A weBoost signal booster is a good solution for those who experience a poor cell phone signal at home and wish to improve it. At times, however, the signal booster may seem exceedingly hot. Here you’ll learn why this happens and what you can do to prevent overheating.
weBoost overheating typically happens when the antenna is not connected to the signal booster. When this happens, there is nowhere for all the heat generated to go. It is also possible that the indoor and outdoor antennas are placed too closely, or in the wrong direction.
Continue below to find out how to troubleshoot this issue. Do you know the difference between a feedback loop and overload? If not, don’t worry; this topic is covered in full detail below.
Is It Ok For My weBoost Signal Booster To Get Hot?
Even If your signal booster is hot to the touch, this may not be cause for concern. According to weBoost, these devices can reach temperatures of up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit and still be fine.
If you need to troubleshoot any issues with your signal booster, you are encouraged to unplug the unit and let it cool for a few minutes. There are several potential causes of overheating, which will be discussed in the section below.
Signal Booster Overheating- Causes
Overheating can lead to permanent damage to your signal booster. If your signal is not improving at all, then there is a chance that the device is experiencing one of the problems discussed below.
Why Is The Light Blinking?
If the light on your signal booster is blinking, there could be an underlying reason why the booster is so hot. weBoost uses a coded light system to display error messages.
The Antenna Is Disconnected
You should never allow the antenna to become disconnected while the signal booster is still plugged into the power source. This is because the booster will be generating heat and there will be nowhere for that heat to go.
- Unplug your signal booster from the power source to prevent long-term damage from overheating.If you need to move an antenna, do so after removing the booster from the power supply.
Signal Booster Placement
Your signal booster may be overheating due to placement. Like other electrical devices that generate heat, signal boosters need to be placed in unobstructed locations where heat will dissipate.
To find an alternate location, you are encouraged to follow the instructions for doing a signal strength test throughout your home.
How To Fix An Antenna That’s Not Working
There are several potential reasons why your antenna may not be working properly. Your signal booster may be experiencing a feedback loop or overload, the solutions of which are described in further detail below.
- Feedback Loop (Solid Red light): Occurs when outside and inside antennas are placed too close to each other.Overload (Solid orange light): A nearby cell phone tower is sending out too strong of a signal.
How To Fix A Feedback Loop
Start by making sure that the outside and inside antennas are facing away from each other. The inside antenna must be at least 18″ from the booster and pointed in the opposite direction.
Finish by ensuring that all the cable connections are tight. Only hand-tighten the connections. Using tools can damage equipment.
How to Fix Overload
For pole mount antennas, you can resolve an overload issue by rotating the outside antenna away from the cell signal in approximately 45-degree increments. Continue until the light on the signal booster turns green.
For wall mount antennas, continually move the outside antenna to new locations until the light turns green. Unplug and replug in the power supply.
For Further Instruction
Final Thoughts
weBoost states that its signal boosters can reach a temperature of up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit and not take any damage. If you feel that your device may be overheating, then be sure to check the error code chart above to see what the indicator light is saying.
Overheating is often caused by an antenna that is not functioning properly. The antenna should never be disconnected while the signal booster is still on.
