How to Permanently Solve Bad Reception with a Cell Phone Signal Booster

A recent survey by the Pew Internet and American Life project found that 72% of Americans experience some form of dropped calls, and 32% experience dropped calls at least a few times per week or more. Like it or not, dropped calls are still a major problem for a large number of people, and while the carriers are continuing to add towers and expand coverage areas, this is not a problem that's going to go away soon. So what is there to do?

After years of research into this problem, the FCC formally approved the use of cell phone signal boosters to extend the range of cell networks into areas that receive poor service, including homes, offices, commercial buildings and more. We'll take a closer look at what cell phone signal boosters are and give some guidance on how to choose the right system to permanently solve your reception problems.

Causes of Poor Cell Phone Signal

When it comes to poor cell phone signal, there are two main contributing factors: distance from the closest cell tower and obstructions causing interference.

Distance from the Closest Cell Tower

Carriers provide cell coverage through a network of strategically placed cellular towers. Ideally, whenever you're within this network, your mobile device will automatically connect with the closest tower, and as you move, will continue hopping to the next closest tower. Unfortunately, as you get towards the edge of your carrier's coverage area, there won't be new towers to hop to, and your mobile device will start to experience degraded signal the further it is from the nearest tower. You'll reach a point where your mobile device is too far from the tower to maintain a consistent connection, and you'll experience dropped calls.

Obstructions Causing Interference

While cell signal passes through the air with minimal trouble, every object it meets between the tower and your mobile device causes some degree of interference. Geographical elements, such as hills, mountains, and trees can cause major signal issues, as well as building materials, like metal siding, concrete, and wire mesh. Additionally, the increased use of energy efficient products, such as radiant barriers and window tinting, have contributed to the degree of cell phone reception problems in new homes.

While either one of these factors are enough to cause dropped calls and poor reception, the combination of the two all but guarantees problems. Next we'll look at how a cell phone signal booster is designed to deal with both of these factors.

What is a Cell Phone Signal Booster?

Cell phone signal boosters (also known as cell phone repeaters) were developed to address the two factors that cause poor cell phone reception. They're designed to amplify a weak outside signal and bypass any obstructions to provide a strong inside signal to an area that was originally lacking.

The system works by mounting an outside antenna in a location that currently has signal, which is typically on the roof. The signal is passed from the outside antenna, by a cable to a signal amplifier inside the building. Once the signal is amplified, it is then sent to an inside antenna, where it is broadcast out to the area which needs better reception. The system also works in reverse, with the signal from your phone being amplified and broadcast back to the tower, ensuring strong, two-way communication.

How to Choose a Signal Booster

In order to select the correct cell phone signal booster for your situation, you need to know the following three pieces of information: The carriers & networks that you need to support, the existing outside signal strength of those carriers, and the size of the area that needs to be covered in boosted signal. Let's review those in more depth:

Carriers & Networks to Support

Cell phone signal boosters only amplify specific frequencies of radio waves, which pertain to specific carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc.) and networks on those carriers (2G, 3G, or 4G LTE). The first thing you need to know is which carrier(s) you need to support, as well as which networks on those carriers, as that determines which signal amplifiers you'll be able to use and which type of outside antenna you'll need.

Most North American carriers (except for T-Mobile and Nextel) use the same frequencies for 2G and 3G networks (which handle voice calls and 3G data), so the same signal amplifier can be used to amplify all of those carriers at the same time. The 4G LTE networks (which currently only handle fast data, no voice) on each carrier use different frequencies, so if you want to boost 4G LTE, then you'll need an amplifier that is specifically designed for that carrier's 4G LTE network.

In addition, if you need to support multiple carriers, then you'll want to use an omnidirectional(omni) outside antenna, which can send and receive from all directions at once. If you only need to support one carrier, then you can use a stronger yagi directional antenna, which you can aim at the closest cell tower and receive more boosting power than you would receive from an omni antenna.

Outside Signal Strength

The outside signal strength of the carriers you need to support determines how strong of an amplifier you need to provide adequate coverage for the area you need covered. The weaker the outside signal is, the stronger the cell phone signal booster needs to be in order to boost the signal and provide adequate coverage.

