How to Choose the Best Cell Phone Signal Booster?
Sep 09, 2021
While there's no one-size-fits-all cell phone signal booster, our cell phone signal booster finder does a fairly good job of finding the best one for you! Please bear in mind that our automated tool filters out the best choice for you, based on your choices.
However, we do want to highlight a few important aspects of a signal booster that could make a difference between a good investment and a not-so-good one. Why is there no single signal booster that would work for everyone's circumstances? The reasons are many that include the size of coverage space where signal needs boosting, outside signal strength whether weak, medium, or strong, and ability to access roof to install exterior antenna.
If you're tired of dropped calls and slow downloads on your smartphone, a cell phone signal booster can most likely amplify the weakest signal in your office, home or car, truck or marine vessel so you can enjoy full bars. Cell phone signal boosters amplify 4G LTE and 3G networks by 32x and come with a complete kit and installation guide.
They work with all mobile devices, cell phones / smartphones and tablet computers. Modern cell phone signal amplifiers are perfectly engineered to work with all cellphone carriers across North America from Canada to the far-flung areas of United States - From Saskatoon in Saskatchewan to Addison in Alabama. No more struggling to hear your clients on the cell phone when you're on the move!
Certified in U.S. and Canada, they can enhance the signal for all networks without bias. Cell phone signal booster is a one-time purchase without extra charges or monthly fees giving you decades of service. Cellular amplifiers ensure you get more bars, rectify dead zones, widen the coverage, lengthen battery life, enhance reception, reduce dropped calls, speed up data and allow you to enjoy clear calls.
Download and upload speeds will go up making the connection suitably reliable. Whether you have your feet up on a colleague's desk at work or steering your 18 Wheeler down Route 66, cell phone signal boosters can drastically improve your cellular experience. The strongest cell phone signal boosters are ones offering the highest "signal gain". But how to get the best cell phone signal booster, perfect for you? In other words, how to pick a cell phone booster for your home or office?
Which device is ideally best for you?
Time to get technical. If you like, you can try our SIGNAL BOOSTER SELECTOR to do the analyzing for you. You can even breeze through useful information below and still use the product selection tool at link above, afterwards to see how your choice matches up with what is offered by it. Okay, let us begin with the process of making the right choice for you:
#1 Highest downlink power & uplink power of best amplifier.
Ever noticed being able to hear other party but they cannot hear you? Or how about not being able to hear other party but they later said they could hear you saying "hello?" over and over? Well, that was uplink and downlink at play!
When uplink signal connection is strong, your voice clearly goes to other party, but if it is too weak - your voice cannot be heard or can be choppy for other party. When downlink signal connection is strong, other party's voice sounds clear, but if it is too weak - their voice cannot be heard or can be choppy for you.
While choosing the best cellular signal booster for your home, office or car, pay close attention to downlink and uplink power of the device. Downlink is generally the signal from a base station or cell phone tower into your Smartphone or mobile device. Uplink represents the signal that has left your phone for the closest base station or cell phone tower. In lay terms, downlink is "download" and uplink is "upload".
Why is uplink and downlink important?
The smallest dB (gain) makes a big difference. For example, +3dB means 2x boost while -3dB cuts the power by half. +1dB represents 1.3x amplification, +3dB - 2.0x, +6dB - 4.0x, +10dB - 10.0x, +20dB - 100.0x. With factors like building material, location of user, tower distance and internal inhibitions affecting the cell reception, paying attention to uplink and downlink ability of a cellular signal booster is important.
For instance, commercial cell phone amplifiers approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have a max gain cap of +70dB, a gigantic amplification of signal strength and reception. With signal inhibitions different from one place to the next, a +70dB cell phone signal booster offers a gain of +3dB on the lower side to over +42dB gain for most users.
While cell phone signal amplifiers such as 4000R and Pro 70 Plus have downlink of about 12.5x, their uplink power is very different. Average difference stands at about +3.24dB with the 4000R more powerful at 2.11x than Pro 70 Plus. As a result, Pro 70 Plus covers a maximum of 50,000 square feet while 4000R covers a maximum of 100,000 square feet.
This is also observable in Drive 4G-X and Drive 4G-M. Both seem to have similar downlink power, but Drive 4G-X offers +3dB uplink power on each of the five bands (700 MHz band 12/17, 700 MHz band 13, 800 MHz band 5, and 1700 MHz band 4 and 1900 MHz band 2).
#2 Highest gain in decibels provided by the best signal booster.
