# External antenna for Cell phone (PCS) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 9, 2002, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-antenna-for-cell-phone-pcs/141393 "2002-12-09T00:42:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-antenna-for-cell-phone-pcs/141393/1 "2002-12-09T00:42:32Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-antenna-for-cell-phone-pcs/141393/2 "2002-12-09T02:28:33Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-antenna-for-cell-phone-pcs/141393/3 "2002-12-18T21:57:05Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Catfood\_Purrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Catfood\_Purrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catfood_Purrito)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-antenna-for-cell-phone-pcs/141393/4 "2002-12-19T00:08:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-antenna-for-cell-phone-pcs/141393/5 "2003-08-19T20:46:15Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. Ooh! And what’s a “car kit”, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-antenna-for-cell-phone-pcs/141393/6 "2003-08-19T21:14:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pizzabrat \* > \*\*Ooh! And what’s a “car kit”, exactly? \*\* 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. ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-antenna-for-cell-phone-pcs/141393/7 "2003-08-19T22:52:20Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![Alex-NC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a587f6/32.png) [@Alex-NC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex-NC)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-antenna-for-cell-phone-pcs/141393/8 "2003-08-19T23:22:25Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-antenna-for-cell-phone-pcs/141393/9 "2003-08-20T15:16:45Z")
As a long-time Sprint-sufferer, I suggest the best thing to do is switch carriers.