Area that Needs Coverage

The last piece of information that will determine which type of signal booster you need is the size of the area that needs to be covered in boosted signal, as well as the layout of the area. The combination of outside signal strength and the size of the area to be covered will determine how strong of an amplifier you'll need.

In addition, the layout of the area to be covered will determine which type of inside antenna you'll need. If the entire coverage area is located on one floor, then a dome antenna will be the best choice for distributing the boosted signal, but if the coverage area is over multiple floors, then you'll want to go with a panel antenna, which is more directional and can be used to ensure signal is distributed across the required area.

Signal Boosters for Vehicles and Individual Use

Until this point, we've been discussing cell phone signal boosters for buildings, but there are also vehicle signal boosters for cars, trucks, RVs and even boats. While the principles are the same, the outside signal strength and coverage area come less into play, as those are constantly changing as the vehicle moves. Rather, the choice really depends on which carriers and networks you need to support.

Finally, there is a style of signal booster called a cradle, which is meant for one device at a time, and the device must be sitting the cradle the entire time it's in use. It's the most mobile of the signal booster options, as the system consists of only the cradle and a magnetic mount outside antenna, and is also the most affordable, but is less convenient when talking on the phone, as you need to use a Bluetooth headset or speakerphone while in use.

FCC Approval

After years of working with both cell phone signal booster manufacturers and cellular carriers in the United States, the FCC announced in February the formal approval for the use of cell phone signal boosters by consumers in the U.S. In addition to this approval, the FCC also instituted checks to ensure that signal boosting equipment will not interfere with carrier networks, which include the registration of a cell phone signal booster with the carrier that it will be used with, as well as the certification of new signal boosters against a stringent set of standards, to ensure that only safe equipment is being sold to the public. These checks are anticipated to go into effect in the fall of 2013. Overall, both manufacturers and carriers regard this as a great step forward to helping consumers receive better service in their homes, offices, and vehicles.

Understanding the basics of how a cell phone signal booster works and what you need to think about when purchasing one is a huge first step in determining the right system for you. Every situation is different, from the local geography to the construction of the house or building, so if you have the opportunity, consult with a signal booster expert as to what system is best for you.

Mobile Phone Problems

Even though mobile technology often simplifies the completion of everyday tasks, cell phone owners can also encounter technical glitches and unwanted intrusions on their phones. In an April 2012 survey, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project assessed the prevalence of four problems that cell owners might face.

Some 88% of American adults have cell phones, according to this survey, and, of those cell owners:

• 72% of cell owners experience dropped calls at least occasionally. Some 32% of cell owners say they encounter this problem at least a few times a week or more frequently than that.
• 68% of cell owners receive unwanted sales or marketing calls at one time or another. And 25% of cell owners encounter this problem at least a few times a week or more frequently.

Some 79% of cell phone owners say they use text messaging on their cells. We asked them if they got spam or unwanted texts:

• 69% of those who are texters say they get unwanted spam or text messages. Of those texters, 25% face problems with spam/unwanted texts at least weekly.

Some 55% of cell phone owners say they use their phones to go online— to browse the internet, exchange emails, or download apps. We asked them if they experience slow download speeds that prevent things from loading as quickly as they would like:

• 77% of cell internet users say they experience slow download speeds that prevent things from loading as quickly as they would like. Of those cell internet users, 46% face slow download speeds weekly or more frequently.

Our questions were not intended to measure the incidence of illegal marketing to cell phones. They focused on unwanted intrusions. Still, the telemarketing and spam text findings are noteworthy because legal restrictions apply to both activities under certain circumstances. It is against the law in the U.S. to place unsolicited commercial calls to a mobile phone when the call is made by using an automated random-digit dialing generator or if the caller uses a pre-recorded message.

In the case of unsolicited texts, commercial parties cannot send spam to cell owners who have placed their mobile device on the National Do Not Call registry. For those who have not chosen to go on that registry, governmental regulations bar text messages sent from internet domain names. Any mobile-to-mobile spam messages are permissible to reach consumers on their cell phones, so long as the text contacts were not generated through an automatic dialing system.

Smartphone owners report more problems

Smartphone owners reported higher incidence levels of these problems, compared with other cell owners, as shown in the table below.

