this post was submitted on 01 Apr 2024
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Recommendations for GSM booster links? (slrpnk.net)
submitted 7 months ago by Sunny@slrpnk.net to c/technology@lemmy.world
16 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hi there,

Family owns a rather remote house in a quite rural area in Europe. This is a vacation home, and whilst it is possible to pay for WiFi, it's not something they want to pay for considering they travel there maybe 3-4 times a year. So am now looking for alternative methods that involve using mobile data, as they have "unlimited" mobile data plans. So I think they're looking for a GSM booster link/Dual Band Cellular Repeater (not entirely sure what the correct term is, but hope one of them are correct). The house they live in has very thick concrete walls, and is multiple stories tall. So while the coverage is somewhat useable on the second floor, it is basically nonexistent on the first floor. So one of these devices would be nice, as it would allow for making calls throughout the house too. So; are there any specific recommendations for this? I guess I would need to buy one that is specifically supported by our mobile operator?

If WiFi were to become more relevant in a few years, would you recommend Starlink over paying for WiFi? It seems more affordable than what WiFi costs here, from what I have checked.

Appreciate any comments and suggestions, have a nice day ๐ŸŒป

Let me know if there are any other specific details that would be important for making this decision.

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[โ€“] girsaysdoom@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It sounds like the issue you're running into is 2 parts:

  1. Using a dedicated device for Internet connectivity.
  2. Broadcasting wifi evenly throughout the house.

I think the best implementation that stays within your constraints would be to purchase a hotspot with Ethernet capabilities (like MiFi or Cradlepoint) and place it where you can best get reception. Then buy a couple meshing access points like Ubiquiti APs and place them throughout the house. Run an Ethernet cable from the hotspot to one AP and then mesh the rest. If you can run Ethernet cable to each access point using a network switch, that's even better.

[โ€“] Sunny@slrpnk.net 3 points 7 months ago

Indeed two problems! Have never heard of either of MiFi or Cradlepoint, so ill have a deep dive into what that could offer me. Thanks very much!

[โ€“] MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

My advice for this type of situation has been a 4G/5G modem-router+directional external antennae.

They are more sensitive so they can work with a weaker signal, and they don't move once installed somewhere, pointed at a cell tower. That means the connection can be made way more stable than when using cellular data on a phone.

Combine that with a prepaid data SIM, and you wont waste any money when you're not there using it.

[โ€“] Sunny@slrpnk.net 1 points 7 months ago

This is probably the way to go indeed, I'll have a look into the different pre-paid options with my current provider and find a suitable external antenna. Thanks for your input!

[โ€“] Ivi104@lemmy.ml 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I'm not sure about a GSM booster, but a smartphone can be made to emit Wi-Fi, whose range can be extended with a Wi-Fi Extender. Place the phone into an area with good coverage (by a window perhaps?), activate the WiFi hotspot, and connect your other devices to the phone's WiFi network. If the range is insufficient try switching to a lower band (2.4GHz signal will travel further than 5GHz) and if that's still not enough buy a WiFi Extender, set it up to connect to your phone's WiFi network and connect your devices to the Extender's network.

[โ€“] Sunny@slrpnk.net 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

So this is actually the current setup, minus the WiFi extender. However it's not very practical for us, as one of the phones would have to be left in one location at all times and this signal isn't strong enough to emit throughoyt the whole whose, because of the very thick walls and floors. A WiFi extender could help here indeed, but it would go down again each time that phone leaves the house etc.. Looking for a more permanent and practical solution, but thanks for you suggestion!

[โ€“] Ivi104@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I'm not sure how doable this is, but there are routers or tablets that can accept a SIM card. You could maybe ask your service provider to give you a second SIM card tied to your number that you could put into it. I'm not sure how calling or texting would work with two SIM cards tied to the same number, maybe your provider could disable these options on the new SIM? I don't know anything about the inner workings of telecommunications, this is just an idea.

[โ€“] Sunny@slrpnk.net 2 points 7 months ago

Indeed, good idea. I believe they do have "twin-sim", as it is called here. I'll have a look into this.

[โ€“] Cras@feddit.uk 2 points 7 months ago (2 children)

A cellular signal isn't one single thing. A GSM booster will improve the availability of a GSM signal, but that's calls and SMS but isn't going to do a lot to provide mobile data given that 3G coverage is basically dead and 4/5G data doesn't operate on a frequency that the GSM booster will be doing anything for. You can get cellular WiFi hotspots that you put a SIM in and they basically become your WiFi router or just use a cellphone that has hotspot functionality

[โ€“] T156@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago (3 children)

But if their mobile reception is bad, the WiFi hotspot's reception isn't going to be any better.

[โ€“] Sunny@slrpnk.net 1 points 7 months ago

The WiFi also wouldn't be great throughout the house without multiple extenders too sadly. It's a big house and has very thick walls and floors.

[โ€“] MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

You can get external large static directional antennae for them, tho.

The fact they don't need as strong a signal, don't move, and can be pointed directly at the nearest cell tower, means you can get far better throughout.

[โ€“] Cras@feddit.uk 1 points 7 months ago

Valid, but if you get a dedicated one, you could put in a SIM from a different network that has better coverage, if one exists

[โ€“] SharkAttak@kbin.social 1 points 7 months ago

Yeah, some phone companies sell routers that instead of connecting to a landline, use cellular network. Coupled with some WiFi repeaters should do the trick.

[โ€“] TrumpetX@programming.dev 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Check out WeBoost brand repeaters. I live in what used to be a rural area and when we moved in the cell signal was trash inside the house but fine outside. Put an antenna outside on the roof, ran some coax cable to the kitchen and mounted a repeater there. No issues. Works for all major cell bands.

[โ€“] Sunny@slrpnk.net 1 points 7 months ago

Thank you very much, I'll check em out!