Mobile Communications BRB81975 User Manual

Stealth X2 Dual Band Boosters

BUILDINGS

HOMES

®

COTTAGES

Stealth X2 Dual Band Boosters

Table of Contents

Features ......................................................................3

Specifications .............................................................3

Package contents ...................................................4

Optional Parts ............................................................4

Antenna and Booster Installation .....................5

Installation Illustrations .........................................6

Control panel ...........................................................7

LED lights - Outside signal level/RX power .....7

Gain level ..................................................................8

Manual gain control ..............................................8

LED lights - Gain level ...............................................9

Tech support .............................................................9

Frequently asked questions .............................10

Troubleshooting guide ......................................10

Inside Antennas .....................................................11

Outside Antennas ................................................11

Extention Cables ....................................................12

Splitters/Power Dividers ......................................12

Specifications .........................................................13

Glossary of terms .................................................14

FCC information ....................................................14

Warranty ..................................................................14

®

Pg. 2

Features

Pwr ON/OFF
Switch & LED

Receive Signal Power Level

(Orange LED)

Master Control

Switch

Gain Level

Indicator (LED)

Control Buttons for:

Manual Gain - 2dB steps &

LED Brightness Level

This is a CONSUMER device

BEFORE USE, you MUST REGISTER THIS DEVICE with your wireless provider and

have your provider’s consent. Most wireless providers consent to the use of

signal boosters. Some providers may not consent to the use of this device on

their network. If you are unsure, contact your provider.

You MUST operate this device with approved antennas and cables as specified

by the manufacturer.

Antennas MUST be installed at least 20 cm (8 inches) from any person.

You MUST cease operating this device immediately if requested by the FCC or a

licensed wireless service provider.

WARNING. E911 locator information may not be provided or may be inaccurate

forcalls served by using this device.

To comply with FCC rules the use of this device in any building is for personal use only.

Pg. 3

Package Contents

NOTE: Antennas and cables may be different than shown

depending on your kit configuration

Booster

Outside Antenna

Inside Antenna

Extension Cable

Co-Ax Cables

Omni Directional

Antennas

Power Supply

Optional Parts

Antenna Pole Mount Kit

RF Splitter/Power Divider Co-Ax Adapters

Pg. 4

Antenna and Booster Installation

Donor Antenna: (outdoor signal antenna)

a) Location: There are three choices. fig. 2, 3, 4.

The choice of donor antenna location depends on the signal strength at the donor antenna
location. Use your phone to determine if signal at your chosen location is adequate. Better
signal level at the donor antenna location equals larger indoor coverage area.

b) Directional Donor Antenna: if using a directional donor antenna

supplied in the kit (Part# SEMD1), point the antenna toward the desired tower. If the loca­tion of the desired tower is not known, initiate a phone call and use the signal indicator on
your phone after the booster is operational, while turning the donor antenna, to determine

optimum donor antenna direction for maximum signal strength.
c) Omni-directional Donor Antenna: if using an omni-directional donor antenna, it is
recommended that it is placed as far as possible from the inside antenna, usually, ‘outside pole
mount’ is recommended (Fig. 3). Use of omni-directional antennas will require substantial
separation distance compared to directional antennas. Fig. 1

Distribution Antenna: (indoor signal antenna)

a) Location: There are three choices. fig. 2, 3, 4.

The choice of donor antenna location depends on the area to be covered.
b) Directional Distribution Antenna: it is recommended that directional antennas

are oriented in a fashion that is back to back of each other Fig. 1
c) Omni-directional Distribution Antenna: it is important that omni-directional

antennas are separated as far apart as possible from each other. Use of omni-directional an-

tennas will require substantial separation distance compared to directional antennas. Fig. 1
d) Splitting Indoor Signal: it is possible to use more than one indoor antenna to

cover areas that are separated by walls or floors by using antenna splitters or

power dividers, however splitters have a level of signal loss (3dB) and the added cable run

will also have signal loss, therefore the coverage area will be diminished. As a general rule, if

outside signal is good, splitting signal to more than one

distribution antenna results in reasonable coverage.

