Not much tops a relaxing getaway in a remote area, especially when you own the property and don’t have those pesky rental fees. However, one thing you may have to worry about is your cellular reception. Often, those living a bit off the beaten path find their call quality worsens as they approach the countryside, so find out how to improve reception in your rural cottage.
Common Reasons for Poor Reception
Poor cellular reception occurs for various reasons. For example, heavy network traffic means more users are trying to connect with the tower, which means more competition for a stronger signal. There are other reasons for a poor signal, such as:
Location: The further you are from the tower, the weaker the signal becomes.
Specific weather conditions: Rain often impacts signal strength.
Building materials: Common materials like concrete impair signal.
While these are some of the various factors impacting signal, specifically in rural areas, when you take a trip to the countryside, there’s a strong chance location is what’s to blame. This weakens your signal because the frequency waves released from your phone become smaller and flatter the farther they travel.
The building material used for your cottage could also be the cause for your dropped calls and slow data speeds, especially if it’s concrete or steel.
Pro Tip
To better determine the cause of a poor signal, try making a call on the outside of your property. If your calls regularly drop off, whether you are inside or outside your cottage, the cause is likely location. However, call quality may improve when you step outside, which likely means building material is the cause of your weak signal.
Improving Cellular Reception
As discussed, one simple way to improve your signal is to move from inside to outside. But this doesn’t always do the trick. A fool-proof way to improve reception in your rural cottage is by purchasing a cellular signal booster for your home since it enhances communication between your phone and the nearest cellular tower.
Cellular signal boosters come in kits equipped with all the necessary components:
Indoor antenna
Outdoor antenna
Amplifier
The outdoor antenna communicates with the nearest network tower. It sends this signal to the amplifier to strengthen it before the indoor antenna rebroadcasts it for your phone.
Keep in mind that other items like the cable you purchase could also impact the signal. Generally, owners of a smaller home or cottage purchase RG-6 cables, while those with a larger property see the best results with an RG-11 cable. In addition, cell phone booster companies like SureCall Canada include the necessary booster cable in the kit you purchase to ensure you have all the essential components.
Types of Cellular Signal Boosters
As you evaluate all your options, you may notice that there are various types of cellular boosters ranging from those for vehicles to those for homes and commercial spaces. However, there are multiple types of boosters made for homes, and each has various pros and cons.
For instance, some boosters work with all cellular networks, but this isn’t always the case. The coverage you need depends on your current signal; the weaker your signal, the more robust the booster kit you need. And when it comes to finding the proper outdoor antenna, a directional antenna typically works best for rural areas because it points directly toward the nearest network tower.
Installing Your Booster
Once you get your cellular booster, you’ll have to walk around the outside of your cottage to find the ideal location for your outdoor antenna. To make the process easier, make sure you know how to check your signal strength. This process differs for Android and iPhone users, but you can find out where your cellular signal appears to be the strongest by accessing this information.
After you’ve installed the outdoor antenna, it’s time to install your indoor antenna. To prevent oscillation from occurring, make sure the indoor antenna is either 20-feet vertical or 50-feet horizontal from the outdoor antenna. You’ll know your system is good to go if the light on it glows green; however, an orange or red light indicates that something’s wrong.
Pro Tip
Although a cellular booster will improve your signal, it only works if you already have one; it cannot create a signal. If you live in or have a cottage located in a dead zone—an area with no cellular signal—a booster will not resolve the issue.
Only Buy Approved Boosters
Proper installation is as important as buying an approved booster. While some cellular booster kits on Amazon or other online retailers may look promising, these are not always regulated, impacting the network tower.
When you shop from reputable companies like SureCall, you won’t have to worry about registering your cellular booster in Canada. We only sell approved booster kits that align with Canadian ISED regulations. So buy your home cell phone booster in Canada from SureCall!
Reasons To Improve Cellular Signal
Improving your cellular signal isn’t only necessary because it ends the frustration of dropped calls; it also improves data speeds. In addition, by purchasing a cellular signal booster and improving your signal, you’ll have better communication with the outside world, which is especially important in a rural area.
Since your cottage is a bit off-the-map, it may take emergency services longer to reach your location, so don’t let a weak signal add to this issue. With the right signal booster, you’ll finally put an end to dropped calls.
Pro Tip
Another great benefit of a signal booster is that you get better use out of your phone’s battery life. After all, a poor signal and battery life are inner-related. Your phone may struggle to obtain a strong signal if it needs a charge but searching for this signal also wastes your battery life. A booster makes things simple by eliminating this cause and effect.
Shop at SureCall Canada
As you look for ways to improve your cellular signal in your cabin, go with the option that will work. SureCall Canada sells cellular boosters for your home, vehicle, and residential needs so you can secure ideal call quality no matter what part of Canada you’re in!
