How to fix poor 4G signal reception at your office

For employees and managers of any business, it is very important to always stay in touch. The lack of a quality connection leads to the loss of customers, disruption of transactions, and unpleasant consequences for the business. However, there are situations when the office is gradually surrounded by new commercial buildings under construction or residential buildings, and the cellular signal disappears over time, and then there is a need to strengthen the signal. In this article, we will consider how you can increase the 4G signal in the office.

Top reasons for weak 4G signal in the office

Any mobile signal belongs to the short-wave electromagnetic range. The main advantage of this type of radio communication is the ability to transmit a large amount of information over a relatively narrow channel. However, there are also unavoidable disadvantages:

1. The signal propagates only within the line of sight. Unlike long waves, it does not go beyond the horizon – the very bulge of the Earth serves as a screen.
2. The signal is absorbed by a range of obstacles ranging from terrain (hills, mountains, etc.) to vegetation or structures (reinforced concrete buildings, metal roofs, etc.).
3. Distance. The strength of any radio signal drops inversely with the square of the distance to it (the “inverse square law”). An increase in distance by a factor of 3 leads to signal attenuation by a factor of 9.
4. Radio noise. In addition to 4G, television operates in similar frequency ranges, there may also be interference from operating devices, etc. As a result, the noise on the antenna of a mobile device may be more powerful than a useful radio signal – and digital equipment simply will not perceive distorted 4G as useful information. Experts call this “signal-to-noise ratio” (SINR).

Ways to boost the 4G signal in the office

Despite the rapid development of technology, the signal quality on modems and telephones sometimes does not suit users. To fix this, in places with poor signal from mobile operators, a well-chosen cellular amplifier provides stable data reception and transmission.

There are several ways to boost a weak 4G signal:

1. With the help of a repeater – a two-way transceiver amplifier. This method is good for tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices.
2. Using a modem or router equipped with an external antenna. This is more suitable for fixed and semi-fixed equipment (computers, laptops, etc.).
3. Change the point where the device is located (more precisely, its antenna). Since the 4G signal is emitted by an array of antennas, the radiation interferes and forms a complex structure of areas with high and low signal levels (Fresnel zones) in space. Sometimes literally a couple of meters from each other there are points, in one of which the reception and transmission are normal, in the other level it is too weak.
4. Change operator. In the same area, the signal quality of different operators may differ. This is because the transceivers of operators can be located at different points.

Amplification with Router/Modem and External Antenna

If your devices are connected via WI-Fi, you can use the following method:

1. An external mobile antenna is purchased.
2. An external antenna is placed at the point of maximum signal level (taking into account Fresnel zones), while the higher, the better.
3. Using a coaxial cable, the antenna is connected to a compatible router.
4. The router is set to receive. If necessary, a SIM card of the corresponding telecom operator is inserted into it.

Another option is a set of 4G modems and a regular Wi-Fi router. In this case, you need to connect the modem to the router using an adapter and configure it according to the instructions for the equipment.

Amplification with a repeater

If you need to provide not only Internet access, but also a voice signal, or you need to strengthen 4G for all users in a certain area, repeaters are used. This device works as follows:

1. An external antenna picks up (and transmits, since the principle is the same) the signal.
2. It is transmitted to a repeater – an internal transceiver.
3. The repeater amplifies the signal and emits it in the area of ​​its action, and also receives the response.
4. The internal antenna of the subscriber device (for example, a smartphone) receives and transmits information from and to the repeater.

This method provides universal access to 4G, but is usually more expensive than connecting through a router or modem.

Things to consider while choosing a repeater

Repeaters are independent devices, the installation of which does not need to be coordinated with mobile operators. The signal from the base station is picked up by an external antenna, then it is transmitted via a coaxial cable to a repeater, which amplifies the incoming signal and transmits it further along the cable to the internal antennas. 

Places of installation of internal antennas are chosen by the user before their direct installation. The number of antennas depends entirely on the area of ​​the building and its number of stories. The more internal antennas, the more coverage areas with an amplified signal will be provided.

It is recommended to purchase a set of equipment in specialized stores. Specialists, taking into account the characteristics of the building, the existing measurement of the level of the current signal, as well as the geological features of the area, will select the most optimal equipment in terms of technical and operational characteristics. It is also important that the specialists will be able to advise, provide detailed information about the equipment, and, if necessary, install the system and configure it. Amplifying the GSM signal with your own hands is real, but sometimes it’s better to turn to professionals, as they have all the necessary equipment and will do all the work in one day and on a turnkey basis.

Before choosing a signal amplification kit, experts recommend users pay attention to the following conditions:

1. Decide which communication standard your mobile operator works in. It can be GSM, CDMA, UMTS or LTE. Setting the standard is easy – just use special programs for smartphones or PCs.
2. Track the frequencies on which the operator is working and the signal needs to be amplified.

Before choosing a repeater, you need to decide what exactly needs to be improved – voice communication, mobile Internet, or both. A clear understanding of the tasks is required since voice communication and mobile Internet operate at different frequencies.

Final thoughts

An unstable 4G signal should not be an obstacle to communication between employees and customers, as well as interfere with business. For this reason, in the modern world, a considerable number of methods have been invented by which you can amplify the signal. If such a problem exists, first of all, you need to inquire about all possible options for solving it. You can contact UCte for assistance on this matter. The company provides signal boosting solutions based on innovative Cel-FI solutions that are not only fit for 4G network boost but also work with any network type and mobile operator.