How to strengthen the cellular signal on your phone with your own hands. Weak antenna signal on Android. How to strengthen a phone signal: reasons for a bad signal and solving the problem yourself A program for improving mobile communications Android trashbox

– simply a unique application. Have you ever experienced situations where the Internet connection is not working well? Most likely it happened. It is for such cases that the developers of this program tried to make their own utility. It allows you to improve and stabilize the mobile Internet. Therefore, if you have any complaints about the connection, then you can safely start downloading this program. After all, it really works, as the user clearly states in reviews about it.

So, what should you do with this program? To begin with, you should download it to your mobile device, then install and launch it. You will see the application logo. To activate the program, just one touch on the screen is enough. After this, the icon will change a little, the field will be filled with one color. This will mean that the application has activated and is now working. It's that simple. Even a child can cope with this, and this is how it was intended from the very beginning.

After all, the program developers did not want users to rack their brains with complex settings. The program works with one click and you can see it right away. That is why you need to quickly start downloading it to your mobile devices if you are experiencing problems with Internet connections via 3G. Feel free to use this application, because none of you want the Internet to work slowly. There are also settings here, but these are for advanced users. As a result, HSPA+ Tweaker (3G booster) is an excellent program that gives you the opportunity to improve the stability of your mobile Internet connection.
Download the HSPA Tweaker (3G booster) app for Android you can follow the link below.

Developer: BigBrother"sRover"s
Platform: Android 4.0 and higher
Interface language: Russian (RUS)
Status: Free
Root: Not needed

Despite the widespread use of mobile communications, the question of how to strengthen the signal of the phone, or rather the cellular network to which it is connected, is still relevant. It doesn’t matter whether you live in a small village or in a metropolis, the likelihood that your device will stop receiving a signal is everywhere.

This problem is gradually being solved by operators, new base stations are appearing, and communications are improving. What if the problem lies with your phone and not the network? Today we decided to figure out what is causing the poor signal level and whether it can be fixed with our own hands.

What is a cellular signal?

The principle of operation of cellular communications is quite simple: there is an operator’s base station and your phone, a radio frequency channel is organized between them, through which SMS messages are transmitted, calls are made, and Internet data is exchanged.

There are several cellular communication standards, differing in the method of signal transmission and frequency. As a rule, base stations are built at higher elevations in order to provide maximum coverage area. However, there is no escape from the obstacles that prevent the signal from passing through. These can be walls, trees, and other obstacles, upon contact with which the signal weakens.

It is clear that in open areas where high-rise buildings do not abound, the coverage area will be higher. For example, for stations operating according to the GSM-900 standard, in this case the zone is no more than 30,000 kilometers. In urban areas, the figure decreases to 7 kilometers. Stations with more advanced communication standards such as 3G and LTE cover an area half the diameter.

Why do we have a weak phone signal?

Due to the above-mentioned obstacles, so-called dead zones or holes in the coating may form. That is, places where the signal is weak, unstable or completely absent. Where you most often encounter poor signal levels on your phone:

• places located at a significant distance from the nearest station (there is simply no coverage);
• basements, underground parking lots, lowlands (the signal simply cannot penetrate here);
• hills, skyscrapers (often “going higher” does not necessarily mean the presence of a signal - above the 12-14th floor there is often no signal at all);
• buildings made of metal structures that do not transmit signals.

However, obstacles and distance from the station are not always the reason for the lack of signal. Often the cause is the user's phone. You've probably been in situations where a friend has a cellular signal, but you don't.

And this is despite the fact that you are using the services of one operator. There are common cases when two identical phones have different signal levels. There can be many reasons:

• a phone in a metal case or in a metal case can catch the network much worse than a plastic device;
• quite often, no matter how surprising it may sound to you, the cause is the “clumsy” phone firmware;
• damage to any components as a result of falls, immersion in water, etc.;
• The phone may have a defective antenna from the factory, which is especially common among Chinese manufacturers of inexpensive models.

How to boost your phone signal with your own hands?

