Saturday, June 4, 2016

An Iphone Signal Strength (and Speed) Boosting Case that Actually Works!? - ReachCase R79X

      We all have had times where our cell signal was poor, and/or non existent.  Whether this is a normal everyday occurrence for you, or it only happens periodically,.. it is a nuisance at the minimum.

     So what do you do?  There are powered Cellular booster systems that cost hundreds of dollars that also require you to set them up,.. they involve finding a location with a good signal, running wire to that location , placing the external antenna there, running this back to a device that you plug into the wall and your phone must sit in this 'cradle' that boosts your signal.  (What those are really doing is just transferring a signal down that long wire you climbed into the ceiling/roof to painstakingly run to the powered cradle.) - They work, but obviously your phone has to sit in one spot for the most part.  But the biggest thing is Cell phones are Mobile!  Hence the name, Mobile Phone.

     So is it too good to be true that there exists a simple iphone case you can merely pop on your phone and it boost your signal?  Also improving 4G/LTE speeds? Reducing dropped calls? Well, in the past it has been - but a company called ReachCase (Antenna79) have fine tuned multiple patents / technology into an Iphone 6 / 6S / 6 Plus /6S Plus Case that actually improves signal strength - and 4G/LTE Speeds.

     So what does this amazing , yet simple technology, look like?



Let's get straight to the Results:

     I wracked my brain for a few painful minutes trying to come up with a way to actually test this R79X Passive Signal Boosting Case that would MATTER.  A Test that would empirically show without question whether or not it actually worked.  Everything I've seen elsewhere has people going from location to location (the most ambitious of them), or just showing it in one spot, their iPhone with this case on it,.. and it's all anecdotal.  Which is fine,.. but the internet is a scrutinizing entity of people - People want PROOF.

     So here's how the Test was Set Up:

  • Use (2) Two Identical Iphone 6S's - Everything the same, both 64GB, same age, etc.
  • Turn off WiFi (So phones are ONLY using Cell Towers (4G/LTE ideally)
  • Take the case off both phones, then put the ReachCase R79X on just (1) One of them
  • Place the two phones on the same table, and hit record.
  • Place both phones into Field Test Mode
  • Monitor the dB Signal Strength of each respective identical phone
  • Run half a dozen speed tests, simultaneously and one at a time.
     The biggest part of this testing setup was the fact I had access to two 100% Identical Iphone 64GB 6S's using the Verizon Network.  So without further adieu, let's watch the test Video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F8yRVp29N8



     If you watched all or most of that video,.. great! It's great proof instead of me just saying, "Yup it works..". 

     However, the ultimate results were that it improved the Signal Strength from 2 Dots out of 5 , to 3 Dots out of 5 -- In Decibels that translated to an improvement of 7 Db!  (Decibels are non linear, so that is a HUGE increase in signal strength believe it or not).  

     Speed! -- The video best shows the speed differences -- However, On download, the phone WITH the ReachCase R79X Case on average netted 20-30Mbps faster download (IE: 110Mbps to 89Mbps) -- The most consistent result was the Upload speed.  The phone using the Signal boosting case average 20Mbps Upload everytime, while the phone without the Signal Boosting case averaged 10Mbps.   This is a 100% (2X Times) Increase!


     If you are curious about what comes in the box/package when you buy it -- Like watching unboxing videos,.. want to know what the product claims on Drop testing (It claims it exceeds 6Ft Military grade drop testing), Average Signal/Speed Improvement, and on and on -- I did an Unboxing (And feature Overview) Video when it first arrived.  That Video can be seen below:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzTVDK-aE68



     So what does this mean for you?

     Well,.. it means if you have a signal similar to mine (1-2 Dots/Bars) (-95 to -115 ish) - The results SHOULD be very similar.  AKA: This should help, especially with speed.
   
  If you have an already great signal all the time (4-5 Dots/Bars) - You probably won't see much difference,.. essentially the better your signal is, the more limited the improvement.  However, if you have 4/5 Dot Signal all the time and just want to try for the FULL signal,.. give it a go, it may work.
  
  If you have a problem where you have NO signal at home, or work, camping, etc -- Nothing is going to give you a signal where one doesn't exist.  This Technology works on "Passive Coupling" - It enhances what signal exists already, it does not, and can not create one, literally, out of thin air (unfortunately).  

     If you already have one of these cases,.. Or, you end up buying/trying one -- Leave a comment and let us know how it worked for you.  Or if it didn't work? Or if it was minimal improvement.  What about speeds? 

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Why YOU need a Radar Detector!

     This 1 Minute Video Linked Below is me being warned by Radar Detector and someone else unfortunately NOT  - They are pulled over,..


     Some of you may have already have owned a Radar Detector in the past.  Then, as many/most, you turned it on,.. drove around and it constantly went nuts,.. making noise constantly - mostly when no Cop was in sight.  It probably drove you crazy and after a few days, weeks, or even months it ended up turned off, eventually pulled out of car, and either in the trash can or stuck in a box in the closet.

99% of people go through this, and I don't blame them.  I've done it before I knew any better.

So what's the deal?  

     Well, all Radar Detectors are NOT created equal.  In fact, the vast majority of them are utter trash, nothing but noise boxes, that will alert you at some point to a Cop's Radar Gun but also to the Door at the grocery store you are passing, even other cars with their new fangled radar cruise control, proximity sensors, and so on.

