Signal Solutions
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Frequently Asked

Questions

If you've got questions about mobile signal enhancement and how it works, you're in the right place!

General

There are a number of restrictions when it comes to boosting mobile signal in the UK. We’ve put together a quick video that explores your options when it comes to boosting mobile signal outdoors.
Yes. Don’t worry if you want to change networks… we can sort it.

The Cel-Fi boosters that power all of our Amplifi-Qx solutions can usually be reconfigured remotely. However, we may also need to adjust the external antenna by directing it at the relevant cell site to pick up the best possible donor signal for the new network. This will require a site visit.

If you need us to reconfigure your booster for a new network, this is included in your maintenance package and will be free of charge.

If you don’t have a maintenance package, and we have to come to site, there will be a call out charge, starting from £299.00 + VAT. Just get in touch and we can get you booked in.
If your booster needs to be moved to a new building – this will require a signal solution redesign and a professional installation.

You may need additional equipment, especially if your new building is larger than the original building. We will need to carry out a site visit to take signal readings and plan your new Amplifi-Qx design. We can then provide you with an estimate and probable timescales.

If you need to move your booster, for whatever reason, don’t panic. Give us a call and we can work it out.
Yes, bad weather can affect mobile signal strength and quality. Mobile signals are transmitted through radio waves, which can be impacted by various weather conditions.

Rain and humidity: Heavy rainfall and high humidity can cause signal attenuation or weakening, especially for higher-frequency signals used in mobile communications. Raindrops and water vapour in the air can absorb and scatter radio waves, leading to a reduction in signal strength.

Snow and ice: Snow and ice can accumulate on cell towers, antennas, and other network equipment, potentially disrupting the transmission and reception of signals. Additionally, snowfall can cause signal scattering, which weakens the signal strength.

Fog: Dense fog can impact the propagation of radio waves, especially at higher frequencies. This can result in signal attenuation, which weakens the signal strength.

Thunderstorms: Lightning can cause electromagnetic interference, which can disrupt mobile signal transmissions.

It’s worth noting that modern mobile networks are designed to handle various weather conditions and maintain relatively reliable service. However, extreme or prolonged weather events can still impact mobile signal quality and strength.
Building materials that can block or weaken mobile signals include:

  • Concrete
  • Brick
  • Metal (including steel, aluminium, and metal mesh)
  • Insulated glass (Low-E or tinted)
  • Plaster and drywall with metal mesh
  • Dense stone (e.g., marble, granite)
  • Some insulation materials (e.g., foil-backed insulation)

Sales/Aftercare

Whilst we are primarily London based, we operate nationally. No matter where in the UK you are located, it’s always worth getting in touch to discuss your mobile signal issues. Here’s a video that explains a little more.
We guarantee that every Cel-Fi signal repeater we use in your signal solution will come with a full 2 year warranty from Nextivity, the product manufacturer.

Technical

WiFi calling provides a clever way of using your WiFi network to make voice calls if your signal isn’t great … but it has its limitations and issues, which we take an in-depth look at in this video.
No, mobile signal boosting and Wi-Fi boosting are not the same thing. They serve different purposes and work with different types of signals. Here’s a brief explanation of each:

Mobile signal boosting: Mobile signal boosters are devices designed to improve the coverage and signal strength of mobile networks (like 3G, 4G, and 5G) inside buildings where signal strength is weak. These boosters work by capturing the existing mobile signal from an outdoor antenna, amplifying it, and then redistributing the amplified signal indoors through one or more indoor antennas. This results in improved call quality, faster data speeds, and more reliable connections.

Wi-Fi boosting Wi-Fi boosters, also known as Wi-Fi extenders or Wi-Fi repeaters, are devices designed to extend the range and improve the signal strength of an existing Wi-Fi network. These boosters work by receiving the Wi-Fi signal from your router, amplifying it, and then retransmitting the amplified signal to create a new, extended Wi-Fi network.
No. Our equipment is completely silent!
We can boost 1 network, 2 networks, 3 networks or ALL 4!

Each of our signal solutions will be designed for your specific requirements.

Read more about this in our blog post.
Yes, Wi-Fi calling is completely separate from any app-specific voice or video call functionality.
The Cel-Fi signal boosters that we use in our Amplifi-Qx solutions are designed to comply with regulatory standards and guidelines that ensure they are safe for use. Current scientific evidence suggests that exposure to low levels of RF radiation from mobile signal boosters, within the limits set by international guidelines (such as those provided by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection, ICNIRP), is unlikely to cause significant health risks. These guidelines are based on extensive research and have been adopted by many countries to ensure the safety of wireless communication devices.

It’s worth noting that using a mobile signal booster can actually reduce the RF exposure from your mobile phone. A stronger signal allows your phone to operate at lower power levels, which in turn decreases the RF radiation emitted by your phone.

