How Does A Signal Booster Work?
What is a Signal Booster?
Cell phone boosters are a growing market that has gained popularity in the past few years moving from rural areas to urban markets.
Every so often, we get questions surrounding the ability and legal status of cell phone signal boosters. The concern is perfectly valid, especially for a device that sounds too good to be true.
A cell phone signal booster is an FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and IC (Industry Canada) certified electronic equipment that improves existing 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE networks. Some boosters are even 5G ready! Basically, signal boosters are legal devices that help improve call quality, weak cell signal, and provide faster data speeds.
If you tend to have usable signal outside your home, vehicle, or office building, but weak to no signal inside, then a cell phone signal booster will definitely improve your cell service and signal strength.
The idea of eliminating dropped phone calls, slow data speeds, and unsent text messages without needing to connect to WiFi, argue with your carrier, or switch carriers has many people questioning how cell phone signal boosters work.
We have the answers!
How does a Signal Booster Work?
A cell phone signal booster (also known as a signal extender, signal amplifier, or cell phone repeater) works by pulling in weak outside signal, boosting it, and rebroadcasting the boosted signal into the desired areas. They also work in reverse: the signal booster will receive the signal from your phone and send it back to the tower.
There are different boosters available that target different needs:
- In-Building Signal Boosters - They are designed for homes, office buildings, commercial buildings, and any building that needs signal.
- Vehicle Signal Boosters - They are designed for cars, trucks, RVs, SUVs, boats, and fleet vehicles.
Keep in mind that for a cell phone signal booster to work, there must be an existing signal outside your home, office, or vehicle. A cell phone signal booster enhances existing signal, it does not create it.
Most signal booster kits are composed of three main elements:
- An External Antenna – Used to capture the weak cell phone signal.
- An Amplifier – Used to boost the weak signal.
- An Indoor Antenna – Used to rebroadcast the enhances signal inside your home, office, or car.
Coax cables are used to connect the top three elements; they are designed to deliver high-frequency electrical signals over distances with low signal loss.
For more information on coax cables, see our guide on Understanding Coaxial Cables.
External antenna
The external antenna (also called a donor antenna) is the first major component of a cell phone booster. They capture the weak 3G and 4G LTE signals.
There are two types of outside antennas:
Omni-directional Antenna: This antenna pulls in signal from every direction or a 360-degree angle. They are best for people who have medium to strong signal outside, or multiple cell towers nearby to boost multiple carriers.
Uni-directional Antenna (also known as yagi): This antenna (shaped like a triangle) pulls signal from a 45-degree angle. They are designed to point in the direction of the nearest tower. Having a more focused signal, allows the antenna to reach farther than an omni antenna would. A specialized performer used for extremely poor signal and those who only want to boost a single carrier.
For more information on donor antennas, see our blog on Omni-Directional vs. Directional (Yagi) Antennas.
The location of the antenna is crucial; it can dramatically affect the power of the signal that is being sent to the amplifier. You will want to set up the antenna on the side of your home that has the best signal. There are different methods you can use to find the location with the best signal; you can use the number of bars on your phone, smartphone apps, or use field test mode.
You will want the antenna to be as high as possible to have a better line of sight with the cell phone towers and decrease the number of obstructions between you and the towers. Usually, the higher the antenna is will result in capturing a better signal. Normally, the outdoor antenna will be mounted on the roof or fascia of the house; you can use an existing vent pipe or a pole mount. It’s important that the outside antenna is placed on or near the edge of the roof. If you have a yagi antenna, it should be pointing away from the house towards the nearest cell tower.
What if you can’t install the outside antenna on the roof? In those instances where it’s impossible to mount the antenna on the roof, you can mount the antenna in the attic, on a wall, or a window facing the cell phone tower. When installing the outdoor antenna inside, keep in mind that the signal will be affected due to the added obstructions (construction material, walls, windows, etc.) between the antenna and tower.
Vehicle External Antennas
Most vehicle antennas are omni-directional; they are designed to work best while moving.
