Wilson Electronics - DB Pro - Cell Phone Signal Booster for Large Home or Office - Includes Omni Directional Antenna

by Wilson Electronics

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 22 x 12 x 5 inches ; 7.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0023RRCP4
• Item model number: 841262
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (289 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,079 in Cell Phones & Accessories (See Top 100 in Cell Phones & Accessories)
  • #2 in Cell Phones & Accessories > Accessories > Signal Boosters

Product Description

Amazon.com

Wilson Dual Band (DB) Pro is one of Wilson's highest gain (62dB) Dual-Band (800 & 1900 MHz) Cell Phone Signal Boosters. Designed for use in homes and offices, the booster kit significantly improves the performance and signal strength of any cellular device on any network (except iDEN/Nextel) experiencing weak signals inside buildings. You'll experience fewer dropped calls, faster data rates, and clearer reception. The DB Pro supports multiple phones and data devices to be used simultaneously, and is easy to install.

Wilson Electronics 841262 Dual Band Pro (800/1900 MHz) 62dB Cell Phone Signal Booster

Everything you need for better reception is included in the box. View larger.

 

Improve your cell phone reception inside a building with the DB Pro. View larger.

It's All About Power

The primary cause of dropped calls is low signal output power from the cell phone to the cell tower, which limits the phone's ability to communicate with the tower. A typical cell phone provides merely 200 milliwatts of output power. To address this problem, the booster provides up to an impressive 2500 milliwatts of output power. In addition to the power increase from the booster, the included external omni-directional antenna will also significantly increase the phone's output power.

Enjoy Premium Reception and Fewer Dropped Calls

Using state-of-the-art technology, the Wilson DB Pro Kit strengthens your cell phone reception to give you premium coverage inside the building even when you're in remote areas with a weak signal.

Once installed, the booster kit will amplify the signals of multiple cell phones and data cards inside the building, allowing cell phone users to enjoy excellent reception and data connection simultaneously. You'll experience fewer dropped calls, clearer call quality, and improved data rates--even with 3G technologies.

Do-It-Yourself Installation without Sacrificing Performance

The booster kit comes with everything you need for a do-it-yourself installation. Included in this kit is the external Omni directional gain antenna with multiple mounting options which eliminates researching cell tower locations and antenna pointing. Also included is the inside panel antenna which rebroadcasts the amplified signal. All components are interconnected using provided standard TV cable (RG-6) that is easily available and often found pre-installed, simplifying cable runs.

Compatible with Most Cell Phone Models and Providers

The Wilson DB Pro Kit is compatible with all US and Canadian cellular providers, excluding iDEN / Nextel / MIKE. This kit supports CDMA, TDMA, GSM and AMPS cell phone technologies, as well as data protocols such as GPRS, 1xRTT, HSDPA, EVDO and EDGE.

The Wilson Booster Kit includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and is backed by a one-year manufacturer's warranty.

Specifications

• Frequency: 824-894 MHz / 1850-1990 MHz
• Gain: 62dB / 62dB
• Max Output Power: 2.5 watts
• Max RF (downlink): +15.7dBm
• Noise Figure: 3.5dB nominal
• Flatness: +/-5dB
• Isolation: > 90dB
• Power Requirements: 120-240 V AC, 50-60 Hz, 8W
• Connectors: F-Female
• Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.2 x 1.5 inches
• Weight: 0.64 lbs

What's in the Box

DB Pro Booster, 75 Ohm Outside Omni-directional Antenna, Inside Panel Antenna, 20', 30' and 50' lengths of White RG6 Coax Cables.

Dual Band Pro (800/1900 MHz) 62dB Cell Phone Signal Booster

At a glance:

• Significantly increase your cell phone signal inside of a building
  
  
• Easy installation--includes everything in the box
  
  
• Improve cellular signal and data rates for multiple cell phones and data cards
  
  
• Works with 800/1900 MHz frequencies for all US and Canadian carriers (except iDen/Nextel/MIKE)
  
  
• 30-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year manufacturer's warranty
  
  

Typical installation is quick and easy. View larger.

Product Description

The use of radio distribution equipment that enhances, extends or amplifies a wireless signal may be prohibited without the consent of the wireless carrier upon whose network such equipment will be used. You should consult with your carrier before purchasing such equipment to use with that carrier’s service.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

286 of 288 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars How can I improve cell phone reception inside the house - SOLVED December 17, 2011

By Internet shopper

Amazon Verified Purchase

From no signal to 5 bars signal strength in some locations inside. This Wilson booster system did the job.
Obviously you have to have some cell phone signal outside for it to work. In this case there was no signal or unreliable signal outside in the yard. However on top of chimney there were 5 bars.

