Introduction

Picture this. You buy a new house, you move and prepare for a happy-ever-after, park your car out front, even get the car cover ready,  but soon enough, you find out that you have to literally run around the house with your arms stretched to the ceiling to get any sufficient signal. Naturally, the first thing you do is google “how to boost phone signal”. Soon you’ll realize that the only once-and-for-all solution is getting a mobile phone repeater. It is a safe and solid solution to reception problems of different origin. 

Although the main working principle of this device is pretty straight forward, there’s plenty of details to consider and nuances to be aware of. So, without further ado, let’s jump into it and find out more about boosters. 

How does it work?

Mobile signal boosters, in general, have the same basic structure. They all have an external antenna, which is typically mounted on the roof of the house (or any other building), or if that option is not available, mounted outside the window to maximize the signal intake. As you have definitely guessed already, it is designed to take in signals from the nearest cell tower (or towers, depending on the antenna type) and transfer them to the amplifier, which is the key part of the whole package. It enhances the weak signal, making it much stronger and only then passing it on to the internal antenna, which then broadcasts the new signal over its coverage area, thus making sure your phone gets the strongest signal possible. As a side note, if what you need is a signal booster, the above structure doesn’t apply, so you might want to look into it. Meanwhile, let’s get back to the mobile repeaters. 

Boosters typically function on one or more designated frequencies (single-band, or broadband), to match the frequencies of the operators, which will be different depending on the service they provide (Call, 3G/4G, 4G/LTE). So before you make a purchase decision, make sure the frequency of the device covers your operator. If you need a mobile phone repeater for your business, make sure you get a broadband device not to have any more problems in the future. 

How to choose one?

There are certain things you need to consider before you attempt to choose a device. 

• Your location. 

If your space is in a remote location, far from the nearest cell tower, the outside signal is going to be poor, which means the following: 

1. When the outside signal is weak, the booster has to be powerful enough to enhance the signal.
2. There are two types of outside antennas: directional and omnidirectional. In this case, you will probably need a directional antenna, which is pointed in the direction of the nearest tower to maximize the reception. 

If your space is in the city, and your outside signal is fine, and the only problem is it can’t get to all the rooms and corners, there’s no need to get a super-powerful booster. And the antenna can also be omnidirectional, so it can catch signals coming in from all directions. 

• The bandwidth, the booster has to operate on. 

We discussed this a little already. If you have a single-band device it will probably work with one operator only, so make sure to get a broadband booster if you want to have more than one operator available. There might be a few catches though, concerning the services. The service represented as 3G/4G does not cover the new 4G service, usually represented as 4G/LTE. The latter typically runs on a frequency different from 3G/4G service, so keep that in mind.

• The coverage. 

Different boosters have a different range when it comes to coverage. There are boosters that are designed to enhance the signal in only one room ( up to 10-15 sqm), and there are ones that can take on a big building ( more than 1000 sqm). Carefully mind the coverage and contact the manufacturers if you need a custom solution for your space. 

How to position the antennas correctly?

The principle is fairly simple. The outside antenna is positioned on the roof or outside the window on the side, where your signal is strongest. The indoor antenna is mounted on the wall or the ceiling in the room, where the signal is weakest. The trick is the distance between the two antennas shouldn’t exceed a certain length, which you should check with the manufacturer and use as little cable as possible, so your signal strength will be maximized. This is the case where it’s not ok to have access cable length and just loop it up. The amplifier itself can be positioned in any accessible place convenient for you. It should have an available plug nearby, so you can comfortably unplug it if necessary. 

Conclusion

These are the basic principles for choosing a booster successfully. But don’t forget that you can always contact the manufacturer if you have additional questions or problems with making a decision. Good luck and stay connected!

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