So, you just bought a brand new Apple iPhone 4S, and notice at the top left the signal shows ‘4G’ as noted in the above image. You try searching online to see if there’s actually ‘4G’ in your area, and there isn’t. You also try downloading apps or surfing the web and notice the speeds aren’t quite what you’d call ‘4G’. What gives? Well, the difference is you’re on the HSPA+ network, not true 4G LTE.

What’s HSPA+? HSPA stands for “High Speed Packet Access”, and provides extended and improved network speeds. Unfortunately, the HSPA+ “4G” speeds aren’t available in all locations. AT&T’s 4G LTE network however, is among the fastest with a recent third party speed test with the source article here. As for the availability of AT&T’s blazing fast 4G LTE network, it’s currently available only in select markets as well as development being ongoing.

If you’re unfamiliar with 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G refers to “Fourth Generation”. 4G follows 3G as the latest edition to AT&T’s mobile broadband network. When combined with enhanced backhaul, 4G LTE means significantly increased speeds, where data transfers take much less time to complete. In some areas and cases, 4G LTE speeds exceed home broadband services.

With 4G LTE in the very near future, Cellphone-Mate has just released their newest addition to their 4G lineup with the Cellphone-Mate 700A. The Cellphone-Mate 700A is the only amplifier currently available for use with AT&T’s 4G LTE new blazing fast network. With the CM700A cellular amplifier/booster, you’ll be able to boost AT&T 4G LTE signal in your home, office, or warehouse. With that amplification, you’ll benefit from massively increased data download and upload speeds.

AT&T’s 4G LTE network is very new and currently only available in select locations. AT&T occasionally brands their fast 3G network “4G”, so make sure you are getting their LTE signal before purchasing. One way to make sure you’re getting an LTE signal is to look at the network icon near the bars or battery icon right on your device, as shown below:

With a dB gain of 70, that makes the CM700A cellular amplifier the strongest booster currently available here at RepeaterStore. These kits will be available early next week (starting May 7^th, 2012) so be ready to have your already blazing 4G LTE speeds boosted even faster!

 Product Page: Cellphone-Mate AT&T 4G LTE Amplifier

Technical Specifications:

Recently our good friends over at OpenSignalMaps launched a new version of their website at the MWC2012 (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona, Spain showcasing a new feature called NetworkRank. Simply put, NetworkRank is a tool that enables consumers to see which network is providing the best service in their area, giving them the opportunity to make smarter decisions when purchasing a new mobile contract.

NetworkRank brings transparency to the opaque world of network coverage, where consumers historically have only been able to make decisions based on limited amounts of data.  Consumers can now use the NetworkRank product on OpenSignalMaps.com to browse to their area and see a rank of which networks are performing the best in their area. It’s based on a sophisticated algorithm that leverages OpenSignalMaps’ large crowd-sourced data set of network performance information.  The algorithm compares network service across several key indicators such as signal coverage, data speeds, responsiveness and reliability. Consumers can also use the website to see if 4G service is available yet in their area.

For those readers who don’t know who the guys at OpenSignalMaps are, they’re the largest independent evaluator of mobile network performance, with data from over 200 countries.  The data is based on user submitted contributions from over one and a half million downloads of the OpenSignalMaps Android application. The Android application is a dashboard for your signal that helps you find better cell signal nearby, run speed tests, and find open wi-fi hotspots. An application for Apple’s iOS is also in development. OpenSignalMaps, founded in 2010 by four University of Oxford Physics graduates, helps consumers compare cellular networks by building independent coverage maps based on data crowd-sourced from mobile phones. The company has offices in San Francisco, as well as London.

If the information above has sparked an interest and you’d like to check out where the strongest signal strength in your area is, or see where the nearest cell phone tower for your carrier lies, head over to OpenSignalMaps.com!

Wilson Electronics are releasing two new versions of their massively popular Sleek cradle unit. The exciting about these two units is they are the first tri-band units, so you can cover brand new fast 4G data networks as well as the existing voice/3G network.
The Wilson Sleek 4G-V for Verizon will be the first to be released. It covers the very fast 4G LTE network, giving you even faster data speeds than you are currently getting. It also covers traditional 850MHz/1900MHz bands, which are used for voice and 3G on almost all US networks (Sprint, Verizon, AT&T), except Nextel and T-Mobile (covers voice not 3G).
Later in Q2 2012 will be the Wilson Sleek 4G-A for AT&T. Again it covers AT&T’s brand new LTE network, as well as the 850MHz/1900MHz.

The YX545 is the most popular consumer friendly repeater on the market, and a Verizon 4G version has just been announced. Most repeaters are “dual band” which means they use the 850/1900MHz bands used by most US carriers for their voice and 3G networks. Technology is now advancing to 4G, with Verizon’s 4G LTE network leading the pack. Verizon’s 4G LTE network is on the 700MHz frequency band purchased by Verizon in 2008, and the new frequency requires new cellular amplifiers. The YX545 zBoost 4G-V works on Verizon’s 700MHz band, covering the frequencies 776-787 MHz (uplink) and 746-757 (downlink). Unfortunately due to the difficulty in getting wider frequency filters at 700MHz, the YX545 4G-V will not cover the other 700MHz bands (i.e. AT&T’s 4G LTE which is coming soon).

With the zBoost YX545 4G-V you’ll get a strong increase in download speeds, making the most of your 4G contract. The zBoost YX545 4G-V can be used if your current signal is weak or strong. Even if you currently have great performance with Verizon 4G you can make it even better with the 4G-V.

The setup of the 4G-V is the same as the standard YX545. There is an external antenna which can be placed either inside in a window or attic, or for best results outside on the roof. From there a 50ft cable runs to the amplifiers, which has a screw-on internal antenna. The internal antenna tramists the boosted signal, over an area up to 2,500 sq ft. With its great performance and good coverage area, the 4G-V is ideal for home or office.

Product page: YX545 zBoost 4G-V for Verizon 4G LTE