     Honestly, there are less than half a dozen Radar Detectors you should even consider purchasing.  All the rest, forget about them.  The ones you see in a Walmart , a "Cobra" for $99 - Is money that might as well be burned.

     To cut to the chase - There are essentially Three Detectors I am going to name/recommend and I'll describe how each would fit your 'personality'/'needs'.

1) Escort Passport Max -



     This detector is a top of the line (as all of these listed are) in performance, while also having everything *built in* to the detector itself without HAVING to pair it to your phone for example for extra functionality.  I won't go into too much technical detail but detectors can now memorize all those false signals that make all that noise on the cheap detectors.  They use GPS to remember that the Grocery store door(s) are located at (X,Y,Z Coordinates) and to NOT alert in the future for the "false" (Non Cop/Police) Radar signal.  [Automatic Doors operate on similar radar signals as police radar guns if you are wondering].
     You can pull this detector out of the box, plug it in, and honestly, be done with setting it up.  It will constantly be learning to lock out false signals while alerting you to the REAL threats/cops/speed traps.
     Also the Passport Max (1 and 2) [Same detectors, the 2 is newer and merely has the Bluetooth built into the detector,] - Are 1-3+ years old.  This is good,.. as you can find them used on Ebay (and anywhere electronics are sold, amazon, etc..) - For half price or less!


     The price of a Brand New Escort Passport Max [1] is $599 - While looking at Ebay right now, the same detector slightly used is listed at $299 (So quite a discount).

2) Valentine One




     This detector has been around forever!  However it's a classic, somewhat old-school in the way it looks but still one of the best performing detectors on the planet.

     This was the original Radar Detector that had ARROWS on it.  Ok, why are arrows even on a radar detector? Well, with the arrows it literally tells you where the cop is -- In front of you? Behind you? (Even beside).   Why is this important?  (Short Answer) - But one example is - You are driving on the interstate - Going say , oh,.. 85 MPH in a 70 MPH Zone.  Detector starts going off -- With arrows you can glance and see , oh he's behind me somewhere.  You can adjust your speed and watch in rear view for him (Without the arrows you'd think automatically he was probably ahead somewhere.. while he may be catching up to you, and bam speeding ticket).

      That said,.. I only recommend this detector to someone who is either 100% Ok with a lot of noise on false signals -- OR, better yet - Is willing to learn, read, do research -- and has (or will buy) an android phone / device to run either it's own free application called V1Connection or an even better (Enthusiast Developed) Application called "YaV1".
These apps for your phone (or tablet) (only one is used ) - give the Valentine One Detector the ability to learn and lock out these false signals that cause all the annoying noise for false signals.  (YaV1 does A LOT more than that,.. but the most 'handy' function is it's ability to add that HUGELY beneficial function to the Valentine One detector.)  The Valentine One is also a little Cheaper than the Escort "Max" series of detectors.  The Valentine One is $449 (With 30 Day Trial period).

     Like the Passport Max 1&2, you can find this detector on Ebay for a discount -- However I do NOT recommend buying one used, period.  They all look the same,.. however one from 4 years ago and one from this year are very different in terms of the technology/abilities.  So it's quite common for people to buy a used one (that looks the same as new) but it's X years old and while it works, it doesn't have many of the latest functions, filters of false signals, and so on.


3) Escort Max 360 -
     This is the latest flagship model from Escort Radar -- It's basically a very modern/high tech version of the Valentine One.  Why? It has arrows now (Before this Max 360, no other detector told you where the cop was located [aka: Had Arrows]) - So, if you haven't, read the arrow description about the Valentine One (above) to get an idea of why they are useful/exist.
This is all digital.  Digital trumps Analog.  It just does,.. why ?  Well in Radar Detection - how FAST your detector sends you that alert the more time you have to slow down/adjust speed.  With an all digital modern platform the Max 360 , quite simply, reacts faster to passing/incoming radar signals.
This thing is feature packed, has an OLED screen, ability to change the colors , and about a million other adjustable things -- (But you don't have to adjust/touch a thing!)

     As with the Passport Max [Series] Detector(s) - This is designed for people who know absolutely NOTHING about Radar Detectors.  So they can merely take it out of box,.. plug it in, put on windshield and let it do it's thing.  It has built in GPS (For locking out false signals/learning/AI), It has Front and Rear detection "Antenna's/Horns" (which allow the arrows to function).
Price:  $649 (New)


     This is a relatively new detector,.. but you can still find one used -- Ebay has them for $450-$600 used.  So you can save some money (Couple hundred if you wish).

     Don't be spooked off by price on these things.  Just ONE detection that saves you from a speeding ticket pays for any of these Radar Detectors.
 
      How?  Obviously the price of the ticket ($100-$250+) - No Points on License. Insurance Premium does NOT go up (Even $10 a month increase adds up!  $120 a year time X years is expensive).  Not to mention you don't have the hassle of being pulled over, .. all that can go "wrong" these days with police encounters - You aren't late for whatever you are doing, and on goes the beneficial list.  -- It's also just nice to know where the police are around you,.. many of you will become mini-enthusiasts who start seeing patterns of where police are in your area (that you haven't been seeing already).

     If you are still on the fence -- Here's (Link(s) Below) one of these three detectors *in action* (they would have ALL saved me in this video) not only warning me of a Cop coming up behind me at night - but also showing someone else who did NOT have a radar detector and the result.

Why it pays to have a Radar Detector - [Video]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqAsLCiu4bY


     If you guys have any questions about this topic - please don't hesitate to comment, I will be more than happy to answer your questions!   -Take Care