New Member
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4 Messages
Cell Booster and Apple Airport
I've had an issue that the cell booster, or a cell booster pro, would not cover all the rooms in my apartment. I was told a second cell booster, placed 30+ feet away would help, but it would have to be connected to my AT&T Gateway router which would require running a very long ethernet cord along a hall tile floor. Today I discovered if I plugged a second cell booster into an existing Apple Extreme wireless relay the cell booster will work perfectly. Hope this helps somebody.
OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
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24.9K Messages
2 years ago
@powmari If you're in an apartment, why do you need a Cell Booster in the first place? WiFi-C (WiFi Calling) should work just fine if you have a WiFi-C capable phone and a strong WiFi signal. An extender in another room is a lot cheaper than a second Cell Booster.
Who ever told you you need a second Cell Booster does not know what they are talking about. Even if you did setup a second Cell Booster, 30' is too close. There's a big difference between the Cell Booster and Cell Booster Pro.
Yes, you can connect the Cell Booster to a wireless or wired extender and it will connect to the AT&T Mobility Servers, but unless you have a very large apartment, or there is a lot of interference, WiFi-C is really the way to go. The problem that I discovered with the Cell Booster when I was testing it for AT&T is that signal propagation, regardless of what AT&T says, is an issue for a lot of folks. The LTE signal just seems to be subjective to a lot of physical interference unless you are close to it.
Do keep in mind that the Cell Booster is an open system so any of your apartment neighbors who have AT&T cellular service will be able to access your Cell Booster and you won't know who or when. With two Cell Boosters online, you just increase your chances of more people using your cellular service. There is no way to close your system like there was with the MicroCell. See my Cell Booster Technical Guide, link is in my sig line.
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powmari
New Member
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4 Messages
2 years ago
I really appreciate your prompt, and knowledgable reply. To answer your question...I live in on a remote part of a Fla barrier island, which does not have strong wifi. The cell booster and cell boster pro are placed approx 50 feet part. The cell booster pro, by itself, gave only one bar/No Service at the far end of the apartment, which happens to be my office. I'm less concerned about "helping" my neighbors than by any health risks caused by cell tower waves! Your thoughts on that?
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OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
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24.9K Messages
2 years ago
@powmari WiFi is dependent upon your internet service, unless you have wireless internet, and that can be an issue. The Cell Booster requires a wired internet service (DSL, cable , or fiber). It can work with wireless broadband (satellite, line of sight WiFi) but is unreliable and not supported by AT&T. The Cell Booster/Pro uses your in-home internet connection (DSL, cable, or fiber) to access AT&T. It does not use WiFi or the local cellular tower (other than for location and some maintenance).
If you are concerned about cell tower waves then the Cell Booster/Pro is not for you because both devices broadcast a very strong cellular LTE signal that your phones will connect to, just like they do to a cellular tower. To be clear, the Cell Booster is not one, a cellular booster and two, a WiFi device. It is a mini-cell tower in your home.
As I mentioned, but probably not very clear, anyone with an AT&T phone that meets AT&T's post-3G cellular requirements can access your Cell Booster without your knowledge or permission. That means they use your internet connection to make calls and download data. That data download can have an impact on you if you are on a limited data plan.
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