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Do cell phones work in Barndominiums?

Metal buildings of all shapes and sizes - from barns and barndominiums to commercial warehouses - are notoriously bad for getting reliable cellular signal inside.

wilsonamplifiers.com - The Best Ways to Get Better Cell Signal Inside a Metal Building

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Metal buildings of all shapes and sizes - from barns and barndominiums to commercial warehouses - are notoriously bad for getting reliable cellular signal inside.

Why?

While outside cellular signals are generally reliable, getting signal inside a metal building becomes a chore, because metal is the most disruptive material when it comes to blocking and degrading cell signal.

Understanding How Cell Phone Signal Works

Cell phone signals are RF (radio frequency) signals nested between AM/FM radio and satellite communications & Wi-Fi in the electromagnetic spectrum. It starts out strong from the source like a cell tower or cell site. But as it reaches miles in the distance to reach your phone, external obstructions like mountains, valleys, and tall trees and open air path loss weaken signal strength. Generally outdoors, there is enough signal to make a call in open spaces. But inside a building, cell signal now must also push through walls, interior building material and other interference to make a call, send & receive texts, or use the internet. That’s why people in the center of a building never get reliable reception with any carrier. They’re always running to the window.

How Cell Phone Signal Strength Should Be Measured

While the number of bars on your cell phone is a decent way to check signal strength, it’s actually subjective across phones, with no established standard.

How subjective, you ask?

There’s no industry standard. It’s up to the cell phone manufacturers to decide how much is 1, 2, 3, 4 or full bars on their phone. Multiplied by the number of carriers, that’s a lot of confusion. Even the difference between 4G, LTE, and 5G is not well known. What may be 1 bar on Verizon might be 3 on AT&T, or full bars on T-Mobile despite receiving the exact same signal and performing at the exact same speeds. But luckily, there's a way to find out your true signal strength. It's called decibel (dB) reading. These are measured in standard power units of decibel-milliwatts (dBm).

Cell phone signal operates with -50 dBm to -120 dBm.

-50 dBm is full bars. -120 dBm is basically a dead zone. The closer you are to - 50 dBm, the better your signal.

So what does this have to with building material?

Well, building materials basically subtract dB from signal when trying to enter a metal building. The more it subtracts, the closer you get to -120 dBm, which translates to exceptionally bad cell service. Metal in particular subtracts up to -50 dBm!

Solutions to Improve Cell Signal Inside Metal Buildings

WiFi is the standard for wireless connectivity. However, having reliable in-building cellular connection is equally important. It reduces WiFi congested networks, and provides different sources to connecting to the internet in times of emergency. If you live in a very rural area where WiFi connections are a challenge, cellular signal might be your best bet for connecting to the Internet at all. IT managers and facility managers are now selecting cellular signal boosters to improve their indoor cellular connectivity. Whereas building material subtracts dB to signal, signal boosters add dB to signal by amplifying or bypassing indoor building material. Below are our top recommendations, ordered by the size of your metal building and your outdoor signal strength.

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Most Popular Cell Signal Booster for Small and Midsize Metal Buildings

weBoost Home MultiRoom - 470144 Best for midsize metal buildings with strong outside signal or small metal buildings with weak outside signal. Buy Now at $569.99

5G ready booster - Amplifies talk, text, and data

Up to 5,000 sq ft of coverage under best conditions

Up to +65 dB of gain, with 21 dBm uplink and 12 dBm downlink

Multiple accessories for maximum coverage and customization (sold separately)

Complete coverage for multiple rooms or midsize home for all carriers across multiple devices

Outdoor yagi antenna and indoor panel antenna configuration, with stylish fabric front

The weBoost Home MultiRoom is our most popular cellular booster for metal buildings. The vast majority of customers who buy one for themselves find it to be the right fit for them, so it's usually the one we recommend first. It's easy to see why it's so popular. It lies at the sweet spot of price, aesthetics, and efficiency, with a coverage range that usually works for most people. It features a drill-free installation with antennas that enhance your decor rather than ruin it. It also features a higher uplink and downlink power than previous generations of weBoost home boosters, meaning it's more likely to work well in a weak signal area. That said, expect reduced coverage. It's really important to understand that 5000 sq. ft. will only be achieved in optimal conditions, and that 2000-3000 sq. ft. is a much more realistic estimate of your coverage - even less in a very weak signal area. If you live in a very weak signal area, or have a really big metal building you want to cover, consider its sister product, the weBoost Home Complete.

