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Author Topic: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks  (Read 4456 times)

Offline thatGuy

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I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« on: August 26, 2013, 08:51:50 AM »
Hey Gang,

In my life I have seen all kinds of 'tips' that weren't.. Well I stumbled across one that actually did work and I thought I would share.

If you place your cell phone into a parabolic reflector you can increase your cell service.. how much? Down at my house I never could get 3G service which left me to suffer the slings and arrows of what amounted to dial-up if I used my cell phone as a connection. For the last 7 years we have been using a Verizon MiFi instead and it got me thinking, "hell if the MiFi is getting 3G why can't my phone?" Enter a colander, a rubber band, a Jim Beam half pint to prop up the whole rig and a toothpick to hold it all together.

Bingo bango 3 bars of 3G service and $65 dollars back into my pocket.. Fuck you T-Mobile, fuck you Verizon and thank you humble cookware!
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Offline Jeremy Knauff

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Re: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2013, 09:24:41 AM »
Awesome find! What did you use for the reflector?
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Offline JohnyMac

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Re: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2013, 09:29:08 AM »
Great idea man! Do you have a picture. I will be at the cabin this weekend where I get 1 bar of reception. I would love to give it a try and report back.
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Offline APX808

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Re: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2013, 09:36:51 AM »
Wow TG, that's really cool  :pirateThumbUp:

A picture of the contraption would be awesome
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Offline special-k

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Re: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2013, 10:04:03 AM »
What your doing there is called a passive wave-guide.  Also, they don't necessarily have to be parabolic.  Pretty much any curve or funnel (rounded or squared) shaped metal can work with a little trial and error.
« Last Edit: August 26, 2013, 10:11:36 AM by special-k »
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Offline JoJo

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Re: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2018, 04:52:12 PM »
BUMP. I was surfing the DIY topics and came across this great idea and thought some out there like myself never saw it.
THATGUY did you ever take a picture of it?
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Offline JohnyMac

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Re: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« Reply #6 on: May 13, 2018, 09:11:40 AM »
Drop ThatGuy a PM asking him directly. He has been laying low for awhile and maybe you could lure him back  ;)
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Offline Kbop

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Re: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2018, 09:36:33 AM »
i've rigged a cheerios aluminum foil parabola or even a passive reflector a couple of times in the field.  flat is a reflector - curved and put the phone at the foci and viola.  a note - if it works for light or sound and is metal backed and over 1 foot wide, it should work.  you need to point the parabola at the signal source - a tower, in this case.  the orange peel type antenna still gives you good gain and is dirt simple to make.
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/CompSci_p010/computer-science/parabola-focusing-wifi-signals#summary
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Parabolic-WiFi-Signal-Booster/
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another tip - if you need to make a call and don't have signal, find the nearest power lines and walk under them - hold teh phone at arms length.  you should be able to get some signal if you are within 10 or so miles of a tower.  the power lines are more permeable than air and will 'funnel' the signal.
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Offline JohnyMac

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Re: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2018, 12:04:24 PM »
The folks on Uunchainedprepperas amaze me all of the time.  :cheers:
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Offline grizz

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Re: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« Reply #9 on: May 13, 2018, 03:15:16 PM »
Let me see if I understand

I drink a bottle of Jim Beam while holding a colander to my ear and I get better cell reception? Does it work with tequila?

I need pics  :facepalm:
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Offline Kbop

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Re: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« Reply #10 on: May 13, 2018, 08:20:23 PM »
Nah Grizz, you wear the colander.
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Offline Nemo

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Re: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« Reply #11 on: May 13, 2018, 09:36:11 PM »
On your head, so you can be a proper and devout member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Also know as a Pastafarian.

Nemo

https://pastafarians.org.au/
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Offline grizz

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Re: I'll be damned, it actually works! Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2018, 02:36:23 PM »
Quote from: Kbop on May 13, 2018, 08:20:23 PM
Nah Grizz, you wear the colander.

Ahh, I get it now  :cheers:
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