- Celluar antennas can help improve signal quality. - solrac_gi_2nd at morguefile
Cellular broadband is a popular option for both rural Internet users and users who have a laptop and need broadband connectivity from just about anywhere. However cellular signals can be unstable at times and are heavily location dependent. A cellular antenna or signal booster can help maximize your cellular broadband speeds, but before you buy one there are things that you should consider.
Cell Phone Antenna Compatibility
There are many different types of cellular antennas, some as small as a credit card and others resembling a large CB antenna. There are even more varieties of cell phones and cellular broadband access cards, and nearly every device has its own proprietary antenna socket. Because of this when you go shopping for a cellular antenna or signal booster you need to make sure that you purchase a phone adapter cable that will allow the standard FME antenna connection to work with your model of phone.
3G, 4G, and EVDO are currently the main technologies for cellular broadband access, but older technologies still are in use in some locations and new ones will be introduced in the coming years. Each of these technologies use a different part of the radio spectrum, so a cellular antenna that works with EVDO may not work as well with older technologies. Make sure that you understand what broadband type is provided by your cellular carrier and that you purchase an antenna that matches. Using an incompatible antenna will cause signal problems and could in theory damage your phone.
Location of Cellular Antenna is Important
Cellular signals are disrupted by trees, large buildings, power lines and the walls of the house or building you are in. You want to position the antenna near to an exterior window, and if possible mounted on the roof of your house for maximum efficiency. The higher the antenna the better the line of sight will be to the nearest cell tower and as a result the better your signal will be. If you are using cellular broadband on a fixed desktop computer then this is a good option but is not practical for mobile broadband on a laptop.
Cell phone boosters are made that can be installed in your house or business that attach to the antenna and then provide better signal quality for all users within range of the booster. These devices are mounted on the ceiling with a connection running outside to the roof mounted antenna. The device receives and rebroadcasts all cellular signals that it receives, increasing both the strength of the incoming and outgoing signal.
For laptop or mobile device users, smaller cell phone antennas that can sit next to your or be set near a window are available to help increase your cell signal. While these offer far less in the way of signal gain that a fixed antenna mounted high up, they can still turn a weak signal into a usable one under the right conditions. As always make sure to read the manufacturers instructions to ensure you are using the cell phone antenna in the proper manner.
Cell Phone Antennas Work with an Existing Signal
Cell phone antennas and cell phone signal boosters can only work if there is already an existing signal and there is only so much they can do with the signal that is present. If you are in an area where the nearest cell tower is several miles away then a cell phone antenna, particularly a small one that is not roof mounted, may not provide enough of a boost to justify the expense.
If you have a workable signal in your location but need to improve it then a cellular antenna may be an option. Since every phone and device displays their signal strength in a different way it is impossible to say how many more "bars" of signal you may gain from using an antenna. Under ideal conditions the best antennas can provide up to 15db of signal gain, enough to greatly improve the stability of a cellular broadband connection but this gain is dependent on many factors that are unique to each location.
Conclusion
Rural cellular broadband users and mobile broadband users are always in search of the best signal so that they get the maximum speed and stability out of their cellular broadband connection. Cell phone antennas are available in a wide variety of models and sizes and require a specific phone adapter cable to connect the antenna to the phone. A cell phone antenna can increase the strength and stability of the signal, but only by so much and not in every situation. When purchasing a cell phone antenna or signal booster it is best to make sure that you can return the device if it does not provide any improvement.
Article Sources
FCC: Wireless Broadband Technologies
Eric Summers - Eric Summers is a freelance writer and software quality assurance analyst from Southern Indiana. Summers has been writing for over 20 ...
