Problem with cell phone range

[Vtachy1]

I'm in the process of interviewing and applying for a telephonic triage nurse. I am concerned about our cell phone coverage here in my home.

For this position, I will have to have a second phone line plus a cell phone and fax machine. We have a fax machine, but I am very worried about the cell phone. It may be that I could check around with different cell phone companies and get better service, and they sell antennae for cell phones, but I dont know if this would help.

I really want this job!!!! They are interested in me, but I'm so scared about the cell phone thing. I guess I need a cell phone so that I can take more calls???

Would it be possible that I could sign up for an internet phone system like Vonage? And then keep my landline with the two phone lines???

One of the disadvantages of living so far out.

This position is 5 weekend shifts (8 hours) a month. So its a good fit for me and a great way to get my foot in the door with telephone triage.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

We have a bundled package that includes, Internet, cable TV, and a landline with unlimited long distance. Is that possible where you're located?

[Vtachy1]

We have a bundled package that includes, Internet, cable TV, and a landline with unlimited long distance. Is that possible where you're located?

We don't have that option with our phone/internet/cable TV.

I re read my post and I didn't even explain my worry hardly at all:uhoh3:

I am worried that I won't have very good cell phone service here at my home. I have a cell phone now, but its not 100% all the time. Some days, I can't get a connection at all hardly, other days its fine.

I have seen that they sell different antennae and "booster" thingy. Some are as expensive as $500.

Do you think there is any other option than a cell phone? My sister was saying that to get a third line in your home is terribly expensive, so that may be the reason I'm required to have a cell phone.

I also have to have a toll free number so that they don't have to pay long distance. Is this gonna be profitable for me? If I have to pay for all these long distance calls? Supposedly I will get some allowance for it, but my salary is extremely low (the hourly wage). But to me the trade off is well worth it to be able to work from home.

[caliotter3]

I would guess that the requirement for a cell phone is more so that you can have it on you and receive and make calls if you should leave the house for a few minutes. I have two cell phones with two different carriers and one of the carriers has better coverage. I can't see buying boosters and such. If it were me and I really wanted that job, I would get a second landline and arrange for call forwarding from the landline to my cell if I were to leave the house. I don't know about the vonage thing; it does seem to be a good deal. Maybe you should look into that as a better option. Good luck. (I wouldn't bring up the subject with the employer, just take the job, and hope for the best!)

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

There are options called "femtocells" sold by most of the main carriers. These are essentially short-range cell towers that make use of your internet access for data transmission. With one, you'll get maximum bars in your house.

Here are links about some of them:

http://www.nextel.com/en/services/airave/index.shtml

http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/01/28/verizon-and-atts-femtocells-boost-coverage-but-not-without-a-catch/

[Vtachy1]

There are options called "femtocells" sold by most of the main carriers. These are essentially short-range cell towers that make use of your internet access for data transmission. With one, you'll get maximum bars in your house.

Here are links about some of them:

http://www.nextel.com/en/services/airave/index.shtml

http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/01/28/verizon-and-atts-femtocells-boost-coverage-but-not-without-a-catch/

Very cool! I had no idea they had such things. Do you have one? I like the monthly small price instead of the $500 booster.

[Vtachy1]

I would guess that the requirement for a cell phone is more so that you can have it on you and receive and make calls if you should leave the house for a few minutes. I have two cell phones with two different carriers and one of the carriers has better coverage. I can't see buying boosters and such. If it were me and I really wanted that job, I would get a second landline and arrange for call forwarding from the landline to my cell if I were to leave the house. I don't know about the vonage thing; it does seem to be a good deal. Maybe you should look into that as a better option. Good luck. (I wouldn't bring up the subject with the employer, just take the job, and hope for the best!)

If I'm scheduled for an 8 hour shift, I don't plan to leave the house. Maybe I wouldn't need the cell phone? Don't you have to be at your computer for the calls, to document assessments and have the software that helps with triage? I'm sooooo new to this, this will be the first time I've had a job like this. I did lots of phone triage when I was the primary nurse for a general surgeon for 3 years, but we didn't use software to document our assessment and recommendation, we just dictated a note about what was said.

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

Very cool! I had no idea they had such things. Do you have one? I like the monthly small price instead of the $500 booster.

I get decent reception in my house, but if my livelihood depended on it, I'd get one. The only thing that doesn't work well in my house is the 3G data, but that isn't an issue since any of the PDA/Smartphones I buy have wifi for that.

[shah]

If you have a router with your internet service, T-mobile lets you make cell phone calls for free at home (they go through the router). You don't need T-mobile's router. Any router will work. Your cell phone should however be enabled to do so. Some newer ones do. Go and do a search on CNet to see what cell phones are enabled.