Method to improve mobile phone reception?

I don’t know what your experience with mobile phone coverage on this coast is, but mine has been pretty miserable. I’ve been searching for a way to improve reception and think that I might have found an answer from across the pond.

http://cochrane.org.uk/opinion/articles/silicon/2007/18-07-2007.php

Dr. Peter Cochrane is the former CTO of British Telecom and his solution seems pretty straightforward (though the frequency in the US 850Mhz and 1900Mhz for GSM.)  He lays out a simple method for a cellular antenna that might work for many Coastside homes.

I’m thinking of trying this out since I have a similar situation where it’s 5 bars on the roof, but spotty below. Has anyone tried such an arrangement? And if so, do you recommend it?