What Is A Signal Booster?

Sometimes referred to as a modem signal booster, a cellular booster amplifies a cellular signal within a given area to achieve faster data speed and a more comprehensive range of coverage with fewer drops.

A cellular booster will not work if there is no signal available. Modem signal boosters require at least some signal to amplify.

In A Nutshell, A Cell Phone Reception Booster can

Boost the 4G LTE, 3G or 2G voice signal in a building, vehicle or remote location.
Enhance the internet speed, text, and connection quality when talking on the telephone.
Maintain a reliable connection with fewer drops.
Widen the reception area.

A cell phone reception booster cannot:

Boost satellite and cable providers' internet or Wi-Fi.
Create working 4G LTE and 3G signals where there is no coverage. For a signal booster to work, there must be at least one bar of coverage.

How Does A Signal Booster Work?

Outside walls made of concrete, metal rooms and even interior walls all contribute to reducing a cellular signal inside. A cell phone booster works by pulling in weak signal, boosting it, and then rebroadcasting it inside your area in need.

Most signal boosters are a three-part system:

The Outside Antenna to capture weak cell signal.
The Amplifier to boost the weak signal.
The Inside Antenna to rebroadcast the enhanced signal inside your home or car.

The result? You get better coverage in all areas of your business.

Area Enhancement solutions work by taking the coverage from the outside and extending it inside, creating a “bubble” of ideal coverage for you and your customers. They do this by increasing the signal and improving the quality.

What is a Smart Signal Booster?

Novotech’s key partner Cel-Fi produces some of the most reliable Smart Signal Boosters on the market. These boosters use all-digital powerful baseband processors to clean the coverage prior to rebroadcasting.

Smart reception amplifiers come with over 100 dB gains while their analog counterparts have 63-70 dB gains. Along with being digital, these units also come with great features such as plug and play, internal donor antenna inside the box of the booster and no outdoor antennas are needed.

Top 3 applications for a Cellular Signal Booster

In a particular area:

Area enhancement solutions are designed to enhance the cellular signal for all devices in a particular area from a small showroom to a huge arena.

For a single device:

In-Line enhancement solutions offer improved coverage for a single device deployment. These are commonly used for sites that are remote or mobile. Industries that use these solutions regularly include: Power Utilities, Oil/Gas, Government and Environmental monitoring.

In a vehicle:

Mobile Signal enhancement solutions are designed for the harsh life of a road warrior. They increase the cell signal while in the car to ensure that important calls stay connected and you can access key information when you need it, where you need it.

Read here how the McGee family used the Cel-Fi Go for a reliable cellular coverage to run home business and to keep the family safe.

What Cellular Signal Booster should I choose?

There are 3 types of Cellular Signal Booster installations

Small Office Installations 

These are usually able to be done without professional installation.  They generally involve no outside antenna installation and are usually sufficient for areas up to 5000 square feet.  For most installations, it can generally be done in under an hour (sometimes in as little as 10-15 minutes!)

Complex installations

Large single-floor or multi-room areas installation requires planning by a professional. Often, specialized equipment is required such as high-gain antennas and customized cable lengths. Or, sometimes cables have to be run inside of walls and ceilings.  Customers may be able to install these themselves, but in most cases, it is advisable to have it done by a professional for the best results.

Large-scale installations.

Other installations can be complex and very large as is the case with multi-floor buildings. In this case, more complex pieces of equipment have to be deployed.  As well, they often involve the complexity of doing “signal site surveys” and other diagnostics.  With very few exceptions, it makes sense for these installations to be done by a skilled installation company.

CelFi PRO Extends Cellular Coverage at San Ysidro Health Center

Read the case study on how Cel-Fi helped CSIRO improve cellular coverage in well-insulated areas of the new, 4-story building with an area of over 150,000ft² (14,000m²) and more than 5,000 employees.

The CSIRO solution summary is an excellent example of a large-scale installation as more complex pieces of equipment we deployed.  Cases like this involve the complexity of doing “signal site surveys” and other diagnostics.  With very few exceptions, a skilled installation company should complete these installations.

Products used

10 Cel-Fi GO Smart Signal Boosters
7 Omni High Gain Antennas,
6 DAS Ultrathin Clear Antennas and Reflectors.

Download the Cel-Fi Signal Booster Case Study (pdf)

Frequently Asked Questions about signal Boosters

Are signal boosters legal?

Yes, in North America, signal boosters are legal to use.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) accepts that while much of the US has cellular coverage, there are gaps. The FCC issued a Report and Order on February 20, 2013, including rules and policies to enhance wireless coverage for consumers. It focuses on rural, under-served, and difficult-to-serve areas. It broadens signal boosters' availability while ensuring that they do not adversely affect wireless networks.

Do cell phone boosters work?

Yes. Typically, if you follow the manufacturer's instructions and have the correct signal booster for your application, it will work. Note that most repeaters require you to have at least one bar of signal to be amplified.

Does it work on my network carrier?

Most likely, yes. Some signal boosters, such as those produced by weBoost, work on any carrier in North America. Other manufacturers like Cel-Fi sells products that work with one or more carriers. However, each model has at least one variant for all carriers in North America.

Do I have to have an internet connection for these to work?

No, you do not need an internet connection for a cellular booster to work. You require power, at least one bar on your phone and all of the equipment provided by the manufacturer. It is important to note that cell boosters do not amplify landline internet or WiFi.

Do I need to pair my phone to a cell phone booster?

No, you do not need to pair your cell phone to the booster. In the case of weBoost products, any phone within the coverage area of the booster will get better reception. In the case of Cel-Fi, only phones on the same cellular network (such as AT&T, Verizon, Bell, Rogers etc.) will receive better amplification.

Can I use my booster outside?

Yes, you can use your booster outside if you have power access. Some manufacturers sell marine versions for use on a boat. In addition to working inside a house, some versions work in a long-haul truck or a recreational vehicle.

Can I use this while hiking?

Typically you cannot use a cell booster while hiking unless, after writing this article, there was a battery-operated booster.

Will my neighbor be able to use my boosted signal?

Yes. If your neighbor's cell phone is in range and his phone is on the same cellular network as your signal booster.

Can this be used with my solar panels?

Yes, you can run boosters with power provided by solar panels.

Does it boost WiFi?

Most cellular signal boosters do not boost WiFi signals.

Are they 5G ready?

Some boosters, such as the Home Studio Kit from weBoost and the Cel-Fi Go, will work in the 5G range.

Will a signal booster cause an increase in data rates?

Signal Boosters themselves do not use up any data. The only way data rates will go up is if you use more data on your phone due to a better cellular connection. With a stronger signal, you may download more videos or look at more content online, resulting in more data charges.