Cell phones have become nearly universal. However, they do not always get the strongest signal. So-called antenna boosters claim to strengthen the signal for a cell phone. However there is significant debate about whether antenna boosters for cell phones work. There seems to be no conclusive evidence that cell phone antenna boosters make a significant improvement in signal strength.
Description
Most cell phone antenna boosters look like paper-thin pieces of plastic with the configuration stamped or printed onto them. They are designed to be attached to the cell phone near the battery. The principle is that the circuitry imprinted on the booster is enhanced by the charge of the battery, which, in turn, helps the phone receive a better signal.
Tests on Analog Phones
Analog phones are nearly as extinct as dinosaurs; however, some people have hung onto them. Some tests with antenna boosters on analog phones reported increased signal strength. In addition, some analog users reported decreased static, which can be a problem with older cell phones.
Tests on Digital Phones
Results for tests of antenna boosters on digital phones was mixed. One set of tests reported modest but definite improvement in signal strength. Other tests reported no improvement at all. Still other testers reported that antenna boosters actually degraded the quality of the performance of digital cell phones.
Accept No Substitutes?
For the tests which reported increased signal strength with cell phone antenna boosters, the tester concluded that a particular brand, the Cell Phone Antenna Booster, was effective in increasing signal strength. On the other hand, the tester declared so-called knockoffs, which were were less expensive, to be no more than scams.
Considerations
Cell phones work by transmitting and receiving radio signals. This means that cell phones work best when there is little or no interference, such as concrete walls. A cell phone booster can only enhance a signal. Cell phone antenna boosters or even actual cell phone antennas often have little effect where radio signals are prevented from reaching the cell phone.
Tags: antenna boosters, signal strength, cell phone, phone antenna, phone antenna boosters
