Cell phone sucks--want to build a massive antenna
 

My family just switched to AT&T because my dad gets reception out in the oilfield where he works, and he has to be able to receive calls. However, at my house, I rarely get a stable connection. Usually at work I can get 5 bars, but as I make my way home, the signal turns to royal shit.

So, I was reading about these things called "cantennas"
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

and found a link to a site showing how to set up a cantenna with an old satellite dish
http://www.wwc.edu/~frohro/Airport/P...Primestar.html
(they go for like $50 on ebay) to strengthen the signal and make the range up to 10 miles.

I would LOVE to build a huge antenna similar to this and run the wire down from my roof to my desk so that I can have a strong signal while in my room. Obviously it's more intelligent to just use a landline, but my mom tends to always be on the phone, and I used to have a second and third line, both of which were cancelled once we all got cellular phones.

Anyone have any ideas or experience with this sort of thing?

It works. You can get a wireless network going over 10 miles with a Pringles can antenna, and even farther if you have one on the base station, too.

They work great, but you have to get a can with the right diameter for your cell phone frequency. Just find out the frequency your phone operates at and use the size calculator on the first link you showed. Depending on the model of your phone you're going to need an adapter to connect the antenna to your phone.

After that just point it at the cell tower and you're off.

wouldnt this be in violation of fcc regulations

Not that I'm aware of. You're just directing your signal, and your cellphone is well below any kind of power limit.

Besides, they're too busying looking for nipple shots and cursewords to worry about stuff like this.

Nope, a directional antenna that amplifies through resonation cannot boost the overall power about 500 milliwatts.