Antennas in mobile phones: types and features

Mobile Internet is a way to connect your phone to the network using LTE, 3G-5G standards. Their use made it possible to obtain a relatively stable and high-speed wireless connection. However, its quality highly depends on many factors, such as the distance to the access point, that is, the tower, the terrain, and others. An antenna for a 4G or older 3G phone can improve the signal quality and, accordingly, the stability and speed of the Internet connection. Such devices can be purchased or made independently at home.

Reasons for poor internet on your phone

If a user on his phone encounters problems with Internet speed, then this may be a consequence of certain factors. Some of them depend on the location.

If the connection speed is weak, then the reasons for this may be the following:

• Exceeding the permissible mobile traffic limit, as a result of which the speed will be reduced until the end of the day or month by the operator, depending on the tariff.
• Weak cellular network signal, as a result of which it does not pick up the 4G/3G network. Currently, the 3G coverage of mobile operators is quite good, in contrast to the 4G standard, which is still being introduced.
• Uneven terrain in which the subscriber is located. Hills, mountains, ravines and forests, as well as all kinds of concrete obstacles, greatly reduce the quality of the transmitted signal.
• Any operational errors, viruses or glitches.
• Long range to the tower.

Important! An Internet antenna for your phone can help strengthen a poor signal if the reasons are long distances and uneven terrain.

TOP 10 phones with high-quality cellular reception

Honor 10

Honor 10

This model from a breakaway brand from Huawei could not be ignored by the experts of this site. She really manages to keep a good connection, and in several different standards, which is commendable.

And what we can say for sure is that this smartphone knows how to attract attention. Not only the appearance contributes to this, but also the technical characteristics, which are quite good for this model.

Let's take a closer look at it. Among the advantages of this phone are the following components:

• powerful hardware, especially the processor, thanks to which the phone does not slow down;
• powerful antennas that receive the signal as clearly as possible in accordance with their capabilities;
• support for 3G and 4G communication standards.

Among other advantages that are no longer related to signal reception, the following “tricks” include:

• support for Huawei SuperCharge technology;
• availability of NFC and IR port interfaces;
• bright high-quality screen;
• good photography with the support of artificial intelligence;
• fingerprint sensor under the screen (ultrasonic version).

This model also has a drawback. We are talking about moisture protection. It’s practically non-existent, so you should take care of your phone, because moisture getting on it leads to deterioration in the antenna’s performance, and then you can’t expect high-quality signal reception.

In general, this device is perfect for those who often travel outside the city. For example, to the dacha on a day off or hunting/fishing. A large number of reviews mentioning this only confirm the benefits of this phone.

pros

• high quality of communication (no noise or loss of communication);
• fast mobile internet;
• very fast charging;
• performance is beyond praise.

Minuses

• The battery of this phone is quite weak;
• The phone case is not protected from moisture.

Honor 10

HUAWEI P30 Pro

HUAWEI P30 Pro

Which smartphone from the Chinese company Huawei is the most common today? This is the best representative of this company today - HUAWEI P30 Pro, which we will consider in more detail.

Huawei P30 Pro is the flagship of this company. It is logical that this model will be considered the most expensive and best in terms of technical characteristics.

First of all, we should note the large diagonal screen of high quality. This way everything will be visible clearly. Secondly, it is necessary to note the use of powerful hardware, with which the phone works without brakes and, most importantly, clearly picks up the signal from cell towers. Thirdly, its autonomy indicators allow you to enjoy all the benefits of high-quality communication for a long time.

The disadvantages cannot be avoided - there is no perfect phone. At the very least, this smartphone is not very comfortable to hold. Its curved edges also “glare”, and when you touch them, the phone is activated, which is inconvenient, especially when it is in your pocket.

The price of this phone, of course, is rather high, but it’s worth it, especially since everyone wants to have a flagship that will perform its task 100%.

