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Getting a signal to a none signal area?

notnamedFred
Tuning in

Hi, long one sorry

i have oomph unlimited sim, it can go in either an iPhone 8+ or cheap Blackview 4G, Android 9+. We also have a caravan in mid Wales, in a shallow valley on top of an hill/mountain. Sometimes we can get 1 bar but most of the time there is no signal. I can get a signal near the top of the shallow valley, so there is signals there it’s just a matter of tapping in from the caravan. I’ve read and read but my level of understanding how to get a signal to the caravan is becoming more confused by the day. I don’t mind using one of the phones as a hot spot but it’s getting the signal to the phone, it seems silly to put a phone on top of a pole!

ok! How do I do it?

3 REPLIES 3

Andrew-G
Alessandro Volta

I have that problem at times too.  At a practical and affordable level there is no solution.  There are solutions that can work where there's poor coverage inside a building or caravan but some signal immediately outside, even so for a system that works and will be compliant with the strict standards that are applied to radio systems you're talking many hundreds of pounds, and you'd need to speak to a reputable specialist to get advice.  It's worth speaking to them if you're prepared to consider spending the necessary money on a high gain antenna and appropriate booster, plus putting the effort into the necessary quality of installation.  Anything off eBay or Amazon either won't work, or won't be legal (and the penalties for illegal operation are significant).  Ofcom are consulting on making small booster systems (picocells) more readily available to consumers, but that won't be effective until next year and without the (costly) specialist knowledge probably still wouldn't work for this situation.

If there's any other network that does have a routinely usable signal at the caravan, then there's a range of cheapish 4G mobile routers you can buy, and you could search for a data only PAYG SIM on that network for the router (noting the need to keep credit topped up if not in use for extended periods), and that's as good as it gets for the scenario you have, I'm afraid.

So your saying it’s one of those not illegal to sell or have, just illegal to use.

so thinking out loud.

is there a way of extending the aerials of said phones? There are trees near by that I could run an aerial up? Farmer as sort of said no to a scaffolding pole.

@notnamedFred So your saying it’s one of those not illegal to sell or have, just illegal to use.

Seems to be the case.  As I say, change is coming, but looks like it won't help you much.

Is there a way of extending the aerials of said phones? There are trees near by that I could run an aerial up? Farmer as sort of said no to a scaffolding pole.

Beyond my technical knowledge to comment further. Try speaking to a picocell specialist supplier.  They should understand what you need and can explain your options, and the possibly large bill that would be involved. Your biggest problem will be that without a visit and site assessment (£££?) even an expert cannot guarantee anything will work.