Hello, New Friends!

I've tried to locate an answer using search but - as usual for my questions - nobody has ever asked about it before.

Here's the thing of it: My cell phone (recently upgraded for me by T-Mobile, which means I'm locked in for two years) is a Nokia 5310 XpressMUSIC. I don't use it for apps or texting or IMs or any of that stuff; I'm pushing 70 and don't need it. What I do need is to be able to make and receive calls in my basement living area. Yeah, I moved in with my daughter - poor girl - to save expenses for both of us.

When I lived about 2.5 miles away, also in a basement, I could make and receive calls with no problems. Where I am now, not at all. So I was wondering if anyone had ever heard of a way to use my cable or my pc in conjunction with a cell phone, in a way that would enable me to use same for the purpose for which it was intended. OK, I know this is a really long shot, but I had to ask. I checked out boosters and amplifiers and we're talking megabucks, and I'm on Social Security over here.

Therefore, I present my problem for the consideration of folks who have probably fielded every kind of stupid question ever thought of by the mind of humankind. I will take the ribbing and the laughing, just in case there might be an answer to this problem.

Many thanks for any suggestions you are able to provide, and even if you can't think of a single solution.

brookela

Thank you for the suggestion, Col, but I know nothing about SKYPE, other than having heard the name. It isn't a case of just needing any old phone service in my basement, it's about having the use of MY cellphone in my basement, since that's where the calls come in.

I do appreciate your taking the time to respond, though, and hope someone else will respond who might have a good idea how to solve this silly coil.

Bright blessings,

brookela

Once again, I thank you for your suggestions. Now I understand WHY I'm having the problem; unfortunately, I hesitate to take the chance of sticking a piece of wire or paper clip into a phone that I wouldn't be able to replace, so the videos didn't help me either.

I truly appreciate your help; I guess I'm just S.O.L., as we used to say in the day. I'll continue to check to see if there's anyone who has that special bit of magic that can help me, but I'm not counting on it. As I often say, if there's ever a question or problem that has no answer . . . I'm going to be the one who asks it.

More bright blessings to all,

brookela

I was going to suggest wearing a tinfoil hat, but LH's offering is much better :)

It's all aluminium foil these days anyhow.

OK, here's the thing of it: I agree that LH's suggestion is by far the best (and my most sincere thanks for it, LH) . . . but all of these solutions are way out of my ability to purchase. Fortunately, I'm NOT going to go the paper-clip route, because that would require that I buy a new cellphone, also out of my financial ability.

Honest to goddess, I really appreciate all of your suggestions . . . and the tin-foil-hat one made me want to watch that Mel Gibson movie again (even though I'm verily miffed at him for some of his outrageous statements in the last few years). You are really nice and funny folks, and whether I can follow your suggestions or not, I am very grateful that you all took the time to give it a try for me.

Brighter blessings,

brookela

I will try and get a Service manual for your phone, and see if I can figure a free and easy way to do it.

brookela, Sorry for that suggestion with the paper clip. I failed to examine it more closely and missed the soldering part. I surely wouldn't of suggested for you to do something that I wouldn't do myself. The paper clip method is a little desperate and even more so, a little more crazy...lol I am sorry you haven't found a solution as yet. Garry

Hi Brookela. Feeling slightly guilty about my earlier comment, I decided to have a look around the web for hacks etc your phone. I found a forum with the following post;

On the main screen type in:
*#06# for checking the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity).
*#7780# reset to factory settings.
*#67705646# This will clear the LCD display(operator logo).
*#0000# To view software version.
*#2820# Bluetooth device address.
*#746025625# Sim clock allowed status.
#pw+1234567890+1# Shows if sim have restrictions.
*#92702689# - takes you to a secret menu where you may find some of the information below:
1. Displays Serial Number.
2. Displays the Month and Year of Manufacture
3. Displays (if there) the date where the phone was purchased (MMYY)
4. Displays the date of the last repair - if found (0000)
5. Shows life timer of phone (time passes since last start)
*#3370# - Enhanced Full Rate Codec (EFR) activation. Increase signal strength, better signal reception. It also help if u want to use GPRS and the service is not responding or too slow. Phone battery will drain faster though.
*#3370* - (EFR) deactivation. Phone will automatically restart. Increase battery life by 30% because phone receives less signal from network.
*#4720# - Half Rate Codec activation.
*#4720* - Half Rate Codec deactivation. The phone will automatically restart
If you forgot wallet code for Nokia S60 phone, use this code reset: *#7370925538#
Note, your data in the wallet will be erased. Phone will ask you the lock code. Default lock code is: 12345
Press *#3925538# to delete the contents and code of wallet.
Unlock service provider: Insert sim, turn phone on and press vol up(arrow keys) for 3 seconds, should say pin code. Press C,then press * message should flash, press * again and 04*pin*pin*pin# \
*#7328748263373738# resets security code.
Default security code is 12345
Change closed caller group (settings >security settings>user groups) to 00000 and ure phone will sound the message tone when you are near a radar speed trap. Setting it to 500 will cause your phone 2 set off security alarms at shop exits, gr8 for practical jokes! (works with some of the Nokia phones.) Press and hold "0" on the main screen to open wap browser.

Lots of potentailly usefull information here... Now, one code in particular seems like a possible solution;
*#3370# - Enhanced Full Rate Codec (EFR) activation. Increase signal strength, better signal reception. It also help if u want to use GPRS and the service is not responding or too slow. Phone battery will drain faster though.

I hope this helps!

brookela. click here :)
http://www.howtogeek.com/forum.....post-94645

brookela, I most certainly hate to double post here, but have found a users manual. You may need to search it out to find what you are looking for. Good luck...Garry

Edit by mod. Sorry Garry, direct download links are not allowed. Could you link just to the site.