Cellular signal boosters are great. They take signal from outside and bring in inside. Along the way they amplify that signal about 1,000,000 times before rebroadcasting it. The result is that you don’t have to worry about the fact that your house blocks most of that signal in the first place.
Getting a cell booster is a super smart idea. But when you get it, it’s important that you put it in the right place. You’ll have to make sure you put it somewhere that covers most of your home, and you want the strongest signal right where you use the phone the most.
But can you be too close?
There are a couple of factors at work here. First of all the basic answer is no, there shouldn’t necessarily be a reason that a cell booster wouldn’t work as well if you’re really close to it. But there are some reasons and the real world tends to complicate the way we look at things like radio transmission.
If proximity to the booster were a real concern, there wouldn’t be cradle devices like the weBoost Drive Sleek where the booster were actually touching the phone. If it weren’t possible to do that, well, weBoost wouldn’t do it. That specific booster is designed with low power and with a broadcast design that takes into account the wavelength of the signals.
Wavelength is less of an issue than you think, too
Speaking of wavelength… that’s one reason people think that you can’t be too close to the booster. They think if you’re too close then you somehow won’t get a full wave because the distance between you and the booster is smaller then the length of a single wave. The most important thing to realize here is depending on which band you’re using, the wavelength of a cell signal is between 6 and 15 inches. So if you’re more than a foot away you are certainly not going to be concerned with that.
It is true that the antennas on cell boosters are going to be more effective from a distance because really close up they could potentially have dead spots. So basically if you put your phone right underneath the booster it could get poorer reception. But on the other hand the whole area is flooded with signal so you’re still getting a lot of boost when you’re close, unless you’re completely shielded from the antenna.
One real concern, in fact the only real concern, is putting yourself (not your phone) too close to the booster. It’s still not clear what long-term exposure to high levels of RF will do to you. The signals coming from a booster are a bit stronger that those from a phone. We’re still talking about a fraction of a watt, or about 1/10th the power of an average nightlight. Still, we don’t know. There could be a concern there. I’m certainly not advising anyone to strap a booster to their head and walk around with it.
Choose the right booster for your needs
Cell phone signal boosters come in several sizes and are designed for several different applications. If you need one for a small area, you can get one that will fit almost any budget. On the other hand, there are also massive boosters that can cover huge warehouses. These boosters can work together to create this massive mesh of great service. If you’re ready for a cellular signal booster, check out this page which lays out all your options.
If you need help choosing the right booster, get a free recommendation from real technicians. Only Solid Signal helps you find the best booster for you! If you know what you’re looking for, check out the great selection at Solid Signal.
Referring to the dangers of having your head or body too close to a cell signal booster. I’ve had a signal booster in my van for several weeks. I mounted it behind the front drivers seat on the metal cage that separates the driving compartment from the rear hauling compartment. I sleep in the van while on long trips and often sit in the rear compartment facing the mobile AC unit that I also installed against the front dash board for when the vehicle is off. (It’s July now). So, long story short, My head and left side has been less than six inches from the cell signal booster for almost two weeks on and off. I thought absolutely nothing of it. However, in the last week I have noticed that my left ear, my head, just above the left ear, my left shoulder and beneath my left shoulder under the arm pit all felt sore (all immediately in the location of the mounted signal booster) as if I had slept on that side of my body continuously for two weeks straight. In fact, I believed that’s what it was. But yesterday, I awoke, felt fine, moved to my usual seat, just behind and between the two front seats (directly beside where the booster is mounted), and the left side of my head suddenly began to feel sore again. Then it dawned on me, “omg”. Since I no longer sit beside it (for two days now) all of the symptoms have begun to subside. It has left me concerned as I have no idea if, or what I have done or exposed myself to. I hope nothing, but by my experience, I would suggest staying at least 4 feet from the cell phone signal booster at all times.