Do
cellular phone signal boosters really work?
There are a lot
of cellular phone signal boosters out there that, quite frankly, do not
live up to their promises. Wireless Extenders cellular phone signal
boosters do. They are designed to take the same signal you receive
outside and bring it inside, amplifying the signal indoors.
Who needs a
cellular phone signal booster? If
you are tired of being part of the 35%+ of wireless phone users having
trouble maintaining cell phone signal strength inside a home or office,
you need a cellular phone signal booster. In order to improve the
wireless service, the cell phone signal needs to be amplified. The
Wireless Extenders YX500 Series units will boost the cell phone signal
inside your home or office. You won’t have to go outside or to a window
to use your cell phone again.
Will the
Wi-Ex YX500-PCS or the YX500-CEL unit work with any wireless service? The Wi-Ex YX500-PCS unit will work only in the PCS
frequency range (1850 – 1990 MHz), and the Wi-Ex YX500-CEL will only
work in the Cellular frequency range (824 – 896 MHz).
Cell
phones from providers like Cricket, Metro PCS, Suncom, T-Mobile, and
Sprint (excludes Nextel) normally work with our YX500-PCS model, and
cell phones from providers like AT&T and Verizon will normally work
with the YX500-CEL model. Most of the wireless phones in use today are
in the PCS or the Cellular frequencies. Some wireless service providers
are PCS only while others will operate in the Cellular and PCS
frequencies. This varies from city to city.If
your service provider shows both 800 and 1900 MHz the YX500-CEL will
probably work. If your service
provider shows only the 1900MHz, the YX500-PCS booster will work.
Canadian
use
- The unit has been
approved for use in Canada under RSS 131, however, consent for the use
of this device
to improve cellular or PCS coverage, must be obtained through your
cellular or PCS provider, prior to placing the unit in operation. Please
refer to the Industry Canada document CPC 2-1-05, Section 6.1 available
or viewable at: http://www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/smt-gst.nsf/en/sf08942e.html
At this time our YX500 Series models do not work with the iDEN (Nextel) service. To determine what kind of service you have please visit www.wirelessadvisor.com enter your zip code and
locate your service provider.
What benefits
can I expect from using a Wi-Ex product? You can stop suffering from
dropped calls when you’re indoors.
Most cellular networks were built
for highways -- to provide the
best coverage for people in their cars. When you’re indoors, chances are
you encounter dead cell zones—areas where your cell phone signal
becomes weak, crackly and full of static, or where the cell phone signal
drops off completely. Many building materials interfere with, or block,
the cell phone signal. With a wireless range extender, you can bring
that outside cell phone signal inside – where you need it the most.
You can extend the battery life of your cell phone. Because the
Wireless Extender boosts the signal, the phone will consume less power
to capture the cell phone signal, thus conserving the battery of the
phone and enabling you to talk longer.
Many cell phone users see the benefit of replacing their
expensive landline phone service because they use their cell phone the
most. The problem is that in many cases the wireless coverage isn’t good
in their home. Wireless Extenders’ cellular phone signal booster
improves the wireless coverage and will allow you to do away with that
expensive landline connection. Imagine being able to cut the cord from
your local telephone company!
In addition, Wi-Ex cellular phone signal boosters enhance the
following wireless applications:
Sending and receiving text messages
Instant messaging
Picture mail
Internet usage from your cell phone
PDA interactive messaging
3G high-speed data
Downloading software
Security systems backup
Why do I lose
cell phone signal strength indoors? Several factors affect cell phone signal penetration
into buildings, including building material (metal, concrete, wood),
wall density, number of windows and building height. Cell phone signals
work a little like television signals (without cable or satellite).
Remember the tall antennas that used to be on every house in the
neighborhood? That antenna captured the television signal and brought it
into the house to the TV. Fortunately, modern technology lets us
capture a cell phone signal in a similar fashion, but with a MUCH
smaller antenna.
Can I use a
Wi-Ex product in my home? Yes,
Wi-Ex products can be used in both homes and businesses. Many consumers
want to use their cell phone to replace an expensive landline phone,
and many more need a stronger cell phone signal for their home office.
Please note: if you rent your home, you will need to get permission from
your landlord before installing an antenna on the property.
Can I use a
Wi-Ex product in my business? Absolutely.
Most businesses invest a great deal of money in cellular phone service
for the benefit of owners, employees and customers. In a business
situation, more than anywhere, a cellular phone signal booster is a
necessity, not a luxury. Please note: if you do not own your building,
you will need to get permission from the property owner before
installing an antenna on the property.
How can I
tell if it will help extend coverage in my home or office? You can run a simple test. If you
can place a call outside your home or office, the Wi-Ex unit will help
you by boosting the signal inside the building. If there is no signal
outside, this unit will not give you an improvement in coverage.
Remember, we can only help improve your signal strength if you have
enough of a signal outside to place a call.
