Do you have issues with cell phone connectivity, such as dropped calls, at your home or place of work? One of the most frustrating things that many people experience is that they have a weak signal that cannot support good quality calls and data connection speeds. But there is a trick which can help you get better signal on your cell – and that is using a SATTV INTERNET dish!
A satellite dish might be beneficial when it comes to addressing the problem of poor cell phone signal because a dish can amplify weak wireless signals and direct them to a single location. The signals are then amplified and pointed towards a receiver or an antenna positioned at the focus of the parabolic dish. There is potential to boost cell phone signals using a simple satellite TV dish with a little bit of Do It Yourself work.
Things You'll Need
- Satellite dish (the larger the better, especially it should be at least 3 feet wide.
- Cell phone signal booster or repeater kit
- Coaxial cable
- Antennas: a directional antenna for receiving signals, an omnidirectional antenna for indoors
- Mast/pole for fitting of outdoor antenna
- Tools: drill, clamps, wrench, screws/bolts
Step 1: Preparation of the Satellite Dish
The first one is to install your satellite dish right in order to point at the closest cell tower. Ideally, it should be erected on a wall or fence, post or mast, about 5-6 feet above ground level to avoid interference from objects. This means that one should always point the dish towards the nearest cell tower. Screw it firmly to the place it is required.
Step 2: Installation of the Signal Amplifier Hardware
A standard cell phone signal booster kit includes an amplifier, indoor and outdoor antennas and coaxial cables to link the two. Place the outdoor directional antenna to the feed horn of the satellite dish. Connect it to the place indoor where you want to install the amplifier unit from there take the cable to the location. This omni-directional indoor antenna should be mounted on the ceiling. Tie everything together with cables.
Step 3: In order to ensure the satellite dish faces the right direction, a compass is used.
In order to get the best signal transmission, you have to correctly point your satellite dish towards the nearest cell towers. You can download a cell tower locator app or visit a website to discover precisely where the cell towers belonging to your carrier are. With the help of a compass, find out the azimuth direction of the tower concerning your position. Very slowly rotate the dish until the red LNB feed horn is precisely aligned to the position of the tower. Screw it down tightly when positioned correctly.
The next step is to power on the amplifier, this is done by connecting the amplifier to the power source as follows.
Plug your power adapter into the signal amplifier unit to power it up. The device will incorporate gain controls to increase the volume boost. Place the indoor and the outdoor gains slightly below halfway at first. Tweak them to the point where you get the maximum boost in signal without much distortion. Plug in your cell phone to get a new reception that comes with the dish arrangement.
Step 5: Secure & Weatherproof The Equipment
When the satellite dish assembly will be installed outdoors permanently, it is required to make it weather-proof and anchored down for it to withstand the harsh weather conditions. Any holes that may be present in the dish mounts should be sealed with silicone caulk. Next, using the electrical tape, waterproof the end connectors. Fix the mount into position by using guy wires that are buried firmly on the ground to reduce vibration when the wind is blowing. The more secure the outdoor equipment, the longer your cell signal booster would last.
Improving the signal quality for voice and data
Once you have aligned, amplified and firmly secured your satellite dish, you can watch as your cell signal is captured from a distance of over thirty miles away! Put your cell phone close to the indoor antenna for the best reception in areas that you never used to be able to get service in the first place. This is good for improving voice quality during calls with other family members and friends.
It also includes faster 4G LTE data speed for watching videos or use on a phone where you could not before. Say goodbye to spinning loading wheels or dropouts with the help of this satellite cell signal booster!
Potential Enhancements
Some additional upgrades you can make over time to boost performance further include:
- Introducing a low noise preamplifier at the feed point
- The use of one or multiple satellite dishes placed in a vertical manner to enhance directionality.
- Replacing a pole mount with a roof mount to avoid the structure’s swaying.
- LMR-400 coax cable of a higher quality rather than using cables that will contribute to signal loss
Getting better cellular signal at home, office, or distant barn/shed has never been faster or cheaper than re-purposing old satellite dish. Here is how you can benefit from this powerful wireless signal amplification in just a few easy steps: I highly recommend that you use an old dish and try it today!
Ready to upgrade your TV experience? Call us now at (877) 471-4808 to find the perfect Dish Network plan for you! Don’t miss out on great entertainment—our team is here to help you choose the best package and get you started today.