Installation

It can take as little as a day to install a mobile signal solution in a small office, through to a number of weeks for a larger commercial property across multiple floors or buildings. This short video explains this in more detail.
We often get asked the question ‘Can anyone else use the signal that my booster provides?’

When we design your solution, our goal is to provide signal to the areas that you need coverage. The coverage units that distribute the signal cover a 20 metre radius. If you are in a shared building, the signal may penetrate through the walls into another area, however this will not impact the signal that you receive.
Absolutely. We are happy to arrange a convenient time for us to site visit and have a look at your building.

But before we do that, to save your time, we can provide a desktop quote. This will give you an estimation of the cost, materials needed and an idea of how long an installation will take.

All we need is to have a quick chat about the signal problem you are experiencing. We will ask you some questions including;

  • do you have any signal outside of the building?
  • what is your building predominantly made of? i.e concrete, glass, brick?
  • how many networks are you looking to boost?

We will also ask you about the size of the building (floorplans are handy if you have them) and if you require signal coverage throughout or just specific areas.

Get started with a free desktop survey.
Yes, you can boost mobile signal in built-up areas, although it can often be challenging due to the high density of buildings, infrastructure, and potential interference sources. Mobile signals can be weakened or blocked by various factors in urban environments, such as building materials, distance from cell towers, and other electronic devices.

The good news is that if you have access to your roof, then we can usually place our external antennas there in order to bypass as many of these obstacles as possible; allowing us to bring in the strongest possible mobile signal to your building.
Yes, you can boost mobile signal in rural areas, where signal strength is often weaker due to greater distances from cell towers and less dense network infrastructure. Mobile signal boosters can help improve signal strength by capturing weak signals from a nearby cell tower, amplifying them, and redistributing the amplified signal indoors.

Maintenance

Yes, all of our mobile signal solutions come with an annual maintenance contract, giving you complete peace of mind. For further details, please contact a member of the team.
The short answer is yes. But here’s the long answer…

All of our signal solutions are designed to use the minimum amount of cable, so this doesn’t allow us to move the equipment around freely within a building.

We try to keep the cable runs to a minimum for two reasons – The first is cost. Simply put, the more cable used, the more expensive the solution. The second reason is to achieve optimum signal. We use high grade low loss cable in our installations, but the longer the coax run, the more signal will be lost.

If your booster needs to be moved – within the same building or to a completely new building – this will require a signal solution redesign and a professional installation. The cost will be significantly cheaper than your original signal installation, as you wont be charged for the booster and kit, but there will be new costs involved to cover labour and any additional cable needed for your new solution.

If you need to move your booster, for whatever reason, don’t panic. Give us a call and we can work it out.

Legalities

The short answer is yes, it is perfectly legal to boost mobile signal in the UK. The longer answer contains some very specific requirements that you’ll need to be aware of to ensure you’re not breaking the law.

Check out this article which explains why it is legal to boost mobile signal in the UK.
In the UK, the use of mobile signal boosters is regulated by Ofcom, the national communications regulatory authority. Ofcom sets specific rules and guidelines to ensure that mobile signal boosters do not interfere with the licensed mobile networks and other radio communications.

Read more about the UK regulations for signal boosting
In the UK there are certain legal restrictions around mobile signal boosting. These requirements were brought in by Ofcom in 2018 and dictate, amongst other things, what type of mobile signal you are allowed to boost. This short video explains whether you’re allowed to boost 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G.
No, a CE mark on a product indicates that it conforms to EU health, safety, and environmental protection standards only – it does not relate to UK law that regulates the use of signal boosters. The initials “CE” stand for “Conformité Européenne,” which is French for “European Conformity.”

When a manufacturer places the CE mark on their product, they are declaring that it meets the necessary EU directives and regulations for that standard only – it is not associated with Ofcom’s rules and regulations related to signal repeaters.
In the UK, the use of mobile signal boosters is regulated by Ofcom, the government authority responsible for telecommunications. As per Ofcom’s guidelines, the use of consumer mobile signal boosters is generally not allowed unless they meet certain criteria and have been approved by the licensed mobile network operators.

At Signal Solutions, we only use Cel-Fi signal boosters, which are fully compliant with Ofcom’s regulations and are completely network-safe.

If you’re considering a signal booster in the UK, it’s essential to make sure it’s approved by your mobile network provider and complies with Ofcom’s regulations. Cel-Fi signal boosters are the only type of booster that currently meets Ofcom’s license exemption rules.
There is currently only one manufacturer that meets the standards set out by Ofcom in relation to boosting signal; a company called Nextivity.

Nextivity manufacture a range of signal boosters known as Cel-Fi signal boosters. Each of our Amplifi-Qx solutions uses Cel-Fi boosters exclusively so as to comply with the Ofcom license-exemption regulations.
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