LESSON LEARNED AND TOPICS TO UNDERSTAND
There are some decisions to make before selecting this kit with the 13" OMNIDIRECTIONAL antenna versus the shorter YAGI antenna which comes in this kit Wilson Electronics 841263 = Wilson Electronics 841262 DB Pro 65 dB Adjustable Gain 800/1900MHz In-building Wireless Smart Technology IITM Signal Booster Kit with Directional Wide Band Yagi and Panel Antenna for Home or Office..

For me the omnidirectional antenna worked well (or let's say I got away with it).
But before you purchase a system you want to consider...

SIGNAL AVAILABILITY
If you only have one or two bars at the location WHERE YOU INTEND TO INSTALL THE EXTERIOR ANTENNA buy the Yagi type. It is directional and will be able to pick up weaker signals and connect to a tower farther away.
If you have two to three bars you can PROBABLY use the 13" omnidirectional antenna.
You will get the best signal from the Yagi type antenna. So the Yagi should be your first choice unless the cell phones in your house connect to different towers in different directions....

ONE OR MORE TOWERS
If all carriers are transmitting from the same tower a Yagi will work but if one cell phone provider's tower is in one direction and the other one is in another direction you will need an omnidirectional antenna in order for users of both networks to be covered by the antenna/booster.

In my case I did not know where the towers were located or what phone connected to what. I therefore selected the kit with the omnidirectional antenna.

SIGNAL STRENGTH
I had either no service or one to two bars on the grounds around the house and no service inside the house. However on top of the chimney 25 feet in the air I had full signal on my phone (5 bars) all the time. Unfortunately the chimney was at the end of the house that was farthest away from the tower. The manual tells you to mount the antenna on the end of the house nearest the tower.
While hunting for a PRACTICAL location I measured 2 to 3 bars (with my cell phone) on the inside of an attic vent on the end of the house facing the tower. It turned out (as one can expect) that the larger 13" Wilson antenna picked up more signal than the small antenna in my cell phone so I eventually ended up with more bars in the room where the internal antenna was mounted above the ceiling. At first I was only able to get 3 to 4 bars but eventually ended up with 4 to 5 bars (See "Turkey Roasting Pan" below).
Had I used the Yagi antenna I would probably have had 5 bars consistently. The Yagi puts out double the signal strength around 850 MHz and more than double in the 1900 MHz band (these are the bands used by US cell phone providers for voice and some for data).

A WORD ABOUT SIGNAL STRENGTH
Some reviewers highlight that it is impossible to get more bars inside a house, by installing a booster system, than the number of bars they measure where the exterior antenna is mounted or going to be mounted. The statement is correct if they measure the signal strength outside using the same external antenna they intend to put up as part of the booster system.
This can be done because some cell phones are equipped with an external antenna connection on the back/bottom of the phone or behind a label in the battery compartment.
Antennas have different gain. The higher the gain the higher the efficiency and the stronger the signal they can deliver to your cell phone (and eventually to your phone via the booster system). Wilson's website lists the dB gain for the various antenna types.
In my case I did not have a cell phone that could connect to an external antenna nor did I have the antenna that came with the kit (when I did the initial planning).
But one thing is for sure, if you use your cell phone to measure the signal strength where you plan to install the exterior antenna you are in for a positive surprise when you install the exterior omnidirectional antenna or even a bigger surprise with a directional Yagi type.
Some phones has a Field Test Mode hidden in a menu and others like the Nokia Symbian phones offers an Energy Profiler app. Either one will allow you to measure the actual signal strength in dB rather than in bars.
Had I had this feature, it would have been possible to provide actual signal strength as dB values in this review rather than bars. It would also have made it possible to calculate the impact of different lengths of cable runs and to predict coverage areas. Wilson's website has a calculator for this purpose.

AMPLIFIER (BOOSTER) LOCATION
You want to install the amplifier (signal booster) near the antenna (using as short a cable as possible). The 20 foot* cable worked well for me. I actually shortened it to 12 feet.
The longer the cable the more noise and signal loss you will incur. Also the amplifier will amplify the noise (penetrating the cable) as well.

*The kit comes with 20, 30 and 50 foot antenna cables and an RG6 Female to Female adapter so you can string two cables together if you need a longer run.

