Cellular Phone Antennas
Want to Know How to Improve Your Cell Phone Reception & Boost Cellular Signal
Cellular Antenna Advice
Need more information on how to improve cell phone reception and boost cellular signal? Well, you've come to the right place. The information we've compiled on this page is based on our conversations with carriers, antenna and phone manufacturer reps and engineers as well as our own customers. You should have a pretty good idea of the antenna you need to boost cellular signal after reading this page.
WHAT WE RECOMMEND
Here are some general guide lines to selecting the best antenna & how to improve cell phone reception.
In Brief, you can improve your cell phone reception by:
Attach an Antenna Directly To Cell Phone
One of the easiest and least expensive ways to boost cellular signal is to attach an external antenna directly to your cell phone.
- Positives
- Least expensive method of improving cell phone reception
- Good results
- Can be used in home, office or vehicle
- Negatives
- Many phones don't have ports that enable you to connect an external antenna
- Phone is connected to a wire
More Info on Attaching an external antenna to your phone
Attaching a Power Booster to Your Cell Phone
How to improve cell phone reception in areas where the signal is very weak or non existant? Probably the most effective way to improve cellular reception in areas with little on no signal is to attach a direct connect type cellular amplifier to your cell phone.
- Positives
- Most effective method to improve cellular reception in areas with little or no signal
- Excellent results
- Cann be used in home, office or vehicle
- Negatives
- Many phones don't have ports that enable you to connect an external antenna
- Cell phone is connected to a cable
- Power Source required
More Info on Attaching a Power Booster and external antenna to your phone
Install A Building Cellular Repeater System
A great to improve cell phone reception for multiple cell phones in small or larger areas, is to install a building cellular repeater system. A basic system is one antenna on the outside, one antenna on the inside, both connected to an amplifier inside.
- Positives
- Improve cell signal for multiple phones
- Does not require a cable connection to phone
- Negatives
- Harder Install - mounting antennas, running cable
- Higher cost
- Requires fairly good signal outside the building
- Not portable
More Info on Building Repeater System
Install a Short Range (Car, Truck, RV), Portable Repeater Systems
A great, more versitile system that is powerful and portable would be one of Wilson's short range cellular repeater systems.
- Positives
- Multiple phones
- No connection required
- Portable
- Negatives
- Might be harder to install
- Requires seperation distance between inside and outside antennas
More info on Vehicle Wireless Repeater Systems
iDen Network - Nextel, BoostMobile, Mike Telus(Canada)
iDen frequencies are require special amplifiers and antennas tuned to them. You can find iDen specific products on our web site at: Nextel / iDen specific Antennas & Amplifiers.
How to Improve Cell Phone Reception using External Antennas
Many of our customers have had great success connecting an external antenna to their cell phones to boost cellular signal. We carry a wide variety of single and dual band antennas Including Wilson Antennas, Larsen Antennas and more. Magnetic mount external antennas can be used on a vehicle or used in a fixed location at your home or office. Many of our customers mount these near or outside a window. Wilson also makes a 5db gain dual band antenna called the Trucker Antenna. This antenna can be mounted on truck mirrors or on a pole. It can also be bolted onto the side of a building. There is also an RV Trucker Antenna and hole mount Trucker versions. Because it has a built-in ground plane, it does not have to be mounted on anything metal. In some cases, the trucker mirror mount antenna outperforms the 3db magmount because the gain is higher.
EXTERNAL ANTENNA COST
Adding an external antenna to your cell phone is the most cost effective way to improve reception. The price range for adding an external antenna to your cell phone ranges from $40 to over $100 depending on antenna, adapter and cable type.
Antenna Kits
We also provide antenna kits that include an external antenna and an adapter to connect to your phone. You can find these kits by selecting your phones make and model from our menu. They are listed with other accessories for you phone.
See "Choosing An External Cellular Phone Antenna" below.
Connecting To Your Phone
First off, you will need a way to connect an antenna to your phone. This can be done using an external antenna adapter to connect an antenna directly to your phone. Also, some hands-free kits have external antenna adapters built into them. More info on connecting an antenna to your phone. If there is no way to connect an external antenna to your phone, you might consider a Wilson Amplifier/Repeater boost cellular signal without needing a direct connection to your phone.
Type of Terrain
Terrain can have a lot to do with selecting the right antenna. For flat, more open areas, look for higher gain antennas in the 3db to 9db range. They have flatter, wider radiation patterns. For more hilly areas or areas with obstructions such as trees or buildings, consider a lower gain antenna in the 0db to 3db range. If you travel within different types of areas, consider a 3db to 5db range antenna.
Antenna Type/Frequency Range
Cellular service bands in the U.S. are usually 800MHz range (806-894 MHz), 1900MHz range Digital PCS (1850-1990 MHz), Nextel (806-821 MHz Tx and 851-866 MHz Rx) and GSM 1900MHz. Although a phone can work on multiple bands, they only work on one band at a time. You may work near a 1900MHz range tower and live near an 800MHz tower. If you want to make sure your covered wherever you go, consider a dual band antenna. If you're not sure of the type of phone network (800MHz, 1900MHz, GMS Range) you're using or having reception problems in, contact your cellular phone Service Provider or local dealer. They will be able find out for you.
Boost Cellular Signal with Direct Connect Type Power Boosters
The most effective way to improve your cell phone signal is with a power booster that you connect directly to your cellular phone. This connection can be made using your phone's RF port. The RF port is available on many phone models. The power booster units are powered by an electrical outlet within a building, your vehicle's cigarette lighter or can be hard wired into your vehicle. The units are connected to an external antenna as well. Wilson Electronics makes the Wilson DirectConnect Power Booster
POWER BOOSTER COST
The price range for adding a power booster and external antenna to your cell phone ranges from $275 to over $300 depending on the power booster antenna, adapter and cable type.
