Reviewer : Naila S.
Published by Quantum-Wireless on August 25, 2009

I was cruising on the Long Island Expressway, talking to my friend on my iPhone about critical details for the final paper of our class. As her voice started to fade along with the signal on my phone, I knew what I needed: Wilson Electronics’ iBooster, a cell phone signer amplifier. I plugged my phone into the iBooster, redialed my friend’s number, and, lo and behold, the call was even better than before!

The Wilson iBooster, designed to boost cell phone reception on both second and third generation iPhones, improves call quality, reduces the number of dropped calls, and increases data rates. It even improves signal in “dead zones.”

In the box, there is an amplifier cradle to hold the phone, an external mini-magnet antenna that goes on the roof of the car, a cigarette lighter adapter for power, an adapter to hold the iPhone with the case, mounting clips with several mounting options, an installation guide, and a one-year limited warranty. The setup is pretty simple, and the amplifier can be moved from vehicle to vehicle. Though it is designed primarily for use in a car, the iBooster can also be used in a building.

The Wilson iBooster’s box and website boast of many things that sound great, but what does that all really mean for you? It means that with the iBooster, the quality of the call will be noticeably better, and your signal will rarely drop below four bars. You won’t have to worry about dropped calls or dead zones. You can charge your phone in the car (though there is a switch to turn off the charger so you don’t drain the battery of your car), and you can listen to music through your car’s system with an audio input. With a “plug and play” design, the iBooster is very easy to use.

On the downside, the iBooster always needs a power source, so it can only be used in your car or near an outlet inside a building. In addition, the wire on the external antenna goes from the hood of the car and through the door. The setup for this is pretty basic, and the wire doesn’t get in your way, but the length is too short for anyone who wants to setup the antenna in a more permanent place, like the back of the car. Lastly, the iBooster (805201) costs a few hundred dollars, but is well worth the investment.

So if your iPhone is with you 24/7 and you use it everywhere—sitting in your office pouring over project details, driving to work everyday, or relaxing on the couch in front of your TV watching re-runs of Friends—then the new Wilson iBooster will take out the agony of weak cell phone signals and bad reception. One of the most frustrating things while talking on the phone is to lose signal in the middle of the call, or worse, have no signal and not be able to call anyone at all.  For iPhone users complaining of poor reception and dropped calls, this is the perfect accessory. With the iBooster, you’ll never have the need to say “Can you hear me now?”