FAQs: Mobile Phone Signal Boosters

Why Do I Suffer from Poor Mobile Phone Signal Reception?

In a large number of cases new build offices and homes and indeed refurbished properties are now insulated with panels that have a thin firm of metal foil. Common forms of this are Celotec and Kingspan insulating board. If this insulation material has been used in all walls both internal and external then this is bad news for mobile signals. Should this is the case then each and every room would need to be treated as a separate entity resulting in a potentially VERY expensive system for complete coverage. There would be no way round this. If it is only the external walls then this is less of a problem. However we really need to know this to help you regain your lost signal strength.

If Celotec / Kingspan is present in the make up of internal walls then a compromise is to break the property in question in to zones that MUST have mobile signal reception and those that do not require it. The zones or rooms that do require reception need a separate antenna in each of them connected via a booster to the externally mounted Mobile Signal Booster Aerial.

How do mobile phone signal repeaters work and 'What are they?'

A mobile phone repeater / amplifier or mobile telephone signal booster, is a piece of electronics used to boost the mobile phone signal reception strength to the affected local area by the use of a antenna (aerial), a amplifier (booster) and an internal "re-broadcast" repeater aerial.

These signal boosters, work in a similar same way to the mobile phone masts you see dotted around the country which are used to broadcast by the mobile network providers like O2 and Orange. These however are on a much smaller scale, usually intended for use within one building. Modern cell phone amplifiers work by retransmitting the mobile phone signals from outside a building, inside the property. These systems usually use an external, directional aerial (YAGI) to focus the best mobile phone signal which is available outside the property. Then via cable to a booster and another cable to the internal antenna(s), and retransmits it within the poor reception area of the building, providing significantly improved signal strength.

Our range models includes variants that allow multiple mobile phones to use the same internal antenna at the same time, so are suitable for commercial as well as home use. Other advantages of our mobile signal boosters include a increase in the phone's battery life and a lower level of device “radiation” being emitted by the handset. These benefits are a direct result of the lower power consumption required to transmit the mobile signal to the local bi-directional booster, due to its proximity to the mobile cell phone.

I get a good signal outside, so why not inside as well?

Properties, both business and residential that have and continue to be built within the last four years have insulation panels backed with metal foil within some internal and all the outside walls. It is this foil layer that acts as a total barrier for digital signals used to transmit mobile phone signals. 

What if I am the only person using a mobile phone in the property, do you offer a solution that will give me a truly cost effective solution?

Yes we do offer such a solution; we suggest you choose one of the 2 tethered booster kits we offer. If your signal is weak outside the property then we recommend that you choose the solution with the externally mounted, highly directional Yagi Aerial system that ensures that once the aerial is in place and pointing to your nearest mobile phone network operators mast, that it stays in place by means of the clamps provide in the kit.

What are the consequences for going the tethered solution?

All three solutions at the cheap end need a cable running from the external antennae directly to your mobile phone, hence the term tethered. Hence these systems can only serve one phone at a time.

What can you do when I can't even get a mobile signal on my phone outside the building?

In these circumstances we offer either of the solutions that have the externally mounted (on a suitable pole and bracket – not supplied) highly directional aerial called a Yagi Antenna. This externally mounted aerial is very focused and will receive a signal from your appropriate network operators nearest mast, even if the mast is many miles away if properly orientated.

What can you do when I can't even get a mobile signal on my phone outside the building?

In these circumstances we offer either of the solutions that have the externally mounted (on a suitable pole and bracket – not supplied) highly directional aerial called a Yagi Antenna. This externally mounted aerial is very focused and will receive a signal from your appropriate network operators nearest mast, even if the mast is many miles away if properly orientated.

Why do you offer the various types of Aerial /(Antenna)?

The YAGI Aerial is the most efficient when it come to focusing the mobile phone signal but in areas of good connectivity a simple stick antennae or panel should provide a perfectly satisfactory boost to your mobile phone signal as measured by the number of bars on your mobile screen.

