4G booster

[Edward]

Anyone got any experience on 4g boosters?

We will be moving in January to a house where 4g is very poor indoors but fine outdoors. No doubt due to the walls etc. Not sure yet which direction the nearest 4g tower faces but I'm sure I can install an aerial facing the correct way.

Would something like this work?

https://boostersdirect.com/product/mobile-booster-voice-and-4g-lte-600-sq-m/

cheers
E

[pcourtney]

Hi Ed, you can go to Mastdata website, use an email address for a free one day trial, put in your postcode and it will show
you where your nearest mobile operator mast is

https://www.mastdata.com/

what network are you on, because that Booster product you linked to is only 800 and 900Mhz, and 900Mhz is 1G - and only Vodafone
and O2 ( Telefonica ) use 900Mhz for voice calls, so if you are on either one of those two you should be OK, but no good for any visitors
who are on EE or Three !

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/information/cellular-networks-and-technology

all the UK operators have some 800Mhz spectrum, which will be used ONLY for 4G data, but this is mast dependant, as not all operators have started to use much
of their 800Mhz spectrum in the Uk

https://www.4g.co.uk/4g-frequencies-uk-need-know/

for future proofing ( in case you might want to change network one day) , and for visitors to your home to have some sort of mobile signal, it might
be a better idea to buy a booster that is "Full Spectrum" , from 800 to 2600Mhz

800MHz (Band 20)
900MHz (Band 8)
1400MHz SDL (Band 32)
1800MHz (Band 3)
2100MHz (Band 1)
2300MHz (Band 40)
2600MHz FDD (Band 7)
2600MHz TDD (Band 38)

NB I would not worry about 3400MHz (Band 42), as no 3400MHz spectrum has been awarded by Ofcom ( yet ) to any of the mobile operators

[Edward]

Wow Peter, that is a mine of info. Thanks very much indeed. Yes definitely want to future proof the setup. Currently use Giffgaff (O2) but visitors etc will no doubt use other networks. I read that only one network can be used at any time, but can be switched via an app (Wand?). Is this true, or will perhaps a full spectrum booster simply allow multiple network use at any one time?

I certainly want to boost both phone and data signal. Is there an issue doing that?

I'll dive into the links you have given. But in the meantime what full spectrum booster (and aerial etc) would you recommend?

cheers

[pcourtney]

the booster we buy is from a great seller on ebay ( from Slovenia ) item number 224240934582 £200 quid delivered

we have hundreds of pubs, restaurants, cafes etc all over the UK using this model ( or similar ) , perfectly adequate for 10 or 20 people on their phones all at the same time, both voice calls and 4G data, it does not matter - and they can all be using different networks, works really well for a low cost solution, but height is your friend, the higher the antenna is, the better dB levels you will receive

and getting good LOS ( Line of Sight to the nearest masts in the town) is paramount in all situations - you cannot amplify a signal that is not there in the first place - sadly

did you look on Mastdata and find your nearest O2 mast ?

[Edward]

the booster we buy if from a great seller on ebay ( from Slovenia ) item number 224240934582 £200 quid delivered

we have hundreds of pubs, restaurants, cafes etc all over the UK using this model ( or similar ) , perfectly adequate for 10 or 20 people on their phones all at the same time, both voice calls and 4G data, it does not matter - and they can all be using different networks, works really well for a low cost solution, but height is your friend, the higher the antenna is, the better dB levels you will receive

and getting good LOS ( Line of Sight to the nearest masts in the town) is paramount in all situations - you cannot amplify a signal that is not there in the first place - sadly

did you look on Mastdata and find your nearest O2 mast ?

Hi Peter,

Looks like a great seller. May well press 'buy now' in a short while. If I find that internal coverage is not sufficient (perhaps due to floors) can I daisy chain an extra antennae to the booster?

I've had a look at mastdata but not sure what subscription level I need to sign up for. Plugging in the postcode brings up a map but no mast data. I guess I need to subscribe for that data. :scratch:

Edward

[pcourtney]

are they solid concrete floors - if so then yes this will reduce the signal dramatically, but this is unusual in a residential home - there are ways round this by using a combiner /divider, which can split the signal to 3 or 4 extra indoor antennas

Mastdata, yes you simply sign up with an email address for the free use ( no need for any credit card or anything) , just select Personal Use, and you get 24 hours use, which should be plenty for "One off use" to put in your postcode

[Edward]

Hi Peter,

The first floor floors I understand are typical wood joists etc so likely it will not be an issue.

I signed up on mastdata and input the new postcode. There are various antennae near by (one about 150m away) but I could not ascertain direction or provider etc before I ran out of hits. I got the following message:


Your 10 hit trial limit has been reached. Free Trials are only available for emergency services at the current time, please email admin@mastdata.com for access.



So I'm not sure what to do now. I could sign up for a month (£12.50pm 2,500 p.a. hits) but I'm not sure how to interpret the data.

[pcourtney]

Hi Ed, send me your postcode via pm and I will have a look for you - cheers Peter

[Edward]

hi Peter

please see my PM from last night.

cheers
Ed