NOTE: The kit does not come with a lighting surge protector. You must install one before the amplifier.
Wilson Lightning Surge Protector

POSITIONING THE INSIDE ANTENNA(S)
It was quite time consuming finding the optimum location for the inside antenna. Initially I thought I could get away with one internal antenna placed horizontally on top of the ceiling drywall (under the insulation) as one of the options in the Wilson Installation Manual suggests.
It turned out that the coverage was disappointing. There was no or very little signal in the adjoining rooms. It surprised me because the ceiling height is 13 feet. However it is a directional antenna and the most signal power is in a 90 degree angle relative to the antenna's flat front surface. Consequently the vertical signal direction sent the signal directly into the floor. (Which can be an advantage if you live in a multi-level house).
The pattern from the interior antenna that ships with the kit has a beam-width of 70 and 50 degrees in the horizontal and vertical plane respectively.

INTERNAL ANTENNA LOCATION(S)
If you have an open concept house the best location may be by shooting horizontally from a corner or a wall facing the largest open area (the antenna mounted vertically).
If this is not possible you have to reduce the amount of solid material the waves have to go through.
From a practical perspective imagine you are shining a light spreading at the same angles (beam-width) as the internal antenna. The objective is to place the light so you get as much light into as many rooms as possible. Imagine the building materials, wooden studs, floor joists, insulation, drywall are made of tinted glass that reduces the amount of light. The more glass/material the light/radio waves have to go through the weaker the light/signal gets. Consequently, if you are shooting on an angle from above, it is best to point the antenna in the direction along the ceiling joists as opposed to at an angle hitting multiple joists from the side where each joist weakens the signal. In a scenario with multiple rooms it would be best to install the internal antenna(s) as high up in the attic as possible pointing down in order to cover as many rooms as possible.
The best location in my case turned out to be a 30 degree angle several feet above the attic joists as the signal only have to go through one ceiling layer of drywall to make it into 3 rooms/patio-area. 3 room coverage was obtained by placing the antenna above the area where the walls below join in a T (the wall forming the top of the T was concrete with metal mesh*).

*Concrete with rebar, metal net or mesh used on buildings with stucco, insulation with aluminum foil or aluminum siding will block cell phone radio waves effectively.

Unfortunately as in my case a high elevation may turn out to be just below or at the same horizontal level of the "exterior" antenna which in my case is mounted behind the attic vent. So as expected OSCILLATION occurred.

OSCILLATION - MY WORST FEAR
In the planning phase before purchasing I called Wilson tech-service. The rep told me that I must have at least 70 feet distance between the exterior OMNIDIRECTIONAL antenna and the inside antenna AND the internal antenna must not point in the direction of the external antenna. If I could not install it in such a way I would face oscillation and have to reduce the signal strength from the amplifier (not exactly my preference).
My interior antenna is only 35 feet from the exterior antenna and once I moved the internal antenna 5 feet above the attic joists OSCILLATION STARTED (same phenomenon you hear when a microphone and loudspeaker starts to emit a high pitch sound if they get close to one another). The Wilson amplifier/booster lights will blink red to signal that you have a problem (as you can't hear radio waves oscillating).

SOLUTION - A TURKEY ROASTING PAN TO THE RESCUE
Obviously the last thing I wanted was to reduce the signal strength from the amplifier.
So I temporarily placed a disposable aluminum turkey roasting pan as a shield behind the "exterior" antenna and THE OSCILLATION PROBLEM TOTALLY WENT AWAY.

It was hard to attach the turkey pan permanently so I replaced it with a flat disposable drip pan Pactiv/E Z Foil 90815 Oven Liner (Pack of 2)from the kitchen oven. I placed the drip pan on top of the horizontal extenders (ground plane) located at the bottom of the omnidirectional antenna and secured it to the rafters with duct tape and staples. The best signal was obtained when there were metallic contact (conductivity) between the drip pan and the horizontal rods sticking out from the bottom of the omnidirectional antenna. Also the pan had to be tipped forward touching the top of the antenna.
To my surprise THE SIGNAL LEVEL INCREASED BY 1 TO 1.5 BARS throughout the house.

Oscillation would probably not have occurred if a Yaki antenna was installed. However I see no reason why you can't install a shield behind a Yaki antenna if you choose to install an interior antenna in closer vicinity than the Installation Manual suggests.
If the exterior antenna is mounted outside (as recommended) a more robust metal plate will have to be fabricated because a drip pan is too flimsy to handle the wind pressure.

