Antenna boosters focus signal direction, increasing strength by up to 100x (20dB), while amplifiers boost power directly, enhancing signal strength by up to 1000x (70dB).
Table of Contents
Antenna Booster
Antenna gainers enhance signal strength by optimizing the reception performance of the antenna, which uses high-gain antennas or reflectors to focus the signal in a specific direction, thereby increasing the coverage of the signal. When an antenna amplifier is installed where the signal is only 20%, the signal strength can be increased to 80% or even 90%.
An ordinary antenna gain value is generally between 10dB and 20dB, 10dB gain can increase the signal strength to 10 times, and 20dB gain can be increased to 100 times. After using the antenna booster, the user’s network connection speed increased by an average of 300% in the weak signal area. If your original download speed is 1Mbps, you can increase it to 3Mbps or more with the add-on.
The price of antenna gain device on the market ranges from tens of yuan to thousands of yuan, and the price of a cost-effective antenna gain device is about 100 yuan to 300 yuan. The power of this type of amplifier is usually between 5W and 10W, suitable for home and small office use. The price of some high-end products exceeds 1000 yuan, and the power reaches more than 20W, which is suitable for large construction or commercial use.
Not only individual users, some enterprises and public places are also widely used antenna gainers. A large shopping mall installed multiple antenna gainers after the customer’s mobile phone signal coverage increased from the original 60% to 95%.
Antenna gainer also has its limitations. In urban high-rise areas, signal reflection and interference, the effect of the gainer may not be as good as expected. In open areas or rural areas, the effect of the amplifier will be more obvious.
For best results, antenna gainers usually need to be installed in a location with good signal reception, near a window or roof, so that obstacles can avoid blocking the signal.
Amplifier
Amplifiers increase the strength of the output signal by amplifying the power of the input signal through electronic components such as transistors or operational amplifiers. Just like turning up the volume when you listen to music in your headphones, the principle is similar but the technology is more complicated. There are many types of amplifiers on the market, with power ranging from a few watts to up to kilowatts. A household mobile phone signal amplifier power is generally 10W to 50W, which can increase the signal to dozens of times the original. The amplifier costs about 500 yuan to 2,000 yuan and is suitable for home or small office use.
There is an amplifier called XYZ with a power of 20W and a gain of 70dB. What is a gain of 70dB? Simply put, every 3dB increase in the gain value doubles the signal strength. A gain of 70dB means a thousandfold increase in signal strength, enough to allow you to have a full cell signal in your basement.
The amplifier industry is also very widely used. A large airport installed a series of high-power amplifiers with a total power of 5000W, and passengers’ satisfaction with the airport network increased by 80%. Home amplifiers consume between 10W and 50W, while commercial high-power amplifiers may consume hundreds of watts or even kilowatts.
For the best results, the amplifier needs to be installed in a place with good signal reception, such as a roof or high altitude. The average user’s network speed has increased by 200% after using the amplifier. If your download speed is 2Mbps, you can increase it to 6Mbps or more with the amplifier.
Of course, amplifiers have some limitations. In cases where the signal source itself is very weak, the effect of the amplifier may be limited. For example, in some deep forests or basements, even with amplifiers, the signal boost may not be as good as expected. In this case, it may be necessary to use multiple amplifiers together, or to use higher power equipment.
Contrast difference between Antenna Booster and Amplifier
Working principle
Antenna gainers enhance the received signal mainly by optimizing the physical structure of the antenna, using high-gain antennas or reflectors to focus the signal in a specific direction or expand the receiving range. A high-gain antenna can increase the strength of the received signal by 20dB, which is equivalent to a 100-fold increase in signal strength.
Amplifiers directly amplify the power of the input signal through electronic components (such as transistors, operational amplifiers), and a power of 20W amplifier can amplify the signal from only 1W power to 20W, increasing the signal strength by 20 times. The common mobile phone signal amplifier, the gain value is usually between 50dB and 70dB, and the signal strength can be increased by several thousand times.
Application scenario
The antenna gainer is suitable for scenarios where the signal is strong but the coverage is not enough. In suburban or rural areas, the signal tower signal is strong but the range is limited, and the antenna gainer can cover the signal to a further place.
Amplifiers are suitable for scenarios where the signal is weak and needs to be significantly enhanced. In urban high-rises where the signal is severely blocked, the use of amplifiers can significantly improve the signal strength. With the amplifier, network speeds increased by an average of 200% to 300%, and call quality was significantly improved.
Function and performance
Antenna gainer mainly improves the reception ability of the signal. It does not change the original quality of the signal, but enhances the coverage of the signal. Common gain values range from 10dB to 20dB, suitable for home and small office environments. The price of antenna gainer on the market ranges from 100 yuan to 300 yuan.
Amplifiers can not only increase the strength of the signal, but also improve the quality of the signal. It reduces signal attenuation by amplifying the power of the input signal and maintaining the strength of the signal during transmission. The gain value of high-end amplifiers can reach more than 70dB, suitable for a wide range of signal enhancement needs. A high-performance amplifier may cost more than 1000 yuan, suitable for large construction or commercial use.
Comparison of advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of antenna gainer:
- Low cost: the general price is 100 to 300 yuan, suitable for personal and family use.
- Simple installation: no complex setup required, usually plug and play.
- Wide coverage: suitable for open areas or areas with good signals.
Disadvantages of antenna gainer:
- Limited gain: For areas where the signal is very weak, the effect is not obvious.
- High environmental impact: built-up areas may not be as effective as expected.
Advantages of amplifiers:
- Strong gain: can significantly improve the signal strength, suitable for a variety of complex environments.
- Improve signal quality: Not only amplify the signal, but also improve call quality and network speed.
- Wide range of applications: from home to business can be used.
Disadvantages of amplifiers:
- High cost: The high-performance amplifier price may exceed 1000 yuan, suitable for users with high demand.
- Large power consumption: the problem of power supply needs to be considered, especially high power amplifiers.