Outside antennas are very easy to set up on a vehicle like a car, truck, and SUV. Most outside antennas are magnetic, you just stick them on the roof of your car to pull in the weak signal. Magnetic antennas are very easy to move to improve their performance.
On the other hand, other antennas are more permanent, they are designed for large vehicles, like RVs, fleets, delivery trucks, and more. Most of these antennas come with a spring (picture above), allowing them to withstand impacts.
Amplifier
The amplifier is the second major component of a mobile signal booster. Once the poor signal is pulled in from the outside antenna, it is sent to the amplifier for boosting.
To understand how amplifiers work and how to choose the best cell phone signal booster kit, you will have to be familiar with different terms.
Coverage Area
There is a variety of different amplifiers available, and they all vary in how many square feet they can cover. Amplifiers designed for small homes can cover up to 2,500 sq ft, and the coverage area for medium to large homes can range from 5,000 sq ft to 7,500 sq ft. For commercial buildings, there are commercial amplifiers available that can cover areas up 100,000 sq ft.
Keep in mind that the quality of your outside signal and the type of amplifier purchased can affect the coverage area. Take the weBoost Home MultiRoom Signal Booster Kit as an example. This home booster can extend cellular coverage up to 5,000 sq ft under perfect conditions. Meaning, there is a good signal outside and there are no obstacles interfering with the signal. But, real-world results show that you can expect a coverage area of about 2,000-3,000 sq ft.
Strength Gain
When looking at different signal boosters you will see the terms dB (decibels) and dBm (decibel-milliwatts). What do they mean?
Cell phone signals are radio waves, they operate within a certain frequency band in the radio spectrum. The signal can be measured in dB or dBm.
Decibels (dB) are used to measure an increase or decrease in signal strength (gain or loss); they measure the radio waves. Decibel-milliwatts (dBm) are used to show how much power the amplifier is capable of producing, or how much power your mobile devices are getting.
The bars on your mobile phone are a representation of how strong the cellular network is. Generally, cell phone signal levels can range from -50 dBm to -120 dBm. In "bar" talk, -50 dBm is full bars, and -120 dBm is a dead zone.
All amplifiers are measured using dB outputs; this would be the max gain the amplifier offers. What an amplifier does is potentially increase your dB (signal gain) to get you closer to the -50 dBm range. For example, if your signal level is -110 dBm, and the amplifier has a max gain of +50dB, your signal will be close to -60dBm (-100+50=-60).
For more information out how to read dBm on your phone, check out our guide on finding the best way to read signal strength on your phone.
Typically, a good home amplifier should have at least +60 dB gain. The most powerful units top out at +70 dB gain. A good car amplifier should have at least +25 dB with the best units topping out at +50 dB.
It's important to note that the amplifier can boost signal up to its dB value, but does not guarantee an instant boost to that dB number. Because many factors are involved such as distance from the cell tower, outside interference, inside interference, building material, etc. can affect results.
Hence why it's very important to find your dBm readings first and talking to a certified signal boost expert to achieve the desired and realistic results.
(Hey, we're signal boosting experts, email us at sales@wilsonamplifiers.com if you have any questions. And please do share any cronut recipes you have.)
Indoor Antenna
The inside antenna is the third major component of a cell booster.
Once the amplifier has boosted the signal, it's passed onto the inside antenna to rebroadcast the signal to the desired areas. There are two types of indoor antennas:
Panel Antenna: This antenna (pictured above) is generally wall-mounted and tends to send signal cone ranging from 45-70 degrees, meaning that the strongest signal will be delivered to the areas closest to it.
If you need the absolute best signal in a certain area of your home like a single office, home office (SOHO), living room, or bedroom, placing the panel antenna there will give that area the best signal before broadcasting the signal to lower priority areas.
Dome Antenna: This antenna is generally ceiling-mounted and tends to equally distribute the signal in all directions or a 360-degree angle. They will work best when trying to boost the signal in a large area.
