Tag: amplifier

Nextivity CEL-FI GO G41

No matter who you are or what you do, having a strong and consistent cellular signal is crucial, especially in remote areas. Recognizing the need for reliable in-building cellular coverage, Nextivity introduces the CEL-FI GO G41—a single-operator cellular signal booster designed to elevate your connectivity experience.

Unmatched Performance and Versatility

The CEL-FI GO G41 stands out for its unparalleled performance, seamlessly combining cutting-edge technology with ease of installation. Tailored for “small box” retail stores, branch offices, and homes, this booster supports 4G and 5G connectivity. It operates as a dedicated solution for a single mobile network operator (MNO), ensuring a focused and powerful signal enhancement.

Global Connectivity

The CEL-FI GO G41 caters to a global audience with compatibility across different regions. For the Americas, it supports bands 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, and 25, while for the rest of the world, it covers bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28L, 28U, and 40. This broad spectrum of supported bands ensures comprehensive coverage, making it suitable for diverse geographical locations.

Nextivity’s 4th Generation IntelliBoost® Technology

At the heart of CEL-FI GO G41 lies Nextivity’s proprietary 4th generation IntelliBoost technology. This advanced chip enables channelized signal boosting, offering industry-leading signal gain of up to 100 dB. This ensures a robust and reliable end-to-end coverage experience within your building, setting it apart from traditional wideband repeaters.

Ease of Installation and Remote Management

One of the key advantages of CEL-FI GO G41 is its quick and hassle-free installation process. Nextivity’s trusted system integrator partners can have the system up and running in as little as a few hours, making it a practical choice for businesses and homes alike. Additionally, the Nextivity WAVE Portal allows users to monitor and manage the booster remotely, providing real-time insights into system performance.

Nextivity WAVE App for Flexibility

The CEL-FI GO G41 offers users the flexibility to choose the MNO signal they want to boost through the Nextivity WAVE App. By connecting to WAVE via Bluetooth®, users can easily select their preferred carrier and enhance coverage within minutes. This feature is particularly valuable for users who may need to switch operators, providing adaptability to changing needs.

Elevating Connectivity for Businesses and Homes

Whether you’re a business owner looking to improve connectivity for customers and employees or a resident in a remote area seeking to boost signal at home, the CEL-FI GO G41 is designed to meet your needs. Enjoy reliable calling, texting, and streaming indoors, enhance the shopping experience with in-store digital couponing, and improve operational efficiency with fast and consistent connectivity.

If you think the CEL-FI GO G41 may be right for you, it is now available to order at 5Gstore.com. Reach out to our team with any questions!

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An In-Depth Exploration of Cellular Signal Boosters

In an era where staying connected is paramount, weak cellular signals can be a frustrating hindrance. Enter the signal booster, also known as a wireless repeater, a system designed to amplify and extend the reach of your cellular connection. In this article, we will delve into the anatomy of a signal booster, unraveling its components and shedding light on how these devices work. Additionally, we will explore how to determine if a signal booster is the solution for your connectivity woes.

The Components of a Signal Booster

  1. Exterior Antenna: The exterior antenna serves as the first line of defense, capturing the weak cellular signal in your area. Placed ideally outside and at an elevated point, away from obstructions like buildings, it seeks to optimize signal strength and bandwidth speeds. Selecting the right location through a site survey is crucial to achieving a delicate balance between signal strength, signal quality, and speed.
  2. Amplifier: The amplifier, often referred to as the heart of the repeater system, is responsible for boosting the incoming signal. Acting like a powerhouse, the amplifier enhances the signal’s strength, preparing it for rebroadcast. Some have adjustable gain control dials that provide flexibility, allowing users to fine-tune the system for optimal performance. Careful consideration of frequency usage helps avoid interference, ensuring a seamless boost without unwanted noise.
  3. Interior Antenna: Attached to the other side of the amplifier, the interior antenna plays a vital role in rebroadcasting the boosted cellular signal throughout the designated area. Careful placement is key; a central location that aligns with your primary device usage is recommended. Striking the right balance is crucial, as placing the interior antenna too close to the exterior one can lead to oscillation, similar to interference between walkie-talkies.
  4. Cabling: The unsung hero of the system, cabling connects the antennas to the amplifier. A delicate balance is essential, ensuring enough cable length for required antenna separation without introducing additional signal loss. While cables are typically included with booster kits, you may opt for different lengths as needed. Well-chosen cables contribute to the overall efficiency of the signal booster system. 