What will the experts say? The phone performs just fine in cases where the signal is practically impossible to pick up. Even though there are two SIM cards in the phone. True, their work is alternating, not simultaneous.

pros

• quite capacious battery;
• good connection quality;
• Ease of use;
• large screen size.

Minuses

• high price, even taking into account its flagship status.

Video – Huawei P30 Pro Review

HUAWEI P30 Pro

HTC U12 PLUS

HTC U12 PLUS

For the price of this phone, potential buyers have every right to get a high-quality phone with which they don’t have to worry about losing connection. But did HTC succeed?

Yes, HTC U12 Plus is a very expensive flagship, whose competitors are the flagships of other manufacturers - Huawei P20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S9. In most of the criteria, this model is not inferior to others. There are moments where HTC is ahead of everyone.

A powerful sound system, a high-quality wireless network and a pleasant appearance - many of the pleasant features of this phone determine the possible choice in the future. The only inconvenience is the side edges of the screen, which make the phone body slide. In addition, the high price creates some problems.

What do people say who bought a smartphone for fifty thousand rubles? HTC's flagship looks quite ordinary. Nothing that remarkable. Yes, the phone receives well, yes, it looks beautiful. But it can hardly be called top-end.

Who should buy this phone? At least for those people who are not worried about the financial component of the issue. But if you need high-quality communication and at the same time you do not want to delve too deeply into the functionality of the future phone, then the experts at Obzor-Expert.com will advise you one thing - leave this model on the store counter.

pros

• good cellular reception;
• consistently high performance;
• receives calls even in remote areas;
• quickly restores communication after it is lost.

Minuses

• overpriced – you can find a cheaper flagship;
• a somewhat weak battery that won’t last you far;
• The sensor doesn't work very well.

Reviews and prices for HTC U12 Plus

Alcatel 1X 5059D

Alcatel 1X 5059D

The Alcatel brand, quite well known abroad, once made a budget smartphone that was characterized by high-quality signal reception. And we are talking about the Alcatel 1X 5059D model. And why did the experts of Obzor-Expert.com choose it? Let's take a closer look at the smartphone.

The model is characterized by several clear features. For example, a 5.3-inch screen that clearly shows any picture. Also, the Alcatel 1X 5059D has an excellent quality soft touch, thanks to which it is pleasant to hold and will not slip out of your hands.

Overall, the phone is not bad, but it is designed for those who rarely move. Owners of such a phone have repeatedly noted in their reviews that the phone performs well in city conditions. But in the metro or outside the city it doesn’t show itself very well - the connection begins to disappear. What’s most offensive is that this can also happen in a tunnel when you’re traveling in public transport. The most absurd thing is that you can lose connection in an elevator.

pros

• relatively low cost;
• small dimensions;
• The connection is quite stable (within the city, of course).

Minuses

• Outside the city you may not be able to get a good connection;
• the battery is rather weak;
• the network may disappear in hard-to-reach places (in a tunnel, in the subway, and even in an elevator).

Alcatel 1X 5059D

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the latest new products from Xiaomi, which can be called the best of the Redmi Note line. All the advantages of the previous model (including the NFC module) are now available in the Redmi Note 8 Pro.

The large screen, powerful hardware and convenient MIUI interface make it easy and simple to use within the city. With such a phone you definitely don’t have to worry about the loss of connection or its deterioration.

At its price, Redmi Note 8 Pro can be considered one of the best options for your money. Yes, you can save a little more and buy a Xiaomi Mi 9T, which seems to look more interesting than the model in question. But when you can get a good option for less money - why not?

By the way, the phone has a fairly capacious battery. Therefore, its owner can be in touch for a long time, because the phone has good energy efficiency parameters.

Now about the disadvantage. Yes, this phone has only one, but perhaps significant, drawback. It's all about the processor, or rather its behavior when achieving serious loads.

Inside the phone itself there is a Helio G90T processor. It is quite powerful, but it heats up very well. So much so that it becomes hot and you can feel it through the phone body.

