In a world where everything seems to go wireless: cell phones, battery charging, laptops, tablets, TVs, sometimes our signal just isn’t strong enough to give us what we want. This especially applies to cell phones, since networks can’t possibly cover every inch of the nation with 3-4 bars of coverage. That’s where zBoost comes in, as they are trying to literally “boost” your signal in low coverage areas.

In my office per day, I experience only 1-2 bars of signal. The maximum I’ve ever received was 2 bars, never 3. Thanks to zBoost for sending over their new SOHO Xtreme for review,  I was finally able to get 3-4 bars of data (Note: 3G only) and calls weren’t fuzzy anymore. The product, however, does take a bit of installing, like mounting an antenna on your roof. It took me about an hour to get everything fixed up, but it was worth it. They also include everything you need in the box: from the nails you need for mounting the antenna to the instruction manual. (Hey, who needs manuals?)

I’m currently a Verizon customer, and surprisingly, in the Bay Area, I wasn’t getting the best signal. Heck, I get about 0.3Mbps on 3G and 5Mbps on LTE on average. That’s a lot worse than every other Verizon tech blogger I’ve talked to, but it may be because I live in the Bay Area, where Google and Apple are located. They’re probably hogging the networks testing out their next Nexus and iPhone, respectively. Thankfully the SOHO Xtreme solved most of my problems. I got about 0.8-1MBps of Download on 3G after turning on the SOHO Xtreme.

What’s in the Box?

Obviously you want to know what you get in the box. zBoost did a great job here by providing a full kit of what you’ll need to set up your SOHO Xtreme, so you won’t need to spend any extra money on cables or adapters.

• SOHO Xtreme Base Unit
• Base Unit Antenna
• Power Supply
• Signal Antenna and Mounting Hardware (Yes, that includes the screws!)
• Coaxial Cable (RG-6, 50ft)

Performance and Cost

The zBoost SOHO Xtreme is a bit pricey, coming with a hefty price tag of $550. I wouldn’t recommend getting this unless you really need to make calls and receive data like I do; if you’re just the casual user that rarely makes phone calls nowadays (face it, calls are dying), then  this won’t be too useful to you. However, if you’re like me, and you’re making 5-10 phone calls a day and constantly receiving email, then you might want to give a second thought on this product.

As a current Verizon customer, the zBoost SOHO Xtreme improved my signal from 1-2 bars to 3-4 bars. It covered my whole office, and the press sheet says that it covers up to 5,500 square feet. I walked out and took a walk, and after a minute or two of running, I noticed that my signal got weaker. But this was expected, as this product isn’t a Network Tower. Overall, I was quite impressed, as at first I wasn’t really believing this whole “signal booster” product. However, there are a few downsides, as you have to face the signal booster towards the room you’re in. Meaning, if you’re making a phone call behind that signal booster, then you won’t be getting optimum performance. Also, as previously mentioned, you need to mount the antenna on a roof, which means that this isn’t the easiest product to set up. Thankfully for me, I simply placed the signal antenna on a wall outside and it worked like a charm.

There are some visual aids on the signal booster, such as a Green/Red light that tells you if the unit is receiving and sending out signal properly. It’s a bit confusing at first, though, but I got used to it fairly quickly.

Below, you’ll see two screenshots of my signal before and after using the SOHO Xtreme:

Before turning on the SOHO Xtreme

After turning on the zBoost SOHO Xtreme

As you can see from the two screenshots above, the SOHO Xtreme boosted my signal rather quickly, as I reached up to three bars after turning the unit on. This test was conducted using an iPhone 4S, in case any of you were wondering.

A look at how I set up my signal extender

Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of the antenna mounted on my roof. Sorry for the inconvenience, but really, it’s just an antenna on a roof.

Simplicity and Durability

When the UPS delivery man gave me this package, it was honking big. I thought it was going to be a pain to set up, and that there were going to be 100-page manuals that I’d have to read. Thankfully zBoost saved me that trouble, as you get a few cables, your AC Adapter, your antenna, and the signal booster base unit. The antenna looked extremely durable from my viewpoint, and it looked like it could survive throughout the year.

Setup and Coverage

What your final setup should ideally look like.

Like previously mentioned, the SOHO Xtreme covers all 800Mhz and 1900Mhz devices, respectively. Unfortunately, 2100Mhz 4G devices won’t work with this device, so if you live in a 4G area and you’re not getting the best signal, this product won’t solve your problems. However, it does cover up to 5,500 square feet, larger than its smaller brother, the SOHO.

SOHO Xtreme covers up to 5,500 Square Feet.

Setting up the antenna booster, however, isn’t just a plug and chug as previously mentioned. You need to physically go up onto your roof (Or in my case, a patio) and mount it on the top of your house so that you can get optimum performance. Also, you want to make sure that you don’t get in the way of any metal that could potentially interfere with your antenna. It’s not the easiest to set up such as your smartphone, but this really shouldn’t take you more than an hour. Trust me, the end result is worth it!

Overall

The Good:

• Significantly improved my signal from 1-2 bars to 3-4 bars.
• Coverage of up to 5,500 feet.
• Clearer phone calls, faster data. Works on any network carrier. In my case, Verizon Wireless.

The Not-so-Good:

• $549 price tag may scare away customers
• Although it’s not the hardest to set up, it still requires you to physically get out and stick that stick on your roof!

Overall, I can say that the SOHO Xtreme is a well-rounded product and will efficiently boost your signal. It’s reliable, but the cost may make some buyers think twice about it. It costs a total of $549, which will take a heavy toll on your wallet. Unless you need to constantly make calls like I do, I would strongly suggest thinking about another option.

However, over my past 5 days of working with the product, I experienced clearer phone calls, better signal reliability, and a bit faster data speeds. I was incredibly impressed by the product and I’ll be looking forward to experiencing more zBoost products in the future.

Interested in buying one?

If you have a need or hankering to pick one up, you can so via their website at Wi-Ex.com. You will find other information as well as other valuable products. Alternatively, you can pick a SOHO Xtreme up via the Amazon link below for a steep discount of nearly $22 off, making it only $357.25.

Wireless Extenders YX545x SOHO Xtreme Cell Booster Kit – Antenna Booster – Retail Packaging – White