Now Available from YourWirelessSolutions

Now Available from YourWirelessSolutions Midland Two-Way Radios.

Cellular Amplifiers FAQ 10 Questions - 10 Answers (10 of 10)

Question 10 of 10
Can I use an In-Building Wireless signal booster in a vehicle?

In-Building Wireless signal boosters are not recommended for use in vehicles as the higher gain usually requires a minimum separation of 40 feet between the inside and outside antennas. Less separation could cause the signal booster to go into oscillation (feedback) and shut itself down.

Cellular Amplifiers FAQ 10 Questions - 10 Answers (9 of 10)

Question 9 of 10
Can I paint my antenna to match the interior of my building?

Wilson antennas can be painted as long as the paint does not contain metal flakes (metallic paint). The metal particles would change and disrupt the antenna's signal transmission characteristics.

Cellular Amplifiers FAQ 10 Questions - 10 Answers (8 of 10)

Question 8 of 10
How much separation do I need between the outside and inside antennas? How much separation do I need between the signal booster and the antennas?

As a general rule, in-building 50 dB signal boosters should have at least 40 feet of separation between the inside and outside antennas. The 65 dB signal boosters should have at least 75-80 feet of separation. Separation is measured as a straight line between the two antennas because signal travels through the air in a straight line. Separation is not measured by the length of cables. In a vehicle it is best to place the antenna centered, or towards the rear area of the roof. The metal roof acts as a “shield’ between outside and inside antennas, making placement a bit less critical. In any case there is usually a red light on all of our signal boosters which indicates that an oscillation has been detected and prevented by the protection circuitry. If this occurs, consult the install guide as more separation may be needed. Point of interest: A signal booster does not need to be any specific distance from either the inside or outside antenna. You may, if necessary, connect the signal booster directly to one antenna or the other, though the separation between the antennas themselves remains critical.

Cellular Amplifiers FAQ 10 Questions - 10 Answers (7 of 10)

Question 7 of 10
Can I use the signal strength bars on my phone to tune my Yagi antenna?

Yes. However, tuning accuracy will be limited and more difficult than with a cell phone in TEST MODE. If your cell phone does not have a test mode, the signal strength bars may be the only way to tune your Yagi. Bear in mind that signal bars are more a marketing tool than a true signal-strength indicator.

Cellular Amplifiers FAQ 10 Questions - 10 Answers (6 of 10)

Question 6 of 10
How do I tune a Yagi antenna?

Point the main center beam of the Yagi in the general direction of the cell tower. Make sure the radials are pointing up and down. Connect the antenna to a cell phone in TEST MODE. Pan the Yagi left and right in 10 degree increments until you get the best signal strength reading from the phone. In most cases, you want a signal as strong as you can get. Signal strength is measured in negative decibels so a signal strength of -85 is stronger than -99. When you are panning the antenna, be sure to let go of the antenna or it may give inaccurate readings. Lock the antenna down at the position where you get the best signal strength.