How to Repair an iPhone External Antenna

When it comes to iPhones and cellular-enabled iPads, few things are more frustrating than having poor connectivity. From dropped calls to slow download speeds, a variety of factors contribute to unreliable iPhone connections. However, a few simple steps can go a long way to improve your cellular signal and keep your phone and tablet connected.

Step 1: Check the Signal Strength

If you’re tired of a weak connection, start by looking at your iPhone’s Signal Strength in dBms. This will give you a more accurate picture than looking at the bars on the screen, which can be misleading and deceiving. A good signal strength is -70 dBm, and the higher this number, the stronger your iPhone’s cellular signal.

To get the most accurate reading, first put your iPhone into Airplane Mode. This will reset your cellular connection and allow you to take multiple readings at once. Next, open the Settings app, and scroll down to find Cellular. Tap this, and you’ll see an option labeled “Field Test.” Tap this, and a list of available networks will appear. Choose the network that matches your cellular carrier, and then select rsrp (0 or 1). This will display your iPhone’s current cellular signal strength in dBms.

Note: If the rsrp reading is 0 or 1, you’re currently getting a signal from the closest tower, which may be contributing to your weak reception. To get the most accurate reading, repeat this process with different networks and rsrp readings. This will help you determine the best directional cellular antenna to purchase.

The Internal Cellular Antenna

Inside all smartphones, there are many antennas that provide wireless connectivity to the device. These include the cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth antennas. These antennas communicate with distant cellular towers to transmit and receive data, and they also fine-tune received signal. These cellular antennas are hidden within the body of the smartphone, and they’re not always optimally placed. This was the case in the infamous iPhone 4 antenna issue, which caused the phone to have poor signal if held in certain ways.

You can make a few simple changes to your phone iphone external antenna to improve its cellular signal, including removing its case and not holding it on the sides. This allows the phone’s cellular antenna to communicate with the closest cell tower more easily. You can also install an external cellular antenna to further strengthen your iPhone’s connection. The Bolton Victory Yagi/Panel is a great option for most people, as it can amplify your iPhone’s signal and provide excellent coverage in large homes or offices. It works with all major cellular carriers and provides up to 26 dBm uplink and 72 dBm downlink gain. This is more than enough to blanket up to 4,000 sq ft with improved cellular reception. You can even boost multiple cellular signals at once if you want to do so, but it is important to point the directional antenna at one specific carrier’s nearest cell tower for best results.