Cellular Telephone Signal Boosters

Many people carry mobile telephones. There are a great number of models, designs, and service providers; but at their core all mobile telephones are just radios that communicate with cell-towers and cell-sites in the area. The standard GSM mobile telephone has a maximum transmission range of 35 kilometers (22 miles), because of technical limitations of the system. CDMA and IDEN have no built-in limit, but the limiting factor is the ability of a low-powered personal mobile telephone to transmit back to the cell-tower. As a rough guide, based on a tall cell-tower and flat terrain, it is possible to get between 50 and 70 km (30 - 45 miles). It must be understood that these are maximum ranges, and many factors serve to reduce that range. Some of these limiting factors include:

• Height of antenna over surrounding terrain (Line-of-sight propagation).
• The frequency of signal in use.
• The transmitter's rated power.
• The required uplink/downlink data rate of the subscriber's device.
• The directional characteristics of the site antenna array.
• Reflection and absorption of radio energy by buildings or vegetation.
• It may also be limited by local geographical or regulatory factors and weather conditions.   

Because a mobile telephone is really just a radio, you can get a better signal by using an improved antenna and a signal booster.  It is important to note that a signal booster does not create a cellular signal, it only boosts weak signals. If there is no cellular signal whatsoever in your area, a signal booster will not function. 

Cellular signal boosters can be quite expensive, but one example of a fairly affordable signal booster is the weBoost Drive 4G-S Cell Phone Signal Booster. Combined this with an improved external antenna, such as the weBoost 800/1900 MHz Magnet Mount Antenna and you will likely push your mobile telephone to near its maximum communication range. 

If you have a weak cellular signal in an area, a signal booster and improved antenna will certainly be of value. If you have no signal in an area it is either because no signal exists, or because the signal is so weak that you can’t pick it up. An improved external antenna may pick up that very weak signal and allow you to have mobile telephone service where none exists using just the internal antenna of your mobile telephone. 

An additional advantage on using a signal booster is that it can extend the run time of your mobile telephone's battery. Mobile telephones increase their power when the signal is weak with the cellular tower, and decrease that power when the signal is strong. Because the signal booster gives you a stronger signal, your mobile telephone needs less power to connect to the cell tower and thus uses less of your battery each hour.

Although many cellular signal boosters are designed to be installed in vehicles, because they run off of a 12-volt power supply (your vehicle’s battery) a signal booster could be set up at a hunting camp or bug out location.  Now, having a mobile telephone connection while out in the forest may not be all that important to you, but if it is you should consider the advantages of a cellular signal booster.