I first wrote about my lousy cell phone service signal quality last month and discussed how an add-on antenna had improved life for me.

A cunning PR person subsequently got in touch and hooked me up with the big boy's way of improving cell phone reception: The zBoost made by Wi-Ex.

The Wi-Ex products are not femtocells, which use some kind of back-haul, usually wired, and act as cellular service access points in their own right. In contrast, Wi-Ex products are smart repeaters that relay the cellular signals using some secret sauce voodoo technology that "handles all PCS or CEL protocols and includes multiple patent-pending technologies to provide low-cost coverage while continually adapting to signals to prevent interference and remain transparent to the wireless network."

After considering whether I wanted to test these products for, oh, maybe a heartbeat, I said "yes" and a few days later received a zBoost YX510-PCS-CEL ($399), a dual-band repeater for both 800MHz (CEL) and 1900MHz (PCS) devices. Wi-Ex also make single-band variants that are $100 cheaper but in a business setting you'd be advised to buy the dual-band model as there will most likely be multiple cell phone service providers in your area; at WirelessAdvisor.com you can find out which carriers in your area provide what services in which bands.

The dual-band product supports cellular networks that use CDMA, GSM, TDMA, GPRS, EDGE, 1xRTT, EVDO and HSDPA. Apparently the only cellular service not currently supported is the iDEN service from Nextel.

So, installing a zBoost system: In the box is a "signal antenna" (a 14 inch long, one inch diameter cylinder with a BNC connector at one end), antenna mounting hardware, 50 feet of 75 ohm RG-6 coax, a wall wart and a zBoost base unit with mounting bracket.

Setup isn't difficult but you have to observe a few requirements: First, the signal antenna has to be mounted as high as possible -- outside or in an attic is best, outside of a window is good, and indoors on the side of a room nearest to the local cell tower is the least preferred. Second, the signal antenna should also be at least three feet from any metalwork, pipes, air conditioners, etc.

Next, the base unit should be located at least 15 feet vertically from the signal antenna and finally you are supposed to locate the base unit in the middle of the space to be serviced or on an outside wall at about four feet from the floor and at least two feet from power cords and metalwork.