Repeater Tutorial
What you need to know before buying a Repeater System

Repeater Section

Start

Basic Installation

Donor Antennas

Coverage Antennas

Other Issues

Repeater
Differences

Repeater FAQ's

Antenna Section

Index

Basics

Bands and
Frequencies

Gain

Home and
Office

Vehicle
Reception

Pointing an
Antenna

Finding Your
Frequency

Frequently Asked
Questions

The correct application of a repeater system is to take existing good signal from outside a building, amplfiy it and bring it inside where reception needs to be improved. However, there are a few things to know before you purchase a repeater system. A properly applied system will bring signal to the areas you want--an improperly applied system will give disappointing results. Please read over the following information to learn how a repeater system can help for your application. This tutorial will provide you with most of the information you will need to purchase a repeater system

In some situations a repeater system will not work regardless the marketing hype you may read elsewhere on the internet. We would rather give you realistic expectations up front rather than sell you something that would not have worked in the first place. At the very least, please read this first page of our tutorial. If after reading you still have questions, please feel free to call us to discuss your particular situation. Call us toll free at 1(800) 238-2811

You MUST have Minimum Signal Levels - IMPORTANT!!

You must have a minumum amount of signal present outside where you would install the Donor antenna. Failure to provide the repeater system sufficient signal will only result in a poorly performing system or will have absolutely no increase in reception inside the building. This is the number one consideration for a repeater system! A weak outside signal will result in a smaller area covered inside. A repeater cannot make signal appear outside when their is none. A repeater also cannot make a weak signal outside stronger. Although a marginal signal MAY be enhanced to provide enough signal to drive a repeater. (please call us for details if this fits your situation)

How to check your signal levels:

To check your signal levels, take the phone outside (preferrably on the roof) and observe the signal bars on the phone. It is also helpful to be on a call for immediate registration of the signal/reception. Carefully walk around the roof with the phone to see where the signal is best. The Donor (outside) antenna should be placed in the location where you get the most signal. Note: Placing the phone in test mode is NOT necessary. We have actually had better success simply observing the signal bar indicators on the phone.

A signal level outside of 50% or better is required for all CS and SR series repeaters. A signal level of 65% to 75% or better is required for the DA series repeaters. (3+ bars CS and SR series - 4+ bars DA series)

It is important to investigate and understand what is causing your reception difficulties. If your building is made of concrete, steel, steel roof, copper roof, brick, aluminum siding, concrete roofing tiles, metal roofing tiles or any other signal stopping material, a repeater is usually the ideal solution for your situation. Signal outside is 3-5 bars and falls off when you enter the building. This is an indicator that the building is the problem and a repeater system will usually solve that problem by bringing that reception from the outside to cover the inside of your building.

If your building is on the fringe of the cell site's coverage area and the signal is poor everywhere outside your building, a repeater system WILL NOT work for you. A minimum amount of signal is required in order to drive a repeater system. Repeater systems are not magical devices, they cannot merely create signal from little or nothing. If you are in this situation, you will want to investigate an external antenna directly connected to your phone or use a cellsocket device and external antenna if you have a compatible phone. Go here for all of the options available to you. You are always welcome to call us for further options for your situation.

Basic Installation Instructions

Donor Antenna Patterns

Interior Layouts and Coverage Antennas to use

Other issues regarding repeater systems

Repeater System Differences - Which System to choose

This Site Copyright ©1996-2011 Criterion Cellular. All Rights Reserved. Some logos and graphics used are trademarks of their respective owners. Prices subject to change without notice. Not responsible for typographical or photographical errors. Some products may not be available in all areas. All prices are in US dollars. We reserve the right to modify product pricing and/or specifications without prior notice. We do not sell or rent our customer information - Privacy Notice. Site questions / comments / problems mail to Webmaster

.