I live in the country with a weak cell signal. I mounted the external antenna very high (second floor porch) where the signal is usually one to two bars. The unit sits in our den which has open access to several rooms. When standing a foot from the unit, the signal strength is a solid four bars. Step a few feet away and it drops to two. Go in another room and it drops to one bar and sometimes zero. I have had calls dropped due to signal fade while in the next room. I would not buy this item again.