How to Boost 4G Signal Indoors

You need super-fast internet speeds for work and other digital needs, from watching your favourite shows on Netflix to playing your online multiplayer games without issues.

If you use a router or mobile internet plan, you would likely have had issues where you cannot enjoy good internet speeds indoors. For routers, you might find it quite hard to get good internet speeds in some areas of your house.

We have had similar issues, and we have been able to fix them on our routers and mobiles. This article discusses some tips that will help you boost 4G signal indoors. These will include things to try to fix poor internet speeds indoors.

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How to Boost 4G Signal Indoors – Step-By-Step

While there are no simple ways to boost 4G signal indoors, there are some things to try:

Option 1: Verify if any other person using the same operator is experiencing coverage issues in your area question.
Option 2: Try maintaining a good line of sight between your mobile and the network tower. There are chances that you will get good coverage if you do this.
Option 3: If you live in a storey building, you could move to a higher floor. You will get better coverage on top floors because the coverage on 2–3 floors will be better than on the ground floor.
Option 4: Try to reach the customer care of your provider. If your problem is from them, they will try to adjust the setting of the nearby tower to enhance coverage in your area.
Option 5: If none of the previous steps help improve your signal, you can change your network carrier to one with better coverage.

If you are still not getting the signal quality you want, then you can consider these solutions we’ve categorized below.

Fix 1: Use a cell Phone certified solution

Consider following this procedure when you want to boost 4G signal indoors through the cell phone carrier solutions.

STEP 1: Get a cell phone signal booster. Getting a cell phone signal booster is a solution that certified major carriers mostly recommend.

A cell phone signal booster will help you take an existing strong signal from outside; it will amplify it and then distribute it inside your home.

STEP 2: You can make your calls using the “WiFi calling” feature.

Though technically, it is not a way to boost 4G signal indoors, it will help you maintain connection when there is no available cell signal.

Fix 2: Check your phone for issues

You need to make sure that your phone is working fine. Here are some steps for you to follow.

STEP 1: Check your phone for software updates. If there are any pending software updates, install them immediately.
STEP 2: Turn OFF any wireless broadband service you’re not using. If you leave a service like WiFi ON needlessly, it can sometimes cause problems with your signal strength.

They can try to send your calls and data over a different service. In addition, they can also allow other devices to use up the bandwidth you need for fast connection speed.

STEP 3: Change your network type. Sometimes the network type you are using may become congested, or it may not be able to fetch a strong signal when you are indoors.

Hence, changing the network type from 3G to 4G, 5G, or the other way round is ideal. Check for the one with the strongest signal.

STEP 4: Turn Airplane Mode ON and OFF. Doing this will force your phone to refresh its connection to its cellular network.
STEP 5: The next thing you can do is reset your network settings. If you do not know how to do that, follow this quick guide.
Go to Settings >> Tap the Backup and reset option >> Scroll down and select the Reset network settings option >> Tap the Reset settings button.

Fix 3: Clear up your surroundings

Your immediate surroundings play a significant role in helping to boost 4G signal indoors. This is why you have to consider doing these:

STEP 1: Re-arrange the objects in your area. If you have many objects surrounding where you usually need signal the most, you will need to re-arrange them.

Consider repositioning your large furniture, metal cabinets, refrigerators, and other large items in your house or office. This can help free up the pathway through which the external cell signal pass.

STEP 2: Surrounding trees and bushes can also hinder the free flow of outside cell signals. Hence, if you have bushes and tall trees surrounding your home or office, you may need to cut them down or trim them.
STEP 3: Opening your windows can help the flow of strong signals.

5 Great Ideas for a Homemade Cell Phone Signal Booster

A homemade cell phone signal booster is a great way to boost 4G signal indoors.

Here are five ideas for a homemade cell phone signal booster below:

Idea 1: DIY Cell Phone Signal Booster – Tin Can Signal Amplifier

Here is a step-by-step guide for creating a tin can signal amplifier:

First, get these items;

Two 13-oz coffee cans or metal cookie canister
Antenna connector
Copper wire
A Pigtail connector that is compatible with your cell phone model
Soldering gun
Solder

After getting the above items, you can now proceed to,

STEP 1: Clean the cans thoroughly and form a tube shape by cutting one end of one can and cutting both ends from the second can. Then solder the open ends together to make a tall can.
STEP 2: Solder copper wires in place to serve as an antenna.
STEP 4: Attach the copper wire through a hole under the can. Extend it, so it passes through the internal length of the can.
STEP 5: Reach inside the can and use a nut to tighten the antenna connector.
STEP 5: Screw a pigtail connector to the end of the antenna connector that extends outside the can.
STEP 6: Plug the outside end of the pigtail connector into your cell phone’s antenna port, and your booster should be ready to use
STEP 7: Use the other end of the antenna that extends from within the can to find the directions where there is the strongest signal.

