We live in a rural area but have Frontier internet service. However, no cell signal inside the house—sometimes 1 bar if lucky…
If I walk up hill through our woods to the top, about 500-700 feet, I can get signal of 2 bars. This location is in line with a cell tower about 2 air miles away, but there is another hill in between, that probably rises another 25-50 feet, blocking direct sight of the tower…
With that, can I “capture” the signal at my hilltop location, then retransmit it down to the house? I could run a wire if feasible. Also, I’d plan on linking up a solar panel to power the hilltop unit. I’ve seen many cell boosters but don’t think they’re intended for my quest. Also, some systems are just way too expensive. Any ideas?
Thanks for any guidance.

 

the regulations of transmitting on the cellular bands would almost certainty make what you want to do illegal, but, there's a possibility which comes from the old days of over-the-air TV: a "passive repeater".

Basically, it's a pair of high gain antennas back to back with a short, low loss jumper between. One points at the remote source and the other at the local user. I am not sure if it would work in your situation but it's what I would try.

It doesn't require and power but you will need to be sure you know the operating band(s) of interest because high quality resonant antennas are key to success.

 

I've used an antenna salvaged from a potash mine as well as a satellite dish to capture weak wifi and cell signals. If you can find a spot in your house that gets some signal then you might be able to point the dish to collect more signal. I've had reasonable success and having a dish in your car can greatly extend range on the go. It is a hassle though.

The dish can be used without any circuitry, just place your phone where the receiver is and if you remove the receiver there with be an a cone of reflection like a mirror that could be reflected across a whole room to some degree. And be sure to look up the angles of reflection for sat dishes, the angle might surprise you!

Note that all reflective surfaces have a bandwidth where some energy is absorbed and some is reflected thus this method might not work with your band because the dish is made for another bandwidth. It's cool stuff, I've even tuned into random sat TV stations and tried to decode them which is tough.

 

the regulations of transmitting on the cellular bands would almost certainty make what you want to do illegal, but, there's a possibility which comes from the old days of over-the-air TV: a "passive repeater".

Basically, it's a pair of high gain antennas back to back with a short, low loss jumper between. One points at the remote source and the other at the local user. I am not sure if it would work in your situation but it's what I would try.

It doesn't require and power but you will need to be sure you know the operating band(s) of interest because high quality resonant antennas are key to success.

I’m liking this idea…at least it appears worth a try.
So, let me see if I follow:
The two antennas would be directional, since I believe there is a fairly narrow point at the ridge top where I can pickup a good signal from a local tower, and 700mhz (ATT I believe) and the first one aimed at it. The second one —jumpers—mounted near the first, at 180 degrees or so, aimed down the hill at the house. Is that about it? Would it need an amplifier/booster of some sort ahead of the downhill unit, to move the signal that 700 feet?

 

I’m liking this idea…at least it appears worth a try.
So, let me see if I follow:
The two antennas would be directional, since I believe there is a fairly narrow point at the ridge top where I can pickup a good signal from a local tower, and 700mhz (ATT I believe) and the first one aimed at it. The second one —jumpers—mounted near the first, at 180 degrees or so, aimed down the hill at the house. Is that about it? Would it need an amplifier/booster of some sort ahead of the downhill unit, to move the signal that 700 feet?

Oh…I had seen an ad for a booster/amplifier that the company noted was already blanket-cleared by ATT for use with their signal…supposedly could cover over 5 miles? Hmmm

 

I’m liking this idea…at least it appears worth a try.
So, let me see if I follow:
The two antennas would be directional, since I believe there is a fairly narrow point at the ridge top where I can pickup a good signal from a local tower, and 700mhz (ATT I believe) and the first one aimed at it. The second one —jumpers—mounted near the first, at 180 degrees or so, aimed down the hill at the house. Is that about it? Would it need an amplifier/booster of some sort ahead of the downhill unit, to move the signal that 700 feet?

It is the passive nature of the arrangement—no active electronics—that makes it legal. The idea is to keep the jumper short and low loss. You can point each end in any relationship to each other that receives, then "repeats" the signal in the right direction.

Remember that it has to work bidirectionally, so for it to work, the signal from the phone must be sufficient to reach the cell site. Hearing it is not sufficient. Will it work? I don't know. Similar setups were sold early on to allow UMTS (first cellular phones) to work better inside cars.