Can you expand further on the different types of internal and external aerials?

Omni Aerial

In a area with good outdoor mobile digital signal strength you will need the standard Omni directional antenna which does not need to be pointed at the local mast as it receives and broadcasts the signal in all directions. If you our in doubt about your mobile device signal strength, we would suggest that you opt for the Yagi aerial as this will provide the strongest possible boost to the signal.

Panel Aerial

These are a more discrete wall mounted antenna that can also be used in areas with good outdoor digital mobile signal strength.

These wall mounted internal panel aerials are quite often used in domestic applications as you do not want the fittings to be in any way obtrusive.

YAGI External Aerial / Antenna

If you live in an area with outdoor low signal strength then an external directional aerial is needed to give significant signal strength gain. This is because the aerial can be located outside to provide the best possible signal capture. It is of course pointed and aligned with the nearest mobile phone mast that your phone is connected to by its network. The antenna is best mounted on a pole for a better line of site to the mobile phone mast in question.

What can you do for poor mobile signal reception in my office building?

Our business and commercial and corporate solutions include internally mounted, single or multiple antennas depending on the building size and its make up. The individual antenna re transmit the mobile signal throughout the building, providing the signal to the zones in the property where it is needed.

Our business and commercial mobile signal repeater solutions provide more flexibility to have exactly where the boosted mobile signal in needed to for your phones to not loose signal. In office buildings where there are many floors we may need an indoor antenna on each floor to distribute the signal successfully throughout the property. The building type will dictate if it may be necessary to have an antenna on each floor. We offer you two types of indoor antenna for our commercial solutions; The “Bubble” antenna, which is good for properties with higher ceilings. This is therefore the solution we would recommend for the likes of warehouses and factories as it provides a very wide improved mobile phone / device signal coverage. We recommend the wall mounted antenna for buildings with lower ceilings. E.g. Idea for modern office buildings or indeed home office situations.

What about your delivery of the mobile phone signal booster equipment to me?

If a paid for firm order is received before 12.00pm on a Working Day (Monday – Friday) we will aim to despatch the same day for Next Day Delivery. Orders after this cut off point cannot be guaranteed for same day despatch. Larger orders will be sent via a reputable carrier like Fedex and delivered to your delivery address before 6.00pm. If you would prefer a timed delivery service please contact us on 0845 055 9703 for a quote.  All smaller orders will be sent via Royal Mail First Class Recorded Delivery. Please note ALL orders will require a signature on receipt unless otherwise agreed prior to dispatch.

What if I am not happy with what I have purchased?

We operate a no charge Technical Support Help Line 01935 891046. In the event you are not happy with your purchase we are quite happy to exchange the items you have purchased for different items Free of Charge to you. Failing this we offer a 30 day money back guarantee, we will fully refund your payment, minus postage as long as the equipment is returned to us in the same condition it left us and all original packaging and items including instruction manuals etc.

More Technical Questions Answered

Why do you offer various solutions within the product range that look identical?

This is a direct result of the various mobile phone operators in the UK using different mobile signal frequencies e.g. O2 and Vodafone use 900Mhz and the others use 1800Mhz. We also offer a kit which is specifically designed to serve the operators 3G frequencies. This equipment will cover ALL UK mobile network providers for both voice and data over 3G ONLY.

To sum up - Although the various solutions we offer you within a given range look very similar, they do in fact serve different digital radio frequencies and this is why we need to know who your network provider(s) are.  If you are unsure which solution will work best for you, please  contact us on 0845 055 9703.

What is the significance of the numerous mobile phone operators?

Each operator has a set digital radio frequency which we need to know about in order for us to offer you the correct solution. 

What about 3G phones, are they supported?

The tethered kits are multi frequency / multi operator so these will do the job.
What about the installation?

Residential and Home Worker

The tethered solutions are within the capabilities of most people who are good at DIY but if in doubt, please contact us. Better safe than sorry.

Business and Commercial Installs

In these circumstances we offer a site survey and quote service. Please call 0845 055 9703 to arrange this.

