In the picturesque Hamptons, where the wealthy, chic and entitled go spend the summer, privilege does not extend to cell phone reception.
It’s a favorite topic at cocktail parties and country clubs, but now it’s reached a point where even the most discreet residents can’t help but talk about their cellular frustrations. As one Sag Harbor resident complained, “There is better cell service in Bangladesh than here.”
But jesting aside, the problem is not trivial, it is part of a wider concern: it’s indicative of a larger infrastructure issue that residents and visitors face. During the peak summer months, when the population swells with tourists and seasonal dwellers, the already strained cell towers can’t keep up with the demand, leading to dropped calls, undelivered texts, and unsent emails.
The situation has led to another creative solution, installing signal boosters in their vehicles, a move that’s as much about staying connected as it is about maintaining the Hamptons’ lifestyle that relies on connectivity. These boosters can amplify a cell signal by up to 32 times.
The devices, made by companies such as weBoost, Wilson Amplifiers and Cel-Fi, sell for around $500. They have long been popular with truck drivers on long-haul cross-country trips or outdoorsy types out in rugged terrain. It’s a sight that’s becoming more common: luxury cars with antennas protruding like sore thumbs.
The irony of the situation is palpable. In a place where appearances are paramount and luxury cars are as common as the seashells on its beaches, residents are attaching bulky antennas to their vehicles. But not everyone is willing to sacrifice their “coolness.”
Some have opted to install these devices on their less favored cars to avoid compromising the look of their prized possessions. “It’s not going on the Ferrari,” said a vintage auto collector who keeps eight cars at his Southampton home. He is planning to order a booster but will only attach it to one of his more “practical” cars like a 1977 Ford Bronco, he said. The question is though, will he want to be seen driving a Bronco?
One middle-aged Bridgehampton resident told The Post that he’s purchased three cell phone boosters but has yet to install them on his cars, he can’t bring himself to do it—yet.
The situation has become a compromise between aesthetics and practicality, and for many, the need to be reachable overrides the desire for visual perfection, but for some, practicality does not override looking good.
