►The iPhone Signal Booster Guide

Whether you have the latest iPhone 8 or an older model like an iPhone 5 or 4, it's possible to improve your signal in a home, office or on the go using a cell phone booster.

What causes bad signal on my iPhone?

It’s incredibly irritating to have a great smartphone like an iPhone 6S but not be able to get the most out of it because of poor coverage.

The distance to the nearest cell phone tower has a big impact on your signal. You must be within range to use or continue to use your cell phone. Signal can be reduced by hills, buildings, trees, and even the weather - wind, rain, lightening, and ice can all effect your connection to the tower.

The biggest factor in iPhone signal however is often not the tower itself, but the building you are in. The cause of your bad cell signal is far more likely to be due to the construction materials used in your home or office. Cellular signals have a hard time passing through metal and concrete within the walls of your home. Many buildings also use a wire mesh in their construction that can create a Faraday cage effect. This mesh blocks external static electricity fields, meaning that cell phone signals cannot get through. If you can get iPhone signal outside your building, on the roof, or from an upstairs window, but not indoors, then the problem is likely to be building materials interfering with your signal - and a cellular repeater could fix the problem.

The Faraday cage effect can also be seen in a car, truck or RV. The metal frame of the vehicle blocks electromagnetic fields and frequency waves, making it difficult for cell signal to penetrate inside. As you drive further away from the cell tower, signal will become weaker outside and may drop off entirely inside, resulting in dropped calls on your iPhone.

How can I improve the signal for my iPhone?

If you have weak or no cell signal indoors, installing a consumer signal booster can greatly improve your coverage. Signal boosters are "bi-directional amplifiers" - that means they amplify the signal being sent to and from your nearest cellphone tower.

How does a cellphone booster improve my iPhone signal?

A signal booster is a hardware device that you can install in your home, office or vehicle. Booster kits typically contain two antennas: one that communicates with the cellphone tower, and another that communicates with your phone. The outside antenna receives an outside signal and transmits it to an amplifier. The amplifier boosts the signal and rebroadcasts it inside via the inside antenna, eliminating dead coverage zones.  Booster kits include antennas, amplifier and cables to connect the system.

Will a signal booster boost my iPhone's 4G LTE data speeds?

Yes! Most cellular signal boosters on the market today support 4G LTE frequencies. The iPhone 5 was the first device to support LTE signals, so if you have a device such as an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S, you don't need an LTE-compatible booster. 

Will a signal booster improve the voice quality of my calls and prevent dropped calls?

 Yes - once you're using a booster kit, your phone will see stronger 2G, 3G and 4G signals, and as a result you should no longer drop calls.

Can I use an app to boost my iPhone signal?

Unfortunately not. iOS apps don't have access to the cellular radio your phone uses to communicate with the tower. There's no way for an app to improve your signal strength.