Understanding How They Work & Why Your Customers Need Them
Cellular signal boosters are great devices that many consumers are simply not aware of—and if they do already know of them, maybe they haven’t considered all of the benefits. Any one of these extra benefits could mean the difference between casual browsing and a completed sale, or even the difference between a person who’s never heard of a signal booster and a satisfied owner. This week, Petra explores these incredible gadgets, how they work, who needs them and who may need them and not know it!
Four Key Benefits
| 1. | Signal boosters extend the battery life of cellular phones. A stronger signal requires less power to receive and transmit. | |
| 2. | Customers who are still paying for a landline phone solely because of unreliable cellular reception could save money every month. The cost of a signal booster could be covered quickly. | |
| 3. | Boosting a cellular signal will increase data transfer too. Customers who access the Internet through their cell provider, rather than over WiFi, will see significant improvement with a signal booster. | |
| 4. | A cellular signal booster adds extra security to homes with alarm systems that rely on cellular service to call monitoring stations. |
How They Work
Wireless Signal Boosters are actually signal booster systems made up of three parts—an outside antenna, a signal amplifier, and an inside antenna—that work together to boost an existing cellular signal.
The outside antenna receives whatever signal is available outside the building. An outside signal, even a very weak one, is necessary for any signal booster to work. However, boosters don’t create a signal, they can only amplify what already exists. The farther away the tower is, or the more interference from buildings, trees, etc., the weaker the signal will be. Furthermore, a weaker outside signal calls for a stronger outside antenna.
However, if your customer only needs to boost the signal from one carrier, the best option is a system with a directional antenna they can mount pointing directly toward the correct tower, like the AG Pro 70™ Home Cellular Signal Booster Kit from Wilson® Electronics. If they also need to boost multiple carriers, an omnidirectional antenna will work best because it will pick up signals from towers in all directions. The outside antenna is connected via cable to the signal amplifier, which is installed inside the building.
Signal boosters (or amplifiers) are designed to work with specific frequencies, and different carriers use different frequencies for their networks (2G, 3G, 4G, 4G LTE, etc.).
It’s very important to make sure your customers purchase an amplifier that is designed to work with the frequencies and networks they are using. Fortunately, most carriers use either 850MHz or 1900MHz for their 2G and 3G networks, and there are several dual-band signal booster kits available that will work with either one. For example, check out the zBoost® SOHO Premium Dual-Band Signal Booster and the SOHO Xtreme Dual-Band Signal Booster. 4G and LTE, customers will need to have an amplifier designed for 4G and LTE frequencies, like the Wilson® Electronics DT4G™ Signal Booster Kit. Checking the decibel rating of the booster is also important, to ensure it can amplify the signal enough to reach the whole area that your customer needs to cover.
The last piece of the system attaches to the amplifier and broadcasts the amplified signal out into the building. Indoor antennas are available in two types: panel and dome. Panel antennas broadcast in one direction and are best for houses or buildings with multiple floors. Dome antennas broadcast in all directions on one floor.
Vehicle signal boosters work the same way residential signal boosters do.
They are 3-part systems that pick up outside signal, amplify it, and then rebroadcast it back out. Most vehicle signal booster systems will have an omnidirectional external antenna. The external antenna attaches to the outside of the vehicle and is connected via cable to the amplifier inside.
Also, some vehicle signal amplifiers can be installed under the front seat, and some are cradle-type amplifiers. The cradle type combines an amplifier with a phone cradle and doesn’t need an antenna. The phone must be in the cradle for the signal to be boosted. So, these boosters should be used with separate hands-free devices. However, inside antennas for vehicle kits are usually small enough to be unobtrusively mounted on a dash.
Who Needs Them?
According to a recent report published by the CDC, 39.4% of American homes had only cellular phones (no landlines at all), up from less than 5% in 2003. And 15.7% of homes used only cellular phones for incoming and outgoing calls despite having landlines. With that many people relying totally on cellular phones for communication, signal reception becomes extremely important. These customers need cell signal boosters.
The Pew Research Center reported in a recent study that 72% of cellular phone owners occasionally deal with dropped calls. And 32% said it happens a few times a week or even more often. But dropped calls aren’t the only issue cellular users might run into. Some people simply don’t have reception inside the home or office at all. Also, some people have to drive through dead spots on a regular basis, say, like commuting to work every day.
Final Thoughts
Although many customers have the need, many are not aware of this simple solution. You now know the basics about these great items. It’s time to educate your customers and sell the right solution for each one. Stock your shelves with a selection of cell signal booster and don’t forget to promote them through signage and advertising. Give us a call today or explore the cell signal boosters and accessories here on the Petra website.