DIY: Cellular Repeater

Improve the reception of your cell phone indoors with a cellular repeater.

If you have poor cell phone reception inside your home or office, but you get a good signal outside the building, you may benefit from a cellular repeater. This device uses a small antenna on the outside of your building, aimed at the nearest cell phone tower. A cable travels from the antennae to a signal booster inside your home or office. Once inside, you will be able to have the similar high level of reception that you have outdoors.

Things You'll Need

• Cell phone booster and antenna
• Ladder
• Drill
• Drill bits
• Pliers

Instructions

1. Locate your nearest cell tower. Call your cell phone provider and ask them for the location of the cell phone tower that's nearest to your home.

2. Install the external antenna. Drill holes for the antenna mounting bracket on your roof or chimney, using the bracket as a template. Bolt the bracket to the roof using a pair of pliers. Mount the mast of the antenna to the bracket. Connect the long data cable (from the kit) to the antenna.

3. Aim the antenna toward the location of your nearest cell phone tower.

4. Run the cable into the house through a hole in the exterior wall, into the room where you would like to house the signal booster.

5. Install the indoor signal booster. Connect the data cable to the signal repeater (large metal box) and plug in the repeater to the nearest outlet. Raise the small indoor antenna.

6. Check your reception for clarity in the areas of use. If your reception is still not as good as you would like, move the indoor repeater antenna into another room, where the reception may improve.

References

• Repeater Store
• Wireless Coverage Solutions
• Powerful Signal