For those who have a poor AT&T signal at home, have you tried the zBoost

I just posted in another thread about this same problem
with ATT. From full signal to no signal sitting in the exact same spot.

I am not about to pay $400 but when someone unlocks the iPhone ATT is history.

I almost started a repeater thread myself yesterday. Keep us posted please, although I have read that they do work well. I have been researching them the last couple of days. I came close to ordering a YX500 online yesterday for about $230.00 . After spending $650.00 for an iPhone I don't want to use bluetooth and sit in on my window sill. Many claim you can get away with just a one band model, and the 500 is recommended for my area and ATT.
I guess you have been on their site, WI-EX.com, and know that they are coming out with a dual band Zpersonal for less than $200 next month. That has me hesitating, but I really don't know if it is better or worse than the 500 series. This brand seems to be the one of choice for many. Good luck and remember, proper antenna spacing is critical. 🙂

I have the exact same issues... Switching from verizon to att. First floor of house with poor signal; 2nd/3rd floor are fine. If I could pay $200 to "fix" this, I'd do it immediately. Please continue info/feedback...

Take a look at this and keep your fingers crossed....

http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=3280

That appears to be CDMA only. ATT is GSM.

Galavanter- Maybe I missed it, but didn't see any reference to the new $200 product you mention on their site.... The current one (500) seems to be available for around $250, and look like it works very well from reviews I saw.

Hi I have had my Iphone for 2weeks and had been doing good but yesterday it dropped amost all the calls i had and i'm in a good area. So this morning after dropping two more calls i removed the sim card and put it in my old V3 and no more problem with dropping calls are signal. I talked to apple and am taking my phone in tomarrow for them to check.

I tried the zboost unit with less then stellar results. I got 5 bars but could not even carry on a conversation. It amplifies a very bad signal. Not worth it for me since $350.00 spent and no clear conversation to be had.

I don't know about this. I had a RAZR and it worked fine. I get a strong signal at home. Nonetheless, with the iPhone, the signal varies, as you say, from full bars to none or 1 and I don't even move. I am not sure buying an expensive booster is going to fix this problem. I have sat and watched it move while the phone sits on the table. Perhaps it's the wind. :-O

Before the iPhone, I was a Sprint user. At my house I had one bar on the Treo, and it only worked in the front of the house. I bought one of these Wi-Ex boxes (The 1900 Mhz "PCS" version), and while the green LED on the front blinks rapidly while I use the Sprint phone, there was no improvement in the signal strength bars or the sound quality. And, I still had to stand in the front of the house with phone about 12 inches from my head in order to keep a phone call active.

I don't know how much of this experience translates to AT&T. I have even worse AT&T coverage at home than Sprint. The iPhone shows "AT&T" in the title bar only if I lay the phone down on my desk in the back of the house and leave it alone for several minutes. But, any attempt to actually make a phone call results in an instant drop.

The version of the Wi-Ex box I have doesn't do 800Mhz, but I'm not about to drop several hundred dollars on the "CEL" model in the vain hope it will do any good for the 800Mhz AT&T signal around here. The 1900 Mhz "PCS" model didn't do squat for me for improving Sprint signal strength.

Congrats to the folks that have tried it, and it works for them. The website does offer a money back guarantee, so you might get lucky.

iPhone Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Not sure what the SIM card holds really (config info I know, but what specifically?) However, if it holds the same type of stuff that you might see on a CDMA phone (like Network A vs Network B, etc.) then maybe your OLD SIM was configured differently and was accessing a closer tower by default whereas the iPhone SIM card was not. That not-so-secret-anymore iPhone diagnostic screen might be worth looking at for each SIM to see what the differences are.

Sorry, I was going back and forth from the Wi-Ex site to the repeaterstore.com site yesterday. You are correct, there is nothing on the Wi-Ex product page, but it has not been released yet. I did find this press release on their site:

http://www.wi-ex.com/UserDyn/WiEx/zp%20launch%20final%20for%20distribution%203-2 6.pdf

Also, here is a photo from the repeaterstore site, although this zpersonal model actually attaches to the phone. Not for this iphone user. I have nothing to do with these guys, as a matter of fact, the repeaterstore (a reseller) didn't respond to my email or my attempt to use their live chat feature yesterday during business hours.

http://www.repeaterstore.com/products/repeaterkits/wi-ex/zboost-zp-wireless.html

I have read many reviews concerning these units, from the NY Times to CNet. They work for many people and some aren't so lucky for whatever reason. I'm no expert but I know it is a fact that cell signals have trouble going through walls. They say up front that if you have no signal outside to amplify don't bother with the units. There is also some care to be taken with installation, although the appealing thing about these (current) kits is that they come with everything needed. Outdoor/indoor antenna, 30 ft I think of coax cable, and the repeater box (with antenna) with just lights and no buttons. I think I can handle that.

Thanks galavanter.... that personal wireless unit looks perfect. I have a great signal outside- it's just the 1st floor (kitchen, hallway, etc) that is marginal, so should be great for that situation. Let us know if you find out anything more specific on release date.

I have had the zBoost for verizon for the past 2 years and it has worked great. I recently bought the 510 PCS for my apple phone and it also works decent. You have to put some time in on the install and it will pay off. First of all buy the extra directional attenna for the outside of your house.I bought a tripod attenna mask with a 10 ft pole to mount it on from Radio Shack for around 50 bucks. If you can mount the unit in the center of your house or room and not right at the window it will really help on your reciption. I can now make calls in three of my rooms in the house. I had barely one bar outside of my house and was never able to make a call inside before. It is not a miracle device but it will help a lot.
Love my phone the best gadget i have ever had. I have good volume for the speaker music etc.. but my ring on the phone is so low hope they improve that..

You do understand that an unlocked phone means it will work with ANY GSM provider...guess what, that means AT&T or T-Mobile.

THIS IS A GSM PHONE FOLKS...cant go to Sprint!