# Are there decent cell phone antennas for NOT $200?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-decent-cell-phone-antennas-for-not-200/664296>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 23, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-decent-cell-phone-antennas-for-not-200/664296 "2013-07-23T14:35:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-decent-cell-phone-antennas-for-not-200/664296/1 "2013-07-23T14:35:20Z")

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My Verizon data reception at my house borders on the scandalous. Is there something I can either plug into the micro USB port or set up as a relay station kind of thing that actually works and is not this thing Verizon wants to sell that’s $200 and requires another broadband internet connection?

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**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-decent-cell-phone-antennas-for-not-200/664296/2 "2013-07-23T15:08:59Z")

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What sort of internet do you have at home?

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**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-decent-cell-phone-antennas-for-not-200/664296/3 "2013-07-23T15:15:32Z")

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I don’t. I’m using the phone as the connection.

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**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-decent-cell-phone-antennas-for-not-200/664296/4 "2013-07-23T15:21:55Z")

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Is it just Verizon, or is there simply bad cell phone coverage from all providers in your area?

I ask, as perhaps you can void your contract with Verizon and go with someone else - but that would be a moot point if there is no other good cell phone providers in your area.

There are some relatively inexpensive internet providers out there - don’t know if you have a cable company but you could try one of the cable providers that offer a dish instead. That way, you would get both internet and cell phone coverage. But yeah, an added expense…

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**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-decent-cell-phone-antennas-for-not-200/664296/5 "2013-07-23T15:23:06Z")

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I’m not sure exactly what the thing Verizon wants to sell you is, but there are a variety of cell booster systems that have an antenna you mount on the roof that can make a spotty signal into a reliable one. I’ve got [this one](http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Home+or+Office+Desktop+Mobile+Phone+Signal+Booster+for+Multiple+Users/9522493.p?id=1218138268758&skuId=9522493&st=cell%20phone%20booster&cp=1&lp=3) which is a little out of your price range, but some of the cheaper ones may work for what you need. The one I have works amazing-- it’ll turn a spotty 1x connection into a reliable 3g or even 4g if I’m working in an area that has it.

Since you’d only be using it in one location, the thing to do is probably buy an inexpensive one from somewhere with a generous return policy and if it doesn’t work at your house return it and try a pricier one.