zBoost
®
PRO 10K ZBC745 Manual
13
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect my cell phone signal range and strength to be inside my home?
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 building materials in the home, the placement of the unit and the antenna’s proximity to cellular
towers.
You can expect that your indoor coverage will be improved. You will be able to make calls where
you couldn’t before. The degree of improvement will depend upon many factors. The intent of
zBoost products are to bring outside coverage inside. Just as the signal bars move up and down
when outside, the boosted signal will fluctuate in a similar fashion.
Is a cellular phone signal booster the same as a wireless router; will it help my WiFi signal?
The zBoost 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 operates on a different frequency.
Why isn’t my cell phone indicating more signal with more bars?
You may not always observe more bars that gain on your signal meter because of the signal
spreading out from the antenna. If your phone has a dB meter, 3 dB is a significant increase of 2x,
6 dB is 4x, and 10 dB is 10x. On a four bar phone, one "bar" equals about 10 dB. (Note: For best
reading, turn off LTE)
•
The increase in signal you will see depends upon:
•
The level of signal at the Signal antenna (outdoor)
•
The care of the antenna placement (two feet away from metal, adequate antenna separation
[15 feet recommended])
•
The signal already present inside (related to building losses)
•
The distance of your phone/device from the Base Unit (signal spreads or diminishes rapidly
with distance.)
There are usually several cell phones in use at one time in my home, will your product boost
all of our signals simultaneously?
The zBoost PRO 10K ZBC745 is designed to cover multiple signals simultaneously and will allow
multiple users to operate at the same time.
Does the zBoost work if you have no bars?
No, if no signal is present outdoors zBoost products will not work for you. Also, keep in mind if your
best signal is 1 bar at the External Antenna, your coverage will be limited to one or two rooms. You
could improve that with an upgraded antenna. (See page v).
Where should I put my Indoor Antenna to get the best coverage?
The Indoor Antenna is the component that amplifies the signal inside. You should mount your
Indoor Antenna on a wall facing the direction where signal coverage is most needed. The farther
you are away from the Indoor Antenna, the weaker the signal. The Indoor Antenna could be placed
in the family room, basement, or a central location.
Note: if you install the External Antenna too close to the Indoor Antenna, the system will shut down
(red light will blink). This is a normal condition for this scenario. It just means that you need to
ensure that you have sufficient distance between the 2 antennas; otherwise, it will detect feedback
or noise and will automatically shut down.