 

It is the passive nature of the arrangement—no active electronics—that makes it legal. The idea is to keep the jumper short and low loss. You can point each end in any relationship to each other that receives, then "repeats" the signal in the right direction.

Remember that it has to work bidirectionally, so for it to work, the signal from the phone must be sufficient to reach the cell site. Hearing it is not sufficient. Will it work? I don't know. Similar setups were sold early on to allow UMTS (first cellular phones) to work better inside cars.

It works very well. Has been in use in my country extensively.

 

It works very well. Has been in use in my country extensively.

It is the passive nature of the arrangement—no active electronics—that makes it legal. The idea is to keep the jumper short and low loss. You can point each end in any relationship to each other that receives, then "repeats" the signal in the right direction.

Remember that it has to work bidirectionally, so for it to work, the signal from the phone must be sufficient to reach the cell site. Hearing it is not sufficient. Will it work? I don't know. Similar setups were sold early on to allow UMTS (first cellular phones) to work better inside cars.

Sorry I’m a little dense…can you explain a little more, the “bidirectional…signal from phone must reach cell site…hearing it…”
Thanks again.

 

Sorry I’m a little dense…can you explain a little more, the “bidirectional…signal from phone must reach cell site…hearing it…”
Thanks again.

Just this: in the most successful, most common use case know of the goal was to get a TV signal over a mountain and into a valley. It just needed to receive the signal on one side and transmit it on the other—one direction.

For this use, there are transmitters and receivers on both side, two directions. While this should't matter, since i haven't really tried it, I am not sure if it does matter.

@Ramussons has vouched for it, though, from experience.

 

hearing is only one way communication (receiving).
for cell phone to communicate, it need to also send signals (transmit and receive).

 

Something like this might work.

 

Something like this might work.

It is not at all clear that is is legal device. I think there is some recent FCC rule making but my understanding was the devices would have to operate under the carrier's license and so come from them.

 

Something like this might work.

So I did some research and quite some time ago (2013) the FCC established technical and regulatory standards for consumer signal boosters. They do require the consent of the carrier.

The current state of the regulations is unclear. At one point the carriers who "voluntarily agreed" to consumer signal booster were given a deadline to provide a system for consumers to register them.

What this means to me is that you need to call the carrier and ask about the boosters and whether they permit them. If so, they would have to be approved devices, a list of which they should be able to provide.

I hope they have something for you, it would be very nice to have something active.

 

For reference, here is the FCC material: https://www.fcc.gov/document/use-and-design-signal-boosters-report-and-order

 

Can you not use WiFi calling from your cellphone in your house?

 

Can you not use WiFi calling from your cellphone in your house?

It was my impression the phone is the source of the Internet.

 

It was my impression the phone is the source of the Internet.

What led you to that assumption?
He stated he had internet from Frontier.

 

If your only datapoints are that your phone doesn't register a signal in your house but does on the top of the hill, surely the first thing to try is some sort of high gain antenna in/on your house. There are antenna cradles available for most common phones that will let you couple an external antenna. You are only 2 miles from a rural cell tower after all.

 

The device that @crutschow linked to is called a femtocell. When used with the approved service provider, they are a good solution.

Most cell phones that I’m aware of have both cellular and WiFi capabilities. The latter is available primarily to provide Internet access without incurring cellular data charges. And to provide phone access where there is WiFi but not a cellular signal.

I’ve had an iPhone for many years. There is an option to use WiFi for cellular calls. I’m guessing that other phones have this option as well.

Since the TS has stated he has Frontier Internet service, WiFi calling (as crutschow mentioned) would be his best bet.

 

The device that @crutschow linked to is called a femtocell. When used with the approved service provider, they are a good solution.

Most cell phones that I’m aware of have both cellular and WiFi capabilities. The latter is available primarily to provide Internet access without incurring cellular data charges. And to provide phone access where there is WiFi but not a cellular signal.

I’ve had an iPhone for many years. There is an option to use WiFi for cellular calls. I’m guessing that other phones have this option as well.

Since the TS has stated he has Frontier Internet service, WiFi calling (as crutschow mentioned) would be his best bet.

Both wife and I have enabled WI-FI calling on our IPhones, and I think it does help some for calls…