# Cell signal booster? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2018, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-signal-booster/820514 "2018-08-30T11:50:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-signal-booster/820514/21 "2018-08-31T19:18:13Z")
Technically, you’ve hijacked your own thread. A “cell signal booster” is a device which boosts the cell signal. The “MicroCell” you all are describing actually takes your cell signal and routes it over your internet connection. Whether there is any boosting or not I don’t know, but it seems unlikely. A downside to a device like this is that if you are on a metered data plan from your ISP your cell calls will be using up that data. I can’t speak for all carriers, but I am in the same boat and use T-Mobile. After calling their customer service department a few times they offered to send me a cell signal booster. This is a device I must install somewhere and it will pick up what signal it can from the cell tower and retransmit it inside the house getting me (probably) better access. It’s due to be delivered in about 1 week. If this thread is still active I will post results after I’ve installed it and played with it. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-signal-booster/820514/22 "2018-08-31T20:01:49Z")
> [@Lare](#): > > Technically, you’ve hijacked your own thread. A “cell signal booster” is a device which boosts the cell signal. The “MicroCell” you all are describing actually takes your cell signal and routes it over your internet connection. Whether there is any boosting or not I don’t know, but it seems unlikely. > > A downside to a device like this is that if you are on a metered data plan from your ISP your cell calls will be using up that data. > > I can’t speak for all carriers, but I am in the same boat and use T-Mobile. After calling their customer service department a few times they offered to send me a cell signal booster. This is a device I must install somewhere and it will pick up what signal it can from the cell tower and retransmit it inside the house getting me (probably) better access. > > It’s due to be delivered in about 1 week. If this thread is still active I will post results after I’ve installed it and played with it. I understand the difference. With a microcell I’ll be sort of doing what I was doing before with WiFi calling. I’ll be using a local signal to send and receive calls over the internet. The internet connection here isn’t metered and voice doesn’t take a lot of bandwidth anyway. I have a bid in on a secondhand microcell on eBay. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2018, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-signal-booster/820514/23 "2018-09-01T01:32:54Z")
I have installed several Devices made by that company, but they have always been of the roof mount variety. You can improvise a bracket to clamp it to an eave. They have always performed admirably in my experience. I used a signal strength meter app to identify where the best signal was and a small steel plate to try and shroud my phone to get an idea of direction. > > > Check your 4G/5G/Wifi Signal strength or speed at your home/offic... The units I use/install were this model, same manufacturer > **[SureCall Fusion4Home Cell Phone Signal Booster up to 3000 sq ft, Boosts 5G/4G...](https://www.amazon.com/SureCall-Fusion4Home-Signal-Booster-Carriers/dp/B01AWGY57U)** > > Buy SureCall Fusion4Home Cell Phone Signal Booster up to 3000 sq ft, Boosts 5G/4G LTE, Yagi Outdoor Antenna, Home & Office Multi-User All Carrier, Verizon AT&T Sprint T-Mobile, FCC Approved, USA Company at Amazon. Customer reviews and photos may be... Just plugging them in wont save you, you need to find a good signal spot and put the antenna there. Once installed my customers have done nothing but rave about how much better it is. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2018, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-signal-booster/820514/24 "2018-09-01T03:47:12Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > The weird thing is that my S5 had it but my S6 doesn’t. Not sure what’s going on with your phone but the Samsung S6 most certainly supports WiFi calling. > **[Galaxy S6 Edge, Phones Support | Samsung Care US](https://www.samsung.com/us/support/mobile/phones/galaxy-s/galaxy-s6-edge/)** > > Samsung Care is here to help you with your Galaxy S6 Edge. Get started, find helpful content and resources, and do more with your Samsung product. Depending on your provided, you may need to tell customer service to enable some underlying technology on your account first. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-signal-booster/820514/25 "2018-09-01T15:43:28Z")
I was very happy with hiboost. I say was, because only got a month of use out of it before the Spring fire. [https://www.walmart.com/ip/Home-4k-Cell-Phone-Signal-Booster-for-Homes-Residences-4000-sq-ft-Coverage-Area/332793704](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Home-4k-Cell-Phone-Signal-Booster-for-Homes-Residences-4000-sq-ft-Coverage-Area/332793704) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-signal-booster/820514.md?page=1)