Peaceful Valley Property Owners' Association
E-MAIL
  • News and Happenings
  • Opt-In/Out for Electronic Access
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Splash Newsletter
    • Subscribe
    • February 2021 Splash Current Edition
    • 2021 Splash Archive >
      • January 2021 Splash
    • 2020 Splash Archives >
      • July-December 2020 >
        • December 2020 Splash
        • November 2020 Splash
        • October 2020 Splash
        • September 2020 Splash
        • July-August 2020 Splash
      • January-June 2020 >
        • June 2020 Splash
        • May 2020 Splash
        • April 2020 Splash
        • March 2020 Splash
        • February 2020 Splash
        • January 2020 Splash
    • 2019 Splash Archives >
      • July-December 2019 >
        • December 2019 Splash
        • November 2019 Splash
        • October 2019 Splash
        • September 2019 Splash
        • August 2019 Splash
        • July 2019 Splash
      • Jan-June 2019 >
        • June 2019 Splash
        • May 2019 Splash
        • April 2019 Splash
        • March 2019 Splash
        • February 2019 Splash
        • January 2019 Splash
    • 2018 Splash Archives >
      • June-December 2018 >
        • 2017 Splash Archives >
          • December 2017 Splash
          • November 2017 Splash
          • October 2017 Splash
          • September 2017 Splash
          • August 2017 Splash
          • July 2017 Splash
          • June 2017 Splash
          • May 2017 Splash
          • April 2017 Splash
          • March 2017 Splash
          • February 2017 Splash
          • January 2017 Splash
        • December 2018 Splash
        • November 2018 Splash
        • October 2018 Splash
        • September 2018 Splash
        • August 2018 Splash
        • July 2018 Splash
      • January-June 2018 >
        • June 2018 Splash
        • May 2018 Splash
        • April 2018 Splash
        • March 2018 Splash
        • February 2018 Splash
        • January 2018 Splash
    • 2016 Splash Archives >
      • December 2016 Splash
      • November 2016 Splash
      • October 2016 Splash
      • September 2016 Splash
      • August 2016 Splash!
      • July 2016 Splash
      • June 2016 Splash
      • May 2016 Splash
      • April 2016 Splash
      • March 2016 Splash
      • Jan-Feb 2016 Splash
    • 2015 Splash Archives >
      • October 2015 Splash
  • Comments/Complaints
  • Maintenance Request Form
  • Member Services
    • Rules, Abstract of Restrictions, & By-Laws >
      • Member Handbook
      • Rules and Regulations
      • Abstract of Restrictions
      • PVL By-Laws
      • Home Rental Policy
    • Information & Forms for All Members
    • New Member Page
    • Mobile Phone Solutions at PVL
    • Lost and Found
  • Amenities: Lake, Pool, Campground, Fishing, Lodge/Gazebo Rental
    • PVL Facility and Amenity Map
    • Pool Rules and Hours
    • Boating Rules and Regulations >
      • PVL Boating Rules
      • Federal Boating Rules
      • Missouri Boating Rules
    • Campground
    • Fishing
    • Lodge & Gazebo Rental
  • Lot Map and Homes & Lots for Sale
    • Peaceful Valley Lake Plat Map
    • Real Estate Available >
      • Homes For Sale @ PVL
      • Association-Owned Lots for Sale
      • Privately-owned Lots For Sale
  • Activity Calendars
    • Things to Do Calendar
    • Cheap Eats and Fundraisers
    • POA and PWSD#1 Office Hours and Meeting Schedules
    • Lodge Rental Calendar
    • Owensville R-II Schools District Calendar
  • Property Owners Association Board of Directors & Meetings
    • Board of Directors & Staff
    • PVPOA Committee Assignments
    • 2020 POA Board Minutes Archive >
      • July-December 2020 >
        • December 2020 POA Minutes
        • November 2020 POA Minutes
        • October 2020 POA Minutes
        • September 2020 POA Minutes
        • August 2020 POA Minutes
        • July 2020 POA Minutes
      • January-June 2020 >
        • June 2020 POA Minutes
        • May 2020 POA Minutes
        • April 2020 POA Board Minutes
        • March 2020 POA Board Minutes
        • February 2020 POA Board Minutes
        • January 2020 POA Board Minutes
