I’m sure it has happened to you more than a few times; you are on a very important call and the call is dropped. Or, you simply can’t get a signal at all in certain places. This happens to me at my own house in the city limits. I can walk out on the street right in front of my house and get a few bars but often in my living room I only have one or no signal at all. Since I use my cell phone more than my land line, this can be very frustrating.
So, what is the solution? A cell phone signal booster may just be the ticket! But, do they work or are they just a waste of money?
What They Are And How They Work
There are two kinds of boosters; internal and external. The internal boosters fit right into your battery compartment underneath your cell phone battery. The external one mounts on your vehicle or in or on your house. Some boosters attach both inside and outside your home.
A signal booster is basically an extra antennae. The internal one reduces static to increase or boost your cell phone signal. It also seizes stray radiation generated by your cell phone and radiates the signal back. It promises to improve your phone’s overall performance.
The external booster works much the same except it is separate from the phone itself. It is supposed to give an even better performance since it is exposed to more signal.
Both signal boosters boast increased performance up to 800%. They are also reported to enhance performance for the internet, picture mailing and other services you may have on your phone. One tip I found for the internal one was to peel off the protective strip before placing it in your battery compartment. It is reported to increase the signal.
Do They Work?
Typically, cell phone boosters do work. However, in cases of extreme weather or isolated areas, they may not really help at all or very little. I know this to be a fact because my previous house was in a wooded area in the country and I purchased an external booster at the recommendation of my cell phone provider. I brought it back in a couple days. It didn’t help at all.
So, they have their limitations. That is not to say they don’t work, just that they don’t always work in all circumstances. They simply aren’t a cure all for bad signal areas.
If you are considering buying a booster, first determine what you are expecting to accomplish with it. If you are expecting miracle service in a very remote area, don’t even consider buying one. If you are looking for a little extra boost in low signal areas, then you probably won’t be disappointed. When you go shopping, try Ebay. I found both the internal and external versions ranging from $2 on up. For that price, I’d give them a shot.
For grins, see how one blogger uses five different “MacGyver” methods to boost his cell signal.
For some great wireless secrets, check this out! 
photo credit: doobybrain
Written on June 5th, 2009 at 11:29 am by Amy
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