If outside signal is poor or marginal, splitting signal to more than one distribution antenna

results in decreased coverage for both distribution antennas.

Use only genuine SmoothTalker splitters. Contact your dealer or www.smoothtalker.com

Amplifier/Booster Location:

Install the repeater in a location that has proper ventilation, away from excessive heat and
moisture.

WARNING:

Make sure all cables have a good connection and are connected to the corresponding

antenna port on the Booster.

DO NOT APPLY POWER or turn on the power switch on the Amplifier/Booster

before all cables and antennas are connected.

Connection and Start Procedure:

Antenna connections must be snug and hand tight, ‘Do Not Use Pliers or Wrench’.
Connect the cable from outdoor antenna to RF port (antenna connector) labeled “Outdoor
Antenna”. Connect cable from indoor antenna to RF port labeled “Indoor Antenna”.
Connect supplied AC/DC power supply to the amplifier and plug it into power source.
Turn on the power switch on the Amplifier/Booster.

Pg. 6

Pg. 5

Directional antennas separation distance - Close

Omni directional antennas separation distance - Far

Distribution Antenna

(pointed indoors)

Fig. 1

Booster

Donor Antenna

(pointed outdoors)

Fig. 2

Pg. 6

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Pg. 7

Control Panel: Understanding the Control Panel and LED lights

General: Mobile networks, phones and data devices operate in two frequency bands

(800Mhz & 1900Mhz). The Stealth Booster will amplify signals in both bands if they are
present. The band that the phone or cellular data device will transmit (TX) and receive (RX)
on is determined by the cellular provider and cannot be chosen by the user. The booster
LED lights will indicate outside signal level and booster gain. The ‘Master Control’ button
on the control panel will allow the user the option to increase gain, decrease gain or shut
off one or both of the frequency bands.

Receive Signal Power Level

(Orange LED)

Master Control

Switch

Gain Level

(Green LED)

Control Buttons for:

Manual Gain - 2dB steps

LED Light Brightness: the user can control the LED brightness of all LED lights by pushing

the up or down arrows on the control panel.

Receive Signal Power Level LED lights: three orange LED lights for each frequency band
receive signal (RX) power being amplified by the booster and transmitted into the building.
This indicator is affected by two things : the outside signal and attenuation that is applied
by the user or the automatic controls of the booster. The highest level signal being dis­played by the booster lights can belong to any service provider, not necessarily your service
provider. Note: if attenuation (gain reduction) has been applied by the automatic controls
of the booster or by the user, you may see low signal indication on the booster LED lights
even though the true outside signal is strong.

Outside Signal Level/RX Power LED Indicator Light States

Outside Signal Level LED LED1 LED2 LED3 Flashing RX Power

3 Lights Solid ON No Excellent

2 Lights Solid ON,

3rd Light Flashing

2 Lights Solid ON,

3rd Light OFF

1 Light Solid ON,

2nd Light Flashing

1 Light Solid ON,

2nd & 3rd Lights OFF

1 Light Flashing,

2nd & 3rd Lights OFF

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Good

Fair

Fair to Low

Low

Very Low

Pg. 8 Pg. 7

Gain Level: Understanding the Control Panel and LED lights

General: Four green LED lights for each frequency band will indicate the level of amplification

that is being applied by the Booster to the receive (RX) signal and transmit (TX) signal. Gain is
applied to both RX and TX signals. Normally all four green LED will be solid on. If any green
LED lights are flashing or off, it is an indication that gain has been reduced. There are four
events that will cause the green LED lights to turn off or flash.

1) Shutdown:

a) Automatic shutdown will occur in one band or both bands if antennas are placed too close
to each other and the ‘Automatic Oscillation (feedback) Suppression’ function cannot eliminate
the oscillation. TX and RX gain will be turned off completely in the frequency band where oscil­lation cannot be suppressed.
b) Manual shutdown can also be achieved in one or both frequency bands by the user.

2) Oscillation (feedback) Suppression:

The booster will automatically apply attenuation (reduce gain) to suppress oscillation (feed­back). This function is automatic and cannot be manually overridden.

