Why cell Signal Booster Apps and Stickers Don't Work

Cell signal strength: can it be improved? It’s the #1 issue with every single smartphone user everywhere in the world, as a strong signal allows for clearer communication and faster surfing or texting.

Because of this, many companies have popped up offering solutions that promise to give you more bars. These include signal booster apps you can download and install as well as stickers you can place on your device. But do they really work?

The short answer is: no. We’ll explain why below.

How Cell Signal Strength is Determined

Cell signal strength is actually a very precise, regulated measurement of a cell phone signal. A cell phone signal is actually a radio wave, sent and received from the nearest tower by a cellular phone provider; the closer you are, the stronger it is. That’s why in the middle of a big city you usually have no problem but out in the boondocks it’s very weak (of course, there are other variables such as if you are standing in an office building with very thick walls).

The signal is measured in dB, used to measure sound waves. A signal of -50 dB is maximum strength while a signal of -120 is very weak. This is the same for every cell phone maker or provider all over the world.

However, there is NO standard for the number of “bars” your cell phone will display on the device. Therefore, each carrier may show the signal strength differently. And while there are many apps that can help Android users find their dB signal strength, Apple has recently made it extremely difficult to do so on their new iPhone models.

Signal Booster Apps

You’ve probably heard someone say “there’s an app for that,” and it seems like for most things there is. In this case there are indeed dozens of so-called “signal booster apps,” that promise to give you more bars with a simple tap.

Unfortunately, like most things that sound too good to be true, these apps don’t really work in the way you would want them to. What a signal booster app really does is reset your phone system, which could possibly fix any connection issues, but won’t affect signal strength.

Signal strength on your phone is determined, amongst other things, by the antenna in your phone, your phone’s casing, and distance to the nearest tower; none of which can be modified by software (however, a manufacturer’s software update could possibly improve cell phone signal strength).

You could use an app like OpenSignal, which can help show you stuff like signal strength and distance to the closest tower. But generally, these types of apps should be avoided as they could possibly contain malware, spyware, or adware (be sure to read the reviews before downloading any app).

Signal Booster Stickers

Then there are these metallic-type stickers that, when stuck to your phone, promise to boost a cell signal. These stickers look like some kind of weird ancient rune and must be stuck directly to a battery (which means you can’t use it on an iPhone).

Do they work? Again, this falls in the “too good to be true” category; we ran our own (admittedly unscientific) test, and found a very negligible boost in strength. Another researcher on Quora did a more extensive test with several different phones and sticker brands and found that they actually decreased cell signal strength!

Signal Boosters That Really Work

If you are having difficulty with cell signal strength at home, in your car, at the office, or even on your yacht, there is some good news. You can find, purchase, and install a physical device that will actually work as advertised and boost a cell phone signal.

These signal boosters work because they are specifically designed to accept, amplify, and then transfer the cell phone signal to and from your phone to the nearest tower. They are also completely legal to use.

Essentially, these boosters consist of an outside antenna, an amplifier, and an inside antenna; the outside antenna receives the signal, sends it to the amplifier for a boost, and then the inside antenna distributes it within the desired area (the process is reversed to send back to the tower).

There are very small cell phone signal boosters that are good for a single user in a car all the way up to very large antennas that can be placed on the roof of commercial buildings to get rid of dead spots within.

There are, however, limitations to every type of cell phone signal booster. First, they do not work outside; you can’t wear a signal booster antenna on your head and go camping – not yet, at least. Also, if the signal is too weak, it simply can’t be boosted to a usable level no matter how many amps you give it.

It’s also important to remember that cell signal strength can depend on a lot of factors, including carrier, phone brand, signal booster equipment, and even the construction materials of the building you are standing inside.

Therefore, you need to assess your current cell phone situation by answering a few questions; you should also understand your goals and keep them in line with your budget.

With that in mind, we encourage you to visit Wilson Amplifiers´ best cell phone signal boosters guide for each of the different categories (residential/commercial/auto-RV-boat) they are available for. They give you the perfect choice for each; they also include options for those on a very tight budget as well as for those who desire a professional installation.

So delete those silly cell phone boosting apps and throw away the stickers; instead, head on over to The Complete Cell Phone Booster Signal 2021 Buying Guide and learn everything you need to know about picking the right equipment.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes