External antenna for Cell phone (PCS)

Factual Questions
1

I just got a Virgin Mobile phone that uses Sprint’s PCS network. About 500 yards from my house I get 100% signal, but in my house and yard I get 0%. Is there any way I could use a roof-mounted antenna to get reception in my house?

I did manage to get a siganl long enough in my house to get a text message, but all voice attempts fail.

2

Update: I sucessfully made a call by going upstairs and holding the phone in just the right position. I think this means that if I mount an antenna up there somewhere and run a cable to the first floor it should work. Now I just have to figure out what I need to do it. I guess any 1900 mhz antenna should work.

Questions:

  1. What is gain, exactly. Is 3 dB gain good?
  2. I think this is where I connect the antenna cable to the phone, what kind of a connector do I need?

Pic 1
Pic 2

Is this mini UHF, FME, TNC, or something else.

Thanks.

3

I don’t know how easy it would be to modify just any old antenna to work with your phone. I didn’t get to play with the hardware much at Sprint, but if you get too intense you can violate your phones warranty. Best bet would be to buy a car kit for your phone, and modify it so that you can install it in your house.

4

I had the same problem, I had absolutely no signal in my house. I bought a car kit, placed it outside, and ran the cable in through the window of my bedroom, and it works great.

5

Ooh! And what’s a “car kit”, exactly?

6

It’s a mounting system for your cell phone so that it can be installed in your car. One of the features it generally comes with is an external antenna.

7

Yes, they sell several external antenna systems for cell phones (based on the cell phone model).

Be aware that these, more powerful, antenna’s require a minimal distance between you and it due to higher power output. A hand held PCS phone can only put out 0.6 watts of power, an external antenna is allowed up to 3 watts.

They sell all sorts of different types of antennas including ones that “stick” to your backpack. Do a search with your phone model (I know the V60 motorola has a good amount of external antenna support).

8

Let us know if you set up an antenna. I also have a Virgin Mobile. It works great and the Sprint system is super. However, at my father-in-law’s house in Cocoa Beach it’s either weak or drops calls. That’s the only place I have trouble. He has trouble inside his house also with another cell phone carrier. I attribute that to, perhaps, a lack of antenna by Sprint allowed due to the proximity to The Cape and Fort Patrick.

Let us know if you figure out a remedy.

9

As a long-time Sprint-sufferer, I suggest the best thing to do is switch carriers.