The Best Cell Phone Signal Boosters for Home, Work or Your Vehicle in 2024
By: Jeff MorinUpdated: January 8, 2024
Editor's Note:
Welcome to our picks for the best signal boosters of 2024. Our team of experts have put in hundreds of hours to identify the best cell phone booster for every situation. They have decades of experience testing, installing and troubleshooting every product evaluated to make sure that only the best of the best is chosen. Please enjoy reading our guide!
Hey there! Are you tired of dropped calls and slow internet speeds due to weak cell phone signals? You're not alone. A weak signal can be a real pain, and it can make it hard to stay connected with the people that matter most. But don't worry, we've got your back.
In this article, we'll be sharing our top picks for the best cell phone signal boosters of 2024. We know how important it is to have a reliable and stable signal, which is why our team of experts have put in the time and effort to research and test every single booster on the market. That way, we can confidently say that the options we recommend are the cream of the crop.
A cell phone signal booster is a life-changing device. It amplifies weak signals so that you can enjoy clear calls, lightning-fast internet, and no more dropped calls. They're especially helpful in areas with spotty coverage, such as rural areas, basements, or large buildings. With a signal booster, you'll be able to stay connected no matter where you are.
So, whether you're looking for a booster for your home, office, or vehicle, we've got you covered. We'll help you find the perfect solution to suit your needs and improve the way you use your mobile phone. So, without further ado, let's dive in and check out the best cell phone signal boosters of 2024!
Results of Our Testing: The Best Cell Phone Signal Boosters by Category
Additional Information
![Cel-Fi GO X Cell Phone Signal Booster]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/go-x_2024.jpg}})
![Cel-Fi GO X Cell Phone Signal Booster]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/go-x_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost Office 100 Signal Booster]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/office-100_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost Office 100 Signal Booster]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/office-100_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost Installed | Home Complete]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/home-complete-installed_2024.jpg}})
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![weBoost Home MultiRoom]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/home-multiroom_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost Home MultiRoom]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/home-multiroom_2024.jpg}})
![SureCall Fusion4Home Yagi Signal Booster]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/fusion4home-yagi_2024.jpg}})
![SureCall Fusion4Home Yagi Signal Booster]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/fusion4home-yagi_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost Drive Reach Signal Booster for Cars and SUVs]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/drive-reach_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost Drive Reach Signal Booster for Cars and SUVs]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/drive-reach_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost Drive Reach Overland Signal Booster for Trucks and Overland Vehicles]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/drive-overland_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost Drive Reach Overland Signal Booster for Trucks and Overland Vehicles]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/drive-overland_2024.jpg}})
![SureCall Fusion2Go RV Signal Booster]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/fusion2go-rv_2024.jpg}})
![SureCall Fusion2Go RV Signal Booster]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/fusion2go-rv_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost Destination RV]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/destination-rv_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost Destination RV]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/destination-rv_2024.jpg}})
![Drive Reach Extreme Marine]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/reach-marine_2024.jpg}})
![Drive Reach Extreme Marine]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/reach-marine_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost for Business | Office 200]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/office-200_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost for Business | Office 200]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/office-200_2024.jpg}})
![weBoost for Business | Office 200 Installed with Professional Installation]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/office-200-installed_2024_1.jpg}})
![weBoost for Business | Office 200 Installed with Professional Installation]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/office-200-installed_2024_1.jpg}})
![Cel-Fi QUATRA Active DAS Hybrid]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/quatra_2024.jpg}})
![Cel-Fi QUATRA Active DAS Hybrid]({{media%20url=wysiwyg/quatra_2024.jpg}})
Still Not Sure What to Get?
Boosting cell signal can be quite confusing and it's easy to wonder whether you're really choosing the best solution for your situation. Our signal experts have decades of experience designing, selling, and installing signal booster systems, and are standing by to help you make sure you find the right solution for your home, business, or vehicle.
If you'd like to chat with one of our signal experts, just give us a call at 800-590-3564. Or, you can email us at support@ubersignal.com and include as much information as you can about your situation.
Either way, we're here to make sure that you successfully solve your cell phone signal problems.
One Last Word of Advice
If you don't purchase from us, then at least make sure you're buying from a trusted, authorized dealer with plenty of experience. Boosting signal can sometimes be as easy as setting up your system and turning it on, but for the times that it's not, it makes all the difference to have a team of experts available to help you troubleshoot and come up with a solution to get your system working.
Why UberSignal?
We've spent the past decade focused on helping people get better cell signal in their homes, businesses and vehicles. We've worked closely with the major manufacturers of cellular amplifiers to provide feedback and guidance on what the future of signal boosters should look like, and we've helped tens of thousands of customers solve their signal problems once and for all.