Non-white cell owners confront all four problems at somewhat higher weekly rates than do their white counterparts. This might be tied to the fact that African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely than whites to rely on their cell phones as their primary or exclusive phones for calling and for internet access.

For instance, more than half of Hispanic cell internet users (53%) face slow download times at least weekly or more often, compared with 44% of white cell internet users who report this problem. Some 41% of black and 39% of Hispanic cell owners reported dropping calls at least weekly, compared with 30% of white cell owners.

Sony Xperia Z1 - Waterproof

Sony Xperia Z1

Water and dust proof; Premium looks; Great multimedia performance.

Who should buy it:

• If water or moisture has destroyed your previous expensive phone, the Z1 is perfect for you. This phone not only stands splashes, but can be submerged in water for around half an hour.
• If you are one for classy looks, the Z1 looks absolutely premium. Undoubtedly one of the best looking smartphones in the market.
• Those looking for a great multimedia performance. Sony, once known for Walkman media player, has lived-up to its reputation with the Xperia Z1. The phone delivers great sound quality and extensive video codec support.

Aesthetics And Build

The Xperia Z1 looks very similar to its predecessor (Xperia Z). In what Sony prefers to call an omniBalance design, you get reflective surfaces on both the sides (much like the iPhone 4S). The rear is said to have been made of tempered glass, but gets scratched easily. So make sure not to mix this handset with the car keys in your pocket. Moreover, the glass on its back makes it slippery. So while we appreciate sleek looks, it shouldn’t come at the cost of usability. In a market of 5-inchers, the Z1 probably has the biggest footprint. To put things into perspective, the LG G2 sports a 5.2" display, and yet it’s smaller than Sony's offering.

A welcome change here is that Sony has done away with the tacky faux-metal plastic found on the sides of the Xperia Z. The phone lacks capacitive menu navigation keys. The phone features a volume rocker, SIM card slot, and lock button on the right side. Based upon user-feedback, Sony has added a shutter key for the camera, which was missing in the Xperia Z. Bang opposite are the microSD card slot, USB port, and dock connectors. The top side houses a 3.5 mm jack, while there's a speaker grille at the bottom. 

  Sony's latest flagship is IP58 certified, which means that the phone can withstand dust and water. The number '5' denotes protection against dust particles, and '8' stands for the phone's ability to withstand water immersion up to 1 metre. It sounds more interesting when you realise that with all this waterproofing the phone is still very slim at 8 mm.

                                                                                                                                  Display And key Specs

The phone comes with a 5" full-HD screen. The screen is sharp and definitely an improvement over the one found on the Xperia Z. It features Sony's BRAVIA, TRILUMINOS, X-Reality display tech and whatnot. Unfortunately, however impressive it looks on paper, the display is marred by a yellowish tint. The overall colour reproduction isn't that good either. Especially, the blacks look a bit off. We're not even comparing it to vibrant AMOLED screens, but it can't even stand its ground against the IPS panels on certain phones that are a few thousand rupees cheaper than the Z1. So basically, considering the phone's price tag, the display is a tad disappointing.

The Xperia Z1 packs in the same chipset that's found in the recently reviewed LG G2. What’s ticking inside is a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset clocked at 2.2 GHz. Apart from that, you get 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage that can be expanded by up to 64 GB via a microSD card. It boasts of 20.7 megapixel camera coupled with an LED flash. More specs can be found at the end of the review: 

UI And Performance

The Xperia Z1 ships with Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) with Sony’s customisation on top of it. The interface is identical to that of Xperia Z and Z Ultra. The lack of uniformity in UI design is still present. As you can see from the icons, they come in all shapes and sizes. On the other hand, we loved the unlock animation that mimics the window blinds. The lock screen also features quick shortcuts for music player and camera. Taking advantage of the big screen size, the notification bar offers quick access to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and device settings. The phone offers 'small apps' feature that allows you to use calculator, recorder, timer etc in windowed mode. For instance, you can use calculator with a video being played in the background. Now whether you want to perform a task with a distraction in the background is up to you, but it's good to have an option. 

