it did indeed boost the number of bars on the phone itself. However, I have not experienced an increase in data throughput speeds when doing up/down load speed tests. any recommendations/insights?
March 8th, 2008 at 1:57 am
Rich, the YX510 has two outdoor antennas, one for the 800MHz band, and one for the 1900Mhz band. If both antennas are not pointing in the right directions, you can experience the problem you’re describing. Voice signals often come from different towers than broadband signals, so the antennas may need to be pointed in different directions.
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:02 am
This is not just on AT&T/Cingular. I have been with them for 5yrs & the iPhone is the biggest problem it has the worst rf of any phone I ever owned. Don’t waste money on a repeater, buy a better phone.