Our employees have deep experience building cell towers, working for the major carriers, installing solutions in every kind of environment you can imagine, and most importantly, working with customers to make sure they're successful in solving their problems.
We'd love the opportunity to help you get better cell signal wherever you need it.
Appendix A: The Causes of Bad Cell Signal
Before we go into the specifics of how cell phone boosters work, we need to cover the reasons why you’re experiencing bad cell phone signal to begin with.
There are three main causes bad cell phone signal:
- The distance you are away from the cell tower
- Obstacles in the way of the cell signal
- Construction materials that make up the exterior of the building or vehicle that you’re in
We’ll cover each of these in more depth.
Distance from the Cell Tower
Cellular signal is broadcast from towers that are installed by your carrier (AT&T, Verizon, etc.). The closer you are to a tower, the stronger the cell signal is going to be. As you move further away from the tower, the signal becomes weaker, which we call attenuation, until at some point it’s too weak to hold a call or transfer data.
Being too far away from a cell tower is the most common reason for weak cell signal, and the one you’ll often experience if you live or travel in very rural areas.
Obstacles in the Way
The second cause of poor or erratic cell signal is the presence of obstacles between you and the nearest cell tower, like a mountain, hill, or building. You may also experience this cell signal problems if you’re at the bottom of a valley or underground and don’t have line of sight to a nearby tower.
Signal is not usually able to penetrate through large obstacles, so it's not able to reach you. The cell signal may bounce off of other hills or buildings and reach you through reflection, in which case you’ll notice that your signal is weaker and may fluctuate up & down, otherwise you’ll most likely end up with no signal in your location.
Construction Materials
The last major cause of cellular signal problems is the construction materials that make up the building or vehicle that you’re in.
Brick, block, concrete, sheet metal and wire mesh construction materials are some well-known and obvious blockers of cell service, but things like energy efficient window coatings, tile or metal roofs, and water fixtures can also cause major signal issues.
If you find that you have a usable cell signal outside of the building or vehicle, but it drops significantly once you step inside, then construction materials are the most likely culprit.
Combinations of Causes
Unfortunately, these causes of bad cell signal frequently work in combination, so you'll find a rural warehouse with weak outside signal and sheet metal walls that completely block the signal from entering the building, or a house in a valley without a clear line of sight to the nearest cell tower, and no other nearby cell towers with which to receive a signal.
When we're looking at solutions to solve your cell phone signal issues, it's good to have an idea of what combination of causes is creating the problem that you're facing, so that the right solution can be put into place.
Appendix B: Cell Phone Signal Boosters Explained
Now that we have an idea of what causes bad cell signal, it's time to look at what we can do to fix it.
First, we'll cover whether cell phone boosters really work, then discuss the basics of how a signal booster works, and finally go into more depth on the two main types of signal boosters:
- Vehicle signal boosters for cars, trucks, RVs and boats
- Building signal boosters for homes, businesses and any structure that needs signal
Lastly, we'll cover how signal strength affects coverage and 2G, 3G and 4G LTE networks.
Do Cell Phone Signal Boosters Work?
One of the biggest questions that we get, apart from "what is a signal booster?" is "do they really work?". This is a fair question, with all of the scammy products that have been released in the past claiming to give you better signal.
Fortunately, you don't have to take our word on whether these solutions work. The FCC and the major cellular carriers have all independently tested every signal booster that is sold on the market today, and have not only approved them for use, but recommended them as a preferred solution for getting better cell signal in your home, office or vehicle.
We'll cover how cell phone signal boosters work in the next section, so you'll see that it's not a magic solution, but rather a combination of high grade cable, antennas and a powerful signal amplifier that receives, boosts and distributes cell signal where you most need it.
Cell Phone Signal Booster Basics
A cell phone signal booster is a system made up of an outside antenna (called a donor antenna), a cell phone signal amplifier, one or more inside antennas, and cable to connect them all together.
The outside antenna receives cellular signal from the nearby cell towers and passes it over a cable to the signal amplifier. The signal amplifier boosts the strength of the signal, and then passes it over another cable to the inside antenna (or multiple antennas), which broadcast the strong cell signal to the area that needs it.
The signal booster also works in reverse, so when a phone call is made or data is used by a mobile device, it passes through the system, is amplified, and then broadcast to the nearby cell towers.
A cell phone signal booster is designed to solve the three main causes of poor cell phone signal in the following ways:
- Distance from the Cell Tower - The signal booster amplifies the weak outside cell signal, both to and from the nearby cell towers, to compensate for the distance.