The majority of weBoost signal boosters by Wilson Electronics use panel antennas. But, depending on your cell phone booster system kit, some manufacturers prefer one style of indoor antennas over the other.
For more information, see our blog on Panel vs. Dome Antennas.
When installing the indoor antenna, make sure there is at least a distance of 20 feet vertical or 50 feet horizontal between the outside and inside antennas. This will prevent oscillation, which will cause your signal booster to automatically shut down.
Vehicle Indoor Antennas
There are two main types of vehicle antennas:
Cradle Antenna: These antennas are best for one user. The cradle is connected to a small amplifier and will direct all of the booster signal to the device on the cradle. This antenna will require the smartphone to sit in the cradle at all times.
Low Profile Antenna (image above): These antennas are the most commonly used for vehicle signal boosters. They are very easy to install; simply place the antenna vertically or horizontally on the dashboard or a seat (usually Velcroed). Low profile antennas are omni-directional, so it will send and receive in all directions.
Pros & Cons: What are the Benefits of a Signal Booster?
For a more in-depth description, check out our full article on the benefits of a signal booster, but in a nutshell:
Types of Cell Phone Signal Boosters
Analog Signal Boosters
The most common cellular signal boosters today are analog ones. These amplify all types of cellular signals across all bands, allowing them to work for all major cell phone service providers. These are also known as wideband cellular repeaters, cellular amplifiers, bi-directional amplifiers (BDAs), and, of course, signal boosters. Just know these are all referring to the same thing.
weBoost signal boosters are all analog.
Smart Signal Boosters
These are a newer type of booster attuned to specific frequencies. These are programmable, and generally quite advanced. Some smart boosters can improve signal up to 100 dB. Certain Wilson Pro signal boosters are considered "smart."
Best Cell Phone Signal Boosters for Home
The Best Professionally Installed Signal Booster for Home
- Superior cell phone service for your entire home. 5G Ready
- Up to 7,500 sq. ft. to coverage under best conditions
- Up to +72 dB gain, with 24 dBm uplink and 12 dBm downlink
- Multiple accessories for maximum coverage and customization (sold separately)
- Complete coverage for entire home for all carriers across multiple devices
- Outdoor yagi antenna and indoor panel antenna, with stylish fabric front
Our Review:
The weBoost Installed Home Complete is the most powerful home booster we have. It can cover a large home with decent outside signal or a midsize home with weak outdoor signal. It can give up to 7,500 sq ft of coverage with perfect outside signal. Most people will probably see a coverage area of between 3,500 and 5,500 sq ft. If you want to cover more than one floor, you should buy more antennas. If you live in a very weak signal rural area you might get about 2,000 sq ft of coverage from it.
The best part of the weBoost Installed Home is that it offers professional residential installation. You won't have to stress about installing the signal booster yourself nor trying to figure out what the best location for it is.
The installation is only available for residential buildings.
FREE shipping, no minimum purchase.- 90 Day money back guarantee.
- Lifetime support.
The Best Cell Phone Signal Booster for Medium Sized Homes
- Up to 5,000 sq. ft. of coverage under best conditions
- Up to +65 dB of gain, with 21 dBm uplink and 12 dBm downlink
- Multiple accessories for maximum coverage and customization (sold separately)
- Complete coverage for multiple rooms or midsize homes for all carriers across multiple devices
- Outdoor yagi antenna and indoor panel antenna configuration, with stylish fabric front
Our Review:
The weBoost Home MultiRoom is the most popular signal booster for home. It's perfect for midsize homes and offices in urban and rural areas.
It can cover up to 5,000 sq ft if your outside signal is perfect. Most people will probably see a coverage area of 2,000 to 3,000 sq ft. If you live in an area with very extreamly weak signal, expect much less coverage. The amount of coverage provided, will depend on the strength of your outside signal.
It is important to note that the weBoost Home Multiroom Signal Booster is a DIY kit. If you were looking for a signal booster that can be professionally installed, consider the weBoost Installed Home Complete Signal Booster Kit.
