Setup my SureCall Flare Cellular Signal Booster

Step 1: Find the location with the strongest cellular reception outside your home.

To begin your set up, you need to find the location outside of your home with the strongest signal.

You can do this by putting your cell phone into test mode and walking around the outside of your home, noting the signal level at each location. 

  • If you have an iPhone before you put it in Field Test Mode follow these simple steps:Go into Settings, then click WiFi and turn it Off.This will enable you to see what network you're connected to whether is 3G, 4G, LTE, or 5G!The next step varies based on what iOS version is installed on your cell phone, to find this out simply navigate back to your settings, then go to general, tap about, and you will see the number is reflected to the right of “Software Version”For iOS 9.3 and above: Go into Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Enable LTE and turn LTE to Off.For iOS 9.2 and below: Go into Settings > Cellular > Enable LTE and turn LTE to Off.
  • If you have an Android before you put it in Field Test Mode follow these simple steps:Go into Settings, click “About Phone'' and your numerical signal strength will be available under either Network or Status, depending on the model of the phone you own. There’s usually another option near the signal strength that says the Network Type.

Now let’s put your cell phone into test mode.

To put your cell phone into test mode, go to your dialer keypad and type in the following series of digits, *3001#12345#* and press the call button.

This will launch the Field Test Mode App and where the bars/dots were in the top left corner of the screen, you’ll now see a negative number. The negative number is the decibel signal strength reading and should be followed by the carrier name and then the network type. 

When taking signal readings, you want to try multiple locations, to see which location gives you the number closest to 0.

For example, -40 is a stronger signal than -70. 

Make sure that you take a 30 to 60-second pause between locations to allow the signal reading to catch up. 

To exit and return your iPhone to normal status, all you need to do is hit the Home button. Also, remember to go back into Settings and enable WiFi and Cellular LTE. This mode is available on any iPhone running iOS 4.1 and all later versions. 

If possible, we highly recommend running these tests on the roof of your home or building, the higher you get the stronger the signal you will receive.

Once you found the location with the best signal, you’ll mount the outside antenna, here

Again, you will be mounting the outside antenna as high as possible, installing the antenna high on the roof of your building, for example, allows you to clear tree’s buildings and other obstacles, allowing you to get a stronger cellular signal to the signal booster

Step 2: Locate the nearest cell tower by utilizing Antennasearch.com

You can determine which way to point your directional antenna by navigating to antennasearch.com, and searching your address there.

You can determine which way to point your directional antenna by navigating to antennasearch.com, and searching your address there.

First, head to antennasearch.com.

Type in your full address including City and State, then press Submit.

On the top right of your screen uncheck the antenna box, so that only cell towers from the major carriers appear on your map and in the key on the left-hand side of your screen.

Go ahead and click the nearest tower major carrier, those being either Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile.

You can click the tower by navigating to the key and clicking on the carrier name. 

A new tab will appear showing the exact location of the tower. 

Now scroll down to the Tower Characteristics box and make note of the structure address. 

Next, go to google maps and type in your address, and the address of the cell tower that you had just gotten from the structure address box.

On the map, you now see the direction the tower is from your installation location, and you can now point your antenna in that direction.

That’s it.

Step 3: Antenna Installation

First take the outside antennae which includes mounting hardware and an L bracket outside your box, then outside your home.

Once you have brought these items to the outdoor location where you scanned the best signal strength, go ahead and mount the antenna directly to a wall, a pole, or vent pipe on your roof.

To mount the antenna on a wall, place the L bracket in the install location, drill the holes and insert the wall anchors, replace the L bracket and secure it to the wall with the washers and nuts.

To mount the antenna on a pole or vent pipe, place the U bolt around the pole, slide the bracket over the U bolt, followed by the L bracket, secure the L bracket in place with the washer and nut, remove the nuts and washers from the bottom of the antenna, place the antenna on top of the L bracket, making sure the bolts fit through the holes on the top of the bracket, secure the antenna in place by replacing the washers and nuts and tightening them down.

The outside antenna that comes with your flare, is a directional antenna, so remember to aim it at the cell tower you just located during step 2.

Step 4: Connecting the Antenna to the Cellular Signal Booster

Connect the RG6 cable to your outside antenna and run it to where you will be placing your booster.

Use the cable clips to secure the cable in place and keep it neat and tidy.

Now choose the location for the booster.

Make sure the booster is at least 25ft away from the outside antenna and within reach of a power outlet.

The more separation you can create between the booster and outside antenna, the better .

Installing the booster less than 25ft away from the outside antenna will negatively affect the performance of your booster, giving you a smaller coverage area inside.

Once you have placed the location for the booster in step 5, connect the booster to the RG6 cable previously run from the outside antenna.

Step 5: Choosing the Location for the Booster

Place the booster in a central location in your home, please the HomeFi device next to it.

Step 6: How to Troubleshoot Your Flare Signal Booster

To get the biggest cellular signal boost from your Flare signal booster you will want to be sure it is installed correctly. There are a few common issues with installation and the Flare lights allow you to troubleshoot your booster to maximize your cellular coverage area. Installed correctly, the SureCall Flare provides homes, offices, and RVs with reliable voice, text and 4G LTE data signals for all major carriers.