It not uncommon to lose your cell phone signal for miles when driving through rural areas. But in many cases, this can be remedied with a car cell phone booster. Extending your cell signal is not only convenient but also smart, as it reduces the chance that you find yourself stranded roadside without communication. These are our picks for the most effective mobile cell signal repeaters for cars, trucks, and RVs.
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1. weBoost Drive 4G-X Cell Phone Booster Kit
Pros:- High transmit power
- Improves phone battery life
- Supports up to 4 users
Cons:- High price tag
- Internal wires are cumbersome
- Outdoor antenna tricky to position
weBoost is a top name in car cell phone signal boosters and their weBoost Drive 4G-X represents their highest tier of consumer tech. It boosts your cell phone’s receiving signal by 50 dB and supports a high data transfer rate for up to four phones being used inside your car.
The 4G-X works the same way most car cell signal boosters do. It comes with a low-profile external antenna that connects to an amplifier and internal flat antenna to strengthen nearby voice/messaging, 3G, and 4G LTE signals.
The internal antenna is small enough to be easily tucked out of sight and it comes with an adhesive mounting kit to install down low, up high, or wherever is convenient. The exterior antenna is magnetic and holds firm in the roughest of conditions. It can be a hassle to position, though, since it must be kept distant from other antennas and windows.
The signal booster amplifies signal bands from all major U.S. carriers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Straight Talk, and U.S. Cellular. Sprint can be boosted to an extent but won’t see benefits everywhere because of government regulations. It has a max uplink figure of 21.8 dBm, which means it can boost your outgoing cell receiving signal a considerable amount.
Once you’ve figured out how to wire this signal booster kit without altering the feng shui of your car, then you simply have to plug it into your car’s accessory port to start getting an average of two additional bars wherever there is a signal to amplify.
Because the device can only amplify distant signals, you do have to have some minimal signal present. Where it is able to do so, you have the benefit of improved coverage and longer battery life on your phone, as it doesn’t idly drain its battery trying to pick up a weak signal.
Find more weBoost Drive 4G-X Cell Phone Booster Kit information and reviews here.
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2. SmoothTalker Mobile X6 Pro
Pros:- Amplifies cellular signals by 50dB
- Supports multiple users
- 2-year warranty
Cons:- Large external antenna
- Bulky patch antenna clamp
- Does not support Sprint networks
The SmoothTalker’s Mobile X6 Pro is a heavy-duty signal booster that is designed to boost 4G and LTE signals on inside full-size RVs. Its 14-inch magnetic antenna is somewhat unwieldy but offers commercial strength. The clamp for its patch antenna is pretty bulk as well but this is easy enough to tuck away with the included mounting brackets.
The X6 Pro amplifies 4G LTE and 3G voice calls on all networks except for Sprint bands. The external antenna amplifies existing signals by up to 50dB and the internal antenna extends this signal while staying out of sight. SmoothTalker’s products are also backed by a 2-year warranty, making them a reliable pick for truckers, delivery drivers, and other workers who will be using their car cell phone booster every day.
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3. weBoost Drive 4G-M Cell Phone Booster Kit
Pros:- Supports up to 4 users
- Improves phone battery life
- Compact and durable components
Cons:- Outdoor antenna tricky to position
- Lower max uplink than the 4G-X
- Internal wires are cumbersome
Though the 4G-X is weBoost’s highest performing mobile signal booster, the weBoost Drive 4G-M represents a solid compromise between price and performance for those with lesser signal boosting needs.
Given the considerable price difference between the two, the 4G-M offers surprisingly comparable specs to its bigger brother. Their external antennas both have a max signal gain of 50dB and use the same low-profile magnetic mount design. As a reminder, this needs to be run through a window or moonroof but kept distant from these areas, as they can serve as points of interference with the internal antenna.
The internal antenna is the same flat adhesive style as the 4G-X as well, so it can be easily positioned wherever you need it to be in order to store the larger amplifier unit out of the way. The amplifier unit plugs into your car’s accessory port to complete the installation.
The 4G-M amplifies signals from all major U.S. carriers including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, Straight Talk, U.S. Cellular, and more. Its internal max uplink is 21.8 dBm, which looks pretty close to the max data uplink of the 4G-X but keep in mind that amplification is a logarithmic function so +3 dB equates to a 2x boost in signal power.
Ultimately, this means that the 4G-X is considerably stronger than the 4G-M but if you only lose cell signal in certain parts of your drive, this device may be all you need to prevent calls dropping mid-conversation.
Find more weBoost Drive 4G-M Cell Phone Booster Kit information and reviews here.
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4. weBoost DriveCell Phone Cradle Mount Booster
Pros:- Highest transmit power (25.6 dBm)
- No internal antenna needed
- Improves phone battery life
Cons:- Single user only
- Outdoor antenna tricky to position
- Low max gain on external antenna (23 dB)
If you usually drive solo and only need to boost cellular signals for one phone on the road, then the weBoost DriveCell is one of the best bang-for-your-buck buys. It offers a high max uplink of 25.6 dBm with the caveat that it can only connect to one phone that fits in its signal-boosting cradle.
