Wilson Electronics SignalBoost DT Review

At the CTIA Fall 2009 convention in San Diego this October, I ran into the folks of Wilson Electronics.  If you remember, they previously provided us with the review unit used in the Wilson iBooster Review.  This time, they asked if I wanted to check out one of their in-building systems, and I jumped at the chance to use the SignalBoost DT.  The DT is a dual band amplifier kit designed for home and office use.  The kit can provide up to 2,000 sq ft of enhanced coverage, and is designed to work with all major networks (except Nextel) for both voice and data connectivity.  Wilson has been making antennas and other signal enhancement products for more than 40 years, and has spent the last 10 focused on cellular.  With this experience, they have been able to bring reliable and powerful products to the market to meet the needs where signal enhancement is necessary.  The Wilson SignalBoost DT can be found online for around $300.

In the Box

• Wilson SignalBoost DT 55dB Amplifier
• Wilson SignalBoost DT Panel Antenna
• Wilson SignalBoost DT Internal Antenna/Base Unit
• 20 and 30ft RG6 standard satellite-type coaxial cable
• Cable connector
• Amplifier wall bracket
• Pole Mount
• Wall Mount
• Window Mount
• AC Power Supply

Technical Specifications

• Frequency: 824-894 MHz (Cellular) / 1850-1990 MHz (PCS)
• Gain: 55 dB at 800 MHz/1900 MHz
• Max Output Power: +35 dBm
• Noise Figure: 3.5 dB nominal
• Flatness: ±2 dB
• Isolation: > 90 dB
• Power Requirements: 110-240V AC, 50-60 Hz, 0.6 A Max
• Connectors: TNC Female and F Female
• Dimensions: 6.2 by 4.2 by 1.5 inches
• Weight: .64 pounds

How it Works
The Panel Antenna is placed in an area of solid (or at least reliable) signal strength.  The best place to mount this is on an exterior wall of a building, or as close to outside as possible.  It then receives the signal, and sends it through a coax cable to the pre-amplifier. The pre-amplifier boosts the signal before sending it to the amplifier. The main SignalBoost DT amplifier boosts the signal further, and then sends the boosted signal through a cable to the inside antenna.  This provides an area of improved signal that can be used by up to 15 phones or data cards simultaneously.

Installation

Installation of the product will vary depending on your environment.  I chose to locate the Panel Antenna in the back room of my office, which has an exterior wall and relatively good cellular reception.  I then placed the base unit on my desk, to give me the maximum signal strength while working.  To connect the two, I cut a hole in the wall of my office, ran the coax cable up and above the drop ceiling, and across to the mounted location of the Panel Antenna, this entire run was about 45 feet. Routing the cables can take some time, especially if you don’t want any of them to be seen.

The Base Unit is the amplification piece of the system, that looks very similar to a network router. Physically, it has 3 ports, and 1 light.  To use the base, you simply connect the AC adapter, coax leading to the Panel Antenna, and smaller antenna to the unit once everything is installed.  Then it instructs you to position the on-board antenna behind, not over the amplifier.

Without this step, I found the unit would not operate properly, and signal enhancement would fail.  I found it took various trials and multiple test locations, to find the area best suited for installation.  Make sure you take the time to do so as well to maximize efficiency.  Mounting is easy, and the kit comes with 3 different types of mounts.  It only takes about 3 minutes once you know where you want to permanently install the antenna.

The front of the Base Unit has 1 light, which indicates whether the unit is functioning properly.  The green light illuminates when the unit is powered and working properly.

The orange light indicates the amplifier has cut back the gain by either 4 dB or 8dB due to oscillation.

The red light indicates the downlink signal on either or both bands is overloading the amplifier.

Again, the difficult part was getting the unit to properly display the green light.  Depending on where you have your Panel Antenna, it can pick up too much output from the Base Unit, and cause this oscillation issue.  In the long run, I found a sweet spot in the office, that allowed the unit to function properly.

Then, a coax antenna is run between the base and the antenna.  Like I mentioned, I cut a hole in the wall behind my desk, routed the cable through it, and then up above the drop ceiling.  After everything is installed, simply plug in the ac adaptor and watch to see if you get a green light on the base, indicating that your installation is successful.

Use and Results
Using the SignalBoost DT is as simple as using your phone. The unit can cover approximately 2,000 square feet based on signal level, placement of the antennas, and building construction. My tests seemed to substantiate this claim, and gave my 1500 square foot office good coverage throughout.  For testing, I used the AT&T iPhone 3GS, Verizon Blackberry Curve, T-Mobile HTC Diamond and Sprint Palm Pixi.  While bars are not necessarily a good indicator of exact signal strength, I did see more on each device while using the SignalBoost.  Calls on each network were clear and without dropouts.  This is a marked increase from the service without the booster, where I have poor service and dropped calls on each network running on 1900 MHz (AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile).  My Verizon service has always been solid, but the dB level has increased from -90 to -78 with the SignalBoost.

Overall
For around $300, the Wilson SignalBoost DT is a good home or office solution for poor service and dropped calls.  As long as you take the time to install the unit in a way that allows it to perform to it’s peak abilities, you will have increased reliability and service from the unit.

About Wilson
For more than 40 years, Wilson Electronics has remained a leader in wireless communication technologies. For the past 10 years the company has focused on helping cellular users improve their cellular service and reduce dropped calls. The company designs and manufactures easy to install antennas and amplifiers that improve a cellular phone or air card’s performance. Wilson bi-directional amplifiers deliver higher power and have better receiver sensitivity than competing solutions currently available. The result: Wilson Electronics’ cellular amplifiers and antennas empower users to stay within reach in both building and mobile environments.
Wilson pioneered cellular handset signal enhancement and has consistently led the industry in performance standards. Wilson holds a number of patents including the industry’s best and most reliable method of oscillation prevention and carrier cell site protection, an area where most competitors fall short. The company’s designs consistently outperform the competition in specifications as well as real world performance.
Wilson’s U.S. based design and manufacturing allows the company to maintain the highest standards of quality. All products undergo 100 percent automatic testing, with real time test results monitored by our engineering department. Wilson is so confident in their products performance that the company offers customers a money back guarantee.
For more information about the company visit www.WilsonElectronics.com

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