How do cell signal boosters work?

Cell phone boosters work transparently and efficiently with the complexity running behind the scenes.

Cell phones are actually two-way radios hidden behind a modern user interface. Mobile phones communicate with cell towers by using radio frequency (RF) signals.

A cellular signal booster operates as follows:

1. Faint signals that can't be detected by a phone are collected.
2. The faint signals are amplified.
3. Amplified signals are broadcasting to an interior space where they can be used by phones or other cellular devices.
4. When a device transmits the signal back to the tower, the reverse process takes place.

Cell signal booster systems have three basic components connected to each other with coax cables.

1. An outside antenna is mounted on the roof or an exterior wall and communicates with the cell tower.
2. Signals are passed along coax cable to the booster unit which amplifies the signal. The amplified signal is passed along coax cable to the inside antenna.
3. Inside antenna distributes the amplified signal to the interior space where it is used by any cellular device.

Watch a graphic and a video explanation of how cell phone boosters work, along with more comprehensive technical details and illustrations.