FAQ’s

CEL-FI is Nextivity’s brand of self-configuring, environmentally aware, indoor coverage solutions. Each CEL-FI system consists of two units. The Network Unit is placed in the area where the strongest native signal can be received from the carrier network (signal levels as low as -120 dBm are acceptable). The Network Unit comprises a transmitter and receiver which communicates with the cell tower. The Coverage Unit is placed in the center of the home, communicates wirelessly with the Network Unit and “lights up” the interior of the house with significantly enhanced signal levels, thus enabling better quality calls and greater data throughput.

CEL-FI is a smart signal booster. That means it relies on intelligent, self-organizing algorithms to ensure you benefit from the largest area of coverage without compromising or interfering with your mobile operator’s networks or impeding other subscribers’ signals. CEL-FI does not require any new equipment, any configuring, or any changes to existing network infrastructure or mobile devices. It is also a plug and play device, which means that there is no need for professional installation, no drilling, and no cables. In addition, CEL-FI has been recognized for its superior design and effectiveness and is the only consumer booster authorized for use by the communications commissions in Australia and the United Kingdom, and the only Smart Booster designed to meet the new FCC Safe Harbor 2 specifications that allow very high gain (very high signal gain is necessary to make low level signals useful in a large coverage area).

No. The CEL-FI system only needs to have at least 1 bar of native cellular signal, in at least one spot of your home to be able to cover your whole home or office space.

Yes, CEL-FI smart signal boosters can support both voice and data simultaneously. Note that CEL-FI RS1 and RS2 models do not support LTE.

Every installation is different. The differences depend on the “path loss” between the two units. Every obstacle in the line of sight means that the Coverage Unit and the Network Unit will have to be closer together. The cleaner the line of sight the further apart they can be placed. The more walls, doors, or refrigerators (obstacles), in the direct line of sight, the closer they units will have to be. The average distance for a typical construction home is 60 feet. However, the placement can be as little as 20 feet or much as 120 feet apart.

The radius (half the width) of the coverage bubble is approximately the distance between the Coverage Unit and Network (window) Unit. Here are some examples:

• Radius = 20 meters (66 ft.) for wood framed walls
• Radius is less for concrete interior walls
• Radius can easily exceed 65 meters (200 ft.) for open commercial spaces

CEL-FI meets the newer regulatory requirements that allow a booster to be used (boosters that do not meet these requirements, which is the vast majority of them, are no longer legal).  For the FCC you can learn more by reading the new FCC Report and Order for signal boosters. According to these new regulations, consumers must receive permission from their carrier before using a booster. Consumer boosters sold after March 1, 2014, and some before that date will be marked with a label signifying it meets the FCC’s new regulations.

If booster registration is required in your country, your system may arrive pre-registered or you may be asked to (it’s very simple).  See your product insert for details.

The FCC is now requiring all boosters in the U.S. to be approved for use by the Operator, and that all consumers register their boosters.  To learn more please visit the FCC site: http://wireless.fcc.gov/signal-boosters/index.html

In the USA:

• If your operator is T-Mobile, MetroPCS, TruPhone, or another T-Mobile network operator please register your booster at: www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/register-a-signal-booster
• If your operator is AT&T, Aio, or another AT&T network operator please register your booster at: www.attsignalbooster.com
• If your operator is Verizon, or another Verizon network operator please register your booster at www.verizonwireless.com/solutions-and-services/accessories/register-signal-booster

Why is this being done?  Because cellular systems are protected assets of the Operators that own them.  Many boosters in the market cause problems for those networks (which means all of us using the networks too).  New FCC/Operator approved boosters are better and don’t cause problems, and CEL-FI is the only booster in a special class of boosters that allows 100 dB of signal gain (30 dB or 1000x the gain of all other boosters).

CEL-FI signal boosters are Operator specific, and will only boost one Operator’s channels at a time. Being Operator specific is one of the main reasons that we are network safe and can provide 100 dB of signal gain, and why we are the only signal booster approved by a growing number of Operators.

System gain is critical to a booster’s performance because it tells us how much a signal may be improved and how beneficial the boosted signal can be.  Example: If you have a low level signal such as -90 dBm per carrier, adding 100 dB of System Gain gives +10 dBm per carrier which can cover a large area.  In contrast adding only 70 dB of gain would only give -20 dBm of signal per carrier which would only cover a very small space.  Therefore a booster with a gain of 70 dB would need a very strong donor signal to be of much use, regardless of the stated transmit power that likely is going unused.

In other words, the higher the gain of the booster, the better it will work, even when far away from a base station.

Yes, and for a good reason!  CEL-FI is controlled by and operates as an extension of an operator’s network.  This is what allows CEL-FI (by regulatory authority) to boost signals about 1000x more than other solutions, and therefore cover very large areas even if the original network signal is weak.  And it works very well.

Broad-spectrum repeaters can cause interference and damage to networks, so operators have adopted a strict policy against the use of these legacy signal boosters on their own networks. However, CEL-FI (the only smart signal booster of its kind), is authorized for use by each carrier and allowed to transmit on their licensed spectrum without ruining things for anyone else.

Not all cellular operators use the same technologies, and we do not boost every technology available around the world. The CEL-FI systems will support 3G(UMTS/WCDMA), 4G(HSPA & HPSA+), and LTE technology of operators that have approved the use of CEL-FI on their network. You can reach out to your operator for more information on what specific technology they use.

CEL-FI system will support 3G(UMTS/WCDMA), 4G (HSPA/HSPA+) and LTE. Each CEL-FI system is different. Check your box for a Quick Start Guide, or visit the support section for more specific information about your specific product.

First you can try rebooting your phone near the Coverage Unit so it takes a fresh look at the available channels. Also verify that your phone is compatible with the channels that your CEL-FI model is boosting (maybe your handset is “unlocked” and actually does not fully support all your current Operator’s channels). iPhones can also show fewer “bars” of signal if the network is heavily loaded (learn more).

Note that CEL-FI RS1 and RS2 models do not support LTE. If your phone is LTE capable and therefore is not showing boosted service, if needed it is designed to switch over to non-LTE services when it needs to, such as in a call. This is true with or without CEL-FI and what matters is that now you have reliable service where you need it!

If you would like the benefits of LTE service as well, you can always upgrade your CEL-FI to a newer version that also supports LTE.

No. CEL-FI does not require any maintenance. The CEL-FI systems will self-adjust and reconfigure automatically to changing cellular networks situations.

The Nextivity IntelliBoost Baseband Processor is the first core processor designed specifically to optimize the indoor transmission and reception of 3G and 4G/LTE wireless signals. With advanced filtering, equalization and echo cancellation techniques, Nextivity has developed an embedded architecture which delivers unprecedented in-building data rates and pervasive 3G and 4G/LTE connectivity. The IntelliBoost processor ensures that CEL-FI products never negatively impact the macro network while providing maximum coverage.

CEL-FI automatically selects clear, unused channels from the UNII bands (5.15-5.35 GHz, 5.47-5.725 GHz and 5725-5825 GHz) for communication between the Network (Window) Unit and the Coverage Unit. While in some cases these are the same frequencies as Wi-Fi, the CEL-FI system uses a proprietary protocol for communication and is designed to work in harmony with existing wireless devices such as Wi-Fi routers, cordless telephones or baby monitors.

For two unit systems, the model number will have an _EXA suffix on the label (e.g. D32-1/3_EXA). Another way to determine external antenna compatibility is by looking at the back of the Network (Window) Unit, if there is a gold threaded fitting on the back of the unit then an external antenna can be used.