topic Re: Suggestions please - for an economical 4G signal booster for Three mobile calls/Three MIFI data. in Devices

Suggestions please - for an economical 4G signal booster for Three mobile calls/Three MIFI data.

Anon101 — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 21:09:49 GMT

Suggestions please - for an economical 4G signal booster for a Three mobile calls SIM/Three MIFI data SIM - but, without installing an outdoor antenna.

Hi,

I’m presently experiencing poor 4G signal strengths in Bradeley in Stoke-on-Trent for both mobile phone calls and portable MIFI data device usage. Its been ongoing for weeks - but the Three coverage checker/outage checker typically says there are no current issues.

I’d been using a Huawei 4G+ E5783-330 device with my PC for data/internet - but, via it, the data signal in the location is shown as down to 1 bar, then to zero, then back up to 1 bar again; data download speeds are like 1 Mbps via it, and upload speeds are at 0Mbps.

On switching to using a TP-LINK M7350 device instead, the bars on that are up to 2-3 out of 5, with download speeds up to 8Mbps/upload speed around 2Mbps… but both still fluctuate minute by minute. The dire speeds are similar to those of twenty years ago. I’m used to at least 50Mbps+ downloads/10Mbps+ uploads elsewhere (and that’s coming via the Huawei 4G+ E5783-330 device).

Mobile phone calls here have my voice fading away during every call, and 5-10 second delays happening between me speaking and the person at the other end of the call hearing what I’ve said 5-10 seconds ago. Call signal strength is typically up and down, from 2 bars to zero. And so on. WIFI calling as an alternative is of no use - because its running through the portable MIFI device which is experiencing its own data signal issue (there’s likewise no other local hotspots to try).

So, both calls and data via Three in this locale are affected.

As I’m going to be in this location for a while, there is no way of installing any outdoor antenna for any cell signal booster/amplifier which I may have to purchase. Also, there’s seemingly no direct line-of-sight to any of the surrounding cell masts. But - there is some call/data signal available for amplification.

Hence, I’m currently stuck in a pretty naff situation.

I was thus wondering if any stick-on window antennas (them looking like a flat copper PCB, backed by adhesive film, which you adhere to the inside of a window pane) are of any proven use, as antennas? Has anyone ever tried any of these please?

Also, I wondered if any signal amplifier (it only needs to cover 1 or 2 rooms) for situations such as this is legally available in the UK? I’ve looked at the approved legal booster equipment indicated by Ofcom for the UK (c/o their webpage: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/using-a-repeater-to-improve-indoor-mobile-phone-signal), but its all very expensive, for a temporary locational situation.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. 🙂

Re: Suggestions please - for an economical 4G signal booster for Three mobile calls/Three MIFI data.

JonathanB — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 16:01:00 GMT

Hi @Anon101,

Sorry we don't directly supply the type of hardware you've described directly, so I can't give advice on antennas or boosters here.

Hopefully fellow community members do have experience on these, but I'm not aware of any other existing topics that seem relevant.

In terms of your experiences of the coverage in the area, I noticed you've said it's been like this for weeks now, so were you previously getting a better level of service in the same location?

Thanks,
Jonathan

Re: Suggestions please - for an economical 4G signal booster for Three mobile calls/Three MIFI data.

Anon101 — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 23:28:11 GMT

Hi Jonathan,

Thank-you for your reply.

Regarding prior reception being better, no, it’s been like this since I first began attempting comms in this location some weeks ago. Its has remained consistently bad throughout, for both voice and data. As I am new to the area, I do not know if it was any better long prior. All I can outline is the last month’s continual experience.

Many thanks,

Mark.

Re: Suggestions please - for an economical 4G signal booster for Three mobile calls/Three MIFI data.

Hawkeye — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:06:12 GMT

You can get a useful booster from https://www.frequencytelecom.com/search.php?search_query=C41

Re: Suggestions please - for an economical 4G signal booster for Three mobile calls/Three MIFI data.

Anon101 — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:55:53 GMT

Thanks Hawkeye. V.much appreciated. 🙂