I have used a Wlson amplifier, with the magnet antenna on a pizza pan, with good results. I later added a permanently mounted antenna to use with the same amplifier, for convenience and even better reception. But in very remote areas, such as crossing the north end of Lake Michigan, cell phone coverage, even with an auxiliary amplifier and external antenna, is very patchy southwest of Beaver Island, The new digital towers are designed to only reach and connect about 22-25 miles. So your phone may indicate a signal, but a voice conversation cannot usually connect and be maintained beyond that distance. In an emergency, a text massage might get through. A typical cellphone has enough power to reach a cell tower up to 45 miles away, showing some bars of signal strength. But, depending on the technology of the cellphone network, the maximum functional distance may be as low as 22 miles because the signal otherwise takes too long for the highly accurate timing of the cellphone protocol to work reliably. The cell phone towers across the Upper Peninsula may also be capacity limited during busy hours. You may be able to converse at 5AM but not 5PM. Use a text message if a voice connection cannot be maintained. Marilyn "Adena"