Frequently Asked Questions

For consumer products: yes, without a doubt. Consumer cell phone signal boosters do not require professional installation. They're easy to set up. Although it's perfectly fine to hire a local handyman, installer, or any profession that deals with running cable.

Learn more through our videos page on installation: https://www.boltontechnical.co.za/pages/video-tutorials

For commercial products: it's highly recommended to consult with a professional installer with an understanding of running cable, signal loss, and floor plan analysis. Learn more: https://www.boltontechnical.co.za/pages/design-and-installation

For typical home booster, it takes 30 minutes to an hour depending on your level of handiness and also cleanliness.

For typical car boosters, no more than 5 to 15 minutes depending on the unit.

Commercial boosters require professional installation and can take 1-2 days up to a few weeks depending on the size and scope of the project.

In general, installing a cell phone signal booster is a 3 step process.

• The Outside Antenna is installed high on the roof of the home, building, or car.
• The Amplifier is installed at an easy-access location. For homes, in the closet, behind the shelf, etc. For cars, underneath the seat.
• The Inside Antenna is installed in an area in need.

Learn more with our videos: Video Tutorials

Bolton Technical provides nationwide installation service for enterprise and industrial solutions.

Learn more: www.boltontechnical.co.za/pages/design-and-installation

Finding the best place to install your outside antenna is simple process.

• First find dB readings on your phone
• Walk around the outside perimeter of your home or building (roof if possible)
• It takes dB values to refresh so pause and hold every 30 seconds for each spot to get accurate readings.
• The number closest to the number 0 is the best spot to install the antenna.

Learn more how to find dB readings on your phone: How to find your nearest cell tower

For the inside antenna, it's best to install in the area you will be spending most of your time using your cell phone and other cellular devices.

For the amplifier, it's best to install in a an easy-access and well-ventilated place that doesn't collect much heat such as a shelf, wall, or closet.

A lightning surge protector is a recommended accessory for any home and building Wilson weBoost cell phone signal booster.

Placed between the outside antenna and amplifier, should lightning strike your outside antenna, the lightning surge protector will discharge any power surge, saving you hundreds if not thousands of dollars of equipment.

And when paired with a quality surge protected power strip of at least 1000 Joule rating, you'll have the ultimate peace of mind especially if you live in an area with frequent thunderstorms since tall metal objects (like the outside antenna) have a higher tendency to be magnets for lightning strikes.

Learn more: https://www.boltontechnical.co.za/blogs/news/lightning-surge-protectors-a-great-insurance-for-signal-boosters/

Both yagi and omni are outside antennas that pull in your existing 3G & 4G signals before sending it off to the amplifier to be boosted.

In general, omni antennas are all-around performers used in corporate offices, because they pull signal from a 360-degree field, which usually helps when boosting multiple carriers with cell towers in different locations. They generally are long rod-like cylinders.

Directional (yagi) antennas are specialized performers that pull in signal from a 45-90 degree directional field. The ability to focus on a narrower field allows it to reach farther than the omni and pull in more signal. However, unless all carriers are within that directional field, the yagi antenna tends to only boost one carrier.They generally look like an arrow tip or a pirate flag (ahoy, mateys!).

So, directional antennas are very popular with people in remote, rural areas or any place with terrible reception.

Learn more: https://www.boltontechnical.co.za/blogs/antennas/omni-directional-antennas-vs-uni-directional-yagi-antennas

Both panel and dome are inside antennas that provide boosted signal inside the building.

A panel antenna is wall-mounted with a directional broadcasting angle of 45-70 degrees. This means farther reach and also preference for those closest to the antenna. Great for hallways and priority areas.

A dome antenna is ceiling-mounted with a 360 degree broadcasting pattern. This is for general use and a horizontal equal-signal broadcast in all directions.

For vehicle and M2M outside antennas, there are many types for different uses:

1. Magnet mount car antennas: easy-install 4"" low profile and 12"" performer
2. NMO (non-magnetic) antennas: permanent installations
3. Caravan/Bakkie/Truck antennas: rugged performers on the road
4. Marine antennas

For vehicle and M2M inside antennas:

• Low-profile car antenna: for most cars, sedans, and SUVs.
• Desktop antenna: for Caravans & boats (short range)
• Panel antenna: for Caravans & boats (medium range)

All signal boosters are sold in complete kits with the right type and length of cable for the application. Please refer to your product's spec manual to find the type and length of cable.

