Improving Cell Phone Reception
Boost Cellular Signal
Cellular Antenna
Advice
Need more information
on how to improve your cellular or digital phone's reception and boost your cell phone 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 after reading this page.
WHAT WE RECOMMEND
Here are some general
guide lines to selecting the best antenna.
In Brief, you can improve your cell phone reception by:
Read more below.
Nextel
You
can use a single band 800MHz range antenna with Nextel service
however, we do carry some Nextel
/ iDen specific options.
External Antennas | Power Boosters | Amplifiers/Repeaters
External Antennas
Many of our customers have had great success connecting an external antenna to their cell phones. 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. They boost a wireless signal and do not require 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.
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.
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 $330 and building repeater systems start at about $750 depending on the repeater system, antennas and cable type.
Additional information on the Wilson Repeater/Amplifiers.
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.
Twin
Dual Band: This is a small glass mount antenna.
This antenna will increase your range in more metro areas.
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.
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.
RV
ers / 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 suggestions.
First,
consider the Wilson
RV antenna or Wilson
Trucker antenna. The RV antenna is hole mounted
and both have a built in ground plane. The Trucker antenna
can be mounted on mirror mounts or other pole type fixture.
Next
consider an 800MHz analog antenna. Although your phone may
work in 1900MHz digital areas, you're not likely to find these
areas in rural parts of the country where you may need your
phone the most. An analog only antenna will out perform a
dual band antenna in analog areas. Choose the 5db
gain antenna for best results but remember they are about
24 inches tall. If you use your phone with your computer to
access the Internet, your phone probably switches to analog
mode once connected to a computer cable. This
antenna would require some type of ground plane so you can
place
it on some type of metal inside the RV. The walls of the RV
may block some of the signal by you should still be able to
see a considerable improvement over you phone's antenna.
Many
of our RV er customers are very happy with the Wilson
MicroMag Antenna. It's much more portable than the larger
antennas and very effective.