- Obstacles in the Way - An omni outside antenna can receive and broadcast strong cell signal in all directions to maximize the chance that the signal will make it around the obstacles in the way.
- Construction Materials - The signal booster uses high quality cable to route cell signal around the construction materials that are blocking signal and then distribute it to the areas that need better reception.
As long as you have some usable cell signal outside, a cell phone signal booster should be able to solve your signal problems and provide you with much better service in your home, business or vehicle.
Types Of Cell Phone Signal Boosters
There are two main types of signal boosters:
- Vehicle signal boosters are designed for use while moving (like while driving in a car) and stopped.
- Building signal boosters are designed to be used in one location only and provide significantly more boosting and coverage than a vehicle signal booster.
We'll cover both in more depth below.
Vehicle Signal Boosters
Vehicle signal boosters are engineered to be used in a car, truck, RV, or boat, and thus need to be able to handle the constantly changing signal environment outside.
Vehicle signal boosters typically have a small outside antenna, that is usually magnetic for cars and trucks, and permanent for RVs and boats. That antenna is connected by a cable to the vehicle signal amplifier, and then another cable is run to a small inside antenna, to broadcast the boosted signal to the mobile devices.
The automatic gain control (or ability to adjust the boosting power of the amplifier) is designed to constantly adjust the strength of the amplifier based on the changing outside cell signal and maximize the amount of coverage that the booster can provide inside of the vehicle.
Multi-carrier vehicle signal boosters are limited to a maximum of 50 decibels of boosting power by the FCC, so the size of the coverage area that you'll receive from a vehicle signal booster is going to be much smaller than you would receive from a booster designed for a building, but every carrier will be boosted simultaneously.
Single-carrier vehicle signal boosters have a higher limit of 65 decibels of boosting power, so you'll receive a larger coverage area inside, but will only work with the carrier that the equipment was designed for.
There is a class of vehicle signal boosters that are designed to boost the signal for a single mobile device at a time. They are lower powered and also lower cost, so they'll work well for situations where only you need your phone boosted and you have occasional dead zones outside, but are not going to be the best solution for extremely rural areas or if you need to boost multiple devices.
A vehicle signal booster can make a huge difference in keeping you connected while traveling in areas with dead spots or weak cell signal, so if you spend any amount of time in a car, truck, RV or boat, and need fast data and voice calls, then a vehicle signal booster is going to be a great option.
Building Signal Boosters
Signal boosters for use in buildings, like a home or business, are designed to be permanently installed in one location and provide coverage to the inside area of the building.
A building signal booster works by mounting a powerful antenna outside on the roof of the building that receives the existing outside cell signal, and then passes it over a low loss cable to a signal amplifier located inside of the building. The signal amplifier will boost the existing cell signal, and then pass it over a cable to one, or many, internal antennas that will broadcast the boosted signal to the inside area that needs the coverage.
The booster also works in reverse, receiving the signal coming from your phone, amplifying it, and then broadcast it to the nearby cell towers through the outside antenna.
There are a different levels of building boosters, from entry level units that cover a few feet of space, to enterprise systems designed to cover vast areas with better cell phone signal. As you move up from the entry level to enterprise, the boosting power of the amplifier goes up and the quality of the components (cables, antennas, connectors) improves.
The boosting power of a building signal booster can range from around 55 decibels for entry level boosters, all the way up to the FCC maximum of 72 decibels for amplifiers designed to boost multiple carriers in a large building. If the amplifier is designed to only boost a single carrier, then the FCC allows the maximum amplifier gain to be 100 decibels.
If you find that one signal booster kit cannot provide the necessary coverage for a large space, then multiple amplifiers and a network of antennas can be used to scale up the system and cover areas of 500,000 sq ft or more in size.
We'll cover how to choose the best signal booster for your home or business below.
Signal Strength & Coverage
The most important thing to understand with cell phone signal boosters is that the strength of the outside signal has a major impact on how much coverage you're going to receive from a booster.
If you have a weak existing outside signal, you're only going to receive a small amount of coverage from a signal booster, since the booster does not have much existing signal to actually boost. If the outside signal becomes stronger, then the size of the coverage area inside of the home, business or vehicle would also grow.
If the outside cell signal remained at the same weak level, then the next best way to provide more coverage inside would be to purchase a signal booster with a more powerful amplifier.
If you're already at the maximum boosting power that the FCC allows, then the only option would be to install a second signal booster system.
For this reason, it's very important to know what your existing outside cell signal is, since that will determine what size booster you should purchase to adequately cover your inside area with boosted signal, or whether you need to install multiple systems.