Idea 2: DIY Cell Phone Signal Booster – LauC2 Antenna

Below is a step-by-step guide for creating an indoor 4G signal booster using a LauC2 Antenna:

Here are the things you will need to get;

Two-wire coat hangers (you will need to iron them)
Coax cable or TV cable
Two 20A cable connector blocks
Pliers
Screwdrivers – Flathead and Phillips head
Wire cutters

After getting materials,

STEP 1: Straighten the coat hanger and cut it, so it has a length of 42 cm.
STEP 2: Use sandpaper to wipe off the paint or coating from the ends of the hanger. Wipe the paint to a length of 4cm.
STEP 3: Use the open ends of the hanger to form a square by bending it at 90-degree angles at the centre point.
STEP 4: Insert a connector block into one end of the squares.
STEP 5: Get your coax cable and remove 20cm of the insulation and woven metal shield till you’ve exposed the bare wire. Make sure to keep the metal shield you stripped off in a safe place.
STEP 6: Use the exposed end of the wire to create a coil by wrapping it around a pencil in 5 circular twists.
STEP 7: Insert the coax cable’s other end into the connector block’s open end and tighten it.
STEP 8: Get the metal shield you stripped off earlier and twist it to form another form of a coil.
STEP 9: Insert one end of the metal shield into one port on the connector block. Insert the other end into another port.
STEP 10: Repeat the entire process from steps 1 – 9 to create another unit of the item. The only thing you should do differently this time is to wrap the bare wire around the pencil for seven complete rounds instead of 5.
STEP 11: By the time you are done, you should have two square wire units with connector blocks and coils in the centre. Use a coax cable to connect the units.
STEP 12: Place one of the units in a high open spot outside your home. Just make sure you can run the cable through a window.

Idea 3: Homemade Cell Phone Signal Booster for Free – Twist Tie Signal Booster

Using a Twist Tie signal booster is a simple and effective way to boost your phone’s signal. Here is how to make it.

STEP 1: Take the twist ties from a bread bag (longer twist ties work best.).

Note that this method works best for cell phones with antenna stubs.

STEP 2: Hold the stub and wrap the twist tie around it, starting from the lower end. Make sure to leave about an inch or two of the stub’s length bare.
STEP 3: You can use tape to secure the wrapped end.

This simple process will help you extend the cell phone’s antenna, thereby increasing its signal’s strength and stability.

Idea 4: Homemade Signal Booster That Works – Internal Antenna Extension

To make this signal booster;

STEP 1: You will need to slide your phone’s back covering off so you can access its internal antenna port.
STEP 2: Get an insulated magnet wire and remove about half of the insulation on the end using a nail file or sandpaper.
STEP 3: Gently insert the end you just stripped into the antenna port.
STEP 4: Allow about 6 inches of the wire to extend and cut the remaining off.
STEP 5: Tape the 6 inches long wire to the back of your cell phone and run it up to the top of the phone to extend it as an antenna.

Idea 5: DIY Cell Phone Signal Booster – Mini External Antenna

You can also use any thin metal tube like a metal pen casing or a metal drinking straw to form an external antenna.

STEP 1: Get either one of the thin metal tubes we mentioned.
STEP 2: Tape one end of the metal tube near the top of your cell phone. Allow the tube to extend upward from the phone.
STEP 3: Plug a USB charger into your phone and wrap the cord around the metal tube. Use a metal spring clamp to clip the end of the cord in place.

This should increase your signal strength.

Why Your 4G Signal Is Poor Indoors

The 4G signal is a radio wave frequency that transmits data faster than the 3G or 2G. However, it is usually weaker when its transmission goes indoors because it would need to pass through more walls and obstacles.

This means that even if you are close to a window, the signal you would get would still not be as strong as it would be if you were outside. Aside from being unable to travel through walls, various factors can also make the 4G signal poor when travelling indoors.

Here are some of them below:

1. Low battery status:

Check your device’s charge level first since a low battery would often affect certain features of your mobile device.

When mobile devices reach a very low charge level, they switch to an energy-efficient mode, spending less energy searching for coverage.

So, to boost 4G signal indoors, keep your phone charged.

2. Incorrect device settings

Your device’s setting could be why your signal connection needs a boost. For example, you may have accidentally disabled wireless package transfers via mobile data.

To resolve cases like this, reset your device’s settings. After resetting your device setting and you still have signal issues, try resetting the device to factory settings.

Is There an Android Code to Boost Signal Strength Indoors?

No, there’s no such code. You can’t boost 4G signal indoors with an android code, even if it seems like there’s one for everything.

Codes on your smartphone can allow you to customize services and experiences, but they cannot improve your cellular signal.

Things That Aren’t Helping You Increase Mobile Network Signal in Home

Below are some things that may not be helping you increase the network signal on your mobile phone.

If you have trees, bushes, mountains, hills, and tall buildings surrounding your home, they can obstruct the flow of strong signals into your home. Buildings with metal structures or thick walls will also affect the flow of strong network signals into your home.
Storms and hurricanes can interfere with the network signal inside your home.
When your phone battery is low, it won’t help you get the best network reception.
Your phone’s cover case may not be helping.

Conclusion

We hope you have discovered a way to boost 4G signal indoors. You can refer to any of the tips we highlighted in the article.

About The Author

John Adebimitan

John Adebimitan is an accomplished tech writer with a passion for unraveling the complexities of the digital world. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for simplifying technical jargon, John has been instrumental in guiding readers through the ever-evolving landscape of technology.

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