5 Myths About Cell Phone Signal Repeaters

Cellular signal repeaters have, in recent years, gained popularity as cell phones transformed from status symbols to fundamental devices. Increasingly people find that they are more reliant on their cell phones. As such, poor or distorted cell phone signal has become less tolerable at home, in the office, and even on the go.

Dropped calls, weak wireless service, and bad coverage is annoying. Switching to a network provider with better reception isn’t always a viable or convenient option. As a result, many people have taken an interest in cell phone signal repeaters. For a small investment, repeaters can enhance your existing service — enabling you to achieve better signal without the hassle of changing networks.

Cell phone amplifiers have been around for a while now, but it’s only in recent years that they’ve been regulated. In the past, signal boosters were unregulated and sometimes adversely affected the towers. While today’s cell phone amplifiers are subject to extensive rules, rumours and half-truths linger. Many customers are understandably anxious about them.

In this blog, we take a look into the myths around signal boosters. Here are some explanations regarding how boosters work, why they’re safe to use and how they can help you enjoy better cellular reception.

Myth #1: Cell Signal Boosters Are Illegal

To be fair, it isn’t entirely a myth that cell signal boosters are illegal. In some countries, they are illegal. A handful of countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom have banned cell signal boosters because network providers have found that they can interfere with how their networks operate.

While it may provide amplified signal to the person with the amplifier, it lowers transmission levels for those on the out skirts of the network. As a result, the coverage area is significantly reduced, and many customers are left without reception. To deter the use of repeaters, those who own them can be hit with massive fines.

Myth #2: Cell Phone Boosters Are a Scam

 You may remember little gold stickers that were applied to the back of your phone. Inexpensive and widely available, these stickers initially sold well to those who were frustrated with weak reception but unable to change to a network with better coverage.

Unfortunately, those people quickly realised that the little stickers did nothing for their device's signal. While there’s real science behind cell phone amplifiers, the stickers don’t even come close. They don’t attached to your device's internal antenna. Even if they could, it’s they would probably not add any benefit.

On the other hand, real cellular signal boosters depend on far more than theoretical benefits. Unlike those gold stickers that have no electricity passing through them, cell phone repeater systems actually do boost signal. These amplifiers use powerful antennas to draw as much signal from cell towers as possible. Then, that signal is brought directly into your home, vehicle, or workplace. They also take signal from your device and send it to the network provider without interference.

Learning to acknowledge scams is fundamental for avoiding wasting your money and supporting suspicious companies that exploit their customers’ trust. Look for repeaters that are independently tested and ICASA approved.

Myth #3: Amplifiers Can Interfere with the Cell Network

Today’s repeaters boost your cell phone signal without compromising anyone else’s.

South Africa has strict regulations on cell phone boosters — enabling consumers to use them safely. Because ICASA tests and certifies repeaters, the repeaters that are currently on the market never interfere with the networks.

Myth #4: Cell Phone Boosters Interfere With Your Wi-Fi Network

Wireless internet and cell phones use radio frequencies to send signals between devices, as do car radios, weather radios, televisions, walkie-talkies, and certain types of medical equipment. However, there’s a reason why these devices can work simultaneously without interfering with one another — they all use completely different frequencies.

Your cell phone repeater works on the same frequency bands as your cell phone, which is why it affects your device's signal. However, it doesn’t work on the same frequency as other devices, and therefore doesn’t obstruct their functionality. Just as you can use your microwave without it impacting your Wi-Fi network, you can use an amplifier without affecting anything other than your cell phone’s signal.

Myth #5: Cell Boosters Use Your Wi-Fi Bandwidth in Competition with Other Wireless Devices

This myth likely stems from confusing cell boosters with similar devices like microcells or femtocells. Like a booster, microcells and femtocells are designed to improve cell phone reception. However, they work very differently.

A microcell acts as a small personal cell tower in your home. It connects to a router and works with your broadband internet connection to create a cell site inside your house. In general, it covers about 465 square meters and provides enhanced cellular reception.

Femtocells generally have a much smaller range but work the same as microcells. Both technologies move communications from the cell network to the Wi-Fi network and from Wi-Fi to the cell network. Unfortunately, in some cases, users have reported that using a microcell weakened their Wi-Fi signals and resulted in slow transfer speeds.

However, cell phone signal boosters work in an entirely different way. Repeaters work only with existing cell phone reception. The amplifier takes the poor cell phone reception and boosts it. The improved signal is then distributed throughout your home or vehicle, enabling your devices to connect. Unlike microcells and femtocells, cellular repeaters never interfere with your Wi-Fi network and don’t affect your signal strength.

Cell phone amplifiers are linked with a variety of benefits, including improved battery life, better cell phone signal, faster data transfers (for those who access the internet through their network provider rather than over Wi-Fi), and increased security for your home monitoring system.

By understanding the science behind this technology and dispensing with the misconceptions surrounding boosters, you can make an educated decision on whether a cell phone booster is right for your needs.

How May We Help You?

Bolton Technical is a leading provider of cell phone signal boosters, devices that amplify 4G & 3G LTE for any phone with any carrier for home, office, or car. We’ve boosted over 1,000,000 m² of signal for homes, buildings, and vehicles across America and Canada and now that same power is boosting signal across South Africa.

• Free consultation (ask us anything) with our South African-based customer support. Email us or Call us today.
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Our goal is simple: keep people connected. Ask us anything and we'll be glad to help.