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Reviews

Cell Ranger Auto Ranger Stix

Posted 05/01/2009 at 3:52:00am | by Roberto Baldwin

cell ranger

More bars, so you can make sure you end up at the right bar.

For some people, as soon as you start your car, the workday begins. You’re making calls about that big merger, checking on the network with your IT homies, or just finding out where everyone is going to eat lunch. If this is you, the last thing you need are dead zones. Dropping an important call can sour a deal, or worse, lead to eating at Bob-in-accounting’s brother’s restaurant for lunch--the Chinese-Mexican-Hungarian-fusion palace.

Enter the world of cell boosters. They harvest the available cell signal and turn it up, man. Cell Ranger’s Auto Ranger Stix promises to boost the voice and data signals in your vehicle, so you’ll have fewer dropped calls and won’t get caught repeating the same question like that annoying Verizon guy.

The device plugs into your cigarette lighter and has an attached 15-foot cable with an antenna at the end. The antenna must be placed on the outside of the vehicle. Cell Ranger assures us that you can close a door or window on the cable without any ill effects. The cable is thin, yet robust, and we didn’t encounter any problems with it or the door seal while testing--it’s also long enough to tuck under seats and floor mats so you don’t end up choking yourself while driving. For drivers with multiple cars, the portability factor is handy. In fact, the only issue with the antenna is a cosmetic one. Having the Stix protruding from our vehicle reminds us of the car phones circa 1991.

Once we had the device plugged in and ready to go, Stix did boost the signal. Using the iPhone’s Field Test mode, we were able to record gains of 8dB to 10dB as we cruised around the San Francisco area. Our cell data stream was also nearly doubled in most cases. A signal gain equals more bars, and more bars mean you’ll drop fewer calls. Real-world tests produced fewer dropped calls and extended call times before we lost the signal in areas known for janky cell signals. We didn’t notice any noise or other problems when using the Stix.

If you can get over the antenna and the long-ass cable--and you understand that signal boosters can’t create signal from thin air--the Stix is a great addition to vehicles that travel through erratic coverage areas.

Auto Ranger Stix
COMPANY: Cell Ranger
CONTACT: www.cellranger.net
PRICE: $129.95
REQUIREMENTS: GSM, CDMA, or TDMA cell phone. Does not work with Sprint/Nextel “walkie-talkie” signals

Boosts signals for both voice and data.
Cable and antenna remind us of ’90’s car phones.

COMMENTS: 10

TAGS: cell ranger

COMMENTS

Frequency
Submitted by Quayzar on Fri, 2009-05-01 06:08

That would be great for me but I would like to know what frequencies it works on. I live on the east coast and travel to Europe and I would like to know if its quad banded or just dual banded to work on the two frequencies for GSM in the US. Remember the East and West coast use different GSM frequencies. Europe even uses two more.

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Specs
Submitted by Roberto Baldwin on Fri, 2009-05-01 14:16

You can check out the frequency specs here.
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But does it help the iPhone
Submitted by johnnysfun on Fri, 2009-05-01 13:27

Since I have numerous "failed calls" every day on my iPhone, any help would be appreciated. Was it tested specifically with the iPhone?

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iPhone
Submitted by Roberto Baldwin on Fri, 2009-05-01 14:15

I only tested it with the iPhone.
My advice, be sure there is actual signal in the problem areas. it'll boost a tiny signal, but if it's a true dead spot, it won't help at all.

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Range in Kilometers or Miles
Submitted by Imagine Engine on Sat, 2009-05-02 14:26

It would be beneficial for readers to know the actual range this cellphone signal booster provides in either Kilometers or Miles.

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Home Use
Submitted by tomzink on Sat, 2009-05-02 16:37

Thanks for the review. It's important to have a great signal in the car, but I'm seeing more and more people in my situation: having ditched the land line altogether for an iPhone. I'm in a pretty good reception area, but I'd like it to be far better (and need it to be far better for business use). This particular product does not look too "house friendly" - any chance of some reviews of home cell phone boosters?Thanks

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echo Home Use
Submitted by WizzyBoom on Wed, 2009-06-17 20:35

I concur with tomzink! We are jumping into iPhones 3GS and we are now with Sprint. Our house gets little to nothing for reception in our finished basement where we spend about 90% of our time. A signal booster review (3rd party and/or carrier sponsored) would be much appreciate. Thanks!

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As crazy as this sounds
Submitted by brainwave entra... on Thu, 2009-09-03 14:12

I wouldn't mind a device like this for around the house, living somewhat in the outback signal strength is pretty poor...so I am sure this would help quite a lot. Tina, brainwave entrainment

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