The aim of a 3g booster is amplify a 3g signal. Some mobile phone users live or work in areas where the network signal is poor or very weak. This can be due to several reasons, the cell is located some distance away therefore reducing the signal strength when it reaches you phone. Sometime a weak signal could be due to the construction materials of your home. Static caravans can often block or reduce 3g signals.
Parts of a 3g booster
A 3g booster consists of an external antenna, an internal antenna, cable and an amplifier. In some boosters the internal antenna and amplifier are in the same unit. Visit MyAmplifiers to learn more.
Capabilities of a 3g booster
3g boosters are are designed to take an existing weak signal, amplify it enough for you to use on your mobile phone. For the system to operate there must be a stable signal present to receive and amplify. A 3g booster cannot create a signal where there are none. You must be able to place the booster where there is a stable signal.
Coverage
Ideally one should find the strongest signal possible for the external antenna. The interior antenna should be placed in the best position possible where there are no large obstacles to impede the signal from being transmitted to where you need coverage. Sadly, in a lot of situations you will need a powerful 3g booster to compensate for a weak outside signal or inside obstacles that inhibit mobile phone signals.
Signal Strength
The strength of the mobile phone signal from the external antenna determines the coverage area inside of your home. A strong signal will cover an area as stated in your 3g booster manual. A weak signal external signal will be much less.
Signal bars
Understanding the signal bars on your phone is important to gauging how strong the signal is where you’re going to put the external antenna. As a rule of thumb each bar of signal is roughly 5 to 10 times the power of the previous bar. It is important with low signal strength, such as one or two bars, to consider a powerful 3g booster than is recommended for the coverage area.
Outside antennas
There are two types of external antennas, omni-directional and yagi directional. Omni-directional antennas are used to send and receive signal in every directions. These are best where you have a moderate signal to strong signal. Yagi antennas send and receive signals in a specific direction and therefore can reach significantly greater distance to mobile phone cells that you would not be able to with an omni antenna.
Amplifier power
If you’re amplifying a weak signal and want ensure that you’ll cover the whole area, choose the strongest amplifier possible.
Internal antennas
There are two different types of inside antennas dome and panel antennas. Panel antennas are designed to broadcast and receive signal in one specific direction, ideal for homes with multiple floors. Dome antennas are designed to cover one floor.
Cable types
Unfortunately, cables are not perfect and will lose some signal depending on the type, quality, and length of the cable.
Carrier frequencies
Mobile phones communicate with cell towers using radio waves which operate on various frequencies. If the signal booster is not designed for the frequency you need, it won’t boost the signal.
Most providers use one of two frequencies for their 3G networks. These frequencies, 850 MHz and 1900 MHz and most 3g boosters are dual-band and able to boosting these frequencies making them generally compatible.