How Signal Boosters Work

The process begins with the exterior antenna capturing the existing cellular signal. This signal is then passed to the amplifier, which magnifies its strength. The boosted signal is subsequently transmitted wirelessly by the interior antenna, covering an area with improved signal strength. Any cellular device within this zone benefits from enhanced connectivity, potentially leading to faster speeds and a more reliable connection.

Is a Signal Booster Right for You?

Determining whether a signal booster is the solution for your connectivity needs involves a thoughtful assessment of your location. Perform a site survey to identify areas with a favorable combination of signal strength, quality, and speed. Additionally, find a location inside where you need to either bring a signal to, or where you mainly use your cellular devices. If weak signals are plaguing your daily activities, a signal booster could be the key to unlocking a stronger, more reliable connection.

For assistance, reach out to the 5Gstore sales team. We’ll help explain the site survey process, if it applies to your application, and go over your results to determine what equipment would be best. If you’re ready to start exploring booster solutions on your own, use our helpful guide.

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Boosting Your Connectivity: A Comprehensive Guide to Signal Boosters

A weak cellular signal can be a major hindrance to both personal and professional activities. If you’ve ever experienced frustrating dropped calls or sluggish data speeds, it might be time to consider installing a signal booster, also known as a wireless repeater. These ingenious devices can take an existing signal, amplify it, and rebroadcast it within a specific coverage area, providing a significant improvement in your connectivity experience. However, choosing the right signal booster for your specific needs involves a few important considerations. In this article, we’ll delve into what wireless repeaters are, how they work, and how to select the appropriate one for your situation.

Understanding Wireless Repeaters

A wireless repeater, as the name suggests, repeats or amplifies existing cellular signals. In situations where you have a good signal outside, but very weak or non-existent signal inside, a repeater system is a great addition. It can also be helpful in areas where you have dead spots inside. Use the repeater to take the stronger signal and speeds you have available in another section of your location and boost it to those dead spots. If needed, multiple antennas can be used inside to effectively broadcast the signal where it is required. 

The Site Survey – Is It Necessary?

Before investing in a signal booster, it’s crucial to perform a site survey to determine whether a booster is a viable solution for your location. This step involves testing the current signal strength at the target area. For most repeaters, like those offered by reputable brands such as weBoost and SureCall, it’s essential to have a signal strength of at least -108dB or greater (i.e. closer to 0) to see significant improvement. However, Cel-Fi systems can work with even weaker signals, ideally around -118dB or better. If your signal is too weak or nonexistent, a booster may not be effective.

Finding the Best Placement for the Hardware

Proper placement of the signal booster components is crucial to ensure optimal performance and prevent interference between antennas. When using repeaters with both exterior and interior antennas, you must maintain a certain amount of separation between them to avoid oscillation (interference). 

If you use omnidirectional antennas on both ends, you may need more separation and can achieve this by placing obstructions between them or using aluminum foil to block their view of each other. When using directional antennas, simply aim them away from each other. Additionally, it’s important to install antennas at least 20 cm (8 inches) away from people to comply with safety standards.

The Exterior Antenna

Based on your site survey, identify the location where you receive the strongest signal and/ or the best bandwidth speeds from your cellular service. This is where you should mount the exterior antenna. If mounting on the roof is not feasible, try to position it on the side of the building that offers the best performance. This will help maximize the booster’s efficiency.

The Amplifier

The amplifier, a critical component of the signal booster system, should be placed at least 10 feet away from the interior antenna to prevent interference. The amplifier is the only piece of the system that requires power so position it near a power outlet. It’s also important to install the amplifier in a location with proper ventilation and within its specified temperature operating range, as it tends to generate heat during operation. 

The Interior Antenna and Coverage Areas

How much coverage are you looking for? Keep in mind that the amount of coverage greatly depends on the starting signal strength – i.e. the signal strength where your exterior antenna will be placed. However, the obstructions between your cellular device(s) and the interior antenna will also affect your signal. Consider where you primarily use your cellular devices, as this should guide the placement of the interior antenna. 

Ideally, install the interior antenna in a central location within this “hotspot” area while maintaining adequate separation from the exterior antenna and amplifier. The closer your devices are to the interior antenna, the stronger the signal boost they will receive. The signal strength will diminish, at least slightly, by the edges of the boosted coverage area.

How Much Cable Do You Need?

Taking into account the above considerations, you can determine the required length of cables for your installation. Many repeater kits include cables, but if the provided length is insufficient, consider purchasing a separate cable of the required length. Connecting multiple short cables with adapters will introduce signal loss, potentially reducing the effectiveness of the booster system.