If you look at your twin-SIM Smartphone from two different carriers, you might notice one has 2 bars while the other 1 bar even with similar signal strength. Using bars to measure signal strength cannot be a satisfactory way of ascertaining the quality of the reception and selecting the best cell phone signal booster. Go with decibels (dB) gain. Signal strength like other radio waves is measured in dB. For instance, the closer you get to -50dB, the fuller the bars on your phone. The further you get from that and close to -120dB, the worse the signal strength.
In dB gain, a +10dB signal gain is powerful than +8dB gain. Since it is exponentially measured, the dB gain between +10dB and +7dB gain is huge and generally means the power is doubled. For example, if you choose Drive 4G-M booster you will enjoy a +50dB gain while Connect 4G-X offers an exponential power at +70dB gain.
Since the difference between +70dB and +50dB is huge, it means the +20dB difference is a lot. +10dB is 10.0x and 20.0x 100.0x, meaning with a difference of +20dB between them, Connect 4G-X at +70dB gain is 100 times more stronger than Drive 4G-M at +50dB gain!
Therefore, check the Decibel (dB) gain (+ve figure) offered to select the most powerful cell phone signal amplifier. When comparing cell phone signal boosters for example, a positive number +70dB Gain booster is better than +60dB Gain booster because it adds more Gain to signal strength and therefore considered more powerful. A higher Gain booster will amplify signals a lot more, even with increase of only 10 dB Gain. Please note that if you're comparing current signal strength in your home or office, then the negative number -80dBm is better than -90dBm because the Decibel Milliwatts (dBm) unit of measurement (-ve figure) indicates stronger reception as you go closer to zero. With dBm numbers being negative, the lower the number means that it is closer to zero.
Coverage area.
Where exactly do you want to install the cell phone signal booster? See whether your whole office or home has a general weak signal problem. Find out if some areas have better reception. You might find out that only a small specific area in your building requires a cellular signal amplifier. There're all manner of signal boosters for any kind of space, from 1-2 rooms (DIY installation) to 150,000 square feet that require professional installation by certified installers.
For instance, if you need a cellular signal booster for about 150 square feet to 1,500 square feet for your basement, single office, and apartment, home based office or desktop - the Home 4G is perfect. Large office, warehouse, school or institution? Wilson Pro Plus can perfectly work in such large spaces with coverage of up to 50,000 square feet.
What if your building has no roof?
Some boosters require the tower or outside antenna to be installed on the roof. You can choose a cell phone signal booster that does not require access to the roof. Plug and play cellular signal amplifiers would be perfect, such as EZ 4G for condos, apartments and any floor of a multi-storey building. There's no need of accessing the roof to mount any outside antenna. Home 4G would also work fine.
#3 Outside signal strength helps determine best booster.
Understanding outside signal strength can help you choose the best cell phone signal booster. It is actually recommended that you know the strength of the signal around your home or office before you choose a cellular signal amplifier. You can use a signal meter or call an installer to test it for you. Installers have widespread experience, tools and knowledge on cell towers, signal and the type of cell phone reception booster that would work for the space that need to be covered.
#4 Type of antenna needed helps choose best amplifier kit.
There are different exterior antennas for different conditions.
If you live in a busy city or urban area with great exterior signals, external antenna can choose from many signals. An omnidirectional antenna would suit this situation, as it is usually internal signal that gives problems. They are able to take up the strongest possible signal from all directions.
If you need a booster in a far-flung rural location, such as a hut in the woods or a cattle ranch, chances are good that your exterior signal is very weak. We recommend Yagi directional antenna because they help to pinpoint a specific cell tower. They can pick signals from far off and boost them effectively when pointed towards an identified closest cell phone tower.
Some cellular signal boosters and situations work fine with any of the two types.
#5 Length of cable included in best cellular repeater kit.
Cable length is important. For each 100 feet of exterior cable used, signal strength decreases by about 3.9 dB. This cable runs from exterior antenna to signal amplifier and needs to be as short as possible. Interior cable, which connects internal antenna to the booster unit does not usually have this problem and is usually much longer. The challenge is to balance these coaxial cables correctly.
#6 Number of users supported by the best cell phone booster.
How many people intent to make use of the cell phone signal booster? The numbers are important. If you always fly your 18 wheeler solo, a cradled signal booster should be sufficient to boost the signal for a single phone only. If you're cruising on your yacht with family and friends, a multi-user cell phone signal booster would be the best choice. For vehicles, homes and offices the multi-user 4G LTE signal boosters are usually the best selection.
