NICE AND EASY: What is a “cradle booster?”

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It sounds like something vaguely associated with children, or so you’d think. A cradle booster is the least expensive way to get better cellular signal in your vehicle. Take a look, for example, at the weBoost Drive Sleek 4G/LTE cradle booster. It’s completely portable and requires no permanent installation, yet it will give you better cell service in any vehicle where it’s hooked up. Not only that, it comes at a price you won’t believe.

Why is it called a cradle booster?

If you’re thinking about this kind of cradle:

you’re probably going to be confused. But you’re thinking about “a cradle,” as in a noun. You need to think about “cradle” as in a verb, meaning:

hold gently and protectively (Google definition)

A cradle booster cradles the phone. It holds it and protects it. Early cradle boosters were large and held the phone with big, meaty arms. Today’s cradle boosters are a lot sleeker but still offer protection in case the car moves unexpectedly.

The big difference with a cradle booster

The difference between a cradle booster and other boosters is the amount of power used to get the signal to the phone. It’s much, much less and the whole point is that the phone sits in the cradle. This also makes it a handsfree device and puts it where you can see it for use in maps apps or other stuff like that.

Obligatory nagging: keep your eyes on the road. Don’t stare at the phone when you should be paying attention. Don’t use a phone in the car in a way that’s illegal in your state. Oh, and eat your vegetables. 

It’s all about that one phone

Cradle boosters are also designed to work with one device at a time, as opposed to larger boosters which are designed to handle pretty much all the phones in their vicinity. It’s another way that booster manufacturers can provide a low-cost way for you to get the boost you want without it costing you a lot of money.

Cradle boosters work out perfectly as an accessory for people who drive alone. People in home offices use them too. Some have their own AC adaptors, and others can be used with any generic 12-Volt or USB power supply. They fit situations where there’s only one phone, such as when you’re in the car with babies. So, I suppose they actually do have something to do with babies after all. Wow. Imagine that… a rather neat way to tie up this article. I’m pretty pleased with myself right now.

If you’re looking for a cell phone cradle booster or any sort of cell booster for home, office, or enterprise, check out the great selection of products you’ll find when you shop at Solid Signal.  If you’re not sure which system is right for you, get a free recommendation from our experts. And of course, you can always call us for more information at 888-233-7563, or fill out the form below if it’s after East Coast business hours. A cell booster is a great way to make sure you’re always connected, and the best selection of cell boosters is, of course, at SolidSignal.com.

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.