In all instances we recommend you have the system professionally installed as they have knowledge of the install process and correct kit to install these in optimal positions while adhering to all health and safety requirements.

Is the direction and or positioning of any of the components especially important?

Some of the aerials, particularly the externally mounted YAGI, need accurate positioning so as to achieve a satisfactory improvement in mobile signal strength. Apart from this, please never allow a antenna being used indoors to point back directly at the external antennae.

Which kits are possible for the "DIY individual" to cope with?

The tethered booster kits are usually within the capabilities of the 'competent DIY'er sort of person. However where the Yagi antennae is used, it is advisable to use an aerial installation specialist so as to ensure perfect orientation. We can recommend such specialists.

Will your mobile signal booster solutions interfere with any other equipment near by such as television, satellite dish and audio systems?

We are pleased to say NO! The equipment we provide uses totally different frequencies to your DECT phones (cordless), Wireless broadband routers etc. 

Given warnings in the media not to stand too close to mobile transmission masts, do any of your units risk radiation damage?

We are please to say, that the risk is no more than the risk when using a mobile phone out doors. Our solutions output power is actually less than a normal mobile phone. The media have reported that spending a long number of hours every day with a mobile phone "glued" to one's ear might be damaging, but all official reports to date have not supported this theory.

How much power do the units consume please?

No more than five watts.

What is the difference between the numerous providers that will affect my choice of equipment?

Different mobile network providers use one of three different frequencies and the solution that you purchase must handle the correct frequency for your network provider.

Occasionally some network providers may share masts with other network providers and therefore on a different frequencies. However until the solution is installed you cannot be 100% sure, this is a very rare occurrence however, and we will gladly exchange your solution for a different one if this is encountered.

Will the equipment look intrusive when installed in my property?

This depends on how the installation is done of course but if you use a professional installation company the then it can be minimised.

Are there any other companies offering the same sort of solutions?

Although there are a few other companies offering similar mobile phone signal booster solutions, ours are neat and user friendly. We have trawled the whole World to ensure that we market the best solutions for the purpose of mobile phone signal boosting that are currently available.

Can I move any of the kits around when travelling?

The two tethered kits do indeed allow you to take them with you but the solutions based on a externally mounted aerial are not movable.

What are the limitations of the various solutions when taking into account building location, construction and the like?

Rural Areas

In numerous rural areas of the UK the housing density is too low to make construction by the network operators of a new mobile phone signal mast cost effective. In these cases it is most unlikely that the mobile signal provider will do anything to improve reception for you, due to the high cost of erecting a new mast. By using one of the externally mounted antenna solutions we can help you receive a digital mobile signal from a much greater distance away. The externally mounted directional aerial is recommended for use where there is a low signal strength out doors as well as indoors.

Construction material

Some building materials very quickly attenuate mobile phone signal strength. Metal foil is used in many construction materials these days for its insulating qualities including roofing and concrete walls.  Any such building that has a significant thickness of concrete or large amount of metal used in its production will attenuate mobile signals. Some of the solid foam insulation materials used for roofs and or exterior walls has foil backing, which also reduce signal strength greatly.

What about building size?

Many larger buildings have mobile reception problems such as factories, warehouses and hospitals. Mobile phone signal connection is an increasing problem the further in to a building you go. This is due to interference from metal structures like beams and walls in the construction of the building. Underground facilities also suffer badly with digital mobile signal reception problems.
 
What about built up areas like Cities?

Even in what you would think to be a high signal strength area such as in the middle of our cities, there can still be "dead zones" in mobile phone signal reception. Due to the nature of mobile digital signals another local signal can have a negative influence on each other. A unidirectional antenna can be used in these situations to focus on one signal and ignore the destructive influence of the others around it.

Is it possible that this equipment could cause a power surge? 
 
Given their very small, less than 5 watts power consumption, then the answer is a definite no. The YAGI antenna solutions have a built in surge arrestor also should it get hit by lightening.