OBJECTIVE
My objectives were to establish a reliable signal in the TV room, kitchen, patio area and secondly in the living room and master bedroom area.
First I thought one interior antenna could do the job but the concrete walls facing the roof-covered patio area were "effectively" blocking the signal.
The house is 60 feet long and 45 feet wide. The first antenna was mounted in one end of the house shooting across the 45 foot width (in the same direction as the ceiling rafters).
In the areas near the T-wall intersection I have 4 to 5 bars.
At the 45 foot mark I have 1 bar after shooting through 2 walls at a 90 degree angle plus the 30 degrees from the top. I don't care about the signal in this area as people are seldom there.

ADDING AN ADDITIONAL INTERNAL ANTENNA
First of all, it is preferable if you can get away with one antenna because you only get 50% signal on each antenna after you split the signal to feed two antennas. It reduces the coverage area of the first antenna to approximately 70% of what it was previously. You notice it right away when you connect the second antenna. Wilson Electronics Dual Band - 700-2700 MHz 75 Ohm Directional Wall Mount Panel Antenna with F Female Connector
The splitter will cost you $$ as will the extra internal antenna (see link above) and if the reduced coverage for the first antenna turn out to be a problem an extra amplifier (booster) is needed ($$$).
The New Wilson Electronics Antenna Splitter 2-Way F-Type Female 700-2300mhz Weatherproof Housing is very efficient and has only 3 dB loss (50% split) on each output but it is relatively expensive (for a splitter). If you have plenty of signal one may consider the IDEAL 85-332 2-WAY 2 GHZ SPLITTER which has a 4.7dB and 7.0dB loss at 800 and 1900MHz respectively. However you lose a lot of signal strength because the scale is logarithmic and 3 dB translates to a doubling in signal loss.
After all you installed the system to get a reliable signal so why let it go to waste with an inefficient splitter.
By the way, you can install multiple inside antennas and yet maintain full signal strength if you add additional boosters/amplifiers. (Call customer service).

LOCATION FOR THE SECOND INTERNAL ANTENNA
In my particular case the end of the house where the "external" antenna is mounted could theoretically not be covered because of the minimum distance requirement between antennas could not be achieved. Thus I installed a second reflector (oven drip pan) two feet from the second interior antenna blocking the transmission path to the "exterior" antenna. The two antennas are 12 feet apart in direct line with only one foot difference in elevation (remember we started out with a requirement for 70 feet minimum for the kit with the omnidirectional antenna).

LESSONS LEARNED
-With this system it is possible to achieve cell phone coverage inside a building if you have signal outside.
-First, do your homework; determine where the nearest cell tower is.
-If you use more than one cell phone provider determine if the signals comes from more than one cell tower as this may prevent you from using a Yagi antenna.
-Select a Yagi type or other directional exterior antenna if at all possible.
-Determine where you have the most signal outside for antenna location. High up is normally best.
-Look for potential locations where you can install the interior antenna(s).
-A corner in a large open area will give you the most coverage.
-You lose signal strength when shooting through walls or solid materials.
-Go on the Wilson Electronics website and read the installation manual.
-Plan the layout in your head or on paper (keep in mind that you need a 110V outlet to power the amplifier).
-Lay it out with loose wires (don't attach anything) so you can move the antennas around.
-It took longer than expected to hunt for the best cell tower signal and to optimize the internal signal strength.
-Even small changes to location or antenna direction can make a huge difference in performance.
-It is great if you can distance your antennas as outlined in the Installation Manual but what if you can't?
-I think the most important lesson learned was that I did not have to be bound by the strict distance limitations between antennas by installing reflectors/shields (you can use aluminum siding, foil, pans, insulation board with foil or any type of metal plate for that matter).

I forgot to mention this system is of good quality and made in the US.

I hope my experience can help to you plan, install and enjoy cell phone coverage in your house as well. YOU CAN DO IT. Good luck!

Note: If you have NO CELLPHONE SIGNAL this Wilson Booster Kit can not help you, however there is another option. Please see my post in the comments section below this review (How to talk and text from a cell phone WITHOUT cell signal over Wi-Fi. posted January 29, 2013) Read more ›

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You get what you pay for. October 21, 2010

By LodgeMan

Amazon Verified Purchase

We live in log home in the woods and have a metal roof. Needless to say we had an issue with signal strength in the house. We went from two bars outside and one bar in the house to 4 bars(the max) in signal in the house. Signal on the router went from -93db to -70db. Speed test confirmed the signal indication gain. Rates went to a blazing 1.5Mbs download to .5Mbs Upload for Verizon Wirelss. When you were dealing with dial up speeds before, this was to good to believe. It is about the best it can do. I had my doubts on spending so much money and this. But the reviews and Amazons return policy made me take a chance. Short time out of the box and we had more signal then we ever thought possible. With 8 watts of power consumption I can leave it on 24/7. Be sure to follow the manual and turn cell phones off and data cards off while installing. Install the power supply last. So far worth every penny I paid and Amazon beat others prices by $140. Thanks to everyones reviews on this product ... they made me take that leap of faith!