Important! Do you need a phone not for communication, but for heavy tasks? Then it’s better to take a closer look at the Redmi Note 8, which has a Snapdragon 665 inside. Yes, the processor is not so powerful, but it won’t heat up that much - that’s for sure.

What will the experts say? Redmi Note 8 Pro is a smartphone that performs well in receiving a cellular network signal. Everything connected with it - calls, SMS, even mobile Internet - all this works with a solid “A”.

In general, this model is what you need for those who want to always be in touch. You can definitely take it with confidence.

pros

• The battery holds a charge well;
• The Internet works well via mobile communications;
• the phone is excellent at catching in difficult places;
• The interlocutor can be heard well, there is no interference.

Minuses

• came out big size.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

You might be wondering which inexpensive camera phone you should buy.

Nokia 8.1

Nokia 8.1

Next up is the Nokia 8.1 smartphone. This model has a metal-glass design, which makes the phone quite attractive.

This model has several notable features.

1. Large HDR screen with PureDisplay technology.
2. Good battery life.
3. Native support for fast charging.
4. Powerful processor.
5. Clear wireless sound.
6. A well-proven version of Android 9 Pie.

Unfortunately, the new smartphone has its drawbacks. For example, the second place in the SIM card slot is also reserved for a memory card, so you will have a choice between two operators or one, but with increased internal memory. It is also worth noting the weak battery and lack of protection against water and dust.

Expert opinion: the smartphone is quite good. It copes with its task – receiving a communication signal – very well. It “holds” both one and two operators at once equally well. It also catches well on the Internet.

However, this can also be found in other models, the cost of which may be lower, and significantly. In this case, is it worth overpaying?

But the big drawback here is the battery. She's weak. Even more. So if there is another, more interesting option from the point of view of signal reception, then you can look at other models. If not, then Nokia 8.1 will please you in full.

pros

• high quality of communication;
• quickly does what is needed from it
• The Internet works well - the speed is quite high;
• comfortable to hold in hand.

Minuses

• the battery drains quickly;
• high price.

Video – Nokia 8.1 review

Reviews and prices for Nokia 8.1

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

One of the famous phones from Huawei is the Mate 10 Pro, a flagship with good price and quality. The presence of a large screen, powerful hardware, and equally powerful antennas allows you to conveniently use the phone, the feature of which is good signal reception.

Yes, the smartphone’s body is beautiful, but there is one “but” - the phone is afraid of water, which means you need to be as careful as possible with it.

Like many other modern phones, this model supports most LTE (4G) frequency bands.

Important! On the territory of the Russian Federation, telecom operators use three frequencies in the LTE FDD range – 3 (1800), 7 (2600) and 20 (800).

If you are located within the city, the phone will work reliably with the wireless network. The connection is not lost, no matter where the person is, and even if it is lost (for example, in the subway), it will be quickly restored (for example, after leaving the subway).

The phone also stands out in that it does not have fast charging capabilities, which introduces some inconvenience.

What will the experts say? Huawei Mate 10 Pro is one of the first Huawei smartphones that can support both SIM cards with 4G enabled at the same time. Previously, there was a pair of 4G + 3G.

For a better understanding, let's explain with an example: one of the SIM cards (for voice communication) is in standby mode, and the second SIM card (Internet) is working at this time.

If a potential buyer is looking for a flagship that can clearly pick up a signal and quickly restore it if it is lost, then we can safely recommend this model to him.

pros

• long battery life;
• large and easy-to-eye screen;
• high-quality support for the 4G communication standard.

Minuses

• no protection from moisture;
• may slip out of your hands.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

LG V30+

LG V30+

LG has one very interesting model, although its price is quite high. But it is not known for it, but for its high data transfer speed. And in this case we will talk about the LG V30+ model, equipped with everything necessary for a phone with good reception of any signal.

Looking at the phone, we can state the following: LG has released a quite worthy device, which has many different competitors. For example, these include the following models:

• Apple iPhone 8 Plus
• Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus,
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro.