Next Steps

Wireless repeaters, or signal boosters, offer an effective solution for improving cellular connectivity in areas with weak or unreliable signals. Once you’ve assessed your signal strength and considered the placement of hardware components, the next step is to select the right signal booster model that aligns with your specific needs. This involves comparing available options from reputable manufacturers, considering factors like coverage area and frequency compatibility. By taking these next steps in the selection process, you can confidently choose the ideal wireless repeater to ensure stronger and more reliable cellular connectivity in your home or office.

Need assistance determining if a wireless repeater/ signal booster is right for you? Contact the 5Gstore team for further guidance. We’ll discuss how to do the site survey, how to interpret your results, and which repeater system to select.

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How to Improve Your Cellular RSSI/ RSRP: Tips and Tricks for Better Mobile Connectivity

When it comes to cellular data connectivity, good signal strength is crucial. Without a decent signal, you’re not going to get very far. Cellular signal strength and quality can vary greatly depending on your location from a cellular tower, terrain, network overloads, and other factors. Weak cellular coverage can be incredibly frustrating and cause a variety of problems, such as dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and poor call quality. If you live or work in an area with poor cellular coverage, a cellular antenna or a signal booster (also called an amplifier, a cellular booster, or a cellular repeater) may be the solution you need.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the basics of cellular coverage and how to determine a good reference signal received power (RSRP) and/or a good-received signal strength indicator (RSSI). We’ll also share a few tips and tricks about improving your RSRP and RSSI for better cellular connectivity.

First Things First: The Site Survey

It’s important to first determine how much signal you’re currently working with. This will help confirm whether you may benefit from an antenna or a cellular signal booster kit. The method in which you will test your signal strength is called a “site survey.” Instead of looking at your signal bars, a site survey digs into the cellular device’s settings to find its RSSI. Some devices may also have an RSRP value, which is found on LTE and 5G devices.

So, what’s a good RSRP or RSSI signal strength? Both RSSI and RSRP values are displayed as negative numbers. The closer this negative number is to zero, the better the signal strength. If your signal is very weak to begin with, chances are you will need both an antenna and an amplifier. This depends on where (if anywhere) you’re getting a stronger signal. For example, if you’re able to step outside and receive a stronger signal, an antenna should be sufficient. If there’s little to no improvement when you step outside, then a booster system will be necessary.

Cellular Signal Amplifiers/Boosters

A cellular signal amplifier/booster is a device that captures weak cellular signals outside of your building or vehicle, amplifies them, and then rebroadcasts the stronger signal inside. This can greatly improve device coverage in your building or vehicle. You might use a booster if you need to travel outside your current location before you start seeing any signal improvement.

Just like most things, boosters do have their limits. If you experience very weak signals (e.g., between -108dB and -120dB), it will be difficult to determine exactly how much signal improvement you’ll receive. The weaker your starting signal is — meaning where your external antenna is mounted — the less signal rebroadcast coverage area you’ll experience. In some cases, you may need to stay within a few feet of your inside antenna to receive a boosted signal.

Cellular Antennas

A cellular antenna is a device that amplifies the signal received by your cellular device, allowing you to stay connected in areas with weak coverage. These antennas can be installed on your home, office building, or vehicle. They are typically used for connecting a single cellular device with an external antenna port. Amplifier/signal booster kits will also use antennas to receive signals from cell towers, and rebroadcast them to cellular devices.

How a Signal Booster Kit or an Antenna Can Benefit Poor Signals

Both cellular antennas and signal boosters can be great solutions for those who live or work in areas with weak cellular coverage. They can improve call quality, prevent dropped calls, and increase internet speeds, making it easier to stay connected. If you’re experiencing issues with your cellular coverage and your site survey has confirmed a poor cellular signal, consider investing in a cellular antenna or a signal booster. These devices can significantly affect your ability to stay connected and are cost-effective solutions for those living or working in areas with poor coverage.

Amplifier System or Antenna: How to Choose

How do you know which solution is best for you? We suggest verifying where you have the best signal strength and bandwidth speeds. If that location is under 100 feet, then a cellular antenna should be a sufficient solution. In the event that the better signal is over 100 feet away, you will likely need an amplifier.

If you have only one device, go with a direct-connect booster. For more than one device, a repeater kit will be capable of boosting the signal wirelessly to multiple devices at the same time. An important fact to note about antennas is that you will want to keep the cable length to a minimum. This is because the longer the cable, the more signal you will lose.

5Gstore has a variety of cellular antennas and all-in-one amplifier kits from well-respected manufacturers like SureCall, Panorama, weBoost, Wilson, and others. These products are available in many different price points for building, vehicle, or M2M/IoT use. These systems can also be tailored to your specific mounting needs, such as pole mount, magnetic mount on cars or RVs, or wall mount.