73 of 75 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent way to turn no cell service into 4-5 bars!!! May 4, 2010

By C. Parker

Amazon Verified Purchase

I have been suffering through satellite internet for years and decided I would try to boost my cell signal into my home. I tried a few other options, until I decided to pony up the dough and get this one. Let me tell you, this was the BEST purchase I have ever made, and I am completely able to get signal to discontinue my $200 a month satellite service to the $48 data card plan with my cell phone company. The speed is much better and now I can take my data card anywhere I get cell signal. This cell booster is of exceptional quality and is very easy to install. I definitely recommend this to anyone who needs to boost their cell signal.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Can your hear me now? YES!! June 9, 2011

By Bryan Coughlin

Amazon Verified Purchase

Quick Summary: If you get a decent signal on the roof of your house, but horrible signal inside, this is the product for you! If you get horrible signal on the roof of your house, then this won't do anything but cause you to be frustrated.

I recently purchase a home that was definitely within the coverage map, however, we couldn't make a call on our iPhones without dropping signal. Our Edge coverage was 1-2 bars at best, and we couldn't connect to 3G long enough to know how many bars we had. We tried everything to get better signal short of standing on the roof. To make a call I would have to turn off 3G and stand at a window in my family room. And that only worked successfully about 25% of the time. 75% of the time I would be talking to myself, not realizing that the call dropped. I couldn't send or receive MMS messages at all, SMS messages would work sometimes. In order to use the internet or email I would have to connect via WIFI. We were fed up and started looking online for a solution.

I originally was looking at getting the zBoost because it was on sale for only $199.99 (from $399.99), however, after I read the reviews for this Wilson DB Pro I was sold. I purchased it from J&R and expedited the shipping. So let's break this down.

Packaging:
The unit comes with two antennas, including mounts, one for the outside of your house and one for the inside. It also includes the signal booster, as well as a DC adapter, RG6 Cables (50ft, 30ft, 20ft), and a couple instruction inserts.

Installation:
The installation is fairly straight forward. I would strongly suggest that before you just pick a spot to mount the exterior antenna, you use your phone to check the signal.... If you only get 40% signal (2 bars on iPhone) where you put the antenna, you will see the same result in the house where you put the interior antenna, so try to find a spot with the best possible signal. I was lucky to find a spot on the roof with 80-100% signal (4-5 bars on iPhone). Now that I figured out where I wanted to put the antenna, I had to figure out how I was going to get the wiring down into the house. There are three things to keep in mind before drilling into your walls. 1 - You must mount the antennas (interior and exterior) a minimum distance (height and length) from each other to avoid cross talk (interference), 2 - Your interior antenna should be facing the inside of the house, so find a wall that faces a majority of the house to ensure the best coverage, 3 - The signal booster needs power and also needs both interior and exterior antennas connected to it. If you keep these three things in mind before you just start drilling and pulling wires, it will save you the headache of having to move the antennas around and patching the drywall to cover up your mistakes.

Setup:
Once both antennas were installed, we hooked them into the signal booster and powered it up. One green light came on immediately, along with a blinking orange light. The instruction manual said to turn down the gain on the band that had the blinking orange light until it turns green. We turned it down about 5db and it turned green.

Test/Result:
Immediately we noticed an increase in bars on all of our cell phones. My iPhone had 5 bars (100% signal) on 3G (AT&T), my wife's iPhone had 5 bars (100% signal) on 3G (Verizon), and my friend's EVO (Sprint) had 5 bars (85% signal). I immediately called my mom, just to test the signal strength around the house. I have a two story home that is 3500 sq. ft. and not only did I have 4-5 bars over the entire house, the call clarity was fantastic. After my initial call with my mom, we did the ultimate test, a 3-Way call with two iPhones and an EVO, while walking around the house, in bathrooms, closets, garage, even the backyard. It worked flawlessly. The calls didn't drop, and the signal stayed between 80-100%, even in the backyard.

Summary:
In my situation, this product worked EXACTLY as advertised. We went from arguing about dropped calls, having to sit completely still in a specific spot in the house to get signal, to having the ability to walk around without loosing signal. This product is AWESOME! Read more ›