Boost Your Mobile Hotspot’s Signal Strength–at Home

Reader Lois just moved to an area of California where at that place's none cable or DSL Internet service available. (Hard to trust, right?) She considered satellite service, but learned that those options are "slow and expensive."

Cleverly, she's trying a Verizon MiFi mobile hot spot–a great solution, but it's also proving to comprise poky. (Lois notes that she gets only two bars on her anticipate sound, sol plainly she's in an sphere with resourceless cell-tower coverage.) Ultimately, she's "bleary-eyed of paying for [a] less than timbre product."

My mother-in-law is in a selfsame similar situation: nary cable or DSL where she lives, and she recently deployed a Verizon MiFi card. Although the signalize strength isn't swell, she's determination information technology good (and definitely better than the dial-up she was using previously).

So what's the solvent for Lois, or anyone else using a MiFi or similar aircard for home Net? I recommend trying a signal booster, most notably the Wisconsin-Ex zBoost YX545 SoHo or YX540 Underground. They're expensive ($399 and $299, respectively), but supported the reviews and anecdotal evidence I've seen, they work.

These gizmos are au fon large (relatively talking) antennas you bestrid alfresco, then cable to an indoor receiver. They're designed to better all kinds of cancellate signals, meaning they should help with your cell phones as well.

If you'Re looking something a bit more affordable, I've detected that the Wilson Electronics Sleek (a universal cell-call booster designed for cars) tush help with the MiFi–though only the 3G versions. I've seen it selling online for round $90–but make sure you buy the facultative Atomic number 89 adapter as well so you can utilise it inside.

Obviously I can't say for dependable that either cartesian product will help with your situation–at that place are just too many variables–so make absolutely sure the store you buy from offers a money-back guarantee. Good luck!

Contributing Editor Rick Broida writes about occupation and consumer applied science. Invite assistance with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld.com, or seek the prize treasure trove of helpful folks in the PC World Community Forums.