Well, we've covered the theory, let's move on to practice. We will look at several ways to boost a cellular signal, starting with the simplest ones and ending with the rather complex and expensive ones.

The reason is in the firmware

You should start by checking that the software is working correctly before trying to get to the inside of the phone. Hundreds of users are experiencing deterioration in the communication signal that appears after flashing, so it’s worth paying attention.

We have already written, so we will not repeat ourselves. Firmware is a fairly simple process, but with its own nuances. The main thing is to remember to make backup copies of important files.

If the flashing helped, then we congratulate you, but if the phone still has poor network reception, then move on to the next point.

The signal is poorly received due to damage to the phone

As already noted, often the phone does not receive a signal well after it accidentally fell on a tile or plunged into the sea. In this case, the average user has no choice but to go to a service center.

Modern phones are quite complex devices, so for most people it is not possible to identify the source of the problem on their own. It is likely that specialists will detect damage and carry out the necessary work so that your phone can once again cope with searching for a network without any problems.

How to boost your phone signal with your own hands

In most cases, the reason for a weak cellular signal lies in a defect in the antenna, which, in fact, is responsible for this function. Often, owners of inexpensive smartphones from the Middle Kingdom are faced with the fact that the manufacturer has cheated a little by not tightly connecting the antenna to the device’s motherboard. You can correct the mistake yourself, but you need to at least understand a little about how the phone works. Otherwise, contact the service center with a description of the problem.

1. Nowadays, smartphones come in a variety of designs, which is why they are disassembled in different ways; It’s easiest to get to the insides of a phone with a removable cover and battery, but it’s more difficult when the smartphone is non-separable;

Take your time. Before you start disassembling, find a video or text material on the Internet that will show and tell you how to disassemble your specific device and what you should pay attention to.

Please also note: After disassembling the smartphone you lose the warranty.

1. as a rule, the antenna is hidden in the lower or upper part of the case, represented by small copper strips (again, for the location of the antenna specifically in your model, see the relevant materials);
2. after you get to the board, you will find several spring contacts that should fit tightly to the cable located on the back of the structure;
3. if the spring contacts of the motherboard do not fit well to the cable, carefully straighten them using, for example, tweezers;
4. We collect the phone and enjoy a good network signal.

We connect a homemade antenna to the phone to strengthen the signal

The methods discussed above only work if the problem lies with your phone. But, as we noted at the beginning of the material, the cause of a bad signal can be various kinds of obstacles or a significant distance from the station. In this case, you can try to strengthen the antenna of our device with just a piece of wire.

Let us immediately note that this method is not suitable for all phones. The fact is that to implement it you will need a special diagnostic port, which is difficult to get to in a modern non-separable smartphone (in a number of models it cannot be found at all). It looks like a small round connector of golden color.

take a small piece of thin insulated wire;

insert into the connector;

Place it in such a way that it does not interfere with other components or the closing of the lid.

Everything, as practice shows, the phone network signal is greatly enhanced. Isn't it surprising?!

Some users inserted a piece of wire into the 3.5 mm port (under headphones). Sometimes this works too.

Sticker sticker or foil to strengthen the phone signal

In the vastness of foreign online stores, it will not be difficult to find a bunch of different devices for amplifying the signal. Among them, a small sticker sticker is popular, consisting of several metal tracks, which, according to the manufacturer, allow you to get rid of interference.

Similar stripes can be seen in some smartphones by default, so the “magical” properties of the sticker have a right to life.

However, according to a considerable number of users, a piece of ordinary foil will help to achieve a slight improvement in the signal. It is located under the phone cover, closer to the antenna. The method is not complicated, so you can try it.

Strengthening communications using a repeater

In some cases, when the signal cannot be amplified by any of the methods (the walls of the room are too thick, the distance from the base station), they resort to the use of special antennas or repeaters. Such devices are capable of significantly amplifying the signal, but their cost often deters potential buyers.

Where to buy cheap?

You can build something similar with your own hands, but often it does not enhance the signal at all or does it very, very poorly.

