Buyer’s Guide

A lot of cell phone users around the country complain about weak signals and dead zones where they cannot make a phone call or connect to the internet through their mobile internet data. This Mobile Phone Signal Booster Buyer’s guide helps you understand which signal booster should you buy and use. The best solution for this problem is to buy and use the right type of mobile signal booster. Then you can enjoy your mobile communication and browse the mobile internet as much as you want.

Sometimes it can be hard, though, to figure out the nitty-gritty before you buy:

“Which mobile signal booster will work best for me?”

“Which mobile signal booster is compatible with my network provider?”

“How can I install my mobile signal booster?”

Let’s find out answers to all these questions one by one through this buyer’s guide.

Picking out the right mobile phone signal booster is quite easy, but only if you have all the information you need. If you have considered buying a mobile signal booster to improve your mobile phone signal reception, but don’t really know what to look for or how it works, then this guide will explain everything. We will help you choose the right device for your needs, and explain how to install and use it.

If you still need more advice on choosing a mobile booster, feel free to contact our helpdesk and we can help to assess your circumstances and find the best booster for you,

Assess Your Mobile Signal Booster Needs

First, you’ll need to identify what kind of mobile phone coverage you need. We have a range of mobile signal amplifiers to cover different networks, property sizes, and a number of simultaneous users, so here are some questions for you to think about before choosing:

• Do you need to improve call quality, or data speeds, or both?
• Which mobile network signal do you need to boost?
• How big is your property?
• How many users or devices might be connected to the booster at a time?

Our range of mobile signal boosters covers property area sizes from 300 sqm up to 5000 square meters and allows for multiple connections from 6 users up to 250 users.

Mobile Frequencies 

Different mobile signal boosters cater to different frequency wavelengths. We have an in-depth explanation of the different frequencies in our blog post, but here’s a brief overview:

Mobile signals are transmitted via radio waves on different frequency wavelengths, which are measured in megahertz (MHz). Generally, 2G and 3G signals travel at lower frequencies than 4G and 5G. Signals on lower frequencies use less energy and so can travel further than signals on higher frequencies – this is why you might find that sometimes you can make a call with no problem (as calls usually take place on the 850/1900 MHz), but struggle to get online (as 4G connections may use higher frequencies such as 1700/1900/2100 MHz), similarly 3G (UMTS) is broadcasted on 1900/2100 MHz frequency bands.

A single-band mobile booster works on one frequency, whereas a dual-band booster works on two frequencies, and a tri-band mobile booster works on three or more frequencies. Similarly, the quad-band Universal Signal Boosters work on four frequencies and boost all types of mobile signals for all cellular service providers. The universal signal booster therefore the safest option if you want to improve your signal for multiple frequencies or networks.

You can contact our helpdesk anytime if you need help figuring out which mobile booster is best for you.

Will the mobile booster be compatible with my network operator?

Different mobile operators in Colombia use different frequency wavelengths for their 2G, 3G, and 4G services, so it is important to choose a booster that amplifies signals on the correct frequency for your network. More information about the specific frequencies used by different networks can be found on our carrier pages for Claro, Movistar, Tigo, Avantel, ETB, and WOM. We also have a selection of mobile signal boosters that improve signals for all frequencies and mobile network providers.

How can I install my mobile signal booster?

Our mobile signal boosters come in three parts:

• An outdoor antenna, which receives the mobile signal from outside. This antenna is placed at a high point on the outside wall or roof of the property.
• A signal booster/base unit, connected to the outdoor antenna with a coaxial cable, which amplifies the signal from outside. This unit is placed inside the property, with at least 15 feet of vertical separation from the external antenna.
• An Omni-directional indoor antenna, which broadcasts the amplified signal from the base unit throughout your property. This antenna can be placed wherever you most need mobile signal improvement.
• For especially weak signals, you might need to buy an additional Yagi high-gain antenna, which picks up even the weakest signals and amplifies them throughout your property.

All our mobile signal boosters come with detailed installation instructions. The installation process is straightforward and you will be able to get up and running with a stable mobile reception in no time at all. If you do need any help or advice during the installation process, simply contact our helpdesk and our agents will be happy to walk you through the process.

Where is the best place to put my signal booster external antenna?

You need to figure out where the strongest mobile signal is outside your property. Measuring signal strength by the bars on your phone can be a rough guide, but is not the most accurate way to determine signal strength, as the bar signals can vary from phone to phone. A more accurate way of measuring your signal strength is to check the decibels per milliwatt (dBm). This value is a minus number and as a rough guide, anything from around -60 to -50 is excellent, while anything below -90 is poor.

For Android phones, you can usually find this measurement in the phone settings, under About Phone. For iPhone users, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Enable LTE > Turn Off LTE, and then make a phone call to *3001#12345#* to see your signal strength.

Walk around your property and keep testing the signal strength with this method until you figure out which area is receiving the strongest signal from the nearest phone tower.

The external antenna should then be placed at the highest point on that side of your house in order to “catch” the signal coming from the nearest mast. This could be in the attic or on the roof.

Where should I put my signal booster base unit to get the best coverage?

You should place your base unit wherever you need coverage the most. The base unit is the component that amplifies the signal inside. For products that use an Omni-directional indoor antenna, the coverage is improved in a circular manner from the indoor antenna. The farther you are away from the antenna, the weaker the signal. The base and indoor antenna could be placed in the family room, the basement, a bedroom, or another central location.

We advise against putting the base unit too close to the external antenna. The external antenna should have at least 15 feet of vertical separation from the base unit.

Are you ready to buy your mobile signal booster and improve your mobile phone connection in your home or business? We earnestly hope that this buyer’s guide helps you understand and buy yourself the right signal booster for your need. If you have any questions regarding any of our products please do not hesitate in contacting us.