    • 2019 POA Board Minutes Archive >
      • July-December 2019 POA Minutes >
        • December 2019 POA Board Minutes
        • November 2019 POA Board Minutes
        • October 2019 POA Board Minutes
        • September 2019 POA Minutes
        • August 2019 POA Minutes
        • July 2019 POA Minutes
      • January-June 2019 POA Minutes >
        • June 2019 POA Minutes
        • May 2019 POA Minutes
        • April 2019 POA Minutes
        • March 2019 POA Minutes
        • February 2019 POA Minutes
        • January 2019 POA Minutes
    • 2018 POA Board Minutes Archive >
      • July-December 2018 POA Minutes >
        • December 2018 POA Minutes
        • November 2018 POA Minutes
        • October 2018 POA Minutes
        • September 2018 POA Board Minutes
        • August 2018 POA Board Minutes
        • July 2018 POA Board Minutes
      • January-June 2018 POA Minutes >
        • June 2018 POA Board Minutes
        • May 2018 POA Board Minutes
        • April 2018 POA Board Minutes
        • March 2018 POA Board Minutes
        • February 2018 POA Board Minutes
        • January 2018 POA Board Minutes
    • 2017 POA Board Minutes Archive >
      • July to December 2017 Board Meeting Minutes >
        • December 2017 POA Board Minutes
        • November 2017 POA Board Minutes
        • October 2017 POA Board Minutes
        • September 2017 POA Board Minutes
        • August 2017 POA Board Minutes
        • July 2017 POA Board Minutes
      • January to June 2017 Board Minutes >
        • June 2017 POA Board Minutes
        • May 2017 POA Board Minutes
        • 2017 Annual Membership Meeting Minutes
        • April 2017 POA Board Minutes
        • March 2017 POA Board Minutes
        • February 2017 POA Board Minutes
        • January 2017 POA Board Minutes
    • 2016 POA Board Minutes Archive >
      • July to December 2016 Board Meeting Minutes >
        • December 2016 POA Meeting
        • November 2016 POA Minutes
        • October 2016 POA Minutes
        • September 2016 POA Minutes
        • August 2016 POA Minutes
        • July 2016 POA Minutes
      • January to June 2016 Board Minutes >
        • June 2016 POA Minutes
        • May 2016 POA Minutes
        • April 2016 POA Minutes
        • March 2016 POA Minutes
        • January 2016 POA Minutes
    • 2015 POA Board MInutes Archive >
      • July to December 2015 Board Meeting Minutes >
        • December 2015 POA Minutes
        • November 2015 POA Minutes
        • October 2015 POA Minutes
        • September 2015 POA Minutes
        • August 2015 POA Minutes
        • July 2015 POA Minutes
      • January to June 2015 Board Minutes >
        • June 2015 POA Minutes
        • May 2015 POA Minutes
        • April 2015 POA Minutes
        • March 2015 POA Minutes
        • February 2015 POA Minutes
        • January 2015 POA Minutes
  • Public Water Supply District #1
    • PWSD #1 Board Minutes >
      • Last 3 months PWSD Board Minutes >
        • July 2020 PWSD Board Minutes
        • May 2020 PWSD Board Minutes
    • PWSD Emergency Contacts
    • PWSD #1 General Information
    • PWSD #1: Rates and Charges
    • Annual Update >
      • PWSD Update March 1, 2018
      • PWSD Policy Manual Amendment #1
      • Exhibits A through D
    • Application for Service >
      • Application for Water/Sewer Service
      • New Home Construction Form
    • Reports and Documents >
      • PWSD Policy Manual
      • 2019 DNR Water Quality Report
      • MO DNR Operating Permit
      • Missouri Drinking Water Permit
  • Photo Gallery
    • September 2019 Dam/Storage Yard Clearing
    • Photo Gallery Archive >
      • Fireworks July 2017
      • 2017 Boat Parade
      • Pool Resurfacing Images
      • December 2016 Holiday Party and More
      • November 2016 Maintenance
      • Sept/Oct 2016 Maintenance
      • May 2016 Aerial Shots of PVL
      • October 2015 Bonfire Pictures
    • Historic PVL Advertisements and News Articles >
      • Historic PVL News Articles
      • Historic PVL Advertisements
      • Central MO Honor Flight 49 >
        • Honor Flight 49 Video
        • Honor Flight 49 Photographs

