Why do you need to read this page?
 

We do not want to waste your valuable time with the information about boosters you already know or you can find on Wikipedia or hundreds of other sites.

Our objective is to educate and to help our customers make the right decision, so this introductory, “101 level” of information pages is meant to explain things that will help you make the right decision when choosing a solution for solving your wireless coverage problems, the information you will not find on many other sites, certainly not the ones that try to sell boosters which may NOT be the right solutions for you or which may even be illegal.

 

What are signal boosters?
 

The definition of signal boosters, the explanation of their purpose and principle of operation can be limited to a single paragraph.

Indoor cellular signal boosters enhance cell signals in “dead zones” by bringing wireless signal from where it is available (typically from the roof or other areas of the building) to the booster(amplifier) , amplifying it, then rebroadcasting it through desired coverage area. Words “booster”, “repeater”, “BDA” (bi-directional amplifiers) are often used interchangeably with an exception that “booster” is often applied to a device intended for a small area (small office, single residential dwelling, car, etc).

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What you absolutely must know about boosters?
 

What is more important to understand is HOW the boosters should be installed and configured, so that they can help solve problems within a coverage dead zone instead of creating problems. We all know that even a good tool can be become dangerous in the wrong hands.

 

If you are searching for or are being offered a booster, the first and the most important thing to understand is that the OWNER of the booster MUST obtain an approval of the wireless service operator(-s) whose signal the booster will be amplifying before putting the booster on air (before turning it on).

Why are you required to obtain an approval? Because the FREQUENCIES used by wireless services operators are LICENSED. Be it a cellular, a public safety or a private radio system operator, the frequencies operators use to transmit their signals have been assigned to them and licensed for their use by a government organization responsible for frequency spectrum allocation. So, before an operator can allow someone to potentially interfere with their network operations, they must make sure that the proposed booster system is designed in accordance with solid Radio Systems Design principles.

Note, that the responsibility to coordinate the approval is with the building owner, not the equipment seller. You can find numerous boosters sold on the market by non technically oriented retailers.

 

Conclusion
 

So, the most important conclusion from this, hopefully, useful for your “Boosters 101” page is that if someone is trying to offer you a booster without coordinating an approval of the system with wireless operators, you may want to get a second opinion or consult with Wireless System design experts like Linkwave Wireless.

We can help you avoid making mistakes of the customers who were ordered to shut down the booster systems that were installed illegally and help you waste your time, money and resources by doing things right the first time.