Today we're talking through all of the solutions that can improve weak cellular signal for

small, medium and large buildings.

Let's get to it.

It's been 30 years since cellular was introduced and many of us are still struggling with poor

cellular reception.

And, with 5G nearing deployment, predictions suggest in-building coverage could get worse.

There are three main solutions that can help those of us who are using cellular devices

in buildings; femtocells, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and signal boosters.

Femtocells are the go-to solution for many carriers whose customers struggle with in-building

cellular connectivity.

In short, these devices resolve the issue by creating a hotspot in your home that backhauls

to the internet to allow you to make calls from your mobile phone.

A few key elements of a Femtocells are first, they're specific to one carrier, second,

they allow as many as 4 simultaneous users, third, they come with a monthly fee and, fourth,

they tend to cover small spaces of one-to-two rooms.

We typically suggest these for very small spaces that have no outside or nearby signal

but have access to a reliable internet.

DAS, specifically Active DAS, is the suggested solution for large and enterprise buildings

over 500,000-square-feet with a high count of simultaneous users.

The reason this is the chosen solution for larger venues is because it connects directly

to the carriers network so the cellular sites in the area don't get overloaded.

Because this solution connects directly to the carrier's network, it requires the approval

of all carriers supported by the system.

This can be expensive and time-consuming, which is why Active DAS is most often the

in-building cellular solution of choice for very large buildings.

Signal Boosters, which are classified as Passive DAS, are the most common solution for buildings

between 5 and 500,000 square-feet for reasons of cost, flexibility, performance

and turnaround time for installation.

Signal boosters work by capturing the signal outside of the building, amplifying the strength

of the signal and retransmitting it inside of the house or building.

If only I had one I could show you...

Signal boosters are carrier agnostic, which means they will work across all five-bands

to cover all frequencies used by all North American cellular providers.

That includes, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, Telus, Bell, Boost Mobile, Sasktel.

Well, you get the point.

The cost of these solutions can range from a few hundred dollars for a small-to-average

sized home or office to just over one-thousand for larger buildings.

Installation for a small home or office can be completed by a DIY'er in just a few hours

and a certified installer can install the system into a mid-sized home or office in

one day with larger buildings completed in under a week's time.

If you have no outside or nearby signal, a signal booster will not be the best choice

for you.

On the other hand, if you have a usable outside signal and need coverage for multiple carriers

or need a cost and time effective solution for a building between 50 and 500,000 square

feet, a signal booster will be a great, low-maintenance choice.

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