Who hasn’t experienced poor cell phone reception or slow internet connection when you are at your house or on the go? It’s downright frustrating. But there are two devices that can help you improve your mobile connectivity: cell phone boosters and mobile hotspots.
What are cell phone boosters?
A cell phone booster is a device that can amplify the existing cell phone signal in your area and provide you with a stronger and more reliable service. A cell phone booster consists of three main components: an outside antenna, an amplifier, and an inside antenna. The outside antenna captures the weak cell phone signal from the nearest cell tower and sends it to the amplifier. The amplifier boosts the signal and sends it to the inside antenna. The inside antenna broadcasts the boosted signal to your cell phone or other devices.
Credit: SureCall
How do cell phone boosters work
A cell phone booster can help you improve the signal strength and quality of your cell phone service, which can result in clearer voice calls, faster data speeds, and longer battery life. A cell phone booster can also help you reduce dropped calls, missed texts, and buffering videos.
A cell phone booster is especially useful and effective in areas where the cell phone signal is weak or obstructed, such as rural areas, remote locations, basements, buildings, vehicles, boats, etc.
Benefits of cell phone boosters:
- Improved call quality and fewer dropped calls
- Faster data speeds for smooth internet browsing and video streaming
- Enhanced connectivity in areas with weak signal reception
Drawbacks of cell phone boosters:
- Initial cost and installation
- Limited effectiveness in extremely remote areas with no signal
- Potential interference with nearby cell towers if not installed correctly
Get my 5 best cell phone booster picks
What are mobile hotspots?
A mobile hotspot is a device that can create a wireless network for your devices using cellular data. A mobile hotspot can be a standalone device, such as a portable router or a dongle, or a feature on your smartphone that allows you to share your cellular data with other devices. A mobile hotspot can connect to the internet via a cellular network and provide WiFi access to your devices, such as laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, etc.
How do mobile hotspots work
A mobile hotspot can help you create your own WiFi network wherever you are, as long as you have cellular coverage. A mobile hotspot can also help you save money on data plans, as you can use one data plan for multiple devices. A mobile hotspot is useful and convenient in situations where you need internet access on the go, such as traveling, working remotely, camping, etc.
Benefits of mobile hotspots:
- Access the internet on your devices without relying on public WiFi networks, which may not be secure, slow, or unavailable
- Control who can connect to your mobile hotspot and set a password to protect your network
- Use your mobile hotspot as a backup internet connection in case of power outages or network issues at home or work
Drawbacks of mobile hotspots:
- May incur additional charges or fees for using your mobile hotspot, depending on your cellular plan and provider
- Could experience reduced battery life on your mobile hotspot device or smartphone, as they consume more power when creating a wireless network
- May face network congestion or interference, especially in crowded areas or during peak hours, which can affect your internet quality and speed
- The possibility of limited coverage or signal strength, depending on your location and cellular network
Comparison of top mobile hotspot plans
This summarizes the top mobile hotspot plans from AT&T, Visible by Verizon, and T-Mobile. All these plans are highly rated and offer the convenience of no contractual obligations.
AT&T Mobile Hotspot Plan – No contract required – starting at $25/month (at time of publishing)
Visible by Verizon – No contract required – starting at $20/month (at time of publishing)
T-Mobile Mobile Hotspot Plan – No contract required -starting at $10/month (at time of publishing)
Pricing varies, with both AT&T and Visible by Verizon offering their plans starting at $25 per month, while T-Mobile’s plan is priced starting at $10 per month at the time of publishing. Coverage details were not provided in the data. These plans are suitable for users seeking flexible and contract-free internet access while on the go.
MORE: TOP AFFORDABLE CELL PHONE PLANS
MORE: THE NEW IPHONE SECURITY THREAT THAT ALLOWS HACKERS TO SPY ON YOUR PHONE
How to choose between cell phone boosters and mobile hotspots?
Now that you know what cell phone boosters and mobile hotspots are and how they work, you might be wondering how to compare and choose between them. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision:
Compatibility: You need to make sure that the device you choose is compatible with your cell phone carrier, your cell phone model, and your devices. For example, some cell phone boosters only work with certain carriers or frequencies, while some mobile hotspots only support certain devices or operating systems.
Coverage: You need to consider the coverage area and the number of devices that the device can support. For example, some cell phone boosters can cover a large area and multiple devices, while some mobile hotspots can only support a small area and a limited number of devices.
Installation: You need to think about the installation process and the maintenance of the device. For example, some cell phone boosters require professional installation and wiring, while some mobile hotspots are plug-and-play and easy to use.
Cost: You need to compare the upfront cost and the ongoing cost of the device. For example, some cell phone boosters have a high initial cost but no monthly fees, while some mobile hotspots have a low initial cost but require a data plan and a subscription fee.
MORE: 5 WAYS TO SECURELY ACCESS WIFI ON YOUR PHONE WHILE TRAVELING
Maintaining security and data privacy
Regardless of the method you choose, it’s crucial to prioritize security and data privacy with these 5 steps:
1) Use strong, unique passwords for Wi-Fi networks and hotspots. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.
2) Enable encryption and password protection for your hotspot or Wi-Fi network.
3) Regularly update your device’s firmware and software to patch security vulnerabilities.
4) Monitor your data usage to avoid exceeding your plan’s limits and incurring additional charges.
5) Be cautious when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks and use a VPN for added security. Using a VPN will protect you against hackers snooping on your device as well. VPNs will protect you from those who want to track and identify your potential location and the websites that you visit.
My top recommendation is ExpressVPN. It has a quick and easy setup, is available in 105 countries, and will not log your IP address, browsing history, traffic destination or metadata, or DNS queries.
Right now, you can get 3 extra months FREE with a 12-month ExpressVPN plan. That’s just $6.67 per month, a saving of 49%! Try 30 days risk-free.
MORE: HOW TO SET UP A PERSONAL HOTSPOT SO YOU CAN STAY CONNECTED FROM ANYWHERE
Kurt’s key takeaways
As you can see, cell phone boosters and mobile hotspots are two different devices that can help you improve your mobile connectivity in different ways. If you mainly need to improve your cell phone service for voice calls and texts, and you have a consistent but weak cell phone signal in your area, you might want to choose a cell phone booster.
If you mainly need to create a Wi-Fi network for your devices for internet access, and you have a variable or no cell phone signal in your area, you might want to choose a mobile hotspot. If you need both improved cell phone service and a WiFi network, and you have a moderate to strong cell phone signal in your area, you might want to use both a cell phone booster and a mobile hotspot.
How do you cope with poor cell phone reception or slow internet connection in your area? Have you ever tried using a cell phone booster or a mobile hotspot? Let us know in the comments below.
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MORE:
- How to secure your hotspot privacy and security with a VPN
- How to set up a personal hotspot so you can stay connected from anywhere
- Top affordable cell phone plans
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