Hello glassman,
Sorry about the delay in reply, email was down 3 days 15hr, needed to get my password.
This is interesting, one of the consequences of RE. Many live out in the boonies, requiring extreme measures for communication. One of the Yen and Yang things. Live in the boonies to get away, yet want the benefits of being connected!
Since you have a 3w amplifier, I conclude you're very interested in connecting with a cell. Paid the $ to do so without acceptable results. I do not know if you have access to the mountain peak? A repeater or cell extender may be in order, might not need the 3w amplifier. One example of such a device: http://www.smarthome.com/9625c.html
Several manufacturers make similar devices. Mobil versions are available.
The extender has two antennas, one to point at the cell tower of choice, the other to point at your location (directional for you). Example device has a small whip antenna, can be replaced with a second directional antenna. I don't think you would need the large dish like the WiFi record distance used. Frequencies are lower than WiFI so the gain will be lower if you did. The Primstar 3 foot dish are popular to extend WiFI distances, often are free, could be used for both ends of the Cell extender. A hand held cell phones has 2+ miles of range so, to go 15 (half way) should not require a big antenna, directional is the way to go. You want to pick the cell tower. Careful of that bill!
A co-worker lives in a valley, he was considering an amplifier, did not like the fact the cell phone must be connected to it. The above extender needs no connection to the phone for about the same money. He is very interested. He likes the fact the phone does not work... Yin yang.
WiFi has similar options available if you can't get a satellite working. 11Mbps WiFi is not bad, may allow a cheaper (half) land based high speed Internet to be used.
Top of the mountain is a great place for wind and/or solar to power the system. Just another place to have fun making it work.
I think we need another section under remote living - communication or Internet, phone? Definitely one of the difficult aspects of remote living.
Have fun,
Scott.