Cell phone boosters benefit buildings with poor cellular signal. Poor signal can be caused by a variety of reasons such as rural areas with natural terrain resulting in limited access to towers, urban areas with tall structural surroundings, metal walls/thick concrete walls, or possibly just a very large facility with signal degradation at the innermost sections of the building. Cell boosters amplify the signal of the nearest cell phone tower using an antenna. The signal collected from the nearby tower is rebroadcast inside the area/building for devices to receive the signal.
The most obvious benefit of having a booster is improved signal strength, which is the primary purpose of a cell phone signal booster. Subsequent benefits of better signal strength include better call quality, faster data speeds, and reduced dropped calls.
An overlooked necessity in areas with poor signal is the ability to contact emergency services. This is especially necessary in industrial settings that are often located in rural areas and have large structural elements that may block signals.
With a stronger connection, users may see an increase in battery life. When experiencing weak signals mobile devices often use more power to search for or maintain a connection.
It's important to note that while cell phone signal boosters can be effective in enhancing signal strength, they may not work miracles in extremely remote areas with no signal at all. The old saying ‘junk in - junk out’ applies here. If there isn't enough signal or spotty signal the booster would have nothing to work with. Some cell phone signal boosters are designed to work with multiple carriers and different cellular technologies (such as 3G, 4G, and LTE), providing flexibility for larger facilities requiring service for their employees with diverse carrier requirements. This will increase the chances of the signal reaching the booster but does not guarantee a strong signal. An SMC expert will be able to help you decide what booster is right for your needs.
Contacting an expert to assess the facility and make recommendations will be the most effective way to choose a booster. Our professionals are trained in engineering, design, installation, and troubleshooting cellular boosters in multiple applications. Not only will they help with the initial selection and installation process, but you will be able to reach out throughout the boosters' life for support and troubleshooting needs
Alex started his career in technology in 1996 working for WorldCom managing core routers that where the backbone of a global network. After 6 years he took a position with Northeast Oklahoma Electric Coop/Rectec where and continued supporting network connectivity for more local entities (schools, libraries, hospitals, and city governments). Working his way up in the company he took over the security division responsible for access control and security cameras. Over the coarse of his career, Alex helped evolve the subsidiary “Rectec” into a full scale fiber to the home/business “BOLT" fiber optics, which currently serves over 15,000 customers spanning over 5,000 miles of fiber and growing daily. He would later take a Customer Solutions Engineer position with Level3/CenturyLink/Lumen. There he designed fiber builds, provided cost models, and managed projects for the 7 states in the Northeast and Canada. Alex recently joined SMC in 2023 as an SE/SME allowing utilizing all the technology and security knowledge he has acquired over the years.
Click below to see what cell boosters SMC has available or to speak with a specialist about what will work best for your facility.