So I really like my cellphone service, Ting.

One problem I have had isn’t really with Ting, it’s with Sprint, who Ting uses for their network. That one problem is that as excellent as the reception is everywhere else in town, the worse place seems to be my neighborhood.

Technically, we are in the coverage area, but I have to go outside or stay perfectly still in one corner of my house to keep a call from dropping.

I tried to fix the solution by buying a Zboost Metro which is a powered signal booster that connects to a window-mounted antenna . I think it did not work for me because there are too many obstructions between my house and the cell phone tower. I paid $140 for it.

Thankfully, the solution comes in the form of the Airvana Airrave device. It acts as my own personal cell tower.

I just had to hook it up to my internet in between my cable modem and my router, then called Ting to get them to activate the device for me (activation was free).

The cost of a brand new Airrave is around $200. You can buy it from Sprint for $100 at the time of this writing, but you have to call to order it. A refurbished model at Ting is $120 (its availability varies). I bought mine on Ebay for less than $50. Ting was still very cool about activating for me.

I have had my Airrave for a few months now and I’m very happy with it. I get and make calls in my basement, which was impossible before.

It only takes up about a 12” by 3” spot on my shelf.

One feature some may find annoying is that your phone speaker will beep 3 times when receiving or making a call. That is there to let you know you are connected through the Airrave.

You can use it for VOIP, and there are connections for it, but I have no need for that function, so I have not tried it.

Is the Airrave right for you? If

• your service uses the Sprint network
• you have low reception at home
• and you have high-speed internet

then, yes, you should get the Airrave.