The Korean flagship from LG has many positive features. For example, the dimensions and weight of devices that are not too large and yet the phone is comfortable to hold in your hands. It is also impossible not to note the presence of powerful hardware that offers many different capabilities.

Experts from Obzor-Expert.com were interested in only one thing - how well it picks up the signal from a cell tower. As it turned out, this model copes with this quite well.

At the same time, we cannot do without listing the main shortcomings. This model has them, and to some extent they are quite significant. In addition to its high price and somewhat inconvenient body, the device must be used within LTE-A coverage to obtain maximum speed.

pros

• long operating time without recharging;
• stylish design;
• Ease of use;
• high performance;
• theoretically, gigabit LTE.

Minuses

• slippery body;
• high price.
• installing a second SIM card in the memory card slot;
• operation at maximum speed is possible for LTE-A coverage.

LG V30+

ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL

ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL

Anyone who needs a good connection can turn to a phone from ASUS, which has developed a very successful model for these tasks - ZenFone 4 ZE554KL.

This model belongs to the category of mid-budget smartphones, which has become average in everything. For example, the screen. This model is quite large in size. The sound is good, the design is not bad, the quality of the received cellular signal is worthy of praise. But what’s surprising is that there is nothing outstanding in this phone, despite the fact that everything works clearly and well.

This smartphone is one of the most expensive representatives in the Zenfone 4 family. Perhaps the price is even slightly increased and it is better to wait for it to go down if you like this model.

pros

• good battery capacity;
• good equipment;
• high performance for a mid-budget phone;
• The sound of the speakers is quite pleasant.

Minuses

• there is only one place for a second SIM card and a microSD memory card, so you need to decide - either one or the other;
• The design of the case is not very well thought out - it will often slip in your hand.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL

Nokia X Dual Sim

Nokia X Dual Sim

With smartphone Nokia X Dual Sim . As is already clear from the name, this model is aimed at supporting two SIM cards. What immediately becomes surprising is that for the 2020 model, this smartphone only supports a 3G signal. But what’s even more surprising is that it has a low screen resolution, 4 GB of internal memory and 512 MB of RAM.

The phone performs quite well when surfing the Internet or being on social networks . However, a small amount of RAM can quickly undermine all efforts in other areas.

In general, this model will appeal to those who need the simplest smartphone. It will take some time to get used to, but otherwise this phone will be quite a good option for the “green” in the world of phones with high-quality signal reception.

pros

• support for GPS module and Here Maps;
• presence of two slots for SIM cards;
• can work for a long time without recharging;
• high-quality color rendition of the screen;
• with excellent viewing angles and color rendition,
• pleasant appearance;

Minuses

• Google services built into this phone require additional actions,
• small phone screen size;
• little RAM;
• Lack of USB cable included.

Nokia X Dual Sim

Xiaomi Mi 9

Xiaomi Mi 9

Once again, Xiaomi presented the world with its new flagship – Mi 9, which has an affordable price and advanced characteristics. This model has a Snapdragon 855 processor, which is considered quite powerful.

This phone has some disadvantages, although they are difficult to find in a good phone. But experts, any of them, will say that the refusal of stereo speakers and moisture protection are obvious disadvantages.

As for the quality of communication, everything is good here. The Mi 9 model clearly holds the signal, preventing it from disappearing. He will only disappear underground, in the subway, to be more precise. But when leaving it, the signal will be restored immediately - verified.

If you have the opportunity to take a closer look at alternative options, then it is worth highlighting a cheaper option in the form of Xiaomi Mi 8. Xiaomi Mi 9 has some improvements, yes, but minor ones. The price increased due to another camera and wireless charging.

But the most interesting competitor is the Huawei Mate 20. If there is no need for a specific processor from Qualcomm, then by taking the Mate 20 instead of the Xiaomi Mi 9, you will get better battery life, stereo speakers and slightly better call quality.

pros

• spectacular appearance;
• very high productivity;
• Super AMOLED screen with HDR10 support;
• powerful and fast wired and wireless charging.

