Spotty iPhone or Android Coverage? A Signal Booster Can Help
In a world where work, romance, and friendships are increasingly dependent on smartphones, connectivity is essential. For those that depend on a mobile data connection in their professional lives, reception and connectivity issues can severely impact goals and even bring productivity to a screeching halt.
Fortunately, there are signal boosters available that take the smallest amount of reception and amplify it for personal use. More powerful signal boosters can provide reception and mobile connectivity for areas up to 50,000 square feet in size.
There are a variety of different options for improving signal strength and reception that can work independently of, or in tandem with, a signal booster. In this guide, we've collected the best tips for boosting the signal on your iPhone or Android phone. You can find the complete list of signal troubleshooting tips here.
Tips for Boosting Signal Bars on iPhone or Android Phones
The following tips for boosting the signal to your cell phone can be used with or without an iPhone or Android signal booster.
- Minimize or remove objects interfering with signal strength.
Walls, other buildings, and even glass can interfere with mobile signals. Limiting the obstructions between your phone and the nearest tower will help you get a stronger signal.
- Don't let your battery level get too low.
Most cell phones will go into power-saving mode when their battery level reaches 10-20 percent, meaning that they are no longer constantly searching for a signal.
- Identify the closest cell tower or antenna to your location.
Websites like Open Signal can tell you where the closest cell towers are. Knowing where the nearest cell tower is can help you get closer to the signal, boosting your coverage.
If there aren't any towers nearby, a signal booster can help get you connected and stay connected.
- Use Wi-Fi networks whenever possible.
There are Wi-Fi networks practically everywhere these days. Most phone carriers offer Wi-Fi Calling, a feature that also works for text messaging and browsing the internet.
- Don’t obstruct your cell phone’s antenna.
If your signal is spotty and you're having a hard time getting service, holding your phone vertically and removing its case can improve your odds of connecting.
iPhone-Specific Tips for the "No Service" Error Message
Restart the iPhone. This is the default "turn it off and back on" you should try with most improperly functioning electronics. Minor malfunctions can often be resolved by rebooting the device.
- Make sure the phone is fully updated with the latest iPhone iOS.
- Ensure the SIM card is not damaged or improperly inserted.
- Toggle airplane mode on/off.
- Make sure cellular data is on.
- Make sure the date and time are accurate. Having the time zone set incorrectly can cause connectivity issues.
- Change your "Voice & Data" settings. Switching from 4G to 3G and vice-versa can help boost your signal depending on your location. Some areas may not have adequate 4G service.
- Update carrier settings. Your cell phone carrier may have sent updates that failed to download correctly. Go to “Settings” > “General” > “About” to see whether an update is available.
- Reset your network settings. Manually resetting the Network Settings might help boost your signal. To do this, go to “Settings” > “General” > “Reset”. Choose “Reset Network Settings”.
- Reset all settings. If you’re still struggling with a spotty connection, there's one final trick you can try. Go to “Settings” > “General” > “Reset All Settings” to revert to factory default settings. If something is corrupted in the iOS, this might fix the problem.
Android-Specific Tips for "No Service" Error Message
- Restart the Android phone.
- Make sure the phone is fully updated with the latest Android OS.
- Ensure the SIM card is not damaged or improperly inserted.
- Toggle airplane mode on, and then off again after 30 seconds.
- Manually select a different network operator.
Android phones can have issues when automatically connecting. If you’re experiencing connectivity problems, navigate to “Settings” > “Find Mobile Networks” > “Network Operators”.
Android will scan for all available networks. Once you find the correct network, select it and manually connect.
If you’re still unable to connect, keep reading to learn about Cel-Fi by Nextivity. Their iPhone and Android signal boosters can amplify even one bar of 3G or 4G signal to provide coverage for on-the-go personal and business use.
What Is a Signal Booster?
A cell phone signal booster works by amplifying an existing cellular signal to achieve faster data speeds with a broader range of coverage. A signal booster will not work if you're in a dead zone with no signal at all; they require at least some initial signal to function.
What Can a Signal Booster Do?
A signal booster can amplify even the weakest signal to boost 4G LTE and 3G signal in a vehicle, building, or remote location.
Boosting the signal will enhance data and internet speed, text sending and receiving, and call quality. This will result in fewer dropped calls and a wider reception area.
What Can't a Signal Booster Do?
A signal booster cannot create a working 4G LTE or 3G signal unless you have at least one bar of signal coverage.