2G, 3G, 4G LTE and 5G
You've probably heard some of these terms mentioned before and wonder how those fit in when improving your cell phone signal.
- 2G was the second generation of cellular technology and was used for allowing people to make and receive voice calls using their cell phone, as well as send text (SMS) and picture (MMS) messages. 2G has been decommissioned and the frequency bands repurposed for new technologies, like 4G LTE and 5G in the future.
- 3G was the next generation of cellular networks and allowed data to be sent over the cellular networks, in addition to voice calls and text/picture messages. Much like 2G, 3G is in the process of being decommissioned and the frequency bands repurposed for new technologies.
- 4G LTE is the most prevalent generation of cellular technology and is characterized by significantly faster data rates than 3G, as well as allowing voice calls to be sent over the data network, called VoLTE. All cell phones and mobile devices sold in the past few years support 4G LTE.
- 5G is the newest generation of cellular technology and is in the process of being deployed and is characterized by significantly faster data rates than 4G LTE. It utilizes multiple parts of the frequency spectrum and requires all new equipment to deploy and use this new technology. You can learn more about 5G here.
For optimal signal boosting, choose a booster that amplifies all 5 FCC-approved frequency bands to ensure you receive the best signal coverage now and as carriers transition away from older technologies.
Appendix C: Accessories That You Should Consider
While every booster kit includes everything that you need to get started boosting signal, there are some accessories that can improve the effectiveness of your system or provide added protection against failure.
In this chapter, we'll review the accessories that we recommend you take a look at, including:
- Lightning Protectors
- Cables
- Antennas
- Splitters & Tappers
- Pole Mounts
Lightning Protectors
After purchasing a high-quality signal booster system, the last thing you want is anything to happen to the amplifier. This is where a lightning protector comes in.
Contrary to its name, a lightning protector (also known as a lightning surge suppressor or arrester) does not protect specifically against a lightning strike, as that would physically destroy the building that the amplifier is in, but rather it prevents the build-up of static electricity in the air caused by storms or other atmospheric conditions that can travel down the antenna cable and electrify the amplifier.
The lightning protector prevents this by connecting directly to the outside antenna cable between the outside antenna and the amplifier. The protector acts as a fuse, so if there is too much current running down the line, the fuse will blow and prevent the surge from reaching the amplifier.
If your building signal booster did not come with a lightning protector, we highly recommend that you purchase one to protect your amplifier. Electrical surges are not covered under any manufacturers equipment warranty, so it's worth the investment to protect your signal booster.
Cables
Cables are an important part of any signal booster system, as the quality and length of each cable determines how much signal will be lost between the amplifier and the antenna(s). The less signal you lose in transit, the larger the inside coverage area will be, so it's good to understand the types of cable available.
Quality and Length
In theory, you would want to use the lowest loss cable possible, but there are tradeoffs to consider.
The lower the loss of the cable, the larger it is in diameter with extra insulation and shielding, making it less flexible and harder to work with. Extremely low loss cable can be as thick as a garden hose and very difficult to run in anything but a straight line. In addition, the lower loss the cable, the more expensive it is, so long cable runs can dramatically increase the cost of a system.
Each cable type will lose a certain amount of signal over a distance, with lower loss cable obviously losing less signal. Depending on how much signal you have to begin with, a long cable run can result in all of your signal being lost, with none left when you get to the end of the cable.
It's important then to use the shortest length cable possible, and use the highest grade (lowest loss) cable that you can afford and that you're able to run from the amplifier to the antenna(s).
Types of Cables
There are a few different types of cables that are used with signal booster systems. We'll cover them in depth below:
- RG174: This is the cable type that comes attached to the magnetic mount antennas included in the vehicle kits. It is the most flexible, so it can be run through a closed car door, but that also means it has the most signal loss of all of the cables we'll cover. The length for this type of cable is typically limited to about 10 ft to ensure a minimal signal loss.
- RG58: This cable has less signal loss than RG174, but is still fairly flexible. RG58 is usually limited to about 20 ft in length and is used in situations where a short but flexible cable is needed, such cable runs in an RV or boat.
- RG6: This is the standard coax cable that you get with cable TV. RG6 is low loss and flexible enough to run throughout a house or small business, with cable lengths kept to a maximum of 50ft.
- RG11: This is the lower loss, more shielded cousin of RG6. It can be used for longer cable runs than 50 ft, or for less loss during shorter cable runs. RG11 is less flexible than RG6, so it's a bit more difficult to install.
- LMR400: This is the ultra low loss cable included with our large building signal booster kits. LMR400 is very shielded, so it is challenging to run the cable during an installation, but the cable runs can be up to 100ft in length.