#7 Multi-bandwidth & channels supported by best cell booster.
Inside an office or living space all sorts of wireless devices are constantly in use at the same time. Choose a multi-bandwidth cell phone signal amplifier able to switch frequencies in the process minimizing interferences with such electronic gadgets. You will also enjoy a powerful, highly stable reception with any phone/ mobile device.
#8 Product support provided by the best amplifier manufacturer.
Manufacturer support is important while choosing the best cell phone signal booster. Check the warranties and select the cellular booster with at least two-year warranty and/or money-back guarantees. Tech support can also be a factor, such as through live chat, email, social media or phone.
#9 Best cell phone signal booster is compliant with FCC.
In recent times FCC has changed, updated and come up with new regulations and guidelines regarding cellular phone signal amplifiers manufacturing and use. Since the certification standards, permissions and compliances keep changing, ensure the cell phone signal booster you select today is certified, permitted and in compliance with all the laid down regulations and guidelines adopted by FCC. You can always visit the FCC website to update yourself on new compliances if any before you choose the cellular reception booster.
Gamers, talkers and leaders of little league WhatsApp groups, you need to listen up; even the weakest signal will be amplified by cell phone signal boosters. They give you permanently full bars, 24/7.
Which cell phone signal booster kit should I buy?
Among other non-technical considerations such as cost, square feet coverage needed, etc. - Amount of "Gain" and "Downlink Output Power" should be your main considerations in order to get the most bang for your buck. Greater Gain and Downlink Power are important, but in different situations.
When to buy Highest Gain Cell Phone Signal Booster?
Gain is measured in Decibels (dB). It indicates how much a signal booster can amplify the signal that it gets from exterior antenna. When outside signal is weak, you should get a booster with highest Gain output capability. The reason for this is that if you have low outdoor signal (-90 dBm RSRP or worse such as -100 dBm, -110 dBm), your signal booster will be gain constrained because the downlink output power limit will never be reached. An example of this highest gain cell phone signal booster would be this booster kit with up to 100 dB Gain.
When to buy Highest Downlink Power Cell Phone Signal Booster?
Downlink output power is measured in Decibel Milliwatts (dBm). It indicates how much amplified signal a booster can re-transmit inside. The max downlink power sets the limit on inside coverage area when amplifier has enough signal. Thus when outside signal is strong, you should get the booster with highest Downlink value which will provide maximum coverage inside. The reason for this is that if you have good outdoor signal (-80 dBm RSRP or better such as -70 dBm, -60 dBm, etc.), your signal booster will be downlink strength constrained because you're quite likely going to reach the max output power of the signal booster. An example of this highest downlink power cell phone signal booster would be this booster kit with up to 16.6 dBm Downlink Output Power.
Advantages of best cell phone signal boosters.
- It is a once-off purchase - you get decades of service with no extra charges or monthly fees.
- It gives signal bars in dead zones inside homes and vehicles.
- It gives your mobile device longer battery life.
- You experience a reduction in dropped calls.
- It increases data speed - super-fast download and upload speeds.
- Enjoy clear cellular calls instead of asking, "What?" over and over!
Conclusion.
For some people, connectivity is crucial. It does not matter if you're a professional gamer, telesales wizkid, customer care consultant, paramedic or concerned parent; you want sound connection to the cellular world. Cell phone signal boosters will certainly do this and more.
If you are still confused after reading this article, don’t panic! You can always hire installers to help with the choice and installation of these devices. They have widespread experience, know the tools, understand cell towers and will advise on the best device for the space you need covered.
Therefore, you can focus on what matters, like reaching the next stage in the game, closing the sale without losing the call, or explain a procedure without repeating yourself.
Compare & Choose the best cell phone signal booster for your needs:
- Compare to choose the best indoor 4G LTE Signal Booster for Home, Office.
- Compare to choose the best in-vehicle 4G LTE Signal Booster for Car, Truck, RV, Boat.
Need help to choose the best cell phone signal booster?
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13 comments
Hmmmn. This is quite the checklist for someone who is debating whether or not to buy a cell phone signal booster. I like that you can talk to an installer about what the best thing is for your building where there’s a poor signal.