Signal boosters are also unable to boost satellite or cable provider internet or Wi-Fi.
How Does a Signal Booster Work?
Signal boosters work by pulling in a weak signal from towers and antennas, amplifying it, and rebroadcasting the signal. The area a signal booster is designed to boost coverage to is dependent on the strength of the signal booster. They include personal models designed to cover small areas (such as your car or personal office), mid-range models designed to cover moderate-sized areas (like homes or businesses), and industrial models designed to cover large arenas, office buildings, or outdoor events.
Each signal booster system works in essentially the same way, using an outside or window antenna to capture the signal, an amplifier, and an inside antenna to rebroadcast the enhanced signal.
Home signal booster systems and those used in small to moderate-sized businesses typically utilize a Window Unit to capture the signal and a Coverage Unit placed on the other side of the building for amplifying and rebroadcasting the enhanced signal.
Larger, more powerful signal boosters work in much the same way, with antennas, amplifiers, and inside antennas added to fit the scale of the intended coverage area.
Which Model Is Best for Me?
Now that you've learned the basics of how signal boosters work, you're probably wondering which Cel-Fi product is best for your situation. Below, we'll cover the different types of Cel-Fi signal boosters to help you determine which option will suit your needs best.
Cel-Fi GO / GO+
Unique Features: Smart Signal booster; Up to 100 dB gain; Rugged design (NEMA 4 rated); multi-user, multi-carrier switching.
Cell Technology: 3G/4G LTE Voice and Data
Ideal For: Residential; Small to Mid-Size Commercial Offices; Manufacturing Facilities; Mobile and Remote Connectivity; Trucks; RVs; Marine Use
Product Downloads: Cel-Fi GO Downloads
MSRP (USD): $580
Product Details: Cel-Fi GO / Go X Product Line
Cel-Fi DUO / DUO+
Unique Features: Smart Mobile Signal booster; Coverage up to 15,000 sq. ft.; Remote Monitoring and Management via WAVE Platform
Cell Technology: 3G/4G LTE Voice and Data
Ideal For: Residential; Small to Mid-Size Commercial Offices; Government Offices; Restaurants and Retail Spaces
Product Downloads: Cel-Fi DUO Downloads
MSRP (USD): $800
Product Details: DUO / DUO + Product Line
Cel-Fi Pro
Unique Features: Indoor Smart Signal booster; Up to 100dB gain; Coverage up to 13,000 sq. ft.; LCD interface; 4 Bands
Cell Technology: 3G/4G LTE Voice and Data
Ideal For: Residential; Small to Mid-Size Commercial Offices; Government Offices; Restaurants and Retail Spaces
Product Downloads: Cel-Fi PRO Downloads
MSRP (USD): $750 (With EXA)
Product Details: Cel-Fi Pro Product Line
Cel-Fi Quatra
Unique Features: "Middleprise" buildings; Active DAS Hybrid system; Remote Monitoring; Coverage up to 50,000 sq. ft.
Cell Technology: 3G/4G LTE Voice and Data
Ideal For: Large Office Buildings; Shopping malls; Public buildings like museums; Sports complexes; Arenas
Product Downloads: Cel-Fi Quatra Downloads
MSRP (USD): Starts at $3,865
Product Details: Cel-Fi Quatra Product Line
Benefits of Better Cell Service
Increased battery life: When a device is connected to a strong signal, it doesn't have to constantly search for a better connection.
Increased operational efficiency for businesses: If employees at a company have a strong signal at their regular workstation, they won't have to waste time and company money looking for a stronger signal elsewhere.
Buildings with strong cell signals are safer: Reliable mobile communications in an emergency ensure proper measures are taken as quickly as possible.
Mobile communication remains available when local towers fail: In the event of a natural disaster or downed tower, mobile communication or internet access might be unavailable. A signal booster will help harness any available signal, increasing your chance of making calls, sending texts, and loading webpages successfully.
Remote Internet Connection: A signal booster can serve as a backup ISP connection to keep you online during ISP outages. Loss of internet connection can make conducting business all but impossible. A signal booster can help solve this problem in the short term if you experience an ISP outage.
How to Buy a Signal Booster
Signal boosters can solve inadequate cellular coverage in the home, at the office, in sports complexes or arenas, and on the road. Signal boosters reduce dropped calls and help ensure you're constantly connected whenever and wherever you need to be.
Use our website to buy direct or contact the Novotech sales team to learn more about Cel-Fi signal boosters.