-------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: [MeLCat] Question about cellular signal boosters Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2020 12:34:46 -0500 From: John A. Cargo via MeLCatlist <melcatlist@mcls.org> Reply-To: John A. Cargo <j.cargo@vlc.lib.mi.us> Organization: Iosco-Arenac District Library To: melcatlist@mcls.org <melcatlist@mcls.org> Hi, This is an issue that everybody has had over the years. Inside some of our buildings, especially in rural areas, we've had spotty or even non-existent cellular signals. Recently, one of our branches had voices concerns about being unable to make an emergency call from inside a library building on their cell phone. Or even just getting and making calls. One of the proposed solutions from the township's city manager was installing an extender--basically a micro cell tower--inside the building. The problems with that are: 1. The extender only supports one specific carrier. 2. It uses the library's Internet connection. 3. Other users with devices from the same carrier could use the extender. Another possibility is using a signal booster, such as one from WeBoost. The ones they sell are carrier agnostic, plug-and-play and will work with multiple carriers at the same time, but: 1. Depending on how the external antenna is aimed, it will prioritize the strongest cell tower signal first. So there's no guarantee that it would work with everything consistently. 2. You have to register the booster with the carrier (though it's stated that most carriers approve of them anyway). 3. A bit more expensive than an extender. I personally have no experience with signal boosters or cellular in general. My question is: Has anyone used a signal booster or have some similar solution to improve cellular signals inside a building? Thanks. -- John A. Cargo Technology Coordinator Iosco-Arenac District Library 120 W. Westover St. East Tawas, MI 48730 Phone: 989-362-2651 x3985 Direct: 989-305-3985 Mobile: 615-618-6754 Fax: 989-362-6056 _______________________________________________ MeLCatlist mailing list MeLCatlist@mcls.org http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/melcatlist --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com