3) RX High Power Control:

The booster will automatically apply attenuation (reduce gain) if RX power is too high. This
function is automatic and cannot be manually overridden.

4) Manual Attenuation:

Gain can be increased or decreased manually by the user in 1dB steps over a range of 35 dB
for each frequency band, however, the user will not be able to reduce attenuation that has
been applied by the automatic oscillation suppression function or by the automatic high power
control function in order to protect both, the cellular tower and the booster.

Manual Gain Control

The master control button has 3 functions which cycle every 3 times pressed as follows:

1) 800mhz manual gain control Press once. The 3 orange LED lights for the 800 mhz band
will flash together. Use up or down arrows to adjust gain in this frequency band as desired.
Each push of the up or down button will adjust 1 dB of gain. Total manual adjustment range
is 35 dB. Adding more than 35 dB of attenuation will shut down the frequency band. Quick
shutdown of the frequency band can also be achieved by holding the down arrow. When the
frequency band shuts off all of the orange and green LED lights for that frequency band will
flash every 2 seconds.

2) 1900mhz manual gain control Press second time. The 3 orange LED lights for the 1900
mhz band will flash together. Use up or down arrows to adjust gain in this frequency band if
desired. Each push of the up or down button will adjust 1 dB of gain. Total manual adjustment
range is 35 dB. Adding more than 35 dB of attenuation will shut down the frequency band.
Quick shutdown of the frequency band can also be achieved by holding the down arrow.
When the frequency band shuts off all of the orange and green LED lights for that frequency
band will flash every 2 seconds.

3) Manual gain LED display Press third time to display the LED status of your inputed manual
gain settings then power the booster OFF/ON for manual settings to take effect. Each time you
cycle to this 3rd setting you will see your inputed manual gain settings displayed on the LEDs.
Note: the booster will remember manual settings through power on and off conditions. If you
want to return the booster to ‘Fully Automatic Mode’ you must push and hold the master con­trol button (approximately 3 to 5 seconds) until you see all 800mhz lights flash once from left
to right followed by 900mhz lights flash once from left to right. Power the booster OFF and
then ON for ‘fully automatic mode’ to take effect.

Important:
a) for manual settings to take effect, the booster must be powered OFF and then ON.
b) manual settings cannot override the automatic functions of oscillation and high power

controls. This means that if you are trying to set a gain level higher than the automatic control
functions allow, the manual gain settings will be limited by the automatic control functions.

Pg. 9Pg. 8

Gain Level LED Indicator Light States

There are four green LED lights for each freq. band (800Mhz & 1900Mhz).

Each LED represents 10dB of attenuation that is displayed as 1 to 4 flashes and solid ON.

Gain Level LED Status Flashing Pattern Attenuation

LED1 LED2 LED3 LED4

(gain reduction)

4 Lights Solid ON None

4 Times

3 Lights Solid ON,

4th Light Flashing

3 Lights Solid ON,

4th Light OFF

2 Lights Solid ON,

3th Light Flashing

2 Lights Solid ON,

3rd & 4th Light OFF

1 Light Solid ON,

2nd Light Flashing

1 Light Solid ON

3 Times
2 Times
1 Times

None

4 Times
3 Times
2 Times
1 Times

None

4 Times
3 Times
2 Times
1 Times

None

0 dB

2 dB
4 dB
6 dB
8 dB

10 dB

12 dB
14 dB
16 dB
18 dB

20 dB

22 dB
24 dB
26 dB
28 dB

30 dB

Pg. 10

More then 35db of attenuation the Freq band will shut down and

it’s LED lights will flash together every 2 seconds

800mhz

1900mhz

Tech Support: [email protected]

Live tech Support: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm EST Mon - Fri

Toll free1-877-726-3444

Pg. 9

Frequently Asked Questions

My booster is powered, running and the lights are on but my signal did not improve. Why?

Check your antenna connections and make sure they are snug. Also make sure that the external
and internal antennas are connected to corresponding antenna ports of the booster.
Should the booster get hot? Normal operation temperature for the booster is approximately 109°
F, or 43° C. This will feel warm to the touch.