- FREE shipping, no minimum purchase.
- 90 Day money back guarantee.
- Lifetime support.
The Best Cell Phone Signal Booster for One or Two Rooms
- Enhances 4G, LTE, and 3G
- Up to 1,500 sq. ft. of coverage under best conditions or 1-2 rooms
- Up to +60 dB of gain for 32X stronger signal
- Works best for one room, apartments, and small homes
Our Review:
The weBoost Home Room is the most affordable signal booster; great if you are on a budget. It enhances your signal in areas up to 1,500 sq ft if your outside signal is perfect. However, the amount of coverage provided will depending on the strength of your existing outside signal. Most people will probably see a coverage area of 200 to 500 sq ft.
Most customers have mentioned that they need to get much closer to the inside antenna than anticipated for better signal. It's a great option if you live in an apartment, dorm room, or condo. The weBoost Home Room Signal Booster is a good starter kit if you have decent outside signal and will improve your call quality and reduce dropped calls in certain areas. However, it doesn't cover the whole home and it's not a strong performer in rural areas with poor cell signal. If you live in an area with a weak signal, it's very unlikely you will see the results you want and should consider an upgrade to the weBoost Home MultiRoom.
- FREE shipping, no minimum purchase.
- 90 Day money back guarantee.
- Lifetime support.
Best Cell Phone Signal Boosters for Vehicles
The MOST Powerful Multi-User Signal Booster for Vehicles
- Boosts Talk, Text, Internet, 3G network or 4G LTE voice and data
- Amplifies multiple cellular devices across all major US carriers
- Works in extremely rural and remote areas
- Up to 50 dB Gain
Our Review:
The Drive Reach is our most powerful in-vehicle cell phone signal booster. With its increased uplink output, users can access towers that are 2x farther for twice the signal strength – signifying an increase of almost 5dB in uplink output power. Since your cell phone signal will be able to reach further, you will eliminate dropped calls and have better call quality.
The kit comes with a mini outside magnet mount antenna (adhesive for aluminum vehicles) to pick up the signal. A low-profile interior antenna (usually Velcroed to the driver’s seat) to broadcast the signal inside the vehicle. Keep in mind that you do have to be about an arm’s length from the interior antenna to get the boosted signal. It designed for cars, SUVs, trucks, and RVs.
If you are looking for a signal booster best designed for big trucks and fleet vehicles, that also supports multiple users, consider the weBoost Drive Reach Cell Phone Signal Booster Truck Antenna Bundle.
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FREE shipping, no minimum purchase.![]()
90 Day money back guarantee.![]()
Lifetime support.
The BEST Value Cell Phone Signal Booster
- Boosts Voice, Text Messages, 3G and 4G LTE Data
- Designed for a Single User
- Up to +23 dB Gain
- Adjustable Vent Cradle
Our Review:
The weBoost Drive Sleek Cell Phone Booster Kit is one of the most economical boosters available for a single user. It uses a magnetic vent mount and when paired with a Bluetooth headset, it really shines for regular talk, text, and hands-free navigation. The smartphone has to be in the cradle to get maximum signal boost. With the new design, wider smartphones and small tablets can fit in the cradle.
If you are looking for a signal user signal booster that is designed for big trucks and fleet vehicles, consider the wBoost Drive Sleek OTR Cell Phone Booster Kit.
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FREE shipping, no minimum purchase.![]()
90 Day money back guarantee.![]()
Lifetime support.
The MOST Powerful Cell Signal Booster for RVs, Trailers, and Campers
- Boosts Talk, Text, Internet, 3G network or 4G LTE voice and data
- Amplifies multiple cellular devices across all US carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular, and more)
- Up to +50 dB Gain
Our Review:
The weBoost Connect Drive X Signal Booster Kit is a powerful signal booster for RVs, trailers, and campers. It can be used while driving and while stationary at a campsite, so it only requires one easy installation. It works best for Class A and Class C RVs, but it can also be used for Class B.