For example, some people use the following method:

1. take a metal rod (50 cm is enough), a coaxial cable, a piece of foil (about 10x4 cm) and plywood or plastic;
2. we bend the metal rod so that we get a diamond-shaped structure;
3. glue the foil to the plywood;
4. We connect the metal rhombus and the foil using a coaxial cable (solder);
5. We lift the end on which the diamond is located higher, the other, with foil, is left below;
6. We bring the phone to the foil to check the signal quality.

You will probably need to find the most suitable location for the resulting structure to pick up the signal.

It is clear that such an amplifier is unlikely to provide communications to a large company that is not lucky enough to have an office in an area without network coverage. Here you will have to turn to specialists for help. Today, many companies provide similar services, and will not only offer modern equipment, but will also handle installation.

By the way, you shouldn’t skimp on specialists - for installation, workers use special devices that help determine the most suitable location, select frequencies, etc. An ordinary user, of course, will find it difficult to cope with such a task.

The Internet is an indispensable thing in the modern world. The more we need mobile Internet, the more annoying it is to discover a poor signal or even its complete absence. Although the quality of cellular communications has improved in recent years, it still often fails. How to fix low 3G signal quality and what to do about it?

Reasons for a bad mobile signal: can it be improved?

Problems with cellular communications and mobile Internet can be caused by completely different sources: from distance from cell towers to bad weather conditions. Let's look at the most common reasons:

• remoteness of cell towers;
• third party networks disrupting the signal;
• a large number of obstacles - high-rise buildings, metal structures, hills, mountains;
• bad weather conditions - rain, thunderstorms, storms, etc.;
• heavy network load - common in the evening;
• hardware problems - for example, low phone charging.

You can improve your cellular signal, and here are the most obvious and simple ways:

• be closer to a cell tower;
• go out to an open place or to a window - so that barriers do not interfere with the “travel” of radio waves from the phone to the tower;
• recharge the device - moving away from a cell tower requires more transmitter power, which drains the battery faster.

Unexpectedly, I discovered that cases and accessories made of metal - or with metal inserts - can negatively affect the signal, just like large metal structures. I suggest that owners of such accessories test the Internet speed with and without a case. The result may pleasantly surprise you.

Other methods are more complicated and not so obvious; they involve additional devices or programs. Let's look at them in more detail.

Strengthening Connectivity Using Apps: Pros and Cons

There are a large number of signal booster applications available on the Internet. At the same time, you do not risk damaging your phone and do not waste money. Let's see if this is really true?

I will analyze the software method for improving the signal using the example of one of the popular and easy-to-use applications - Internet Speed ​​Master.

To use Internet Speed ​​Master, you just need to launch the program and click the “Apply Patch” button - for smartphones with Root rights or “Improve Internet Connection” for non-rooted phones. Whenever the signal is bad, just use the application again and the smartphone will find a strong and stable network signal.

Root rights or “Superuser” rights are full access to all device data. It is thanks to Root rights that the user can get “unlimited” access to all files on a device running Android.

Wikipedia

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root

Internet Speed ​​Master has an extremely simple and intuitive interface

Be careful if you want to get root rights. Careless use of “superuser” rights can easily turn a smartphone into a “brick”. It’s better to be on the safe side than to regret later about losing your device.

Let's consider all the pros and cons of this application and the method in general.

Advantages of the software method:

• simple and intuitive interface for most applications;
• the method does not require material costs;
• applications do not require your intervention - just press a couple of buttons;
• you can check the method in a couple of minutes, without even leaving your home.

Disadvantages of the software method:

• does not give a positive result on all devices;
• Many applications require Root rights.

The disadvantages are insignificant compared to the advantages. It's safe to say that trying this method with a bad signal definitely won't hurt.

Using purchased or homemade antennas to enhance communications

Cellular signal strength is measured in decibels (dB) and ranges from -50 dB (excellent signal) to -120 dB (no signal). Antennas, repeaters, repeaters and other equipment increase this level, improving communications.