                   
                             

The Xperia Z1 runs smooth most of the times. However, it does slow-down a bit once in a while especially in music player. The default browser is blazing fast, and it comes with neat tab management. In AnTuTu, the phone scored 32,569. That's almost similar to LG's G2 since both the handsets pack in the same chipset. What matters more is that every game we threw at it worked smoothly on the phone.

                          
                                    

Multimedia

The Xperia Z1 provides a nice punchy sound output. Besides that, you get plenty of equaliser settings and sound modes to play around with. Don’t like going into those many details? Enable ClearAudio+ enhancement, and you’re good to go. Coming to the subject of video playback, the default video player handles MP4, DivX, XviD, and MKV video without any issue. It’s not compatible with subtitles, but then you can simply get over this limitation by installing a third-party app such as the MXPlayer.

Camera

The Sony Xperia takes the pride for being the only Android smartphone to sport a 1/2.3-type CMOS image sensor, generally found on point-and-shoot cameras. The only other smartphones to pack in bigger sensors are Nokia 808 and Lumia 1020. Before we talk about the Xperia Z1’s image quality, let’s run through its list of features.

Info-Eye

Using this feature, you can scan QR and UPC codes. Moreover, it can also detect books, and provide more information about it. Quite a nifty feature, but I wish it also had the 'Translate' feature found in Microsoft’s Bing Vision

Social Live

This preloaded app lets you live-stream the videos to Facebook as you record them. Your friends can watch these videos and comment on it in real-time. Sounds interesting.

AR Effect

This augmented reality software that lets you place fairies and even dinosaurs on your office desk. The animations are superbly done, and the creatures can even detect walls and other obstacles. While you can take interesting snaps using some creativity, I really wish it came with video recording feature.

The phone's 20.7 megapixel camera has a 27 mm wide angle ‘G-Lens’ and an LED flash. The camera offers Superior Auto and Manual modes. However, exposure and white balance are the only things you can actually control with it. In Superior Auto mode, the images are saved at 8 MP. That's similar to how Nokia uses over-sampling algorithm to cram in more details in a 8 megapixel shot. The main difference here is that the Lumia 1020 gives you an option to save both the 38 and 8 megapixel shots simultaneously, while in Z1 it's only limited to 8 megapixel in Superior Auto Mode.

The images shot in daylight contain good amount of detail. The colour reproduction is quite accurate, save for the blacks. So don’t be surprised if the shadows look a bit weird in your Xperia Z1. The photographs are sharp too. However, the visual noise is more than what I had expected in a cameraphone that comes with a 1/2.3 sensor. Click here to download and check the camera sample yourself.

With Exmor RS sensor onboard, the Japanese company promises stunning low-light shots. However, this is one area where the Z1 doesn't live up to  the hype. The phone comes with Sony’s BIONZ image processing engine for noise reduction. Ironically, it showers the low-light pictures with grains while trying to unnaturally sharpen the image. As you can see in the image below, the LG G2 beats the Xpera Z1 hands-down when it comes to indoors photography.

During my week's usage, I met with 'Camera not available' error quite a few times. That's nothing new for Android phones, but it's getting a special mention here because the Z1 is a 'camera phone'. The phone can record 1080p videos at 30 fps. These MP4 clips offer consistent frame-rate, and good amount of detail.

Telephony And Messaging

During the tests, the phone's network reception was great. However, probably due to waterproofing, the earpiece sounded a little muffled. Sony continues to overlook the onscreen keyboard optimisation, as there's still too much space left between two adjacent keys.

Battery

The 3000 mAh Li-Ion battery keep the device powered for a slightly over a day under normal usage. In our video loop test, it managed to power the device for only 6 hours. Now that's disappointing considering that the LG G2 clocks over 11 hours, and still has a smaller footprint.

Verdict

The Xperia Z1 is currently selling for Rs 40,000 via online stores. Its Snapdragon 800 SoC delivers solid performance. The phone looks premium, and IP58 certification ensures that monsoons or sweat won’t turn your expensive phone into a brick. On the other hand, the most important aspect of a phone, its display is pretty average. Besides that, the 20.7 megapixel camera doesn’t live-up to the hype.