Minuses

• no 3.5mm jack and microSD slot;
• no protection against water and dust.

Video – Review of Xiaomi Mi 9 after a month

Reviews and prices for Xiaomi Mi 9

Perhaps you should find out which is better - Huawei or Xiaomi .

Software tweaks and hardware improvements

Unfortunately, today there is no program with which you could really improve the quality of the received signal on your phone. There are special applications that allow you to control the quality of communication, that is, they directly transmit data to the user about the level of received Internet. With their help, you can choose a place with the best level of communication. Some programs may automatically switch to the station with the best speed. This is where the capabilities of such software methods are exhausted.

Design features and operating principle of MiMo antennas for 3G and 4G modems

As for hardware, these include the following devices, which have the ability to improve the signal through better capture, without interfering with system and software settings:

• Repeaters;
• Antennas;
• Reflectors;
• Routers.

Note! Their operating principle is to influence received electromagnetic waves.

The positive side of hardware boosting is the ability to increase Internet speed for all devices connected to your home network.

Selecting an outdoor antenna

Antenna for a computer to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal

Based on their design features and types, antennas differ in several categories.

With different focus

There are three types of amplifiers in this category:

• With the possibility of direction only in one direction. From the name you can tell that this type of antenna can only operate in one direction. It must be positioned directly towards the operator's distribution tower.
• Omnidirectional. Such devices are capable of improving signal quality in several ways. In this case, the amplifier has the ability to independently select the most uninterrupted and high-quality signal from one of several suitable transmitting stations.
• Sectoral. Just like the first ones, they have the opportunity to work in one direction, but cover an enlarged sector. They can receive signals from several stations of the same sector at once, and in case of interruptions, switch independently.

Wideband or multifrequency

Such devices are capable of improving signal quality, while working in several frequency ranges at once. Selecting devices of other models makes it impossible to change bands and communication standards. Because of this, some manufacturers offer special wide-band devices that can receive and amplify signals in all possible frequencies, such as GSM 1800, 3G 2100, LTE, Wi-Fi.

Interesting! This will eliminate the need to purchase several devices operating in different standards at once.

Connecting a smartphone to an external antenna

How to make an antenna for mobile 3G Internet with your own hands

This connection is made by connecting with a coaxial wire. This is a connector that operates at high frequencies, making it extremely compatible with a mobile phone.

However, in this way you can only improve the signal of one phone if it does not work in modem mode. To extend it to all devices on your home network, it is better to connect the antenna directly to the 3G or 4G modem.

Rating of the best phones with good signal reception

Which phone with good signal reception would you choose or recommend?

Take the survey

Homemade antenna

The so-called diamond-shaped 3G antenna for Samsung, Apple or other brands of phones can be easily made at home. To do this you need:

1. Strip the insulation from the coaxial cable without damaging the inner wire.
2. Bend the copper wire into a figure eight along rhombuses.
3. It is necessary to solder a copper wire to the wire of the coaxial cable in the “straight up” position. Solder the other end of the copper wire to the cable shielding.
4. Create a fastening of copper wires on a board with high-quality insulation of connections.
5. Attach the resulting structure to the roof of the house, and connect the free end of the cable to a mobile device using an adapter.

User voting

Which phone with good signal reception would you choose or recommend?

Xiaomi Mi 9

22.28 % ( 43 )

Nokia X Dual Sim

6.22 % ( 12 )

ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL

5.70 % ( 11 )

LG V30+

5.70 % ( 11 )

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

5.18 % ( 10 )

Nokia 8.1

7.77 % ( 15 )

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

11.92 % ( 23 )

Alcatel 1X 5059D

2.07 % ( 4 )

HTC U12 PLUS

1.55 % ( 3 )

HUAWEI P30 Pro

9.33 % ( 18 )