GSM mobile antenna

Hey guys, I am looking at installing a GSM antenna on the roof of the car to boost the signal, especially for long distance travels.....as there are lots of places where the cell connectivity is not at its best.

I am not too much of a technical man. Initial research on the net tells me that it is called an "OMNI ANTENNA", it has a magnetic base which can be mounted on the roof like any revolving light (or such stuff) and quite effective.

Can anyone with more knowledge on the subject help me out? What make to buy, from where (I am Delhi based) and general cost (would hate to be taken for a ride).

I hope I am not repeating this topic as new thread... could not find a relevant one. Moderators do guide / shift to the correct place if so!

i have no idea about the stuff you are talking about, but make sure that you are allowed to attach that kind of a stuff.............
when i booked my logan, the dealer told me that i have to pay 12000 xtra (either as insurance or registration) and get a permission from the authority to have a LCD in my car (LEGALLY) or else having a LCD in my car will be illegal and i may get harassed by the cops.............
so make sure you donot have to take any permission for the antenna stuff..........

About the DVD screen.. thats just plain bull!

Romeo, why don't you just consider the cell phone antenna booster (the one that is available in all the cell phone shops)?

i donot have any idea but the dealer told me all this stuff and i had to cancel it, or else i would have gone for the dvd one...........WITH LCD

I have a Screen in my scorpio too!
No hassles!
Not everything has to be told!!

Dunno much about the antennae! Do keep us posted!

ya, but just in case they catch hold of me and demand the papers..........

well i will see and might take the risk...have to talk to a cop only to be sure.

Guys check out this link on omni directional antenna.....Loganizers with better technical aptitude, advice please!

http://www.cellphonesbooster.com/omni-antenna.html

The problem with these things is that they have to be plugged into your phone and not all phones have this feature. For eg., my iPhone doesnt!!

I am not very sure if these work effectively.

Usually what they have inside is a coil of fine copper wire wound in circles that helps to grab signals.

Better to ask someone who has used this stuff.

One cant install GSM antenna. Antenna is a transmitter which operators install under licenses.

What you need is a booster to boost signals....

However GSM signals may not get affected by booster in car scenario. Booster needs a singal to boost at first place. Boosters are installed generally in buildings with too many walls / trees / obstructions around to boost internet wireless signals mostly for WiFi.

In case of GSM if you are not getting signals on normal handset you may not get even with a booster.
GSM signal strength is not affected by car metal and glass. It is very well penetrable.

What you need is to get in touch with your Telephone companys and complain that they havnt enough sendermasts around India .We have them all over the place and we can phone from just about anywhere in Europe .Like Mir says you cant boost what you dont have 

Guys thank you for the responses.

A few clarifications:-

Mir - You are dead right, an antenna does require official permissions and the lot. What I am looking for is basically a one way receiver antenna - the kind we use with normal radio receivers (the type we use with say a FM radio) if you know what I mean. It just amplifies the available signal strength to a level that the cell phone is comfortable with. Such an antenna does not require licences. In fact such antennae (not only the omni directional ones, but even Yagi types) are common in the North East. The issues involved are that the antenna gets fitted to one cell phone only (to that extent the mobility of mobile phones gets restricted - in a way it becomes a mobile landline; but better than having no connectivity). Secondly, I am not sure whether it will work mounted on a car; though technically speaking it should (the web sites definitely claim so) and you are right that the signals are not affected inside a vehicle. Hence, I was requesting someone with better technical aptitude / knowledge or experience to clarify it.

Stu - There are very large stretches in our country which still do not have cell connectivity, particularly in the North East, Central India and Jammu and Kashmir. Cell connectivity is guided by two main considerations, infrastructure availabilty and commercial viability. The areas I am referring to do not have human habitation for scores of miles upon miles. In the North East, you can fly in a chopper for 30-35 minutes to reach a small village with about 40-50 residents. Similarly in Central India, some areas are very remote in terms of population density and poor in terms of communications connectivity. My job content is such that one has to travel to some of these exotic places and hence the need for some device that can improve my cell's performance. We could discuss the feasibility of tele companies put up additional towers for me (or people like me) over a hot Indian curry and some good German beer when you visit India. To be fair to these companies, things are improving - will take some time though.

@loganromeo:
if you feel that the black holes where you are not getting GSM coverage shall be better with use of antenna you may want to go ahead.

However in a nutshell all such devices fall under unmbrella of Signal Boosters / Amplifiers and can be used to boost any wireless signals not just GSM.

Getting back to GSM case scenario you have,

first the booster antenna needs to be installed at a considerable height for one to notice some signal difference. higher the antenna better the gain. obvious reason of signal gain at height is you overcome the obstructions at lower altitudes and try to acheive sort of line of sight with the tower.

second the signal gained by booster antenna have to reach the actual device as well, for it to actually know of that gain.

Now solution you can go for:
hardware needed: Repeater Kit e.g. JD65XT as can be seen in the link posted above.
1. Get the outdoor booster antenna installed at the place and height where you feel signal can be gained.
2. connect it to repeater using least loss cable which will be placed inside the car. however this requires seperate power input to work.

you are done with it...
if you do try, let me know if it worked

Thanks Mir, had considered the booster as well. However, it works best with the Yagi antenna which is too cumbersome (as is the entire equipment) to lug around on top of / in the car......but thanks for the effort.