It looks like I will need to use a 3G signal for internet at home (through Orange or maybe Swisscom) because normal internet in my area is even slower. My home office, however, is away from the window and so the signal is incredibly weak. I know that there are 'boosters' for normal WI-FI signals but do boosters exist for 3G networks and do they actually work?

I am struggling to find info on them because much of the time, only wifi boosters are discussed.

I would appreciate any help as most of this techie stuff is over my head.

Thank you!

UK operators offer 2 strategies for people in areas with poor reception:

1. A repeater. A transceiver is fitted to the roof/an area with reception. A cable leads to the area which should be covered(basement/downstairs/underground parking/whereever). At this end an additional transceiver is mounted, repeating the signal from the other end.
2. A box which provides 3G-signal is mounted in the area where coverage is needed. This box is then connected to the internet. The signal effectively travels from your phone to the box, and then through the internet to the network provider.

Strategy #1 is illegal in Switzerland.

Strategy #2 is not offered by Swiss network providers, and cannot be privately operated without the network's support.

Reservation on my description: Maybe Swiss networks changed their strategy lately and I didn´t hear of it yet?

There are some wireless routers which have a USB socket and can handle a USB-dongle with 3G modem. So one could place this device where the 3G signal is strong.

Or one could use a 3G modem with a socket for external antenna. Use a high-gain directional antenna (mounted outside) and feed the signal with a cable to the 3G modem,

Or, similarly, but if the modem lacks antenna connector, mount another antenna also at the cable inside. Would help your voice connections as well.

Get a cheap computer (I'd use a raspberry PI, but an ordinary windows laptop will do fine) and a 3g usb connector. Use power over ip connectors to network to your home office.

There are WiFi routers with an integrated 3G modem - place one of those near the window where reception is better and use WiFi at home

Here's how to build a raspberry pi 3g router.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Rasp...ireless-Edima/

Powered USB hub: 8.85
Raspberry Pi:: 52.40
Huawei E303 USB 3g_ 45.00
Edimax USB Wifi adapter:29.20

So you could do the whole thing for around 150CHF.

OK - you're not really a techy, so buying a prebuilt one is probably easier - but for the technically minded, it could be a nice project.

Looking here there seem to be really cheap boxes, for under a 100CHF, and more robust ones for 200CHF+.

__________________
Down with racism. Long live miscegenation!

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Huawei E303 USB 3g_ 45.00 - That's all he needs. You can get these pre-configured from all major Swiss network providers

I've recently had to do something similar in a poor 3g area. I used an external antenna connected to a 3g wifi/wired d-link dwr-512 router. Here are the parts that I needed:

http://www.conrad.ch/ce/de/product/7...tantenne-LAT54
http://www.conrad.ch/ce/de/product/5...ic-Inhalt-1-St
http://www.techmania.ch/details.aspx...kt=DWR-512%2FE

It works out to around 240chf. The setup works very well and it has boosted the signal significantly. The nice thing is that you can plug a normal telephone into the router so you can still use the sim card for voice (don't need to dedicate a sim card for data). The router also has switch ports in it so you can choose if you want to use wired or wireless.

Thigs you guys quoted can be done cheaper
Cheap router with USB: <28 chf <- that router is also OpenWRT capable so you can do some fun stuff with it if you wish

Some 3g stick with extrenal antenna connector (if you sign a new contract you can get them pretty much for 1 CHF).

Only thing left is proper external antetnna, this from above post looks very decent, you can source this via ebay, this will probably save a bunch too!.

I did operate such setup before (not in ch though) and it was ok, but... not even close to proper cable etc. Also (not sure if this is the case here) I had problems with provided filtering VoIP traffic... (had to use VPN to hide my packets, than all was fine).

Good luck!

ps. Slightly cheaper router from above post (with 3g modem integrated)IS HERE

Does anyone also know how to improve 3G signal while on the 1st class carriage train (Basel to Zurich)?

Furthermore, I use EBL for broadband at home and they quote speed of 25mb but i never get that speed and only get a max of 7mb. When I complained the Helpdesk told me that I can only get that speed if I connect via wire instead of Wi-Fi. Are they fobbing me off?

Wow, thanks for all the info. Incredible! It will take me a little time to digest.

If get a modem from Orange, will I even need a booster?

http://shop.orange.ch/en/usb-modems/.../invt/10061197

Will this naturally pull in a good 3G signal and disperse it around the house? My 3G/H+ signal is actually good where I am. Just not in the back rooms away from the windows.

It's not a router. The suggestion I make is how to grab the G3 signal and then make the internet connection available via wifi. G3 receiver could then be by the window, while the pc using the internet could be within the house.

Hello,

Buy a car kit, and install at home, as normally they have a base station with aerial.

Best you can do,,

repeater can cost you a lot if it causes an issue to the phone network..

Hope it helps.

Mehdi