UPDATED FOR 22/23: Do you need a cellular signal meter?

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Cell phone signal boosters are turning out to be a really hot product this season at Solid Signal. Whether you decide you want one for an RV or watercraft, a home or business, the one thing we can all agree on is that we all want better cell service. That’s why I decided to revisit this article I wrote years ago and give the latest advice. My advice has changed a little from previous years, so even if you think you’ve read this article, it may be a good idea to give it another look.

Ready? Let’s go

If you’re looking for a cell phone signal booster, you’re probably wondering just how bad your cell signal is. That’s where something like the WilsonPRO CellLinq will really come in handy. It will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about your cell service. But let’s be honest, are you going to use it more than once?

For years, I gave the advice that average folks did not need a cell meter. I gave some reasons that I thought were pretty good. The biggest one was that pretty much every cell phone has some sort of signal meter that you can see. In the last ten years, I’ve realized that I’ve been giving you bad advice. I’ve had to eat my words. iPhones are pretty unreliable ways of measuring cell signal. The built-in cell meter gets broken with about every other operating system upgrade. Today, it’s slow and hard to understand without a deep dive into how cell service is measured.

Android phones are better in this regard, and there are some decent free apps to show you your signal. But, as good as these apps are, they still have some issues. They only measure one type of signal and it’s the one from your personal cell phone carrier. In other words, if you have an AT&T phone, it’s only measuring AT&T signal. That’s fine if you’re only doing this for yourself but if you’re doing something for you and your friends, you’re getting incomplete information.

Here’s what I suggest

That’s why I do now suggest that anyone who wants to know what’s going on with their cell signals consider buying a meter. And, this is the meter that I’m suggesting. Yes, I know it’s expensive. Yes, I know you won’t use it more than a few times. But, if it’s something in your budget, I really suggest you consider it.

Friends, this meter is designed for people who make a living out of installing cellular signal boosters. If you’re an electrician, home theater installer or anyone whose paycheck depends on installing electrical equipment, this is a great device to have in your bag. You’re going to be traveling to different customers, doing a full survey to figure out where to put a cellular antenna and most importantly you don’t ever want to come back because the booster isn’t working “as advertised.” If you’re that kind of person, a meter goes from being an expensive toy to being a must-have, pretty quickly. Just trying to use your phone isn’t going to cut in in a professional situation.

What a meter will let you do

A cell meter like this is going to give you a lot of information. It’s going to tell you the location of all the cell towers around you. That’s going to help you place the outdoor antenna. No matter how you measure cellular signal, the placement of the outdoor antenna is very, very important. It’s not good enough to just put it up on the roof and hope for the best. The antenna should be up at least 15 feet from the indoor antenna for the best results, and you should look at different sites to figure out where you’ll get the best reception. Even though a cell booster is very strong, you want to start with the strongest possible signal. Once you get up on the roof you may find there are areas where you get two or three bars where you were getting one bar down on the ground. This is usually due to trees between you and the towers. Dense foliage can really cut down on cell signals.

A good meter is also going to let you do before and after measurements. Cell phone “bars” are a really confusing way of knowing what you’re going to get. Here’s a bit more about that. One of the most frustrating parts of the cell phone signal booster process is that sometimes you put one in and you don’t see a difference in the bar measurement on your phone. In a case like that, your cell booster probably is doing a lot of good but it’s hard to tell. A report from a reliable cell meter will put your mind at ease.

Get the cell phone signal booster you need

When you’re ready to shop for a cellular booster, take a look at the selection at Solid Signal and if you have questions, be sure to call us at 888-233-7563 and we’ll be happy to recommend the solution that’s best for you! We’re here during East Coast business hours. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below! We’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.

About the Author

Stuart Sweet
Stuart Sweet is the editor-in-chief of The Solid Signal Blog and a "master plumber" at Signal Group, LLC. He is the author of over 10,000 articles and longform tutorials including many posted here. Reach him by clicking on "Contact the Editor" at the bottom of this page.