New Rules - Cell Phone Signal Boosters

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Effective February 20, 2014, the FCC has instituted new rules for cell phone amplifiers.

You are now legally required to register your device with your carrier, and have their permission to use it.

If your device is causing network problems, you can be ordered to shut it down.

More info at:

http://www.fcc.gov/signal-boosters/

 

[Stargazer]

This way, they can find you ALL of the time...you know...to keep you safe from the big bad terrorists!

 

[Lucky mike]

I see them enforcing this the same way they did with Citizens Band radio......NOT.....it will be selective corporate level attempts.....and china will ship in all kinds of product to make the problem worse.

not to mention we all will just fill out the paperwork and send it right in to rat ourselves out.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I like a good conspiracy theory as. well as the next guy. I trust our current politicians - both parties - about as far as I can spit on them.

But mobile operators are only expected/required to provide their base address. In other words, you give them the same address you give the DMV for your registration and drivers license.

From a technical point of view, cell phone amplifiers contain re-transmitters, which must work exactly right or they cause interference with the carriers cell towers.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that if your phone has a GPS in it, the feds can already track you if they want.

Regards
John

- who can't believe he just defended something the nanny state just did . . .

 

[GotSmart]

I like a good conspiracy theory as. well as the next guy. I trust our current politicians - both parties - about as far as I can spit on them.

In a good wind, that can be a fair distance.

 

[akrvbob]

I use a cell amplifier for my Verizon data plan so I did some research. Here is what Verizon has ti say about it:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/wcms/consumer/register-signal-booster.html

Basically Verizon gives blanket permission to use any amplifier that comes with the label "consumer device." Which I'm just going to assume mine is. It looks like the manufactuerers are working with the FCC so that all future amplifiers can't interfere:
http://www.cepro.com/article/loomin...ration_deadline_is_big_customer_service_oppo/

My Wilson Sleek works extremely well, but i am always so remote I'm confident it won't interfere. My guess is that it is only an issue to city folk with people nearby. I can't imagine it will be a problem for boondockers because there is never anyone around me for it to interfere with.

It looks like you will never hear from the unless there is actual interference and that seems highly unlikely for me in my situation.
Bob

 

[Blue]

if you have a cell phone, and you dont remove the memory card after every use, they already know where you are at all times... but this could be a way to effectively eliminate that issue...

http://www.ted.com/talks/todd_humphreys_how_to_fool_a_gps.html

 

[Ballenxj]

I was totally unaware of this new rule by the FCC.
Bob, How much additional range or improved signal do you get with the Wilson Sleek?

 

[akrvbob]

Ballenxj, I will usually jump from 1 or 2 bar to 5 bars. The Sleek uses a cradle and comes with many different sized arms so it will hold almost any device, but not tablets. My JetPack fits in it no problem.

It is also one of the few that works with both 3G and 4G. Highly recommended.
Bob

 

[Ballenxj]

Thanks Bob. I googled it as well, and here's a review I found.
Wilson Sleek