How much will
my cell phone coverage be extended with a Wi-Ex product? The average coverage improvement
indoors of the Wi-Ex YX500 basic unit is around 2,500 sq. feet. This is
the perfect size for the typical home or office. According to the United
States Census Bureau, in 2003, the average size of the American home
built was 2,137 square feet. (source: http://www.census.gov/const/C25Ann/sftotalmedavgsqft.pdf)
The 2,500 sq. ft. number is an average only and represents open
space. Some coverage will be greater, others smaller. Square footage
will vary depending on the signal outside, type of building, foliage,
installation quality and other factors. If you need additional coverage,
we offer an upgraded interior antenna, which provides a stronger
directional signal.
What can I
expect my cell phone signal range and strength to be inside my home or
office? The closer
you are to the base, the stronger the signal. This will vary with
different conditions. Some of the conditions that will affect the
improved coverage area are signal strength outdoors, the type of walls
in the home, the placement of the unit and proximity to cellular towers.
Your expectations should be that your indoor coverage will be
improved. You will be able to make calls where you couldn’t before. The
coverage improvement will depend upon many factors. The intent of the
Wi-Ex products are to bring outside coverage inside. If you want an even
stronger signal, consider a more powerful signal antenna or an internal
directional antenna, available as options in our online shopping cart.
How does a
Wi-Ex cellular phone signal booster work? Once installed, the Wi-Ex cellular
phone signal booster captures the stronger cell phone signal from the
outside wireless network and amplifies the signal inside, thus improving
your wireless coverage. It’s that simple.
Can a Wi-Ex
product help my signal in my RV? The Wi-Ex YX500 Series units will work great in a RV.
Because many RVs are metal, the wireless signal gets blocked. This unit
will help coverage in your RV or boat. The only requirement is AC power
and a signal outside strong enough to place a call. This unit can be
installed in virtually any location that wireless service needs
improvement.
Where
should I put my Wi-Ex base unit to get the best coverage? Where you need coverage the most.
The Wi-Ex base unit is the component that amplifies the signal inside.
The coverage is improved in a circular manner from the base unit. The
farther you are away from the base unit, the weaker the signal. The base
could be placed in the family room, the basement, an office, a bedroom,
a home office or a central location.
Where is
the best place to put my Wi-Ex signal antenna? The Wi-Ex signal antenna should be
placed at the highest point in your house in order to “catch” the
signal as it goes by. This could be in the attic or on the roof. We
advise against putting the signal antenna too close to the base unit.
The signal antenna should have at least 15 feet of separation from the
Wi-Ex base unit.
Is a
cellular phone signal booster the same as a wireless router; will it
help my WIFI signal? The
Wi-Ex unit will not help your WIFI service. This unit is designed to
work with wireless PCS and Cellular phones and devices. The WIFI in your
home or office uses a different frequency.
Can using a
cellular phone signal booster improve the battery life of my wireless
phone? Yes! Because
the Wi-Ex YX500 Series unit will boost the signal, the phone will
consume less power to capture the cell phone signal, thus conserving the
battery of the phone -- enabling you to talk longer.
Can I
install a Wi-Ex product myself? We
have designed the Wi-Ex system so that it is easy to install. We have
included installation instructions in the unit and on the web site. Zip Express
Installation offers installation services for you if you would rather
have someone do it for you.
Does Zip
Express have a return policy on their Signal Boosters? Yes. Zip offers you a
30-day money back guarantee, if you buy the product from Zip. (If you buy the product from someone else,
we cannot give you a 30-day money back guarantee. You must check their
policies for returning the product.) In order for a customer to
receive a full refund within the 30-day period, they MUST call the 800
# to receive an RMA# and the RMA# should be written on the outside of
the shipping box.
You may return the
Wi-Ex Signal booster for a full refund within 30 days of receipt of
your shipment from Zip. For specific details of the return procedure
within 30 days, please call 1-800-778-0530. Returned merchandise must
include an RMA# written on the outside
of the shipping box, all original components, literature,
warranties and packaging in the same condition in which it was received.
Refunds for returns will cover product amount and any sales taxes
charged. Refunds will not be made for any shipping and handling charges.
Returns not meeting these conditions will be subject to a repackaging
fee of 20% of the price paid for the product (not including taxes).
Damaged merchandise, cosmetically or otherwise, is subject to a
restocking fee on a case-by-case basis. If an order has shipped, it is
the purchaser’s responsibility to accept the shipment and return the
order per this return policy. Orders that are refused at the designated
shipping address may incur a 20% repackaging fee.
Do the
Wi-Ex products have a warranty? Yes,
Wi-Ex products are covered by a one-year warranty covering parts and
labor.
NOTE:
AT&T,
Cricket, Metro PCS, NexTel, Sprint, Suncom, T-Mobile, and Verizon are Trademarks of their respective
companies. Wi-Ex Inc. only relationship to these companies is that it
manufactures accessory items for wireless telephones