Cellular signal quality varies from -50 dB to -120 dB

You can find out the signal strength on Android in the following way:

If the previous method did not improve the signal quality sufficiently, then it is worth trying to increase the communication speed using an antenna. The cost of a purchased antenna starts from 1300 rubles. The range of equipment is quite wide among both Chinese devices and Russian manufacturers.

Whip antenna - an inexpensive and simple way to strengthen the communication signal

The main difference between antennas is the radiation pattern - the most common antennas are with circular (can catch a signal from all sides) and directional (maximum effect when directed towards a cell tower) patterns. Antennas also vary in shape. The most popular are pin and panel.

Another type of antenna is panel

If for some reason you do not want to purchase an antenna, you can build it yourself, using simple improvised means. This does not require special knowledge, so most users can do it.

Use of repeaters (repeaters)

Repeaters or repeaters are more complex and expensive devices than antennas. Prices for repeaters start at 7,000 rubles, however, they also improve the signal quality more strongly. Even the most inexpensive devices have a coverage area of ​​200 m² under good conditions (signal of 3-4 sticks). And expensive models (from 40,000) can easily cover several floors of an office building or shopping center.

Repeaters are one of the best devices for signal amplification

Installation of cellular repeaters

If you have already selected a suitable device, you need to install it correctly. Of course, you can use the services of specialists, but it is quite possible to carry out the installation yourself. To do this, just follow the instructions:

1. Install an external antenna outdoors. At the same time, directional antennas must look in the direction of the cell tower.
2. Place internal antennas indoors, at least five meters below the external one.
3. Connect the external and internal antennas with cables and connect to the repeater.
4. Connect the repeater to power and check for power supply.

If you are not sure where the cell phone station is, have someone stand at the indoor antenna while you slowly rotate the antenna until you find the best signal.

If everything is done correctly, the signal level near the internal antenna will increase significantly, approaching the maximum.

Other 3G signal boosters

On sale you can find compact amplifiers in the form of stickers located inside the smartphone case. They are a geometric pattern of several metal strips. The manufacturer claims that the amplifier reduces interference and improves the signal in places where it is almost absent. On the AliExpress website, such stickers are sold in packs of 10 for only 140 rubles, but their effectiveness, as they say, relies on chance and, according to most reviews, no increase is observed among users.

Small stickers like this can improve communication

Instead of such stickers, many ordinary users and even experts claim that even an ordinary piece of foil located under the phone cover helps to get an increase in the signal. This method requires minimal costs, so it is quite suitable for testing.

The main reasons for a poor signal lie in the remoteness of cellular stations and remote areas, but the quality of communication is somehow improved using simple and not so simple means. Simple manipulations give a significant increase in communication speed. All that remains is to wish you fast Internet!

In villages, until now, in most cases there is no dedicated Internet line. It happens that the Internet can be connected via an ADSL line if you have a connected landline phone.

In most cases, all Russian villagers connect to the Internet using 3G modems. And the further the village is, the worse not only the 3G Internet, but also regular cellular communications.

To improve communication quality, the following amplification principles are used:

1. Using an antenna.
2. Using an antenna and amplifiers.
3. Using multiple antennas and multiple amplifiers.

There are ready-made kits, but before you buy them, you need to determine what to strengthen and how. Sometimes one antenna is enough, and sometimes not.

You need to know exactly in what range the 3G signal of the selected telecom operator is transmitted, and where the boundaries of this signal are. To check the signal strength, a regular cell phone or spectrum analyzer will do.

Checking the signal level

Before you can strengthen anything, you need to catch something. We determine the range of operating frequencies for voice communications and the Internet. The image above illustrates the entire range of frequencies involved: television signal, wi-fi, DECT, GSM, LTE, etc. It is important to understand in what range the base station at the point being tested transmits the Internet. It can be transmitted in the UMTS 900 and UMST 2100 standard.

In Russia, the 3G signal has its own standard: UMTS 900 and UMST 2100.

All smartphones and 3G modems work using both of these standards. In cities, due to the small coverage radius, but higher signal transmission speed and stability of operation with a large number of connections, the UMTS 2100 standard is used.

