Using A Cell Phone Antenna Booster
Ok this site is generally about PC wireless networks but I am asked this question so many times I thought it may be useful to add an article about it. Antenna boosters for cell phones are no new concept. They have in fact been around for years. If you live in a big city then the chances are you won't need one of these, as your signal strength is likely to be pretty strong. But, if like me you live in a less populated area then you have probably experienced problems in getting a signal. Especially if you are in a dip or a valley. There aren't really any 100% fail-safe cures for this but one thing that may help you is a Cell Phone Antenna Booster. These come in various forms including external and internal and range from under $5 to over $100.
Unless you have the previous advice of nearby friends or relatives in your area then there is only way you can tell what type of cell phone booster you need. The best thing to do is start off buying an internal Cell phone antenna booster this usually looks like what can only be described as a sticker. It has a metallic strip inside it (this is usually visible) and is very easy to attach to your cell phone. Simply find the antenna on your phone. In most models you can do this by taking the battery off. You will see a small metal plate and this is your antenna. For cell phones with external antenna's you will need to find the point where your antenna meets the inside of your phone, do this by removing the cover. Once you have found the appropriate place just take protective backing off of your cell phone antenna booster and stick it to the antenna. This will basically increase the surface area and help to improve signal strength in this way. The reason I suggest this option first is because it is very cheap to do. This type of signal booster will probably cost you less than $5 but please check your cell phones specifications and guidelines first as it may not be suitable for all types of phone. If your phone is unsuitable for this then it may be worth noting that there are also external sticker type cell phone boosters that work in exactly the same way.
If your signal is exceptionally poor then you will probably need something with a little more clout. These are more expensive and vary in price depending how powerful the booster is. Again they are quite simple to install and use. Most work in the way described below.
This external cell phone antenna booster consists of a power pack, a booster unit, and a separate antenna (not connected to your cell phone). You simply plug your booster unit into the mains supply in using the power pack, and then connect the booster unit to the external antenna. When you make a call on your cell phone the antenna will amplify any available signals therefore giving you a better reception.
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