Mobile phones are an integral part of our daily lives, whether you talk about business or entertainment everything is on your mobile device. Especially during and after the Covid-19 disruption. To make calls, text messages, emails and surf online you need good coverage. But often, due to interference like trees, the material of buildings, weather etc. Mobile signals get disturbed and here you need a Mobile Signal Booster . This will help improve the strength of your signal. So let’s talk about What is a Mobile Phone Booster? how does it work? and what types of Mobile Signal boosters are permitted in the UK?:
What is a Mobile Phone Signal Booster or Repeater?
A Mobile Phone Signal booster is an amplifier or repeater system which takes the existing mobile signal, amplifying it and rebroadcasts it to a nearby area. It dramatically improves the quality of phone calls and allows fast internet access in case of a weak signal.
How does Mobile Phone Signal Booster work?
Mobile Phone signal booster made up of three parts. First is an exterior or outdoor antenna, second is the amplifier and last is an interior or indoor antenna. The outdoor antenna receives the signal from the tower and the indoor antenna distributes the signal to your mobile device. Usually, when the signal is low the amplifier amplifies the signal from tower to phone and from the phone back to the tower. The Amplifier works between outdoor and indoor antennas. You can install a booster in your home, office and car.
What types of Mobile Phone Signal Boosters are legal in the UK?
The Wireless Telegraphy Regulation 2018 act outlines the legal use of mobile phone signal booster. This act came into effect back in 2018.
According to this act, there are two types of boosters legal in the UK, Static Booster for Indoor Coverage and low gain in-vehicle booster which are used within Motor vehicles.
Here we have compiled ofcom guidelines about static and low gain mobile repeater. Read more on ofcom outline here – https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/features-and-news/mobile-phone-repeaters
Ofcom Outlines About Static Repeaters
- They must be used indoors like inside peoples’ homes, offices and other buildings. And must not be used in situations like while in motions such as in vehicles.
- The downlink of these repeaters must not be used in the semi-open areas or outside.
- This type of repeater is helpful in the situation where you’ve good coverage just outside but not inside.
- Ofcom has restricted these repeaters so they can only amplify one device at a time, although they may be re-configured for different networks.
Ofcom Outline About Low Gain In-Vehicle Boosters
- They help to get good coverage inside the car and other vehicles but not in boats or static caravans.
- They are designed to boost the signal inside the car similar to the level that a mobile device is able to receive outside the car.
- If you’re planning to use these repeaters inside the car then you must follow all the guidelines regarding using a mobile phone while driving.
Related content: No Phone Signal What To Do?
Things you need to know while buying the repeater
- Be careful of the retailers who claim that the repeater amplifies the signal from more than one operator at a time.
- While buying the repeaters look for CE marks on the equipment.
- Watch out for those Indoor repeaters which claim to be 4G or LTE only because a legal indoor repeater must amplify the 2G or 3G signal at all times.
The Static mobile phone booster improves coverage inside your home, building or office. They must not be used outdoors or in vehicles. While the Low Gain in-vehicle repeater helps you to improve the strength of the signal while you’re in the car or any vehicle.
All products under Cel-fie are license-exempt in the UK and fully comply with Ofcom. That means the cel-fi products are legal to use in the UK. Ofcom also says that if anyone interested in improving the coverage in any particular area then they must contact their network provider. But it can be much more expensive. Therefore it’s more convenient to use a cel-fi repeater which came under the guidelines of Ofcom.
