How to Troubleshoot Home Boosters to Increase Performance

Not Getting the Boost You Expected? Let’s Fix That

You’ve installed your weBoost home cell phone signal booster, but calls are still dropping, and data feels sluggish. First of all, don’t get discouraged from your purchase. This can happen, and in most cases, it comes down to simple installation missteps. With a few targeted adjustments, you can significantly improve performance. This guide will walk you through a few quick and easy weBoost troubleshooting steps to help your booster deliver increased connectivity.

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Before You Start: A Few Things to Understand

Don’t Trust Your Signal Bars

The bars on your phone aren’t a reliable indicator of signal strength. They’re subjective and can vary by phone model, carrier, and even OS. A booster could be working perfectly, and the bars might not budge. Instead, check your signal in dBm (decibel milliwatts) with your cell phone booster on and off.

Boosters Do Not Create New Signal

Your weBoost system needs an existing signal to work. If you’re in a complete dead zone with no cellular reception outside, the booster can’t amplify and rebroadcast signal inside your home. Cell boosters amplify what’s already there, not generate new signals.

Coverage Depends on Outside Signal Strength

The coverage a booster can provide depends on how strong the signal is at the outdoor antenna. If the outside signal is weak, coverage may be limited to one or two rooms. Thus, devices will need to be closer to the inside antenna. The better the outside signal, the larger the inside coverage area.

weBoost Troubleshooting Tips

If your cell phone booster does not appear to be working, you may simply need to tweak your setup to improve performance. Here are some simple troubleshooting tips:

Optimize Outdoor Antenna Placement

The most common mistake is poor placement of the outside antenna. It should be installed where the signal is strongest. And that’s usually on the roof.

Most weBoost systems include a yagi directional antenna. These need to be aimed directly at your carrier’s cell tower. Use our cell tower locator if you need help finding your carrier's nearest tower, then slowly adjust the antenna for best performance. Even slight adjustments can make a big difference.

If your system came with an omnidirectional antenna, these capture signal from all directions and don’t require aiming. Placing it in a high, unobstructed location will yield the best results (most of the time).

Separate Outdoor and Indoor Antennas

If your system is showing solid red or flashing red/green lights, it’s likely experiencing oscillation. This happens when the indoor and outdoor antennas are too close, creating feedback.

To fix this:

• Increase the distance between the two antennas (at least 50 feet horizontally or 20 feet vertically).
• Make sure they face away from each other.

Oscillation forces the booster to reduce power or shut off bands, which limits performance. Proper separation restores optimal gain.

Fix an Overloaded System

Solid yellow or blinking green/yellow lights? Your booster is getting too much signal from outside and has entered an overload mode, causing it to reduce power or shut off affected bands to avoid harmful interference with nearby cell towers.

Outdoor antenna adjustments will be needed:

• If using an omnidirectional antenna, moving it to a spot with slightly weaker reception will help.
• If using a directional antenna on a pole, rotate it away from the strong cellular signals in small increments. For those mounted to the side of your home, try a different spot.

After each adjustment, unplug and replug the booster’s power supply to reset the system. You’ll want to repeat until the lights are green. This process helps the booster recalibrate and resume proper function.

Check Cable Connections

Loose or damaged cables can severely affect booster performance.

• Ensure all connectors are hand-tightened.
• Inspect coax cables for cuts, kinks, or bent pins.
• Don’t coil excess cable.

If damage is found, give us a call at 1-800-568-2723 for assistance.

Optimize Indoor Antenna Location

Your indoor antenna should be placed where cellular devices are used the most, not wherever is most convenient. If your phone is always in the living room, don’t put the antenna in the office.

Tips:

• Make sure it faces into the coverage area and away from the outdoor antenna to avoid oscillation, particularly with directional antennas.
• Avoid placing it behind furniture or large obstructions for optimal broadcasting.

Ensure Proper Ventilation

Boosters can get hot like any electronic equipment. Poor ventilation can lead to overheating and performance issues. Make sure your unit is placed in a well-ventilated space.

Final Tips for Best Performance

Getting the best results from your weBoost booster comes down to setup and a bit of patience. While installation is simple, it may take a few tries to get things just right.

A few extra tips to keep things running smoothly:

• Give your booster time to adjust. After making any changes, always power the booster off and then back on. This allows the system to reset and optimize for the new configuration.
• Use dBm readings, not just signal bars. Signal bars on your phone aren’t always reliable. Instead, check your phone’s signal strength in decibels (dBm) to get a more accurate read. This makes it easier to tell whether your adjustments are actually improving performance.
• Ultimately, cell phone signal boosters can enhance your reception, but setup is everything. If you've tried the above and still aren't seeing improvement, don't hesitate to reach out to our support team. A quick chat might be all it takes to get the clearest signal possible.

If you need any help along the way or are not seeing improvements after following these troubleshooting steps, our support team is happy to help. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-568-2723 or email us at support@wilsonamplifiers.com.

Interested in Learning More? Check Out Our Signal Boosting Info Center

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