- LMR600 and above: This and any higher grade cable types have even more shielding than LMR400 and are used in professional installations for either very long cable runs or to prevent as much signal loss as possible for maximum coverage. LMR600 and above cable is typically sold in rolls and a cable expert uses special tools to terminate the desired cable length. You will typically find this cable our commercial installations.
- Plenum: This is a special type of cable that is required in plenum spaces in buildings in the United States by the National Fire Protection Association for fire safety. It is available in different grades of cable.
The cables that are included in the signal booster that you purchase will usually be sufficient for your situation, but if you have a unique floor plan, very large area, or require professional installation, then it may be worth taking a look at other cable options.
Antennas
The performance, gain and distribution pattern of your antennas can greatly affect the performance of your booster system. We'll cover the different building antenna and mobile antenna options available, and discuss the pros and cons of each.
Building Antennas
Building antennas are designed to be permanently mounted in one location and handle a signal environment that is fairly consistent (unlike mobile antennas that are constantly in motion). These antennas are typically larger and more powerful than their mobile equivalents.
While most signal booster kits come with a single inside antenna, in many cases adding an additional antenna(s) can help to increase the inside coverage area, or to craft the way that the signal is distributed in uniquely shaped areas. If you have a medium to strong outside signal and aren't getting full coverage throughout your space, then you an additional antenna could be a good option for you. Please note: adding an additional antenna also requires a splitter or tapper and additional cable, so please feel free to contact us for assistance selecting the right components.
We'll cover the different types of antennas for both outside and inside the building.
Building Outside Antenna Options
There are two main types of outside antennas for buildings: omnidirectional and yagi directional.
Omnidirectional (Omni) Antenna
This type of antenna is designed to send and receive in all directions simultaneously, so cell towers from different carriers can be in opposite directions and the booster will still be able to communicate with them. An omni antenna is a great option for situations where you have a medium to strong outside signal and need to boost multiple carriers at the same time, or if you have fluctuating outside signal due to the signal bouncing off other objects and need to be able to receive the signal from any direction. The downside of an omni antenna is that it is not as strong as a yagi directional antenna, because it's sending in all directions, and not focused on one direction.
Yagi Directional Antenna
This type of antenna is designed to send and receive in one direction, so it is ideal for targeting distant cell towers in weak signal areas. If you have a weak outside signal and need too boost one carrier, or multiple carriers with towers in the same general direction, then a yagi antenna is a great option. They are not recommended if you have a fluctuating outside signal, as the bouncing signal will not be received by the yagi antenna if it's not coming from the direction in which it is aimed.
Building Inside Antenna Options
There are three types of inside antennas for buildings: dome, panel and whip:
Dome Antenna
This type of antenna is designed to be mounted to a drop ceiling tile or a location where you can run a cable to the back of the antenna, and broadcast signal in all directions on the same floor. Dome antennas typically should not be mounted higher than 15 ft above though floor, though some dome designs may allow for up to 20 ft. Domes are most often used in professional installations.
Panel Antenna
This type of antenna is shaped like a square and is directional, with the signal being broadcast in one direction from the front of the antenna. It can be used to penetrate and cover multiple floors with signal when mounted facing downwards or to cover a long, narrow space if mounted on a wall and facing across the space. A panel antenna is most often found in signal booster kits designed for residential use, because it is so versatile and can handle many different situations. In some entry-level kits, the panel antenna is used as a directional outside antenna, instead of the inside antenna.
Whip Antenna
This type of antenna is designed to attach directly to the "inside antenna" port on an amplifier and broadcast signal in all directions, similar to a WiFi access point. While it is less powerful than other types of antennas, it compensates by having no signal loss between the amplifier and the whip antenna. This type of antenna is typically found with entry-level signal booster systems.
Mobile Antennas
Mobile antennas are typically designed to be easy to install in a vehicle, like a car or truck, though they are sometimes more permanently installed, like with an RV, semi-truck or boat. All need to be able to handle a constantly changing outside signal and to be able to efficiently deliver signal to the mobile devices in the vehicle. We'll cover the different types of antennas for outside and inside the vehicle.
Mobile Outside Antenna Options
There are three main types of outside antennas for vehicles: magnet mount, spring or fixed, and marine:
Magnet Mount Antenna
This type of antenna is designed to easily attached to the roof of a vehicle using a strong magnet as the base of the antenna, and then have a flexible cable run inside to the amplifier. Magnet mount antennas are typically either 4 inches tall for multi-band systems or 12 inches tall for dual band, and are omnidirectional, so they send and receive in all directions while you're on the move.