Most Powerful Cell Signal Booster for Large Metal Buildings

weBoost Home Complete - 470145 Whole-building coverage for large residential metal buildings with strong outside signal or midsize buildings with weak outside signal. Buy Now at $999.99

Up to 7,500 sq. ft. of coverage under best conditions

Up to +72 dB of gain, with 24 dBm uplink and 12 dBm downlink

Multiple accessories for maximum coverage and customization (sold separately)

Complete coverage for entire home for all carriers across multiple devices

Outdoor yagi antenna and indoor panel antenna, with stylish fabric front

Needs no WiFi connection or monthly fees. One time purchase

The weBoost Home Complete is the most powerful consumer line booster you can get for your metal building. With an additional +5 dB over the Home MultiRoom, it's roughly a shade over 3x more powerful. And with its 24 dBm uplink and 12 dBm downlink, it can reach far distanced towers and provide wider in-building coverage. It's designed to blanket an entire metal building with a reliable connection. Under perfect conditions, it can cover areas up to 7,500 sq ft. Since cellular signals are not perfect, most people get between 4,000 – 6,000 sq ft. If you live in an area with extremely weak signal, this is your best option for decent coverage - you’ll probably be getting 1,500-3,500 sq ft from it. To maximize your coverage, additional antennas are required, especially if you’re trying to cover more than one floor.

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Perfect for people who live in weak signal areas, as well as those who want to cover their whole metal building with a reliable cellular connection. If you don’t want to worry about installing the Home Complete yourself, consider the weBoost Installed Home Complete. It’s the only consumer booster on the market that includes a professional residential installation.

5G Compatible

Indoor coverage up to 35,000 sq ft

Up to +72 dB gain, +25 dBm uplink power and +15 dBm downlink power

Works with all cellular devices across all US carriers

Stronger & more reliable calls, text, email, and internet data

Extended Dynamic Range to ensure continuous connectivity

Color LCD touch screen

Simple wall-mount installation

Expansion kits available for large scale installations

50 or 75 Ohm variants

The weBoost for Business Office 200 is weBoost’s latest flagship unit for small to mid-size commercial metal buildings. With its pro-grade components, it'll bypass the metal roof and broadcast reliable cellular signal throughout your office, warehouse, or enterprise. Everybody in the building will finally be able to enjoy significantly fewer dropped calls, better voice quality, uninterrupted text messages, and faster data speeds. It features maximum gain of +72 dB (the highest allowed by the FCC), +25 dBm uplink, +15 dBm downlink, and XDR (eXtended Dynamic Range) technology, making it ideal for metal buildings in both extremely rural and urban environments. The Office 200 is perfect for improving cell service inside any small to medium commercial metal building. Keep in mind, though, that the Office 200 is a self-install unit. For a professional installation consider the weBoost for Business Office 200 Installed. It offers the same features and benefits as the standard model, but with an additional indoor low-profile dome antenna for wider coverage, which is perfect for offices with metal interior walls, complicated layouts, or multiple floors.

Wilson Amplifiers: The Trusted Name in Boosting Signal

Active or passive DAS, which is the best solution for you? Wilson Amplifiers always has the answer. Depending on the size, scope, and situation, the experts at Wilson Amplifiers can tailor a custom solution for you in time, under budget, and professionally installed.

Services we provide:

FREE floor plan analysis with detailed heatmaps & coverage expectations.

FREE consultation adhering to your requirements and budgets.

Equipment selection from only the best.

Site survey from certified wireless technicians.

Complete professional active and passive DAS installation & expert project management.

Interested in Learning More? Check Out Our Signal Boosting Info Center

wilsonamplifiers.com - The Best Ways to Get Better Cell Signal Inside a Metal Building

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