Cell Phone Booster

3Ts · Jan 17, 2021

I have poor cell reception where I am, but discovered that if I can get up about 30 feet it is much better. So, I'm in the process of putting in a cell booster, but have to put it up in the air as there is not enough signal down on the ground. I will have to run somewhere between 50 and 100' of coax between the antenna and booster. I've looked at RG8 coax and LMR400 and the 400 seems to be the recommended cable. So, here's where I'm having a problem - The LMR400 comes in 2 versions, one with a stranded center conductor and the other I assume is solid since it doesn't say. The LMR400 seems to want to use N connectors instead of the F versions. I'm familiar with the RG6 and F connectors. The RG8 seems to be a lower loss version of RG6.

How do you handle the stranded center conductor?

Is the nipple for the N connector crimped on? I assume that 400 cable can be used with F connectors - the antenna is an F connector.

How do I make an F connector work with a stranded center conductor?

texasranger556 · Jan 17, 2021

Do you have broadband internet? If so I'd go with a femtocell.

3Ts · Jan 17, 2021

All I have for internet is satellite with ping times of 800 to 900 ms and download speeds of around 1 MB and uploads around 0.2 MB.

Topzide · Jan 17, 2021

If the antenna has a F connector on it, I would think that you would need 75 ohm cable like RG-59 or RG-6 instead of 50 ohm RG-8 or LMR 400. Last cell booster I had used required 75 ohm cable. JM2C.

WranglerX · Jan 17, 2021

Get coax with pre installed connectors and use any necessary adapter to connect.... It's a lot easier and more fool proof than trying to kludge something together....

Got be dozens of sources on I-net if you look around.... Might try a search string of "pre made lmr 400 cables with ends"....

Usually any device with "F" connector use RG-59.... So I am a but confused why you are looking at RG-8 or LMR 400.

Dale

WranglerX · Jan 17, 2021

Topzide said:
If the antenna has a F connector on it, I would think that you would need 75 ohm cable like RG-59 or RG-6 instead of 50 ohm RG-8 or LMR 400. Last cell booster I had used required 75 ohm cable. JM2C.

Yep... Connector type (on hardware) and cable type go hand in hand...

Dale