Spring or Fixed Antenna
This type of antenna is more of a permanent mount and is designed for use on larger vehicles, like semi-trucks, RVs, delivery trucks, and more. It comes with either a spring mount, which can handle an impact with a low clearance object or a fixed mount, which is not able to handle an impact. Each type comes with a 3-way mount to allow for flexible mounting options, and both types are omnidirectional antennas, so they send and receive in all directions at the same time.
Marine Antenna
This type of antenna is designed to be permanently installed on a boat in marine environments, and the included marine mount will attach to any standard marine fixture. The marine antenna is omnidirectional, so it sends and receives in all directions while you're on the water or at the dock, and can withstand the elements during any type of weather. It also has no exposed elements, so is safe for use on a sailboat.
Mobile Inside Antenna Options
There are three types of inside antennas for vehicles: low profile, cradle and panel:
Low Profile Antenna
This type of antenna is designed to be a balance between size and broadcasting power. The low profile antenna is the standard antenna included in most of the mobile signal booster kits, and is omnidirectional, so it will send and receive signal in all directions from where it is located. The low profile antenna is typically mounted on the dashboard of the vehicle or on the side of a seat to provide boosted signal to the driver and passenger of the car or truck.
Cradle
This type of antenna is typically connected to a mobile amplifier (or the amplifier is built into the back of the cradle) and funnels all boosted signal to the mobile device that sits in the cradle. If you are in a very weak signal area or need to ensure that all of the boosted signal is passed to your mobile device, then a cradle is a good option for you. Please note: with a cradle, the phone or mobile device must sit in the cradle at all times, so you would need to use speaker phone or a headset to make and receive calls.
Panel Antenna
This type of antenna is meant for larger vehicles that have extra room to fit a building-level antenna. The panel antenna is the same that is found in our building kits and is directional, so the signal comes out of one side of the antenna. It is more powerful than the low profile inside antenna, so should provide more coverage, but its size makes it challenging to use in a smaller vehicle, like a car or truck.
Splitters & Tappers
Splitters and tappers are important components of any signal booster system, as they allow you to split the signal being passed over a cable so you can create a network of inside antennas to distribute boosted signal throughout a location. They can also be used to combine signal coming from multiple antennas into one input for an amplifier. We'll cover both in more depth below.
Splitters
A splitter is a component that evenly splits signal from one input to multiple outputs, and vice versa. Splitters typically come in two, three and four-way versions, so you can split a single signal into up to four evenly split outputs. There is typically a small amount of loss when you use a splitter, so you should take that into account when designing an efficient signal booster system.
Tappers
A tapper, otherwise known as a coupler, is like a splitter, but it splits a signal unevenly, rather than evenly distributing the signal across multiple outputs. It is a critical component and is used when designing signal booster systems for situations where you need to split a signal, but send more signal in one direction and less in another. Tappers come in different ratios of splitting, depending on how much signal you need to send in each direction.
Pole Mounts
The yagi directional antenna that comes with most building signal boosters is designed to be mounted to a vertical pole or mast on the roof of the building and then aimed at the nearest cell tower. A pole mount is an accessory that includes the vertical pole and mounting hard to make it easy to install a pole on the roof and mount the external antenna.
Pole antenna mounts vary in length, width and functionality, with some being a very basic one-foot pole with an L bracket, to more complex units that use angled poles and mounting hardware with multiple installation options to precisely situate the pole in the best possible location. Choose the one that will solve your specific situation the best.
Appendix D: Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Booster
Every situation is a little different, so you may encounter some challenges while installing and using your cell phone signal booster.
In this appendix, we'll cover the most common issues you may run into with your booster and how to fix them, and then discuss some tips for getting the best performance from your system.
Troubleshooting
While there are many different issues that can arise when boosting cell signal, most fall into one of two buckets: oscillation and overload. We'll cover both of these below and discuss the steps on how to fix each.
If your problem does not fall into either of these buckets, then contact us and our team of signal experts can talk through your situation and recommend ways to remedy it.
Oscillation
Oscillation occurs when the boosted signal that is being broadcast from the inside antenna(s) reaches the outside antenna and causes a feedback loop, similar to a high pitched sound you hear if you take a microphone too close to an amplified speaker.
The signal booster amplifier will try to mitigate this issue by reducing the boosting power on the band that is causing the oscillation, which shrinks the coverage area so that it doesn't get back to the outside antenna.
This works a lot of the time, and because it does it automatically, you typically would not notice that it even happened. If you're seeing warning indicators on the amplifier that it is experiencing oscillation, then that means that the amplifier has tried to fix the problem and has reached it's limitations, so we need to do other things to fix the problem.