Tired of Poor Mobile Phone Service at PVL?  Here are some Possible Solutions.
Posted September 18, 2017

PictureWiFi Calling Enabled on Android Phone. Note the circled icon in the upper left of a hand receiver and wireless icon showing the phone in WiFi calling mode
​As most of you know, we have generally spotty mobile phone service here at PVL.  In researching coverages and alternatives, I wanted to provide you with the following information on how to possibly overcome this issue.  In researching coverage maps for the major carriers (see images above for coverages for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon).  According to www.whistleout.com it appears that only AT&T and T-Mobile have some level of coverage in PVL.  Sprint and Verizon have virtually no coverage in PVL.  US Cellular has generally good voice service over most of PVL and 4G LTE data coverage over the entire development.    
If you’ve got one of the prepaid plans, those services usually run on one of the big 4 networks.  For example, Cricket is owned by AT&T and runs on their network.  Boost Mobile runs on Sprint’s network.  Walmart’s Straight Talk buys time on all of the big 4 networks, where their Family Plan runs on T-Mobile’s network.  
So, if you’ve got bad cell phone coverage, there are some alternatives, and it depends on whether or not you have internet access your house.  If you have internet, there are three ways to extend your service.
If you already have wireless internet (WiFi), the first (and cheapest) way to improve your calling experience is that many smart phones come equipped with the capability to make phone calls via WiFi. This works by converting your cell signal into an internet-compatible format and uses the connectivity to route calls.  If your phone is so equipped, you can enable this on Android phones by going to Settings>Wireless & Networks>WiFi Calling and click or slide to enable (see image on right).  On iPhones (5c or newer), go to Settings>Phone>Turn on WiFi Calling.  The upside is that it works and costs nothing more if you already have (1) WiFi in your house, (2) the feature’s already installed on your phone and (3) your carrier allows it--the big 4 and US Cellular allow this.  The downside is that voice quality may suffer and you may have some anomalies such as callers going to voicemail because your phone may or may not ring when they call. 
If you have internet but no WiFi, a more expensive method is to get a WiFi router, either from the carriers themselves or just buy one and set your house up for wireless.  Many of the carriers provide routers that “enhance” the WiFi calling capability.  Costs for these can run up to over $200.
The third internet-based alternative is just slightly more expensive than method 1 and depends on the carrier and coverage.  T-Mobile has what’s called a Personal Cell Spot.  This is an antenna that connects to your internet router and transmits and receives regular cell phone signals, then converts them into an internet-compatible signal to complete the call.  What makes this different from the WiFi solutions mentioned above is that any 3G or 4G mobile phone will work with this solution.  Put another way, you can use this solution if you have a phone that isn’t equipped with the WiFi calling capability, meaning that many flip phones and older iPhones and Android devices will work on this system.  The only downside is that since it’s a bonafide cell signal with a range of up to 3000 square feet, anyone in close proximity to the antenna will have access to make calls over the antenna and your internet.  This means that you could have uninvited users on your network, which won’t cause any cybersecurity issues, but may use some of your internet bandwidth.  Most of the big 4 carriers offer this capability, but the cost varies significantly.  T-Mobile only requires a $25 deposit and the device must be returned, while other carriers may have similar programs or they make you purchase the device at higher costs. 
​
So, what if you don’t have internet? There are still a few options.  Most carriers offer a signal booster or extender that basically grabs what signal there is and amplifies it to a stronger signal then boosts it through the house.  Most of them work with a signal receiver that either sits near a window or is installed outside.  It’s coupled with an interior device that receives and transmits the boosted signal to/from your phone.  The biggest challenge is that you need at least some signal to be boosted, which may be an issue with Sprint and Verizon. 

The links below provide additional details from the big 4 carriers about how to improve your service.

https://www.sprint.com/landings/airave/
https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-24795
https://www.verizonwireless.com/accessories/signal-boosters/
https://www.att.com/att/microcell/?source=IC2Y0H0000000000L&wtExtndSource=learn-about-microcell

 
 
Editor’s note:  We currently have service with T-Mobile, and previously subscribed to Sprint and US Cellular.  US Cellular had great service at PVL but sold their St. Louis market to Sprint in late 2012.  We switched to Sprint for a brief time but their service at PVL was spotty at best and since we had a family plan with most family members outside of US Cellular’s coverage area, we switched to T-Mobile and have been happy with them for the last 4 years.  Although I use my experience with T-Mobile to provide examples of how to overcome spotty cell coverage at PVL in the story above, it’s not meant to be an endorsement of T-Mobile in particular.  Each of the other 3 of the “big 4” carriers (AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon) have similar programs and devices so check out your carrier for details.