The signal booster reaches farther to and from cell phone towers and bypasses any material obstruction. You will have better call quality and a lot less dropped calls.
Keep in mind that the antenna for the Drive X has less range and power than the stationary option. If you spend most of your time in one location, consider the weBoost Connect RV 65 Cellphone Signal Booster
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FREE shipping, no minimum purchase.![]()
90 Day money back guarantee.![]()
Lifetime support.
FAQ
Are signal boosters legal?
All the signal boosters sold on Wilson Amplifiers are certified by the FCC, meaning they are pre-approved and perfectly legal. There are a great deal of junk signal boosters out on the market, such as cheapo ones you might find on Amazon or eBay - these are not legal, and might disrupt the cellular network you live in.
Do cell phone signal boosters really work?
Yes, they do. But cell phone boosters can only BOOST weak cellular 4G, LTE, and 3G signal. They CAN'T CREATE cellular signal nor do they boost landline WiFi signal (the Uverse, Time Warner kind). Find out how much "poor" cellular signal you need to improve with our handy guide on cell phone signal strength.
Does it work on my network carrier?
Cell phone boosters certified by the FCC and IC work for ALL major & local carriers in USA & Canada. The only exception would be a particular frequency on the Sprint network used in some very, very local markets (extremely rare).
I only have one carrier providing all my cellular service. Are there any good single-carrier amplifiers I can get?
While single-carrier amplifiers used to be more common, FCC regulations caused the most reputable manufacturers of cell phone signal boosters to cease making them. The ones currently on the market have poor customer feedback due to a difficult installation process and poor reliability. They are also not future-proof should you change carriers, which the average American does every four years. Therefore, we don't them at this time.
Do I have to have internet connection for these to work?
No, they do not need WiFi or a landline internet connection to work. They simply boost cellular signal.
Can I use my booster outside?
Unfortunately, cell phone signal boosters are not designed to work outside a confined space.
Can I use this while hiking?
Unfortunately no current amplifiers are equipped with a battery per FCC regulations - but even if they were, since boosters are designed to be used in a confined space, you would not see much difference.
Will my neighbor be able to use my boosted signal?
Nope. Your boosted signal is confined to the space in which you set it up. If your neighbor comes to your home, however, they will get boosted signal.
Can this be used with my solar panels?
A signal booster cannot be used directly with a solar panel, as it uses a specific power and voltage. However, you can use it with power DERIVED from a solar panel if it's the main source of power for your home. It just needs to come from an outlet.
A cell tower signal is received by the booster, amplified, and rebroadcast. How does the phone know which signal (tower or booster) to respond to?
It will latch on the strongest source. Since the booster is in closer proximity, it will pull signal from the booster.
Are the boosters waterproof?
The outdoor antennas are waterproof, but the amplifiers themselves are designed to be placed in a moisture-controlled environment, so, unfortunately, no.
Is it compatible with my device?
Cell phone signal boosters are designed for use with all cellular devices, so, yes. Your hotspots and the like are covered as well.
Does it boost WiFi?
Not directly, but if you buy a 4G booster you should see considerably faster data speeds. It will not boost WiFi on any other devices, but can indirectly via a jetpack or hotspot.
Are they 5G compatible?
Not as of yet.
How can we help you?
Wilson Amplifiers is the leading provider of cell phone signal boosters. Cell phone boosters amplify 3G & 4G LTE for any phone with any carrier for home, office, or vehicle.
We seriously hate dropped calls and poor coverage, so it's our goal in life to rid the world of spotty signal, one happy customer at a time:
- Free consultation (ask us anything) with our US-based customer support (sales@wilsonamplifiers.com) or call us at 1-800-568-2723.
- Free shipping.
- Better signal or industry-leading 90 money-back guaranteed. No questions asked.
- We want everyone to be satisfied, so we provide lifetime technical support and a 2-year warranty for all products.
Ask us anything and we'll be glad to help.