One other thing to note: If the carriers that you need to boost all have roughly the same outside signal strength, then having the amplifier adjust the boosting power to fix oscillation is a good solution. If one carrier is strong and others are weak, then the strong carrier is going to have a much larger coverage area inside of the building, but the amplifier will reduce all boosting by the same amount, and shrink the weak carrier signals to almost nothing while it's trying to fix the strong signal causing the large coverage area. In this case we'll want to try and fix the problem in another way and let the amplifier work at full power.
Fixing Oscillation
The very first thing to check when dealing with oscillation is whether the directional antenna is pointed across the roof or away from the roof (if you're using an omni antenna, then this does not apply). If the directional antenna is pointed across the roof, then there is a high likelihood that it is picking up boosted signal radiating out, so you should move the antenna to the other side, so that it is facing away from the building.
Once you've confirmed that the outside antenna is facing away from the building, then the main way to fix oscillation is to move the antennas further apart. Typically this means moving the inside antenna further from the outside antenna, but if there is an opportunity to move the outside antenna further away, and potentially higher, while still receiving the same outside signal strength, then that is a good option.
When moving antennas, vertical separation is more important than horizontal, though a combination of both are good. We also recommend powering down the amplifier before moving the antennas. Once the antennas are in the new positions, power up the amplifier and see if you're still experiencing oscillation. Keep moving the antennas if so.
If you've moved the antennas as much as possible and are still experiencing oscillation, one last thing to try is to introduce shielding for the outside antenna. If the antenna is outside on the roof, then moving it so that an object, like the chimney or air conditioning unit, is between the antenna on the roof and the rest of the building. If the outside antenna is installed inside, then placing metal, like foil or a metal filing cabinet, behind the antenna to block the boosted signal is an option as well.
Overload
Overload occurs when the outside signal from one or multiple carriers is very strong and is overloading the amplifier with too much cell signal. The amplifier will attempt to compensate for this by reducing the boosting power, but frequently the signal is too strong and the amplifier reaches its limitations before the problem is solved.
Fixing Overload
If you're using a yagi directional antenna for the outside, then the best way to mitigate overload is to change the direction of the outside antenna to receive less signal, and allow the amplifier work to at full capacity to boost and distribute the signal.
Follow the instructions in the How to Aim a Yagi Directional Antenna guide to incrementally change the direction of the yagi antenna, and then check the amplifier for overload indicators and take signal readings inside with cell phones on each carrier you need to boost.
If it turns out that you're in an urban area and have multiple towers nearby that are overloading your antenna with strong signal from every direction, then the next best option is to use an attenuator, which is a component that sits on the antenna cable and cuts out a set amount of decibels from the signal coming in. An attenuator will cut back the cell signal across all carriers and bands, irrespective of if they are strong or weak, so it's not an ideal solution and should only be used if re-aiming the outside antenna does not help, as it may cause carriers with weak cell signal to have sub-part coverage and performance inside.
Finally, if re-aiming the outside antenna and cutting back the existing cell signal with an attenuator does not provide you with adequate coverage, the last option is to move to a more advanced amplifier that can handle a much stronger outside signal and scale it's boosting power significantly down to compensate for the strong existing signal.
Tips to Improve Performance
While most standard signal booster installations should provide you with sufficient coverage for quality voice calls and fast data, if you're looking to tweak your system to provide even more performance, here are some things that you can do:
- Reduce cable lengths: If the cables that you received with your system are longer than you really need, then purchasing a shorter cable will reduce the amount of signal loss and increase the amount of coverage that your system will be able to provide. Also, be sure that your excess cable is NOT coiled, but rather laid out in a back-and-forth pattern, as coils can cause interference.
- Upgrade to a lower-loss cable: In addition to shortening cable lengths, you can upgrade your cable to a lower-loss version (more shielded), so your system has more signal to work with and provide more coverage inside.
- Add more antennas: If you're using one inside antenna, and have a medium to strong outside signal along with a powerful amplifier, then you may have excess boosting capacity that is not being used by the single antenna. Adding another antenna can take advantage of this excess capacity and increase your total inside coverage area. You'll need to add additional cable and a splitter to add the second antenna to the system.
- Upgrade your antennas: We offer higher-performance antennas that can replace the existing antennas that come with your signal booster system, for more coverage and a better-looking installation.
- Increase the separation between your antennas: Amplifiers automatically reduce their boosting power if there is any oscillation (feedback) from the inside antenna(s) to the outside antenna. If your amplifier shows any indicator lights or readings that there is oscillation and it's working at reduced capacity, then increase the distance between antennas to allow the amp to work at full boosting power.
Appendix E: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
We've put together a list of questions we get the most and answered each one for you.
Let's jump right in.
What is the best cell phone booster?