On paper, the Z1 can humble any flagship phone with its specs. However, that’s not the case in real world conditions. So if you’re looking a powerful Android phone with a great camera, the LG G2 is your best bet at the moment. But, if protection against the elements tops your requirement list, nothing comes close to the Xperia Z1.

Specifications:

GENERAL	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - all versions
	4G Network	LTE 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600 - C6903
		LTE 700 / 850 / 900/ 1700 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600 - C6906 LTE 800 / 850 / 900/ 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600 - C6943
	SIM	Micro-SIM
	Announced	2013, September
	Status	Available. Released 2013, September

BODY	Dimensions	144 x 74 x 8.5 mm (5.67 x 2.91 x 0.33 in)
	Weight	170 g (6.00 oz)
		- IP58 certified - dust proof and water resistant over 1 meter and 30 minutes

DISPLAY	Type	TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	1080 x 1920 pixels, 5.0 inches (~441 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes, up to 10 fingers
	Protection	Shatter proof and scratch-resistant glass
		- Triluminos display - X-Reality Engine

SOUND	Alert types	Vibration; MP3 ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes

MEMORY	Card slot	microSD, up to 64 GB
	Internal	16 GB, 2 GB RAM

DATA	GPRS	Up to 107 kbps
	EDGE	Up to 296 kbps
	Speed	HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.8 Mbps; LTE, Cat4, 50 Mbps UL, 150 Mbps DL
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Bluetooth	Yes, v4.0 with A2DP
	NFC	Yes
	USB	Yes, microUSB v2.0 (MHL), USB On-the-go

CAMERA	Primary	20.7 MP, autofocus, LED flash,
	Features	1/2.3'' sensor size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, image stabilization, HDR, panorama
	Video	Yes, 1080p@30fps, video stabilization, HDR,
	Secondary	Yes, 2 MP, 1080p@30fps

FEATURES	OS	Android OS, v4.2 (Jelly Bean)
	Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800
	CPU	Quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400
	GPU	Adreno 330
	Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Messaging	SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, IM, Push Email
	Browser	HTML5
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS
	Java	Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
	Colors	Black, White, Purple
		- ANT+ support - SNS integration - TV-out (via MHL A/V link) - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - MP4/H.263/H.264 player - MP3/eAAC+/WAV/Flac player - Document viewer - Photo viewer/editor - Voice memo/dial - Predictive text input

BATTERY		Non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery
	Stand-by	Up to 880 h (2G) / Up to 850 h (3G)
	Talk time	Up to 13 h 50 min (2G) / Up to 15 h (3G)
	Music play	Up to 110 h

MISC	SAR US	0.75 W/kg (head)     1.15 W/kg (body)
	SAR EU	0.77 W/kg (head)
	Price group

TESTS	Display	Contrast ratio: 1513 (nominal), 2.950 (sunlight)
	Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 65dB
	Audio quality	Noise -91.8dB / Crosstalk -89.9dB
	Camera	Photo / Video
	Battery life	Endurance rating 53h

Cons: 

Mediocre screen; Camera doesn't live up to the hype; Muffled earpiece; Slippery to hold.

Who shouldn't:

• If you're looking for a great camera-phone, the Z1 doesn't cut it. It does perform better than most 8 MP snappers, but doesn't live up to what you expect from a 20 megapixel snapper.
• If you want an awesome screen. While the 1080p screen looks impressive on paper, it's quite under-whelming when it comes to vibrancy and contrast.
• Due to the water-resistant sealing, the handset's earpiece sounds a bit muffled. So if you're particular about the call quality, give this handset a miss.
• Those looking for the best smartphone in India currently, there are better options at this price point.

After ditching the feature phone market, the Japanese electronics giant has gone full-steam ahead with smart devices. Waterproof phones have been around since ages, but it was Sony who managed to pull off a sleek looking water-resistant phone, Xperia Z. This time around, the company has taken it to the next level in its latest flagship Xperia Z1. Another interesting aspect of the phone is that it also packs in a 20.7 megapixel camera. That's the highest megapixel-count you get on an Android phones, considering that the 41 megapixel camera phone Nokia Lumia 1020 runs WP8 OS. Throw a powerful Snapdragon 800 SoC in a mix, and you get a potential winner. So is it the best Android device out there in the Indian market? Let's find out.