Will the booster improve Voice and Data signals? Yes.
How large should my inside coverage area be? Coverage area is dependent on two factors; the

booster’s gain and the signal level at the outside antenna. It is possible to cover a large area with a
low gain booster if the outside signal is excellent, conversely, it is possible to have
relatively small coverage area with a high gain booster if the signal outside is really poor.
How do I increase my indoor coverage area? If your inside coverage area is inadequate, try to
move your external antenna to a location with better signal. If antenna location is optimized the
coverage area is still too small, use a higher gain booster.
Will the booster boost signals from service providers other than mine? Yes. Smoothtalker
Stealth series boosters are wideband RF amplifiers that will improve all Cellular and PCS signals
in your area.
Why does my friend’s phone show better signal than mine? Your friend’s phone is probably
using a different service provider that has a tower closer to your location than your service
provider. For best indoor coverage, make sure that your outside antenna is pointing at your
service provider’s tower.

Can I leave my booster on continuously? Yes.
Can I leave my booster on during a lightning storm? To be 100% sure that lighning will not

damage the booster, you must unplug it from the wall and disconecct the external antenna from
the booster. If you must keep connected during lightning you can use a lightning arrestor on the
antenna and high quality surge protector on the power supply, however, Smoothtalker warranty
does not cover lightning damage.
I need more cable length. What do I use? The only extention cables that are FCC approved for
use with this booster are listed on page 13.

Troubleshooting Guide

Condition

Automatic Shutdown.

Manual Shutdown.

Oscillation (feedback)
Suppression:
Automatic cannot be manually
overridden.
High power control due to
High RX signal (signal from
tower):
Automatic cannot be
manually overridden.

Manual Attenuation. One or more green LED solid ON, one

Orange and green LED ash
simultaneously every 2 secs in the freq.
band that has been shutdown.
Orange and green LED ash
simultaneously every 2 secs in the freq.
band that has been shutdown.
One or more green LED solid ON, one
green LED ashing or OFF.

One or more green LED solid ON, one
green LED ashing or OFF.

green LED ashing or OFF.

Pg. 10

LED indicators Action

Separate antennas and/or re-orient directional
antennas (back to back) and power OFF/ON the
booster.
Use control panel to increase gain to the desired level
in the chosen freq. band and power OFF/ON the
booster.
Gain has been reduced to suppress oscillation (feed­back). Separate antennas and/or re-orient directional
antennas (back to back) and power OFF/ON the
booster.
Gain has been reduced to suppress high RX signal:
a) Directional donor (outside) antenna: turn to point
away from tower.
b) Omni antenna: change to a location with lower
signal.

Use control panel to increase or decrease gain to the
desired level in the chosen freq. band and power
ON/OFF the booster to set.

Pg. 11

FCC Rules specify that all approved antennas, cables and accessories to
be used with this booster are to be listed in this manual. e approved
accessories are listed below.

Inside Antennas

Antenna Part # Description Cable

SEMD1XL Inside antenna

SEMOXL Inside antenna

SEMOX Inside antenna

SEMR1 Inside antenna

18 .

SEMRC205

18 .

SEMRC205

10 .

SEMRC105

Direct to

booster

Minimum

Cable loss

(dBi)

-2 8.14 6.14

-2 0 -2.14

-2 0 -2.14

0 0 2.14

Maximum

Antenna

Gain (dBi)

Net gain

(dBi)

Outside Antennas

Antenna Part # Description Cable

SEMD1XL

SEMDA2XL

SEMOXL

SEM2THX

SEM11THX Outside

SEM14THX Outside

SEM26THX Outside

SEM2THXL Outside

SEM11THXL Outside

SEM14THXL Outside

SEM26THXL Outside

Outside

antenna

Outside

antenna

Outside

antenna

Outside

antenna

antenna

antenna

antenna

antenna

antenna

antenna

antenna

18 .

SEMRC205

18 .

SEMRC205

18 .

SEMRC105

14 .

SEMRC105

14 .

SEMRC105

14 .

SEMRC105

14 .

SEMRC105

25 .

SEMRC105

25.

SEMRC105

25 .

