ZBoost YX520 Imternational User Manual - page 8

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ZBOOST® YX520 (INTERNATIONAL) USER GUIDE

Overview 

Thank you for choosing zBoost®. You will now be able to use your mobile phone INSIDE your 

home or office. Gone are the days when you had to go to the window upstairs or walk outside 

to use your mobile phone. Like a skylight that brings sunlight into your home, zBoost® 

transports and amplifies the outdoor cellular signals into your home or office. 

By following the easy instructions in this user guide, you will be Extending Cell Zones™ into your 

home or office. 

Why Indoor Signals Can Be Weak

There are several obstacles that can contribute to the poor reception you receive in your home 

or office: 

1)   Location of the Mobile Phone Tower in Relation to Your Home/Office 

While mobile phone providers have tried to place mobile phone towers to 

provide the best overall coverage, local ordinances and terrain features can 

impose restrictions on where these towers can be placed, limiting the signal 

strength available at your location. 

 2)  Obstructions Caused by Buildings, Terrain and Trees 

Mobile phone signals can be completely blocked or reflected by buildings, 

walls, trees, hills and other terrain features resulting in low signal strength. 

FIGURE 2: Mobile Phone Signal Obstructions 

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ZBOOST® YX520 (INTERNATIONAL) USER GUIDE

Note

Mobile phone signal bars are approximate and vary from 

phone to phone. The number of bars can fluctuate widely, 

depending on the location of the phone, the position or angle 

of the phone, weather, etc. Most mobile phone signal meters 

update every 6 to 10 seconds. An increase of only one bar 

typically indicates a 4x to 10x signal increase. 

THE BEST INDICATOR OF SIGNAL STRENGTH IS THE ABILITY TO 

RELIABLY PLACE AND RECEIVE CALLS.

Tools Needed

The following tools are needed to set up zBoost®: 

•  Philips screwdriver 

•  Mobile phone operating in the band supported by your zBoost® unit 

•  Drill (may be required for outdoor or attic aerial placement) 

Check for Signal Strength 

Before placing a zBoost® in your home, make sure that you can place calls on the outside of 

your home, in the attic, at roof level or wherever you plan to place the Signal Aerial. zBoost® 

can only bring signal into your home when signal reaches the Signal Aerial. 

Using your mobile phone, place a call from an outdoor location to confirm that enough signal 

is present to complete the call. If a weak signal is available at ground level, check the signal 

strength in your attic or at roof level location where the signal will likely be stronger and 

where the Signal Aerial can be placed for best performance. 

If you can reliably make and receive calls outside your home, then zBoost® can bring the signal 

into your home.   

If only one signal bar is displayed on your mobile phone outside, indoor coverage will be 

limited to one small room. We recommend placing the Signal Aerial outside and/or purchasing 

a Wi-Ex® upgrade Signal Aerial (see page v). 

FIGURE 3: Checking For  Signal 

Preparing to Set Up Your zBoost® Product