Improving Cellular Reception

It seems to be getting harder and harder to find newer cell phones that have RF ports (a usable one anyway). Without the RF port, you will be unable to attach an external antenna to it.

A phone may have a usable port buy the port may be too weak to support an external antenna adapter. An adapter can’t be made to stay in the port or the port is too weak and may break if an adapter is plugged into it.

So what are our options?

Wilson SignalBoost Universal Cellular Amplifier

Basically, find another phone or use a universal amplifier that has enough gain to transmit an improved cellular signal through the phone’s case.

If you’re service provider doesn’t offer a phone with the features you like that has an RF port, you can try and find maybe a used or refurbished one. Just make sure it will work with your service provider before you make the purchase.

Univeral cellular amplifiers like the Wilson SignalBoost Universal work in a similiar fashion as using an external antenna adapter. The difference is that instead of plugging in the adapter to a phone’s RF port, the adapter attaches to the cell phone by use of a universal adapter and velcro tape. The amplifier must have enough gain to transmit the signal through the phone’s case so a directconnect type of amplifier will not have enough gain.

Another option using cellular repeaters. A basic setup is to have an outside antenna and inside antenna both connected to a cellular amplifier. The amount of coverage you will get from the inside antenna will depend on the signal strength outside and the gain of the amplifier.

Do Cell Phone Signal Boosters Work?

Recently, as I was reviewing commonly searched words and phrases having to do with cellular, I notice questions along these lines that kept popping up.

Do cell phone boosters really work?
Do cell phone amplifiers really work?

At first I said to myself, of course they do. Why would anyone be selling this stuff if it didn’t work?

Then that old circut board looking sticker came to mind. I’m sure others have seen them. They were sold as cell phone boosters. They are just a sticker that you were to place under the battery of your phone and it was supposed to boost your cell phone signal. I’m pretty sure billions of those were sold.  Although I’ve never known anyone that used or tested them and found them to work, I have read testimonials written by who knows who that said they worked.

So, just to answer the questions (and  not counting those sticker things), yes adding an external antenna directly to your cell phone will improve your signal. Adding a power booster will help even more. And, you can get very effective cellular repeater systems to improve the signal inside your home or or building.

More info on cell phone antennas