What the Flashing Lights on Your Cellular Booster Mean
- SureCall Boosters
- Feb 9, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 9, 2022
If you just finished installing your booster and noticed a flashing light, don’t fret. In this article, we’ll dive into what the flashing lights on your cellular booster mean, as well as how you can resolve the issue! You’ll have your booster up and working again in no time!
The Different Light Colors
After installing your booster and turning it on, you may notice that the light is blinking either two colors or a single color. These colours signify slightly different things depending on which booster you are using. A simple breakdown of the colors you may see are as follows:
No Lights: The booster is operating normally. There are no adjustments that need to be made.
Flashing yellow (left or right LED): The booster is operating normally. There are no adjustments that need to be made.
Red (left LED): The booster is receiving too strong of a signal.
If this happens but your signal is still improved: It is possible that the impacted frequency bands are not used by your carrier and thus, no action is needed.
If this happens and your signal has not improved, consider the following options:
Relocate the outside antenna to a location where the signal is weaker
Adjust the angle of the Yagi antenna by rotating it in small increments away from the cell tower until Red flashing stops
Red & Yellow Alternately Flashing (right LED): One or more of the supported frequency bands have shut off. Unaffected frequency bands will not be impacted, however, and continue to receive enhanced signals.
If this happens and service quality has not improved, consider the following options:
Try increasing antenna isolation by adding vertical distance between the outside antenna and Flare booster.
Ensure the Yagi antenna is not aimed in the direction of the Flare booster.
Check for sources of interference such as cellular modems or hotspots. Added separation from the Flare booster may be needed.
Solid Green, Flashing Green, Solid Yellow: The booster is operating normally. There are no adjustments that need to be made.
Yellow Flashing Quickly: Automatic Gain Control (AGC) has detected significant antenna isolation issues causing a reduction in gain between 10 and 20 dB for the indicated frequency band(s). Adjustments should be made to improve your booster’s performance.
1. Verify that the minimum distance of 25 vertical feet has been achieved. Separation up to 40 - 50 ft may be needed, however, especially where vertical separation is not possible.
2. Check for sources of interference such as, cellular modems or hotspots.
3. Verify neither antenna is placed near a window.
4. Ensure that the antennas are aimed away from one another.
Red/Yellow Flashing Alternately: Extreme gain reduction (greater than 20 dB) resulting from insufficient antenna separation. The frequency band has been disabled. Adjustments should be made to improve your booster’s performance.
1. Verify that the minimum distance of 25 vertical feet has been achieved. Separation up to 40 - 50 ft may be needed, however, especially where vertical separation is not possible.
2. Check for sources of interference such as, cellular modems or hotspots.
3. Verify neither antenna is placed near a window.
4. Ensure that the antennas are aimed away from one another.
Understanding what these colors mean makes it easier to troubleshoot and solve problems if you have issues with your cellular booster. It’s easy to feel frustrated when the booster kit you purchased fails to work, but with understanding comes solutions.
What a Blinking Light Means & How You Fix It
Now let’s dive into what the flashing lights on your cellular booster mean. The cellular booster may blink one of two colors: green and red or orange and green—each means something different.
Green and Red Blinking Lights
Typically, a red and green blinking light means that your indoor and outdoor antennas are too close to one another, so you’ll have to move one of them. Remember, these antennas should remain at least 20 feet vertically or 50 feet horizontally apart.
Green and Orange Blinking Lights
Your signal booster may also blink orange and green, which indicates that your outdoor antenna is pulling too much signal for the system. While this may sound strange, there is such a thing as too much cellular signal since your amplifier may not be able to keep up. If your amplifier can’t do its job, it fails to work correctly. To fix this issue, simply reposition the outside antenna and then reset your cellular booster.
Tips To Installing Your Booster
You’re less likely to experience these issues when you install your signal booster properly. It’s best to scout out your property to see where your signal seems strongest since this is where the outdoor antenna will go. Additionally, ensure you purchase the appropriate cellular booster kit for your home, vehicle, or commercial buildings.
If you need help finding the right booster or have questions about installation, contact SureCall Canada. As a mobile signal booster supplier, we have a vast knowledge of what booster kit you need as you search out the best solution to dropped calls.