The pico cell is carrier specific, and usually only offered for sale by them. In the US both of these devices need approval from the cellular carrier, and both must also be approved by the FCC since they transmit radio waves. You must have a wired internet connection to use one. There are local "pico cells" that plug into the internet and function as a very small cell site, typically limited to a few specific phones, and less than 1000 sq ft of coverage. These work great if there is a spot on your property where a reasonably strong cell signal exists. In the US we have "boosters" which receive a signal from a cell tower, amplify it and run it through a coaxial cable to another antenna inside the house for re-transmission. There are phones that can make and receive calls over WiFi, but they are not the norm and do require WiFi access, and a phone account.Īssuming that he is indeed looking to improve cell coverage, there are devices available to do that. He stated that he was looking for a way to improve cell phone coverage, not WiFi. Here we have 700 MHz LTE, 800 MHz voice, and 2.1 GHz for both. You must know the cell frequencies in your area before going any further. Now they are scattered from 600 MHz to nearly 3 GHz, and that was before 5G, which adds frequencies in the 3 to 6 GHz range and some in the 20+ GHz "millimeter wave" bands. Years ago the cellular frequencies were all around 800 and 900 MHz depending on where you live. There are charts and diagrams on the web that tell you how long each element must be for your particular cell frequency.
#Diy antenna booster portable#
I used this and a portable spectrum analyzer to find the cell towers in this area. There is a connector on the driven element for a coax cable. The end on the right side points toward the tower.
The short piece at the far left is not part of the reception elements, but just some stiff pieces so that this can be hose clamped to a pole. It is tuned to 800 MHz, but broad enough to cover the 700 MHz 4G LTE bands for AT&T and Verizon as well as the 3G voice bands for both carriers. I made this one out of copper wire and brass tubing. I made several antennas for the Wilson booster from copper wire salvaged from Romex. In the situation I'm they are useless.Ĭellular antennas can be built from copper wire, which does work better than steel coathanger, and it can be soldered.
There has to be some usable signal to concentrate. It turns no coverage into 1, and sometimes 2 bars in the summer, but only if the phone is close to the booster antenna.Īny passive booster (no electronics, requires no power) will only be able to concentrate signal into a small location. I found someone on Ebay selling just the circuit board from a Wilson booster, so I got one. On a rainy summer day with lots of wet green leaves, no service.Įven a $400 Wilson booster amp barely helps. If it rings and I take it of the shelf it drops the call. On a day like today when the trees are bare and there is no snow I get 1 signal bar if leave the phone on a high shelf so it will get texts.
Unfortunately There is a 1200 foot ridge between us and the tower, so we get zilch. I live in a rural area about 2 miles from the cell tower.