More information on the Wilson Direct Connect Power Booster.
How to Improve Your Cell Phone Reception with Wireless Repeater Systems
Wilson's Amplifier/Repeater wireless systems do not require a physical connection to your phone and can improve reception on multiple phones within a building or vehicle at one time.
These are effective when you have a strong signal outside but little or no signal inside the building or vehicle. They're effective where the building or vehicle is blocking the signal.
AMP/REPEATER COST
The cost of adding a wireless repeater system to your vehicle starts at $240 and building repeater systems start at about $750 depending on the repeater system, antennas and cable type.
Choosing a Cellular Phone External Antenna
Digital PCS & 1900MHz GSM Networks
If you're having reception problems in 1900MHz range Digital
PCS areas, we recommend one of the following:
Wilson Dual Band Trucker Antenna:
The Wilson Trucker is a very effective all around omni directional antenna in both 800MHz and 1900MHz digital areas. The Trucker is about 3 foot tall and has a built in ground plane. The built in ground plane makes it a great antenna for applications where a metal ground plane is not available such as homes, offices, RV's and Truck mirrors. The trucker is available in different models for mirror mount on larger trucks and pole mount for home or office use RV's, hole mounts (standard NMO) and car trunk mounts.
Magnetic and Glass Mount 3db Gain Dual Band
Larsen or Wilson antennas perform very well in this range. The Larsen's have heavier duty magnetic bases and thicker ultra low loss cables. They are 10" - 14" tall and come with a magnetic base or glass mount. If you plan to use it away from the car (home or office), we recommend providing a ground plane such as setting it on a piece of metal, filing cabinet or metallic tape. Glass mount antennas should be used on cars, trucks and vans only. The glass you will be mounting your antenna to should be non tinted and not contain metals which can reduce it's effectiveness. Wilson Electronics also makes very effective, smaller antennas with lighter weight magnetic bases in this category.
MicroMagmount
Antenna: For more portable use, the MicroMagmount
is very effective in metropolitan areas where large buildings
may block your signal. It's small (about 3" tall) and
easy to move from place to place.
Yagi : We recommend the Yagi Panel antenna only for more
remote areas. It's not a easy to install and set up as other
antennas. It's a directional antenna so it must be mounted
permanently on a pole. You'll have to play around with aiming
it in the direction that gives you the best results. Get
more info on Yagi Antennas here.
Analog and Digital Cellular (800MHz) Phones & Networks
If you're having reception problems in 800MHz range Analog (Cellular) or Digital Cellular areas, we recommend our:
5db
Gain Antenna: This is a very popular and effective
antenna. It's a little large (about 2 ft.) and comes with
a magnetic base or glass mount. This antenna will increase
your range in more wide open, flat rural areas and is great
for the traveler. If you plan to use it away from the car,
we recommend providing a ground plane such as setting the
antenna on a piece of metal or metallic tape. If you plan
to use it away from the car, we recommend providing a ground
plane with magnetic mounts such as setting the antenna on
a piece of metal, filing cabinet or metallic tape. Glass
mount antennas should be used on cars, trucks and vans only.
The glass chosen to mount this antenna on should be non
tinted and not contain metals which can reduce it's effectiveness.
Wilson Dual Band Trucker: These are longer, highly effective cellular antennas with built in ground planes. They come in mirror mount for larger trucks and pole mount for home or office use as well as vehicle use. A version is available for RV's, NMO hole mounts and trunk mounts.
3db
Gain: If the 5db gain and Wilson Trucker antennas
are too tall, select this antenna. It also comes with a
magnetic base or glass mount. This antenna will increase
your range in more open areas. If you plan to use it away
from the car, we recommend providing a ground plane such
as setting the antenna on a piece of metal, filing cabinet
or metallic tape. Glass mount antennas should be used on
cars, trucks and vans only. The glass chosen to mount this
antenna on should be non tinted and not contain metals which
can reduce it's effectiveness.
MicroMagmount: It's very effective in metropolitan areas where large buildings may block your signal. It's small and easy to move from place to place.
Yagi
Antenna: We recommend this antenna only for more
remote areas. It's not a easy to install and set up as other
antennas. It's a directional antenna so it must be mounted
permanently on a pole. You'll have to play around with aiming
it in the direction that gives you the best results. Get
more info on Yagi Antennas here.
Boost Cellular Signal on Multi-Band Phones
With dual band and multi-network phones, keep in mind the location that you are having reception problems. Your phone may be able to work on 2 or 3 different networks, but you want an antenna that will give you the best improvement where you're having the most trouble. Dual band antennas cover both bands however if you're having reception problems in a rural, analog areas, the 5db gain antenna will out perform the dual band antenna.
RVers / Travelers
We have many customers that travel about the US in RV's. Most of these motor homes do not have metal roofs which could act as a ground plane for their antenna. We have a couple of recommendations.
RV Cellular Signal Improvement
Boost Home or Office Cell Signal
Many times you can use your phone outside your home but not inside. Many of our customers just use a magnetic base car antenna for good signal improvement.
If you need just a little help, consider the MicroMagnetic Antenna Kit. Set the MicroMag Antenna close to a window and you should see a good improvement in signal strength. (Note: Due to different building construction, not everyone can get reception improvement from placement of the antenna inside.). The MicroMag is also small and more portable than other options.
The Wilson Trucker is also popular for in home or office use. It has several mounts available and has a built in ground plane.
If you need a lot of help such as you get no signal or you cannot make a call at all, you might want to consider a Wilson Yagi. for 800MHz range areas or a Panel Antenna for 1900MHz range areas. These are directional antenna and are more difficult to install. You might try another antenna first before resorting to the Yagi.