My wife and I have had multiple telephone lines since we were first married. Most of the time we had two lines, a "house phone" that was for personal use and a "work line" that I used professionally. That changed last year when I got rid of my "work line". I was using my cell phone almost all the time and having to check messages on both lines became a pain. Moreover, I found myself using the landline less and less.

As a result, for the last year or so when I am in front of my computer I use Skype to make calls and the rest of the time I just use my cell phone. It’s worked rather well for me except for two small issues — being tied down to my iMac for Skype calls is a bit limiting, and my house tends to have spotty cell phone reception. That isn’t a good combination and I was considering getting a landline once again. Thanks to the Xlink Bluetooth Gateway that won’t be happening any time soon.

I saw the press release about the Xlink Bluetooth Gateway and wanted to give it a try. The Xlink lets you easily combine your home or small office telephone system with up to three Bluetooth™ mobile phones. There are no extra cables or modules to buy! That’s right, you can create a multi-line phone system using your cell phone and existing phone system. Moreover, the BTTN version of the Xlink allows you to also continue using a landline!

So the concept is this- when you are within 30-50 feet of the device (and the Bluetooth on your phone is activated and the phone has previously been paired with the device) the Xlink automatically transfers calls that come into your cell phone ring any phone on the household phone system. Similarly, if you pick up the house phone and begin to dial, you’ll dial out using the cell phone and its connection even though you are on the household system.

It’s a neat idea, but I wasn’t quite sure how it would work in the real world.

I used to love watching late night commercials. You know the ones where the product was too good to be true at a too low to believe price.

"It dices, it slices and it will stay sharp for one thousand years or your money back! Order now and we’ll throw in five more sets at no additional cost. All this for the low price of just $7.99"

or

"The Weblo Cooker makes a five course meal in just three minutes! That’s right, from freezer to table in minutes AND the meal will rival the finest restaurant. Best of all is it yours for just 3 easy payments of $9! But wait… there’s more…"

Yeah! Right! I’m overstating it but not by much and, after getting burned a few times (I never said I was a quick study) I realized- if it is too good to be true… it isn’t true.

So each time I have seen advertisements for cellphone reception boosters I passed. The problem is- I really need one.

A few years ago we moved. It was a good trade- more land, nicer house but unfortunately in the process we went from great to marginal (at best) reception. It is a problem since I live and work off my cell phone. As a result, for the past few years I have stopped down the street as I came home each night and forwarded my cell to the home number. (Can you say "annoying"?)

So when Wayne asked is any of us might be interested in a CellRanger Signal booster he had just reviewed I figured, "Why not?" The promises are lofty- increased data speeds and "over 200% increase in signal stregnth"! I was skeptical.

It came two days later. (Thanks Wayne!!) I plugged it into my iMac (it uses the usb for power) and I turned it on. My expectation were rather low.

Set up was a breeze but did it work? Take a look–