Typical cables for home:

• Bolton400. Max run: 305 meters
• RG-11. Max run: 22 meters
• RG-6. Max run: 15 meters

Typical cables for vehicles:

• RG-174. Max run: 1.8m
• RG-58. Max run: 6m

Bolton Technical is not just limited to these cables. We are able to accommodate for unique situations.

Learn more: https://www.boltontechnical.co.za/blogs/news/understanding-coaxial-cables-the-complete-guide

All signal boosters are sold in complete kits with the right type and length of cable for the application. Please refer to your product's spec manual to find the type and length of cable.

Typical cables for home:

• Bolton400. Max run: 305 meters
• RG-11. Max run: 22 meters
• RG-6. Max run: 15 meters

Typical cables for vehicles:

• RG-174. Max run: 1.8m
• RG-58. Max run: 6m

Bolton Technical is not just limited to these cables. We are able to accommodate for unique situations.

Learn more: https://www.boltontechnical.co.za/blogs/news/understanding-coaxial-cables-the-complete-guide/

A splitter is an accessory that allows for additional inside antennas.

Typically, a splitter is used to take one cable run and split it into two, three, even up to four cable runs, which means one line is able to do 4 inside antennas.

However, this also means that the signal strength is also being split across the cable runs and antennas. So it's highly dependent on having enough boosted signal to make sure there's enough broadcasting range for all additional inside antennas.

A tap is an accessory that allows for additional inside antennas.

Like a splitter it allows for splitting one cable run into multiple cable runs and antennas.

Unlike a splitter, a tap allows for asymmetrical signal strength cable runs. This means instead of splitting the signal strength equally, one output will perform better than the other(s).

This is useful for instances when giving preference to priority areas in need of coverage or longer cable runs to offset signal degradation.

It's important to remember that a tap or splitter is highly dependent on the quality of the boosted signal.

In general, what's in the box is able to do what's advertise in the product description.

The only time you would need additional accessories is for specific cases such as having two priority areas on the opposite end of the building (splitter & additional inside antenna), living in a place with frequent thunderstorms (lightning surge protector), wanting to boost all networks (combiner, yagi antenna, and omni antenna), etc.

If you have a unique situation, contact our support team at (sales@boltontechnical.co.za)

Under best case scenarios, a signal booster is able to provide advertise coverage. However, for the majority of people, most are not under best conditions.

Several factors such as outside signal strength, building material, internal interference, and even weather can affect the boosted signal coverage.

It's best to learn about dB readings and understanding signal strength in numerical values than bars: How to find your nearest cell cell tower

Green: Everything is working fine. Orange: Too much signal is coming in from the outside. Solution: Point or move outside antenna away from the source. Red: The outside antenna is pulling signal from the inside antenna causing oscillation. Solution: Put more distance between the two or shield them from each other.

Green/Orange: It's working but at reduced power because the outside antenna is pulling in too much signal. Point or move outside antenna away from the source. Green/Red: It's working but at reduced power because the outside antenna is pulling in signal from the inside antenna. Put more distance between the two or shield them from each other.

Remember to unplug and plug in the amplifier to restart!

Green: All is good. Solution: Pat on the back.

Orange: Too much signal is coming in from the outside. Solution: Point or move outside antenna away from the source.

Red: The outside antenna is pulling signal from the inside antenna causing oscillation. Solution: Put more distance between the outside and inside antenna or shield them from each othe

Remember to unplug and plug in the amplifier to restart!

Other than lights, antenna placements, and rebooting your amplifier (https://www.wilsonamplifiers.com/support/general/troubleshoot-lights-messages), it's best to refer to your product manual or contact customer support at (sales@boltontechnical.co.za)

You can find all product manuals for your cell phone signal booster here: 

https://www.boltontechnical.co.za/products/wilsonpro-a500

https://www.boltontechnical.co.za/products/wilsonpro-a1000

https://www.boltontechnical.co.za/products/weboost-drive-am100-pro