How do you find the best signal spot at home and pick a booster?
Measure dBm room by room to locate your strongest signal, then get a booster the legal way through your carrier.
Short answer
Measure instead of guessing: on Android open Settings > About phone > SIM status, on iPhone dial *3001#12345#* for Field Test. Stand 30 seconds in every room and write down the dBm reading; anything better than -85 dBm is usable, below -110 dBm calls drop. Once you know the best spot, turn on Wi-Fi Calling first, and if that is not enough, request a legal repeater from your carrier.
What you need
Step by step
Open the measurement screen
On Android go to Settings > About phone > SIM status and read the dBm number on the 'Signal strength' line; on Samsung this lives under Settings > About phone > Status information. On iPhone dial *3001#12345#* in the Phone app to enter Field Test, then check the RSRP line on the LTE or NR tab. Always read dBm, never the bars.
Measure the home point by point
Sketch a rough floor plan and mark two spots per room: one by the window, one in the middle. Hold the phone at each spot for 30 seconds and write down the dBm once the number settles. Ten to fifteen points and about 15 minutes is enough; flag the best and worst spots with colored notes.
Find the direction the signal comes from
Stand at your best reading and note the Cell ID and compass bearing in Network Cell Info Lite; the signal usually arrives from that facade. Pick the balcony or window on the same side as your reference point and make a 2-minute test call there to see whether it drops.
Turn on Wi-Fi Calling
On Android open Settings > Connections > Calls > Wi-Fi Calling, on iPhone Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling, and also make sure Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > VoLTE calls is on. This lets you call from your normal number over home internet even at -110 dBm. It is free and legal, so try it before buying any hardware.
File a coverage report with your carrier
Call your carrier's support line and open a coverage complaint plus a signal booster request. Give them the worst dBm you measured, your full address, floor and apartment number, and write down the ticket number. Field teams usually respond within 15 to 30 days and may visit to take their own readings.
Choose a device that supports your band
Check which bands the carrier's recommended device covers: LTE commonly runs on B1 (2100), B3 (1800), B7 (2600), B8 (900) and B20 (800). Whatever band the 'Band' line in your measurement app shows, the device must cover it. Ask for a multi-band model with automatic gain control instead of a cheap single-band kit.
Verify the installation
The outdoor antenna goes on the facade with your highest dBm, the indoor antenna near the center of the home, with at least 3 to 5 meters of vertical separation between them or the unit will feed back and shut itself off. Repeat your original measurements afterward: if every room reads better than -85 dBm, you are done.
Tips
Watch out
Installing a personal signal booster bought online on your own is illegal in Turkey: under Electronic Communications Law No. 5809 only carrier-installed devices reported to the BTK may be used. An unapproved repeater disrupts the base station, the carrier traces the interference source to your address, the device is seized and an administrative fine is issued.
Frequently asked questions
+Can I trust the number of bars on screen?
No. Bar thresholds are set differently for every brand and model, so two phones in the same spot show different bars. Base your decisions on the dBm value alone.
+Can I use a booster I bought online?
You should not. Installing an individual repeater requires BTK authorization and carrier approval; an unapproved unit harms the network and leads to a fine plus seizure of the device.
+Does requesting a booster from the carrier cost money?
It varies. In most cases the device stays carrier-owned and installation is free once the coverage problem is confirmed; the field team gives exact terms in writing during the visit.
+Does Wi-Fi Calling use my mobile data allowance?
No, the call runs over your home internet and does not touch your mobile data. Minutes are billed under your normal plan, just as if you called over the mobile network.
+At what dBm does a booster become necessary?
If most of your home reads worse than -100 dBm and Wi-Fi Calling is not enough, a booster is worth discussing. Spots at -85 dBm or better need no extra hardware.
Sources and verification
Last verified: September 15, 2026. tell us. Carrier support numbers and the 5809 law reference are specific to Turkey; band plans and legality rules differ elsewhere.
This content is for information only; for official procedures the relevant institution’s current announcements take precedence. Details: disclaimer.