Mickey Papillon

zBoost YX230 from Wi-Ex in-car Cell Phone Signal Booster Review

Sometimes, you find yourself in an area where your phone consistently drops calls, or you find very low service.  The zBoost YX230 Cell Phone Signal Booster from Wi-Ex may be your solution.  This in-car signal enhancer simply and efficiently increases the signal received by your handset up to 10x, which decreases your dropped calls, and increases your data speeds.  TheYX230 is available from Wi-Ex for $300, but can be found online for less.

In the Box

• zBoost YX230 bidirectional amplifier
• 12V cigarette power adapter
• External magnetic mount antenna with 15ft cable
• Internal patch antenna with 15ft cable
• Installation manual

Specs

• Frequency – TX: 824-849 MHz 1850-1910 MHz RX: 869-894 MHz 1930-1990 MHz
• Gain – Up to 43 dB
• Output Power – DL: +10dBm UL: +20dBm
• Modulation – CDMA, GSM, EVDO, GPRS, EDGE, 3G, TDMA, 1xRTT, HSDPA and AMPS
• Power Source – 12 V adaptor
• Weight – 21 oz
• Amp Size – 4″(L) x 4″(W) x 1.5″(H)

About the Product

• Reduces dropped calls and dead zones.
• Extends cell phone range – up to 10 times the signal strength.
• Improves signal strength for voice and data (except Nextel).
• Dual Band works with most phones and most carriers (except Nextel).
• Works with multiple phones simultaneously.  Extends cell phone battery life.
• Phone stays wireless – no direct wire to phone.

Installation
Installation of the product is easy, and depending on your vehicle, takes less than 30 minutes, depending how picky you are with your cable routing.  The actual amplifier is to be stored under a seat or someone where out of the way, while the internal patch antenna needs to be installed in an area within a few feet of your phone while in use.  The amplifier has 3 ports on it, one for the external antenna, one for the internal antenna, and one for power.  Routing the cables can take some time, especially if you don’t want any of them to be seen.

The Internal Antenna is a flat piece of plastic that is relatively small, (just larger than a postage stamp) that comes with Velcro on the back.  The recommended placement of the antenna is on the drivers side windshield post, but I found that in my truck, putting it in the center console worked well, since my phone usually sits there while I talk using mybluetooth headset.  I found through various trials, the location of the antenna is important, and while the instructions say to have it within feet of the phone, 3-4 inches gives the best phone the best results.

Next is the power supply, which is a cigarette lighter adapter with a rather long cord.  The instructions state to have the amplifier within 3-4 feet of a 12V DC plug, but the power cord is longer than this restriction, and there appears to be no real difference where it is installed.  I was able to use the lighter in the back of my vehicle, and ran the cord under the mats to a location under my back seats.

Then, the magnet mount antenna needs to be installed.  This is the most time consuming and thought inducing part of the install.  The cord on the antenna is 15 feet, which seems just short enough to either require a non-professional looking install, or being placed in an odd area on the vehicle.  Optimally, you want this antenna to be placed on the roof of the vehicle to maximize the performance.

However, this is not easily done when your vehicle is an SUV or truck and you want to have the cords hidden.  I chose for this install to have the antenna on top of the vehicle, and ran it through a back door.  I am really not a fan of these types of installations, but for testing purposes, it was the quickest to do.

After everything is installed, simply turn the vehicle on, and an LED on the amplifier is either red or green, denoting if the installation has been successful.  A red light means that you must attempt to relocate the antennas, as they are too close to one another, and are interfering with each other.

Use and Results
Using the YX230 is as simple as using your phone.  The unit is automatically powered when you turn on the vehicle, and a switch on the Power supply is a nice touch for those that have constant power going to their vehicle power ports.  I am testing out the device using a Blackberry Pearl from AT&T.  Here is a shot of the signal strength with the amplifier off.

And one showing the phone’s reading with it on.

The difference is noticeable, about 15-20dB.  While these images were taken in an area with good signal, this difference can mean either being able to make a call or not.  In the real world, I found that I now have a constant 5 bars of service shown on the handset.  When observing the signal strength, the phone is regularly in the -80′s or better.

Finally, this product is designed to be used by multiple cell phones at the same time.  The YX230 works with both 800 and 1900 MHz phones, and covers all technologies except iDEN.

Overall
For under $300, the zBoost YX230 Cell Phone Signal Booster from Wi-Ex is a good in-vehicle solution for poor service and dropped calls.  Having used other signal enhancing products, the YX230 works as advertised, and allows phones to be used in areas that have poor service more reliably.