Need Help? 5Gstore Can Help!

Still not sure what you need to improve your cellular signals? Have more questions about repeaters and/or antennas? Check out our repeater FAQ page and learn more about how to find a matching antenna on our website.

You can also check in directly with the experts at 5Gstore.com. We’re available Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST via phone, email, or chat.

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How Do I Perform a Cellular Site Survey?

When it comes to boosting cellular signal, it can be extremely helpful to perform a site survey. This is a simple cellular network strength test of signal and bandwidth.

Verifying where you have the best signal and bandwidth speeds first, will not only help determine the ideal placement for your external antenna, but that there is enough available signal to increase network performance. Even the best outdoor antenna or amplifier kit can only increase your signal if there is a signal available to draw in. On the other hand, if your signal is already strong, a signal booster might not provide enough benefit to be cost effective.

While this is mainly done for fixed applications. such as at your home or business. You may also do this if you’re traveling and planning to stay in the same location for an extended period. 

There are tools like the SureCall Site Survey kit which is made specifically for testing signal strength. However, unless you need an easy way to test multiple carrier signals, a cell phone or cellular modem can be sufficient. Cell phones will, of course, be limited to only the carrier they are linked to. Though if you have a cellular modem – Peplink, Cradlepoint, Digi, Inseego, Sierra Wireless, etc – you can test any carrier for which you have an active SIM card. 

Before you get started, it’s important you understand the data you’re looking for. RSSI, (Received Signal Strength Indicator), as well as RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power). These are both values that measure signal strength. RSRP is what you will want to refer to when looking at LTE and 5G signals. These signal values will be represented as a negative number. The closer this number is to 0, the stronger the signal strength. 

Also note the RSRQ (Received Signal Received Quality) and SINR (Signal to Noise Ratio). These values are what you’ll refer to for the signal quality of LTE and 5G connections. The SINR value will be the only value that is a positive number. Not all modems will list this value.  

Each of these values varies for different technologies and carriers as they depend on the particular abilities of the modem – essentially how well it can extract a signal. The values shown in the charts here are what we typically reference. 

We cannot guarantee a particular signal or improved performance, regardless of the signal strength and quality.  This is because of the many factors which affect signal values. Such as:

  • Distance to the cell tower.
  • Tower load.
  • Physical barriers (mountains, buildings, trains, etc).
  • Competing signals.
  • Signal from a cellular booster.
  • Weather.  

Unfortunately, there is no clear cut answer to what constitutes a successful connection. It is possible to disconnect with excellent, as well as poor values. You have to take both signal strength and signal quality into account. You could have an excellent signal, but disconnect because of poor quality. And vice versa. You may also stay connected because of good signal, but have poor bandwidth speeds because of poor signal quality. 

The variance of a signal is a significant factor in the success of a connection. Measurements of signal strength and signal quality for a specific moment do not reflect on the stability of a connection, as these values will vary as conditions change. 

Some factors, like cell tower load, can’t even be measured. You can only gain some idea as to whether or not tower load affects your connection by testing at different times of day. This allows you to find averages, but also helps to confirm if you’ll see any improvement when the tower is at full load.  

We understand that finding RSRP and RSRQ on a cell phone could be a bit tricky compared to cellular modems and routers. Some phones will only list RSRP. In the event you cannot locate these specific values from your cellular device, doing a site survey using the signal bars as a reference is fine. At a minimum, the signal bars will give you some data to compare with. It’s also best if you can perform speed tests in multiple points at the location. This can help determine if bandwidth performance improves. Especially when you’re not seeing a change in signal bars. 

To perform the site survey, try to answer the following, as best you can.

  • What is the RSRP indoors, at the location you use your device?
  • At that location, what are your speeds? You can use a site like speedtest.net to check your download and upload speeds.
  • What is the best RSRP you could find immediately outside and around the building?
  • At that location outside, what are your speed test results?
  • If the signal outside the building is not significantly better than it is inside, walk or drive in the direction of a better signal until you find a significantly better signal. At that location, what are your speedtest results?
  • What’s between you and that optimal signal? Trees? Elevation? How far away is it?  

For your reference, you can find instructions for locating your RSRP and RSRQ/ SINR on the Apple iPhone, Samsung, Google, Blackberry, and Nokia phones here.  

For different router instructions, check out our YouTube Channel.

If you have more questions, or would like assistance determining if an antenna or amplifier system can help you, reach out to our team by phone, email, or chat!

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