Knowledge Base
What’s the difference between a cell phone signal booster and a cellular router?
A cell signal booster and a cellular router both deal with mobile network signals, but they serve very different purposes and operate in distinct ways. Here are the differences:
What it does
- Cell signal booster: Amplifies weak outdoor cellular signal and rebroadcasts it indoors.
- Cellular router: Converts cellular signal to a WiFi network.
What it’s used for
- Cell signal booster: Improves indoor cellular reception for smartphones and other cellular devices.
- Cellular router: Creates a WiFi network used by laptops, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, and other WiFi-enabled devices.
Monthly subscription or ongoing payments
- Cell signal booster: None.
- Cellular router: A cellular data plan from a carrier (T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, UScellular, etc.). The cost of the data plan depends on the carrier and the features of the plan; plans with unlimited, fast data will typically cost more per month than plans with limited data or data speed caps.
Requires a SIM card
- Cell signal booster: No.
- Cellular router: Yes. Some routers have an on-board eSIM (embedded SIM) you can activate with your carrier; if the router doesn’t have an eSIM that works with your carrier, you’ll need to obtain a physical SIM card from them and insert it into the router to activate it on the carrier’s network.
Requires a network password to use
- Cell signal booster: No. Cellular devices in range of the booster will automatically connect through it to the cell tower.
- Cellular router: Yes. The router uses cellular signal to create a WiFi network with an SSID (network name) and password. Any device that tries to connect to the WiFi network must enter the password.
The owner can restrict who uses the device
- Cell signal booster: No. Cellular phones and devices in range of the booster will automatically connect through it to the cell tower. Since the booster does’t have its own data plan, additional devices using the booster don’t add any cost to you.
- Cellular router: Yes. The WiFi network password limits which devices can connect to the network.
Maximum number of users/devices
- Cell signal booster: Typically limited only by the number of devices that the cell tower can handle; often 100 or more.
- Cellular router: Depends on the router; usually limited to a specific number (32, 64, 128, etc.). Check the manufacturer’s documentation.
Remote or cloud management
- Cell signal booster: Usually not. Some commercial boosters offer remote management, typically involving an annual subscription fee.
- Cellular router: Depends on the router. Those that offer it may charge an annual subscription fee.
Cellular frequency bands supported
- Cell signal booster: Consumer boosters typically amplify 4G and 5G bands 12/17, 13, 5, 4, and 2/25. Some industrial boosters amplify 4G/5G bands 14, 71, and/or 30. Amplification of these bands is strictly regulated by the FCC to prevent interference with cell towers.
- Cellular router: Depends on the router, but often 4G/5G bands 12/17, 13, 5, 4/66, 2/25, 14, 71, 30, 41, 48, 77, and possibly others. Since these cellular bands aren’t being amplified, the FCC is more lenient with routers converting them to WiFi.
WiFi frequencies supported
- Cell signal booster: None. A cellular booster only amplifies cellular signal; it doesn’t send or receive WiFi signal.
- Cellular router: Depends on the router, but usually 2.4 GHz (2G) and 5 GHz (5G), often simultaneously. Some routers offer 6 GHz (6G) WiFi.
Requires an outdoor antenna
- Cell signal booster: Yes, a SISO (single input/single output) antenna must be installed outside with adequate separation or isolation from the inside antenna to prevent the booster from oscillating.
- Cellular router: Most routers have internal cellular antennas or dipole antennas that connect directly to the router. If cell signal at the router is weak and the router has cellular antenna connectors, an outdoor 2×2 or 4×4 MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) cellular antenna may improve reception and data speeds.
Requires an indoor antenna
- Cell signal booster: Yes, a SISO (single input/single output) antenna must be installed inside with adequate separation or isolation from the outside antenna to prevent the booster from oscillating.
- Cellular router: Most routers have internal WiFi antennas or dipole antennas that connect directly to the router. If WiFi signal broadcast by the router is weak and the router has WiFi antenna connectors, an external 2×2 or MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) WiFi antenna may improve reception and data speeds.
Can be used in buildings
- Cell signal booster: Yes. Building boosters for homes and offices have more gain and a larger area of inside broadcast coverage than mobile boosters.
- Cellular router: Yes.
Can be used in a vehicle or vessel
- Cell signal booster: Yes. Mobile boosters for vehicles, boats, and ships have less gain and a smaller area of inside broadcast than building boosters.
- Cellular router: Yes.
Can be used camping or outdoors
- Cell signal booster: Unlikely, since the booster’s outside and inside antennas need a lot of vertical separation or a barrier between them to prevent the booster from oscillating. It may be possible if you use a mobile booster with a custom setup that includes a telescoping antenna mast.
- Cellular router: Yes.
Can be used hiking
- Cell signal booster: No, for the same reasons above.
- Cellular router: Yes, if the router is battery powered.
Power supply
- Cell signal booster: 120V AC (building boosters) or 12V DC (mobile boosters).
- Cellular router: 120V AC. Some routers also have an internal battery.
