DIY method for improving mobile phone reception?

[The thinker]

Hi everyone,

I have an unusual question:
Do any of you have any ideas on a DIY method for improving mobile phone reception? (my phone does not have an external antenna/antenna connector)

I figured that asking physicist would be the best way of getting reliable information! I know that making a parabolic dish from tin foil can help with wifi connections, could something similar help with a phone?

-Also as a side curiosity: whilst a friend was having building work done a part of her house was covered in scaffolding, for the period that the metal was in place the reception inside the house was consistently higher. Does anyone know how that might have happened?

Thanks.

 

[Tom.G]

any ideas on a DIY method for improving mobile phone reception?

And the answer is...

house was covered in scaffolding, for the period that the metal was in place the reception inside the house was consistently higher.

They "why" is a little bit easier. The scaffolding acted as a large antenna and re-radiated the signal. Parts of it may also have been resonant near the frequency band in use.

In the US the two bands are centered on 858MHz and 1.92Ghz. If you decide to try an experiment by building some antennas, the center-band wavelengths are respectively 13.75 and 6.15 inches.

Oh, just noticed this is a necro-thread, why did it show up in the Unanswered Threads sidebar after 11 years?

 

[anorlunda]

Oh, just noticed this is a necro-thread, why did it show up in the Unanswered Threads sidebar after 11 years?

Good question. I have no idea. But I have seen some other necro threads resurrected for seemingly no good reason in recent days.