Rural areas are often regarded as places with the poorest cell phone coverage, leading to a significant rise in the digital divide. Poor cell phone signals affect communication, but in the long run, it affects several industries like transport, security, food, and many more. Lack of adequate cell phone coverage has many cons, and it may take years to rectify the poor network. Despite all these issues, there might be a solution to how to boost cell signal in rural area. Cell phone signals are often poor in rural areas due to several reasons.
The main reason there are poor signals in rural areas is that service providers are at the cost of connecting the network. It is expensive to transport materials, hire labor, and any other expense required for such services compared to being done in an urban area.
Also, due to the small population in the rural area, the profit generated by the company, in the long run, may not sustain the business and hence make them incur losses. This is one major reason why we have poor signals in rural areas.
We aim to provide insights on how you can improve cellular coverage in a rural area. We will focus on the best solution to be implemented, setting up a cell phone signal booster, choosing the right cell phone signal Booster, and much more. In the end, you will have all the know-how which you can implement to get better cellular coverage in the long run.
What do I need to boost cell signal?
For you to boost your cell phone signal, you may need a cell phone signal booster. Cell phone boosters extend cellular signals by a wide range to areas that have poor networks. This has helped millions of people worldwide get better access to the network, which would improve internet speeds and reduce dropped calls.
A cell phone signal booster is the only workable solution to boost cell signals in a rural area.
How does a cell phone signal booster work?
In most cases, the cell phone signal booster has three components that aid n the amplification of the cellular signal from the network station to your phone. These components include:
a) Donor antenna
A donor antenna is installed at the roof or window of a building or an open area which will not restrict the transfer of signals. It communicated with a nearby antenna. The antenna may come in two varieties: omnidirectional or directional.
Directional antennas are the recommended ones in rural areas since they can improve the signal-to-noise ratio, improving the quality of a signal entering the building. This antenna
b) Indoor antenna
A cell phone booster may also include an indoor antenna used to rebroadcast signal indoors if you used an omnidirectional antenna to communicate with a cell phone tower. If you get an indoor antenna, the cell phone signals are easily distributed across a certain range in terms of sq. ft.
c) Signal amplifier
A signal amplifier is used to increase the power of electric signals. This is done by increasing the networks of intracellular reactions to get a wide signal distribution range. This, in turn, leads to your phone has a full network bar if you live in a rural area.
These are the major tools required to boost cell phone signals in rural areas. However, before purchasing a cell phone booster, contact your service provider and ask them to recommend the best cell phone signal booster.
This is because buying the wrong booster will lead to network interference. Now let’s look at how to set up a cell phone signal booster.
How to set up a cell phone signal Booster?
Most cell phone signal boosters come with professional installation personnel. However, if that’s not the case for you, you will need to implement a DIY. Luckily, most boosters come with a manual to guide you through the process of installation. If yours do not have any manual. Here is a quick guide to help you get started:
Step 1: Check out the best outside signal
You will need to find a place within your compound that has the most reliable network signal. Also, consider searching in an open place. This may be at the rooftop, at a window, gazebo, or any open space.
To know if the place has better cellular reception, use your phone to check on the network bars. Once you find the place with reliable signals, mark it as a position to install the outdoor antenna.
Step 2: Installation of donor antenna
To install an outdoor antenna, there are a few tools needed in the process. You will need to mount your antenna at the furthest point of the roof or in a position that faces the direction of the nearest cell tower. Mounting can take a few minutes to complete.
Step 3: Connect it to signal amplifier
Once you are done setting up the donor antenna, you will be required to connect to the amplifier. The amplifier will then increase the intensity of the signals, which would then be amplified to the indoor antenna to be broadcasted on cellular devices. There should also be some distance between the indoor and outdoor antenna to avoid signal oscillation.
Step 4: Set-up indoor antenna
An indoor antenna will be used to broadcast signals to cellular devices. Place it at a center position in a room where the signal will be evenly distributed across the place. The antenna can be mounted or placed on a flat surface. However, the latter is recommended since you may need to move it around the house in case some areas lack adequate coverage.
Step 5: Check if everything is in place
Check that everything is well connected from the donor antenna, amplifier, and indoor antenna. Ensure that every port is well fitted, and after that, you can power it on and get to enjoy the benefits of a cell phone signal booster. If something is not working, feel free to consult a local technician or the manual that came with the product.
How to choose the right cell phone signal booster?
There are many varieties of signal boosters in the market, and it takes several conditions to find the one that suits you best. Some work impeccably in rural areas, while others work best in urban centers. Others may be effective in plains or a tableland area. Here are some key things to consider when choosing a signal booster:
- FCC approval
- Location: highland or flatland
- Service provider
- Preceding network coverage
Can I switch service providers to get better signals?
This is a good option if there are several services provides in your area. However, ensure that the service provider you plan to switch to has better network coverage than your current service provider.
Also, the service provider should have other perks like reasonably priced cell phone plans, regular maintenance on their cell towers, compatible network technology with your device, and reliable customer service.
How to report poor signals to your service provider?
You can report poor cellular signals to your service provider if you see it temporary. If not, the best option is to obtain another service provider or consider buying a cell phone signal booster.
To report poor cellular signal, you can contact your service provider via email, phone call, or visit the nearest store where you can get almost immediate feedback on the issue.
Are portable signal boosters reliable?
Portable cell phone boosters are a good option for those who frequently travel to rural areas. These boosters are very reliable especially if it is mounted in a car. However, despite them being prevalent and somewhat “efficient,” they have some disadvantages.
The FCC may not verify these portable signal boosters. The portable cell phone signal booster market is very crowded with counterfeit products, and it would require you some sufficient knowledge with boosters to discern between legitimate and bogus.
So, the only way to get a reliable cell phone booster would be to buy them from places like weBoost or Surecall.
Bottom line
At this point, you have all the knowledge required to get started with how to boost cell signals at home for free. This article has talked about how to set up a cell phone signal booster, where you can buy one, and much more information.
Remember, before buying a booster, ensure it is authenticated and approved by the FCC to avoid any issues that might interrupt the network signals within that location. Lastly, you can always request or contact your service provider to provide alternatives on how you can improve your signals. This applies to places where signals are not very impoverished.