Portable spectrum analyzer SPECTRAN HF-6060 V4, which determines the direction of the antenna

If you are not an installation organization specializing in installing 3G boosters, you can use a phone with 3G support for a one-time connection. We activate the built-in Netmonitor function in it.

How to do this on your phone, look on the Internet. I will give the most common codes.

When we enter the engineering menu, various information appears, for example, volume level, battery charging, IMEI, wi-fi, phone usage statistics. I don't recommend changing the values.

If you can't find the settings you need, try another phone. Finally, you need to determine the Rx CH parameter. The first value surrounded by a red frame shows in which range the signal is received. If the value is within 10562-10838, it is UMTS 2100, if within 2937-3088, it is UMTS 900. Having determined the operating range, you can accurately select a 3G signal amplifier, for example, high-quality Picocell 900 or Picocell 2000.

The yellow frame shows the 3G signal reception level. Having constantly changing dynamic parameters of the signal level, we are looking for the point of best reception. Less is better. Ideally, it is better to place the antenna higher on the roof, but you can find points of reliable reception inside the house.

Equipment selection

If you are in a reception area, installing a good antenna with high gain may be sufficient. For example, the antenna AP-1900/2700-17 with a gain of 17 dB, but a narrow radiation pattern. Suitable if there is one base station installed near you and there are no other signal consumers nearby.

Directional antenna AP-1900/2700-17 to strengthen the cellular signal

A fantastic result is shown by the AO-2000-11 antenna - with a high gain = 11 dB and a circular radiation pattern. It works on the set it and forget it principle. Its advantage lies in the principle of operation. It can catch a signal from several base stations at once, which significantly affects the speed of the Internet. No need to look for the direction of the signal.

Omnidirectional antenna, model AO-2000-11 to amplify the 3G signal

In almost 80-95% of cases, when a 3G signal is at least somehow caught, it is enough to screw a 3G amplifier-repeater TAU-2000 from Picocell to the antenna, and you will receive a stable 3G/4G signal.

To prevent signal loss between the antenna and the amplifier, I recommend using a cable with a large cross-section, the ends of which are crimped industrially or with a special tool.

5D/FB PVC cable with N-type connector (male)

Ready-made kits

When you know exactly what type of amplifier you need and whether you need it at all, you can start purchasing equipment. If there are no retail outlets in your city, buy from online stores or directly from the equipment manufacturer.

Kits can be of several types:

• without amplifier;
• with amplifier;

Connection diagram for equipment to boost 3G signal throughout the house

Let's look at kits without amplifiers. Such kits include an antenna and wire. Conveniently, if you have a modem or router, then the cost of strengthening the 3G/4G signal will be minimal. A set of wire and antenna will cost you from 5,000 rubles.

Antennas are selected based on the terrain, number and distance to base stations. This kit can always be expanded with an amplifier; the final price of the equipment will increase, as will the quality of the received signal.

Connection diagram for an antenna kit with a TAU-2000 amplifier and a wi-fi router

You can use any antenna, including those given when selecting equipment, but it is better to buy a modem Huawei E392, although its price starts from 3,200 rubles.

Watch a short video of everything outlined in the article; if anyone is interested in the intricacies, go to the site indicated in the video clip.

And finally, I’ll share an observation: buy an antenna and equipment in specialized stores, and not in cellular communication stores; what they sell there does not work.

The Connect antenna is made for the beauty of the interior. The usefulness of this device is questionable. Can only be used as an extension cord for a modem

Ask questions if anything is unclear. Good luck with your shopping.

The network coverage of cellular operators is not continuous. And no one will make it continuous - it is economically unprofitable. A certain contribution to this is made by the peculiarities of the propagation of radio waves, which is why zones of radio silence may arise at certain points. Poor cellular signal reception - this problem is relevant for many people, especially for those who live outside the city, far from the nearest base stations. Let's try to solve this problem together.

