Bars are unreliable…
We’re all guilty of this at some point. We look for bars or dots (iOS) to determine the strength of our smartphone cell signal. I remember in 2010 when Apple released a statement announcing an upcoming software update for the iPhone 4. The update would correct the formula for calculating bars due to iPhones mistakenly displaying 2 more bars than it should for given signal strength.
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2010/07/02Letter-from-Apple-Regarding-iPhone-4/
It was at this point I realized that bars could be manipulated and for those of us who install Signal Boosters, we had to get our customers to stop counting bars. We strictly read decibels (dB’s) which is a numerical indication of signal strength and is far more accurate due to the scale of -50 to -130 versus 5 bars or dots.
The true test for a quality signal is can you make a viable phone call? We’ve been installing cell phone Signal Boosters since 2008 and there was a time where we could watch the bars jump from one or two to five every time we installed a system. Everything was manually controlled from the Carriers’ base stations to the cell towers to the Signal Booster amplifiers. This allowed us to maximize the signal that was being fed to the phone through the Signal Booster. This practice could cause noise to the networks and eventually led the FCC to regulate our industry in 2014. It’s nearly impossible to duplicate that scenario today as technology just doesn’t allow it. Carriers today use Dynamic Power Control (DPC) software in their networks which allocates the limited resources fairly and efficiently and leads to reduced power consumption and improved signal quality.
Rarely will you see more than 2 – 3 dots on your iPhone. This is by design and causes consumers to question our Signal Booster systems. It’s not uncommon for us to only see one bar or dot of increased signal after installing a CellTeks Signal Booster system. Although we know the system is performing by measuring the decibels, customers can be somewhat skeptical. People tend to get fixated on the bars/dots and we have to remind them it’s all about viability. So we simply go to a location within the building or structure where they previously could not make a call and say dial away. Once they’ve completed a lengthy clear conversation, they understand the value of the system.
The bottom line is there is more to a viable call than signal strength. The signal that your phone is communicating with the network over must be a clean signal as well. A maxed out signal with a high noise level is far worse than a lower and cleaner signal. However, the only information your bars or dots give you is the strength. When considering a Signal Booster system for your home or office, contact CellTeks. We are so confident in our ability to produce a viable signal that we believe you should experience a live demonstration before purchasing a Signal Booster system. That’s right…we’ll let you make calls on a live system before you commit to purchasing. How many businesses will give you that opportunity?
