Having a reliable cell signal wherever you go is no longer a luxury but a necessity. A recent study done by Ericson shows that mobile network traffic has almost doubled from Q1 2022 to Q1 2023, and the numbers indicate this trend will do nothing but grow.
Most smartphone use is done indoors. Unfortunately, using your cell phone indoors can have a negative effect on your cell signal performance depending on your location and regardless of which carrier you choose.
In-building wireless solutions are designed to boost your cellular signal across your entire premises, so employees, clients, and visitors always have a reliable cellular signal connection.
In this article, we will discuss what an in-building wireless solution is, how they work, and the benefits of adopting this wonderful technology in your organization.
Table of contents
The Basics of In-Building Wireless Solutions
In-building wireless solutions include cellular das (cellular distributed antenna system), cellular boosters, or cell phone signal boosters.
What is an In-building Wireless Solution?
A cell phone signal booster is a communication solution that allows you to boost cellular signal inside your premises by enhancing and distributing it throughout your building.
To ensure your cell phone signal booster works correctly, your provider must carefully design, install, engineer, and modify the system depending on your specific requirements and building specifications.
Without a cellular das or cellular boosting solution in place, your signal will be unstable, resulting in dropped calls, decreased productivity, customer dissatisfaction, and more.
How Do Cell Phone Signal Boosters Work?
Cell phone signal boosters work similarly as your Wi-Fi does. You're in-building wireless solution takes the existing signal on-site or nearby and distributes it even to the most remote corner of your organization without the need to update or modify your existing business phones.
The Role of Your Cell Provider
The signal from the nearest tower must reach every part of your building and materials such as glass, concrete, wood, and plastic create interference and have a negative effect on the quality of your signal, regardless of what provider you choose.
If you are in an area in which the nearest cell tower is far away, your cell signal will be unreliable and slow. Even if you are in a metropolitan area where strong cellular signals are supposed to be available, people, other buildings, electrical towers, skyscrapers, and a bunch of other factors can create interference that negatively affects your cell signal performance.
The Reasons Behind Bad Cell Service
The Distance Between You and The Nearest Cell Tower
The farther the cell tower is from your business, the harder it’s going to be to have a good signal. If your nearest cell tower is miles away, the chances of you having a good cellular signal are slim to none because you’ll only rely on the amount of signal that your phone is able to capture.
Mother Nature
Mother nature is one of the main reasons for bad cell service. Natural disasters, rain, hills, mountains, and even heavy vegetation can hinder your signal and have a negative impact on your productivity.
Building Materials
The amount of available signal can depend on the material your building and surrounding areas were built on. Here you have a list of the most common materials that cause bad cell service.
Glass Windows
Concrete Walls
Drywalls
Solid Pine
Venetian Plaster
Solid Wood Doors
Low-e glass window
Brick
Fiberglass
½ Plywood
Solid Oak
Hollow Wooden Doors
Network Traffic
In crowded urban areas, where numerous individuals are engaged in calls, social media activities, and file transfers, it is not unusual for the cellular signal to be sluggish or even absent.
Have you ever tried sending a text message inside a concert or mass event just to discover that it's not possible? Well, that is network traffic saturation doing its work.
Glass or Windows
There is a common belief that moving next to a window will boost your network signal but let me tell you that’s not the case. Most buildings use Low-E glass on their windows in their buildings thanks to its capability to block high levels of light entering your building.
Unfortunately, Low-E glass is also a reason for bad cell service thanks to the coating of metal oxide, which is the same material that prevents light from entering your building.
Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass insulation is not dense when compared to other blockers such as concrete, brick, or steel, but it is still composed of other materials that repel your signal.
How to Measure the Quality of My Cellular Signal
The reality is that if you want an accurate measurement of how good your signal is you’ll need to hire a professional.
Cellular signals are measured in decibels (dmB) and the signals can range from –30dmb to –110dmb, the closer the decibels are to zero, the better signal you have. According to industry standards having a –85dmb signal is considered a good quality signal.
Measuring the strength of your signal with the signal bars of your cellphone is not a good idea since there is no industry standard for how many decibels a bar represents and the number of bars that you see will vary depending on your carrier.
How Do I Know If My Business Needs a Cell Phone Signal Booster?
If you are not sure if you need an in-building wireless solution for your organization, ask yourself the following questions.
Do you have any dropped calls, lost connection, or poor audio and video quality on-site?
Is your signal better when you go outside? Is it easier to download files, make calls, and send text when you are in an open area?
Are you in an area where the nearest cell tower is far away?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, a cell phone signal booster will definitely help.
How to Improve Cell Signal
Minimize Interference
Reducing electromagnetic interference is crucial to ensure your signal travels gracefully throughout your building. To do this, keep your Wi-Fi, routers, and other wireless devices away from areas where cellular signal is used on a regular basis.
Perform a Site Survey
A site survey will allow you to discover if the signal of your nearest outdoor tower is strong enough for your building. Professionals use a cell signal meter to accurately locate and test the intensity of nearby cell towers.
Get an In-building Wireless Solution
Installing a cell signal repeater system provided by BTI is a highly effective solution for boosting cell signal strength in your organization. Our advanced solutions are designed to meet the requirements of businesses across various industries. With our customizable solutions, we have successfully installed our systems in a wide range of venues, ensuring reliable cell signal coverage.
BTI: The In-building Wireless Solutions Provider Near Me
Are you ready to have a reliable signal 24/7? Contact us today and we’ll create a customized cellular boosting solution that fits your specific needs and budget!
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