There are thousands of complaints about cellular operators on the Internet - people complain that they have problems with communication. Unfortunately, no one will make sure that the signal is received everywhere and with the same strength. This is impossible due to economic reasons, it is impossible due to some physical reasons. Russian operators generally work well, and their coverage area is decent - this is confirmed by evaluative comparisons with European operators. You're just a little unlucky with the location.

If you complain about the poor signal level of MTS in your area, nothing prevents you from interviewing your neighbors and finding out which operator they use. It is quite possible that Beeline or MegaFon will work much better for you, delighting you with stable reception. Even Tele2, which is not always distinguished by a wide coverage area, has significantly increased the coverage of its networks in recent years - you can try.

Transferring a number to another operator

You can object - they say, I don’t want to change the operator, even if the signal from another operator is picked up many times better. This is called “to spite my neighbor I will freeze my ears.” Don't change if you don't want to - sit in the wilderness and rejoice in the lack of communication. For others, we can offer a reasonable solution - if MTS is not detected in your area, but Beeline is caught, go to the Beeline office and write an application to port the number.

Advantages of this approach:

• In just 8-9 days your mobile phone will be working - it will be serviced in the network of another operator, and you will forget what poor network coverage is.
• You can choose a more profitable tariff plan.
• You will remain with your number - there is no need to change it at all.

This is the best way to deal with poor cellular signal reception, but it will require preliminary research - you need to decide which operator works best in your area.

Buying another phone

This is not to say that this is the most optimal way to solve the problem of poor signal reception. All modern tubes have approximately the same sensitivity. Therefore, buying another smartphone may result in unnecessary expenses. And the talk of Apple fans that iPhones “catch anywhere” is nothing more than a myth.

Finding a phone with high sensitivity for poor reception conditions is problematic. A few years ago they existed, but then they disappeared somewhere. People living in remote areas are advised to look for old Nokia and Motorola mobile phones - they were highly sensitive.

• DEXP Larus X2 rev.2.
• BQ Rome BQD-2051.
• Termit FixPhone v2.

Their cost does not exceed 3,000 rubles, and antennas protruding from the housings will provide increased sensitivity.

The most difficult problem to solve is the reception of 3G and 4G signals, since only modern phones work with them.

Using external antennas

External antennas will help improve the quality of voice communications and increase the speed of mobile Internet. They connect to phones equipped with appropriate sockets. Unfortunately, a very limited number of models are equipped with them. Let's see which handsets we can connect external antennas to to improve cellular network signal reception:

• Huawei ETS5623 is a landline cell phone complete with a remote antenna and a 10-meter roll of cable. Cost – about 4 thousand rubles. An excellent solution for poor cellular signal reception.
• Runbo H1 is a very expensive smartphone costing almost 60 thousand rubles, made in a shock-resistant and waterproof case. It is equipped with a connector for an external antenna.
• Kit MT3020B is another stationary device, equipped with a socket for an external antenna, which is supplied in the kit. The cost of the phone is about 5.5 thousand rubles.

We also recommend paying attention to handsets of the last decade - they were often equipped with connectors for antennas (including those hidden under the back cover) for working in conditions of poor cellular signal reception.

Cellular communications are needed not only for voice transmission, but also for access to the mobile Internet. And if we cannot find a smartphone with a connector for an external antenna, then there are plenty of 3G and 4G modems with them. Literally every second modem can be connected to an antenna, which will significantly improve the quality of reception.

Passive repeaters

The use of passive repeaters allows you to improve cellular signal reception without expensive electronics. Most often these are homemade devices, consisting of a bunch of two small antennas. Beer cans, copper wire, and some other unimaginable household products are also used in the designs. All this is not serious, and it also limits freedom of movement around the house - you have to talk on the phone while directly located next to such a repeater.

There is one more interesting technical solution. If your smartphone does not have an antenna jack, you can do the following:

• Buy one directional GSM antenna and one GSM whip antenna.
• Install a directional antenna on the roof of the house, on a tree or pole up to 10 meters high (the larger the better).
• Install a whip antenna in your home.
• Connect both antennas with a cable.