This article makes up my own personal view on picking the best kit – do your homework. You can check out reviews, and even the best one for rural areas, but in every case, you want to identify your particular situation. For example, if you live in a rural area, your situation is different than someone who lives in a residential area. For instance, the rural area is probably experiencing poor reception because of terrain and the distance between the home and the tower. A residential area is likely close to a tower, but it experiences problems with reception because of building materials and interference from people around them and the devices they use. Each situation calls for a phone booster, but the rural area may call for a different setup (such as antenna) than the residential area. You also want to make sure you get the right size kit for your home. Don’t buy one that is too big for your square footage and definitely don’t buy a commercial kit for a residence. These devices can do some wonderful things for making your cell phone work better, but you want to get the best device for your particular situation.
Yes, they will. What happens with a cell phone signal booster is that it boosts the existing signal. This means your phone consumers less power to pick up the cell phone signal, which in turn conserves your phone’s battery, allowing you to talk longer. There is also some evidence that this reduces the radiation emitted from your phone as the phone is believed to emit more radiation when the battery is low because it has to expend more juice to pick up a signal. There are several additional benefits to cell phone signal boosters besides less dropped calls.
Can using a cellular phone signal booster improve the battery life of my wireless phone? Someone said the boosters do this and I wanted to know.
“What’s the difference between a cell phone booster and a cell phone signal repeater?” That’s a common question and I used to wonder it myself. There’s also the question of where signal amplifiers come into the picture. What’s the answer? They are ALL the same thing. For whatever reason, some people use the term cell phone signal booster while others use cell phone signal repeater or cell phone signal amplifier. All you need to know is that the device boosts an existing signal (note it can’t create a signal so if no signal exists, it can’t help) and will help you have clearer audio, faster data speeds, and less dropped calls (if any). So, if you see any of these terms, just remember they all refer to one marvelous device for improving your cell phone’s abilities to call and transfer data.
I’m looking for the best cell phone booster for rural areas, but I’m confused about terminology. What’s the difference between a cell phone booster and a cell phone signal repeater?
Choosing a cell phone booster isn’t something like buying a can opener. First, you need to check and see what your needs are. Are you having problems getting a good signal at home or problems while you’re in your car? There are different cell phone boosters depending on your situation. Obviously if you buy one for your car, it’s not going to work at home. Once you have that figured out, you want to check your home size and make sure you buy a booster for the home (as opposed to one for a commercial building) and it’s the right size for your home (smaller homes won’t need a booster for a larger size house say over 1500 square feet). It’s not complicated, but there are steps you want to work through before picking one up. Cell phone boosters are excellent tools but you want the right one for your situation.
Anybody remember that classic Motown song, “You’d Better Shop Around?” Cell phone boosters can really help increase the signal your cell phone gets, making for less dropped calls (perhaps zero), better quality calls (note I didn’t say better quality conversations), and boosts to your data speed. You need to check ratings, prices, and do homework like checking to see what booster is the best fit for your phone. While cell phone boosters can be used on a number of providers, there are different types for different networks such as 4G and 3G and you want to see if they will work on future networks. Also, check for warranties and customer service as you would with any purchase.
Wow! I never actually knew you could choose different cell phone signal boosters. I thought you were just kind of stuck and had to hope your cell phone company would “come to the rescue” so to speak. I’ll need to check this out!
“Here’s a far-out question from a Flower Child. Is it possible to receive cellular signal on the moon?”
Hey man, your generation put a man on the moon so it’s a good question. A cell phone signal will go as far as it can be transmitted, but like any signal, it can be interfered with by different factors. For example, glass can weaken a cell phone signal. As you may know, radio waves can travel through space and we’ve beamed signals out into space. However, our atmosphere can interfere with them. So theoretically, you could beam a cell phone signal to the moon if you had a powerful enough transmitter. When you have a problem getting a signal at home or in the office, you can buy a cell phone booster to strengthen the signal (as long as there’s some signal to boost).
Here’s a far out question from a Flower Child. Is it possible to receive cellular signal on the moon?
Somebody please help me. I’m looking for a way to make my cell phone provide clear voice quality, download data quick, and stop dropping calls. I’ve read cell phone signal booster reviews, articles on the best cell phone booster for rural areas, and articles on cell phone boosters for a car. However, I just want something for the suburbs that will make my cell phone work nicely. I’ve read this article and it’s helpful, but can anyone share their experiences here?
I’m moving to a remote farm 6km outside Santa Fe west on highway 33 in Panama. There is a signal about 1 km away that my iPhone 5s can pick up.
I also would like high speed internet.
What kind of system do you suggest?
Thank you
Gert