Best way to boost 4g

[Mariomalc]

I have a static at Perran Sands. As it's on a cliff top it has unexpectedly got reasonable 4g reception which I wasn't expecting in Cornwall (I'm on Sky)!
I currently get 2 bars of signal and it works fine most of the time. My daughter is on a different network (vodaphone) and she has just one bar which then drops to 3g intermittently.
Can I get a 4g booster to improve her reception? I'm not very tech savvy and not sure the best option.
Thanks in anticipation.

Linkback: https://staticforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,794.msg2125.html#msg2125

[Sparkalicious]

So first question, is this inside or outside the 'van?

We are in Newquay. Outside the 'van we get a cracking 4G service and even a decent 5G. Once you enter the 'van it pretty much drops off to 0

Linkback: https://staticforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,794.msg2127.html#msg2127

[Slattster]

Your not going to be able to boost the signal to her phone , one option is to change to a network with better signal or the other is to get a 4G/5g router then she can connect to this using WiFi , this will be good for data but not phone calls . You would have to pay for a sim for the router. The router reception can be further improved by having an external aerial providing you get a router with removable aerials.

Linkback: https://staticforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,794.msg2128.html#msg2128

[fhb2]

Bear in mind that the 'phone itself may make a difference.
We both use the same network (Vodaphone via Asda) and have an old Doro "dumb" mobile and a Samsung smartphone.
The Doro only uses 3G, and gets a strong 3 bars.
The Samsung gets 1 bar on 4G, so switched it to use only 3G.
Side by side on the table, the Samsung still only shows 1, sometimes a flickering 2 bars on 3G while the Doro is happily showing a steady 3 bars.
According to the coverage map, we should have excellent coverage for both 4g and 3g, so it must be the phone itself.

Linkback: https://staticforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,794.msg2129.html#msg2129

[DaveE]

I tend to agree with slattster about the way to improve reception. We have a router with it’s own unlimited data sim set up in our ‘van and our phones connect to this when in the ‘van via wifi with no problems.

Linkback: https://staticforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,794.msg2130.html#msg2130

[Sparkalicious]

I'm with DaveE and Stattster on this one. We have the same. A separate data sim, external aerial and a router on the inside.

Not got the aerial working well yet but if I place the router near to the windows we get a decent signal. We stream movies to the TV with no real problems

Linkback: https://staticforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,794.msg2136.html#msg2136

[Slattster]

The aerial I use is
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poynting-4G-XPOL-A0001-Cross-Polarised-Antenna/dp/B00C1DGFPS/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3AU4LO4FB6MNV&keywords=4G+aerial&qid=1643967298&sprefix=4g+aerial%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-4

You want a 2 wire one , unless you can directly see the 4G mast get a omni directional one , these are not supposed to matter which way they face though I gave mine a spin when it was in position to get a slightly better signal.
The aerial needs to be as high up as possible for the best signal , mines on top of a 10ft pole that’s attached to the decking using a tv aerial bracket.
The aerial I suggested comes with 5m of cable which isn’t a lot if you are putting it at the top of a 10ft pole so position of router might affect position of pole. If you read up on it , it’s not recommended to extend the wires due to loss of signal but one of my van neighbours put a 5m extension on his and it has little effect on signal quality.
For positioning , I plugged my router into an extension lead and walked around the van with it in the air to find the best signal quality .
I have a Vodafone sim as it’s the best signal quality in our area , go here to find yours https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/advice/ofcom-checker

Linkback: https://staticforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,794.msg2138.html#msg2138

[Mariomalc]

So first question, is this inside or outside the 'van?

We are in Newquay. Outside the 'van we get a cracking 4G service and even a decent 5G. Once you enter the 'van it pretty much drops off to 0

Inside the van. I know outside is pretty good all round.
I suspected I might have to look into a router and SIM and that seems to be the concensus generally.
Thanks and appreciation for all the help

Linkback: https://staticforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,794.msg2144.html#msg2144

[Sparkalicious]

If you dig around there is a topic with the installation and everything you need already laid out. A couple of us have done it and all with basically the same method but slightly different hardware. I have to say, I stream everything to the telly in the 'van by our router and have no real issues

Linkback: https://staticforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,794.msg2151.html#msg2151