If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’re probably convinced that cell phone boosters are a great idea. They’re real, they work, and they’re not that expensive. I certainly don’t need to sell you on the idea of having better signal, and cell phone signal boosters provide it. They take weak signal from outside, amplify it, and pump it back to you inside. It’s that simple.
If you’re putting together a cell booster system you’ll be happy to know that consumer cell phone booster systems are required by law to give you everything you need. You’ll get cables, antennas, whatever it takes to install on the average building. But let’s say you’re thinking bigger. Commercial customers often upgrade their systems with more antennas or different antennas. That’s where this article comes in.
Simple cell boosters make a lot out of antennas like this:
This is an omnidirectional antenna, or “omni.” You don’t have to aim it. It picks up signals from every direction. This means easier installation for homeowners. Omnis are also used on vehicles and boats because you never know what direction you’ll be facing. Omnis are a good choice, but there are better choices. An omni will pick up all cell signals “pretty well.” But it won’t pick up all cell signals “really well.”
A lot of cell boosters have outdoor antennas that look like this:
This is a “yagi” antenna. Dr. Yagi is one of the inventors. There’s a story about that, and if you’re interested, read it here. A yagi antenna is directional: it picks up signals really well from one direction. If you were to look at the inside of this antenna, it would look something like this:
There would be a series of posts and one of them sould look thicker or have a cable coming from them. In a yagi antenna, there are a lot of parts that focus the signal on one point. That point pulls in all the signal and it does it pretty well. You’ll find Yagi-style antennas in use in TV, cell phone, pretty much anywhere you need good reception of signals under about 5,000MHz.
This antenna looks a lot like a yagi, but it isn’t.
If you looked inside it, it would look pretty much like a yagi too (photo found on internet, it’s not this actual antenna.)
It would look like a series of poles. The difference is that each pole is its own antenna. Rather than pointing all the signal at one point, a log-periodic antenna is actually several antennas working together. Each pole will pick up one frequency really well. The result is that an LPDA is going to be the most sensitive type of antenna. It’s also going to be the most expensive.
If you shop for LPDA antennas for cellular use, you’ll find them to be pretty expensive. They’re the best at what they do, and also the hardest to manufacture. So does your cell booster need one?
The general answer for most people is “no.” Generally speaking a yagi antenna will be sensitive enough to pick up the signals you need. I would recommend an LPDA for those areas with particularly weak signal. I’d also recommend them for very large installations. When you’re installing a large cell booster system, the area you can cover often depends on the amount of signal you have in the first place. That’s where an LPDA will help you. If you’re just a regular person in a suburb, there’s no point in investing in an LPDA most of the time.
If you’re looking to get better signal indoors (and who isn’t?) shop the great selection at Solid Signal. You’ll find all the best brands for home, work, and even on your vehicle. If you’re looking for something custom, or you need a boost in a really big space, let the experts help! We have engineers at the ready who can help design the perfect system for whatever you need. Call us at 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get right back to you!
The post Does your cell booster need an LPDA? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
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If you’re putting together a cell booster system you’ll be happy to know that consumer cell phone booster systems are required by law to give you everything you need. You’ll get cables, antennas, whatever it takes to install on the average building. But let’s say you’re thinking bigger. Commercial customers often upgrade their systems with more antennas or different antennas. That’s where this article comes in.
LPDA, Yagi, and Omni – the terms you need to know
Omni antennas
Simple cell boosters make a lot out of antennas like this:
This is an omnidirectional antenna, or “omni.” You don’t have to aim it. It picks up signals from every direction. This means easier installation for homeowners. Omnis are also used on vehicles and boats because you never know what direction you’ll be facing. Omnis are a good choice, but there are better choices. An omni will pick up all cell signals “pretty well.” But it won’t pick up all cell signals “really well.”
Yagi antennas
A lot of cell boosters have outdoor antennas that look like this:
This is a “yagi” antenna. Dr. Yagi is one of the inventors. There’s a story about that, and if you’re interested, read it here. A yagi antenna is directional: it picks up signals really well from one direction. If you were to look at the inside of this antenna, it would look something like this:
There would be a series of posts and one of them sould look thicker or have a cable coming from them. In a yagi antenna, there are a lot of parts that focus the signal on one point. That point pulls in all the signal and it does it pretty well. You’ll find Yagi-style antennas in use in TV, cell phone, pretty much anywhere you need good reception of signals under about 5,000MHz.
LPDA (log-periodic dipole array) antennas
This antenna looks a lot like a yagi, but it isn’t.
If you looked inside it, it would look pretty much like a yagi too (photo found on internet, it’s not this actual antenna.)
It would look like a series of poles. The difference is that each pole is its own antenna. Rather than pointing all the signal at one point, a log-periodic antenna is actually several antennas working together. Each pole will pick up one frequency really well. The result is that an LPDA is going to be the most sensitive type of antenna. It’s also going to be the most expensive.
The real question
If you shop for LPDA antennas for cellular use, you’ll find them to be pretty expensive. They’re the best at what they do, and also the hardest to manufacture. So does your cell booster need one?
The general answer for most people is “no.” Generally speaking a yagi antenna will be sensitive enough to pick up the signals you need. I would recommend an LPDA for those areas with particularly weak signal. I’d also recommend them for very large installations. When you’re installing a large cell booster system, the area you can cover often depends on the amount of signal you have in the first place. That’s where an LPDA will help you. If you’re just a regular person in a suburb, there’s no point in investing in an LPDA most of the time.
Looking for a cell phone booster system?
If you’re looking to get better signal indoors (and who isn’t?) shop the great selection at Solid Signal. You’ll find all the best brands for home, work, and even on your vehicle. If you’re looking for something custom, or you need a boost in a really big space, let the experts help! We have engineers at the ready who can help design the perfect system for whatever you need. Call us at 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get right back to you!
The post Does your cell booster need an LPDA? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
