Wilson AG Pro 75 Signal Booster Review
Here at The Cell Phone Junkie, we’re very familiar with Wilson Electronics products, with reviews of both the Wilson Sleek and Wilson SignalBoost DT last year. But when we stopped to chat with Wilson at CES this year, the AG Pro 75 caught our attention. Both the Sleek and the SignalBoost are very consumer focused devices, and are easy to install and use. Wilson says the Pro 75 on the other hand is a commercial grade signal enhancing amplifier, that installs just as easy as the others, but provides much more robust and reliable coverage. After some thought, we’ve found the perfect location to place the system, and put these claims to the test. The Wilson AG Pro 75 is available online from various retailers starting at $999. The products used in this review were provided by Wilson.
In the Box
Complete Wilson AG Pro 75 comes with:
- AG Pro 75 amplifier
- 2 lengths of coax
- Outside omni-directional antenna
- Inside dome antenna
About the AG Pro 75
The AG Pro 75, Wilson’s highest gain signal booster to date, can be optimized by the installer to match the requirements of the building in which it is deployed. The adjustable gain feature simplifies installation by making antenna placement less critical. The unit delivers a maximum gain of 75dB at 1900 MHz and 70dB at 800 MHz. The AG Pro 75 includes Wilson’s patented oscillation and cell site protection technology to prevent interference on the cellular network. The direct-connect booster delivers a strong, reliable signal for cellular modems, ensuring the successful transfer of critical data. The unit’s compact form factor and low price make it an ideal component for M2M installations in weak signal environments. Both new models work with cellular devices on all North American service provider networks.
The case for the amplifier is new for Wilson, measuring 5.7 x 4.2 x 1.5 inches. The 4 corners have screw mounting holes, and N-Female connectors on either side. The amplifier connects to the internal and external antennas via LMR400 coax cable.
The Wilson 801280 AG Pro 75 is Wilson’s first manually adjustable cellular amplifier. Other Wilson building amplifiers have automatic adjustment. The new manual adjust method on the AG Pro is simple and easy to understand. Each frequency, 800MHz and 1900MHz have their own adjustment knob. The knob controls the gain (broadcast power) of the amplifier. Once the inside and outside antennas are connected the amplifier can be adjusted. Turn each adjustment knob to increase the gain until the indicator light goes red or blinks red, then back it down a bit till the light goes green. This sets each frequency to the maximum gain without any antenna oscillation or tower proximity errors. Antenna oscillation is when the inside and outside antenna broadcast over each other (somewhat like micriphone feedback). Oscillation will cause issues with the carrier tower so the Wilson 801280 will shut off if there are red lights. The farther the antennas are from each other, the more gain can be used which increases the interior broadcast distance. As a rule-of-thumb, there should be 50 to 75 feet of separation between the interior and exterior antennas.
Features
- Adjustable gain control
- Bi-directional amplifier
- FCC type accepted, Industry Canada certificated
- N-Female connectors
- Faster data transfers (2G & 3G networks)
- Compatible with 800MHz / 1900MHz carriers using CDMA, GSM and TDMA.
Installation
Use and Results
When I set out to find a location to install the AG Pro 75 system, I wanted to find something that was not only easily accessible for me, but somewhere that would have a big impact. I was talking to a friend about signal boosters for his office recently, as both his AT&T iPhone and Verizon Blackberry had problems holding calls, and maintaining a reliable data connection.
The building used for the installation is a 3 story commercial building with the office on the bottom level, and 2 levels of concrete and steel deck construction above. The signal levels on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint all fell within the -95 to -110 dBm range. Further, the signal levels on the roof of the building were very solid, with ever carrier showing 5 bars, -80 dBm or better.
The actual installation consisted of a pole mounted to the roof, with the outside antenna horizontally about 50 feet away from the inside antenna. The 100 feet of cable was run along existing conduits on the roof, to a single penetration. The cable was then routed through a stairwell, down a metal stud sheetrock covered wall, and into the offices over the drop ceiling.
Once installed, I was able to tweak the gain settings of the Pro 75 to create the maximum impact without any oscillation, and covered an area close to 3000 square feet with reliable coverage, no dropped calls, and consistent data speeds. The impact of the booster is real, and the employees in the office couldn’t be happier. There is something to be said for choosing a cell phone that works in the places where you need it most (ie, your office), but when none of the carriers can provide reliable service, it’s time to take things into your own hands.
Testimonials
“It is awesome! Night and day difference! From 1 bar to 5 bars on AT&T and 1 bar to 4 bars on Verizon. My battery life is vastly improved because the devices don’t have to search for networks throughout the day. I have not dropped a call since the install. Prior, I could not complete a voice call without going outside. An excellent product! If you have little signal in your location, this signal booster will solve that problem!” – Manager of the building where the AG Pro 75 was installed.
“Thanks for the booster it has been working great! For me personally it went from no Nextel service at all to not lower than two bars in the whole office on my phone. Everyone in here loves it! We can all make or receive calls with no problems and have a conversation with out dropping a call.” – Operations Manager of the building where the AG Pro 75 was installed.
Overall
I see the Wilson AG Pro 75 as my top choice for homes and small offices. The simplicity and power of this amplifier will allow home and office owners the ability to improve signal in the 5,000 sf range with a single antenna. Thanks to the dual mode nature of the system, you can set it for the best results on the 800MHz and 1900MHz networks. At nearly $1000, the price is a bit steep, but the overall results are worth the cost. This is one system that meets and exceeds the claims it makes.
For a full gallery of pictures from this install click here.