This car cell phone signal booster kit removes the internal antenna from the equation by connecting its external antenna directly to a phone cradle in your car’s cabin. This is the main reason it can send project your phone’s receiving signal out farther, as it does not have to convert the signal an additional time.
With that said, the DriveCell’s external antenna isn’t as strong as the 4G-X or 4G-M, only offering a max gain of only 23 dB. It is very similar to the external antennas on other kits, as it connects magnetically to the roof of your car and has an overall low profile.
The phone cradle itself connects to the internal amplifier, which most install under their seat to keep out of view. The amplifier plugs into the car accessory port and then makes it easier for your phone to receive signal from most major U.S. carriers. This means less battery consumption by your phone as it no longer has to constantly scan for weak signals.
The cradle attaches via an included vent mount or it can use your favorite magnetic mount that you already have in your car. Other users in your car will be missing out, but considering the wild price differential, that is a sacrifice that some will readily make.
Find more weBoost DriveCell Phone Cradle Mount Booster information and reviews here.
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5. SureCall Fusion2Go Booster Kit
Pros:- Amplifies cellular signals by 50dB
- Improves phone battery life
- Multi-user support
Cons:- Lacking USB charge out
- Weak internal antenna
- High price tag
The Fusion2Go Booster Kit is SureCall’s most powerful mobile signal booster for cars, amplifying existant voice, text and 4G LTE data signals by 50dB.
As with any signal booster, there does have to be some signal to start with, but the Fusion2Go’s automatic gain control allows them to be boosted up to appropriate levels to reach your whole vehicle cabin.
This antenna can boost call signal strength for multiple passengers, though the one closest to the internal velcro antenna will get the best signal quality. If you are calling from the back seat, you may be out of luck.
Installing this kit doesn’t take long, though you will have to find a smart place to mount the outdoor magnetic antenna, as it does have to be magnetically mounted outside of the car.
The Fusion2Go is definitely a solid option if your setup demands multi-user support, but with a high price tag, it’s far from the best value around. Still, if you must have top of the line gear, this certainly qualifies.
Find more SureCall Fusion2Go Booster Kit information and reviews here.
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6. SolidRF MobileForce Cell Phone Booster
Pros:- Works with all 4G/3G/2G networks
- Improves phone battery life
- Amplifies cellular signals by 70dB
Cons:- No charge out port
- Weak transmit power
- Bulky
The MobileForce Cell Phone Booster is SolidRF’s mobile solution to spotty signals on the backcountry roads. This compact device installs into your car cabin easily and hooks into your car’s accessory power slot to power up its amplifier unit and boost incoming network signals.
SolidRF claims that their device can boost signals by up to 70dB, near the maximum level allowed by the FCC. In real-world conditions, most users see a boost of about 20 to 30dB, which is still enough to make a difference.
The automatic gain control ensures that the unit is working optimally at all times, even though the internal antenna might not always reach the very back of your car cabin.
Even if you get just a small boost though, your phone will benefit greatly, as the battery saved from not constantly searching for a signal can give you up to two additional hours of talk-time. Just get the external magnetic antenna set up, mount the interior antenna on the dashboard, and you will be all set to take your calls to new places.
Find more SolidRF MobileForce Cell Phone Booster information and reviews here.
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7. Phonetone 4G Mobile Repeater Vehicle Kit
Pros:- Amplifies cellular signals by 45dB
- Slim-profile internal antenna
- Supports multiple users
Cons:- Comes with way more cable length than it needs
- Amplifies 4G band only
- Limited mounting support
Phonetone’s 4G signal booster is remarkably cheaper than other options, which may make some wary of its quality. This budget antenna isn’t perfect but it offers solid signal amplification for 4G LTE wireless.
Installation is fairly straightforward and once you have all the components mounted, then you can set the device to dynamically adjust its signal gain based on the surrounding wireless networks’ strength.
The internal flat antenna can be adhered to anywhere on your dashboard. You will have a harder time tucking away the amplifier itself, which is of considerable size like other models. It requires some cable management within your cab, but it should be easy enough to figure it out.
The external antenna is also adhesive-mounted so you will have to employ some creativity to get it outside of your car while keeping it wired into the amplifier. It will likely have to go through a window unless you basically take a door panel apart.
That said, this model still supports multiple concurrent users and gives you a great bang for your buck, so there is not much more to ask from Phonetone at this value price.
Find more Phonetone 4G Mobile Repeater Vehicle Kit information and reviews here.
Do Car Cell Phone Boosters Really Work?
A cell phone signal booster for your car can be a very useful investment but you must do some careful research to actually get any use out of these portable signal repeaters.
That's because a mobile cell signal booster basically serves as your own personal cell tower repeater, only specially designed to interact with your provider's bandwidth. You are advised to speak with a rep from your provider to make sure that a signal booster will benefit you on your regular routes.
Another thing to note is that signal boosters require a line of sight to the nearest cell tower. After all, if you want to boost a signal there has to be a signal to pick up in the first place.
Because these cell phone boosters can potentially interfere with federally-controlled broadcast space, the FCC requires you to register any signal boosting devices with your wireless provider. But don't be discouraged by this fact. It is easy to do.
If you regularly travel in the countrysides, it is almost guaranteed that a car cell phone booster will come in handy, especially if you are on a less robust cellular network.
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