Here are our expert picks on the best cell phone signal booster for every situation:
- The Smartest and Most Powerful Signal Booster: Cel-Fi GO X
- The Best Signal Booster for your Whole Home: weBoost Office 100
- The Best Signal Booster for a Few Rooms: weBoost Home MultiRoom
- The Best Signal Booster for a Single Room or Small Space: SureCall Fusion4Home
- The Best Signal Booster for Your Home that Includes Installation: weBoost Installed | Home Complete with Installation
- The Best Signal Booster for Your Business: weBoost Office 200
- The Best Signal Booster for Your Business that Includes Installation: weBoost Installed | Office 200 with Professional Installation
- The Best Signal Booster for Your Car: weBoost Drive Reach
- The Best Signal Booster for Your Truck: weBoost Drive Reach Overland
- The Best Signal Booster for Your RV while Driving: SureCall Fusion2Go RV
- The Best Signal Booster for Your RV while Parked: weBoost Destination RV
- The Best Signal Booster for Your Boat: Drive Reach Marine
- The Best Enterprise Solution: Cel-Fi QUATRA Active DAS Hybrid
Please see our complete list of the Best Cell Phone Signal Boosters to learn more and find the right signal booster for your situation.
Do cell phone signal boosters work?
One of the biggest questions that we get, apart from "what is a signal booster?" is "do they really work?". This is a fair question, with all of the scammy products that have been released in the past claiming to give you better signal.
Fortunately, you don't have to take our word on whether these solutions work. The FCC and the major cellular carriers have all independently tested every signal booster that is sold on the market today, and have not only approved them for use, but recommend them as a preferred solution for getting better cell signal in your home, office or vehicle.
We'll cover how cell phone signal boosters work in the next section, so you'll see that it's not a magic solution, but rather a combination of high-grade cable, antennas, and a powerful signal amplifier that receives, boosts, and distributes cell signal where you most need it.
What is a cell phone signal booster?
A cell phone signal booster (also known as a cell phone repeater) is a system made up of an outside antenna (called a donor antenna), a cell phone signal amplifier, one or more inside antennas, and cable to connect them all together.
The outside antenna receives cellular signal from the nearby cell towers and passes it over a cable to the signal amplifier. The signal amplifier boosts the strength of the signal, and then passes it over another cable to the inside antenna (or multiple antennas), which broadcasts the strong cell signal to the area that needs it.
The signal booster also works in reverse, so when a phone call is made or data is used by a mobile device, it passes through the system, is amplified, and then broadcast to the nearby cell towers.
As long as you have some usable cell signal outside, a cell phone signal booster should be able to solve your signal problems and provide you with much better service in your home, business, or vehicle.
Will these signal boosters boost 5G?
The current signal boosters on the market for consumers are authorized to boost five major cellular bands in North America. All new future technologies (5G) deployed by the carriers that use one of these five major cellular bands: 700, 850, 1700, 1900, and 2100 MHz will be supported by the current five-band signal boosters. Currently, AT&T and Verizon have 5G networks deployed on these supported bands.
Technologies that are deployed on bands other than that will not be supported by any of the currently available consumer signal boosters.
In addition, carriers have told us that their 4G LTE networks, which are boosted by all of our consumer signal boosters, are not going away anytime soon. Verizon, for example, has committed to 4G LTE through 2030.
This means that a booster you get today will likely work well through 2030. By that time, additional frequency bands should have been approved by the FCC so an upgrade may make sense.
What do 2G, 3G, 4G LTE and 5G mean?
You've probably heard the terms 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G mentioned before and wonder how those fit in when improving your cell phone signal.
- 2G was the second generation of cellular technology and was used for allowing people to make and receive voice calls using their cell phone, as well as send text (SMS) and picture (MMS) messages. 2G has been decommissioned and the frequency bands repurposed for new technologies, like 4G LTE and 5G.
- 3G was the next generation of cellular networks and allowed data to be sent over the cellular networks, in addition to voice calls and text/picture messages.
- 4G LTE is the cellular technology that replaced 3G and is characterized by significantly faster data rates, as well as allowing voice calls to be sent over the data network, called VoLTE. All cell phones and mobile devices sold in the past few years support 4G LTE.
- 5G is the latest cellular technology and is currently being deployed around the country. It is broken out into two versions of 5G: sub-6 GHz and millimeter-wave. Sub-6 GHz is 5G that is deployed on the existing frequency bands already in use by the carriers and can be boosted with traditional signal boosters. Millimeter-wave 5G uses very high-frequency bands for maximum data speeds and minimal latency and requires new infrastructure to be deployed, so it is currently only being released in major cities.