SEMRC105

25 .

SEMRC105

Minimum

Cable loss

(dBi)

-2 8.14 6.14

-2 9.14 7.14

-2 0 -2.14

-1.5 2.14 0.64

-1.5 5.14 3.64

-1.5 5.14 3.64

-1.5 7.14 5.64

-2.75 2.14 -0.61

-2.75 5.14 2.39

-2.75 5.14 2.39

-2.75 7.14 4.39

Maximum

Antenna

Gain (dBi)

Net gain

(dBi)

Pg. 11

Extension Cables

Cable Part # Description Cable Minimum Cable

loss (dB)

SEMRCBXmaXfe10 extension cable 10 . SEMRC205 -1

SEMRCBXmaXfe20 extension cable 20 . SEMRC 205 -2

SEMRCBXmaXfe30 extension cable 30 . SEMRC205 -3

SEMRCBXmaXfe40 extension cable 40 . SEMRC205 -4

SEMRCBXmaXfe50 extension cable 50 . SEMRC205 -5

SEMRCBXmaXfe60 extension cable 60 . SEMRC205 -6

SEMRCBLXmaXfe10 extension cable 10 . LMR400 -0.6

SEMRCBLXmaXfe20 extension cable 20 . LMR400 -1.2

SEMRCBLXmaXfe30 extension cable 30 . LMR400 -1.8

SEMRCBLXmaXfe40 extension cable 40 . LMR400 -2.4

SEMRCBLXmaXfe50 extension cable 50 . LMR400 -3

SEMRCBLXmaXfe60 extension cable 60 . LMR400 -3.6

SEMRCBLXmaXfe70 extension cable 70 . LMR400 -4.2

SEMRCBLXmaXfe80 extension cable 80 . LMR400 -4.8

SEMRCBLXmaXfe90 extension cable 90 . LMR400 -5.4

SEMRCBLXmaXfe100 extension cable 100 . LMR400 -6

Splitters/Power Dividers

Part # Description Insertion loss (dB) Net gain (dB)

ADCSP1 2-way power divider -3 -3

ADCSP3 3-way power divider -3 -3

Pg. 12

Specifications

Operational Bands 800MHz Cellular and 1900MHz PCS

Impedance 50 Ohms

TX Output Power 29.9 dBm EIRP

RX Output Power 11.0 dBM EIRP

Oscillation Control (Automatic) 35 dB in 1db steps

Oscillation Control Timing < 1 sec

RX High Power Control Dynamic up and down < 50 milliseconds

TX High Power Control Dynamic up and down < 50 milliseconds

Current Draw @ 12V 0.5 Amp - 0.8 Amp

Operating Voltage 6V

Noise Figure < 5dB

Operating Temperature -32F to +85F

Outside Antenna Connector MCT Male

Inside Antenna Connector MCT Male

Dimensions 6.25x3.5x1.125 inches

Weight 1.0 Lb

FCC ID S4RBRB81975

Model Maximum Gain

BRBX2-72 72dB

BRBX2-70 70dB

BRBX2-68 68dB

BRBX2-65 65dB

BRBX2-62 62dB

BRBX2-60 60dB

BRBX2-58 58dB

BRBX2-55 55dB

Pg. 13

Glossary of Terms

Attenuation: the reduction of the RF signal usually measured in dB. Attenuation is the opposite

of Gain. Increasing attenuation has the same effect as turning down the volume control of a
radio or stereo speaker.

Booster: also known as: RF amplifier, repeater or signal enhancer.
dB: short form for decibel. Unit of measure for RF signal gain or attenuation.
Directional antenna: an antenna designed to focus its energy mostly in one direction.
Distribution antenna: internal antenna used to distribute signal to the interior of a

building or structure.

Donor Antenna: outside antenna used to provide signal from outside to inside.
Frequency band: the operational frequency range of the Smoothalker booster and the cellular

network frequencies that are amplified. These are commonly referred to as the ‘Cellular Band’
(824-894 Mhz) and the ‘PCS Band’ (1850-1990 Mhz).
Gain: the increase of the RF signal usually measured in dB. Gain is the opposite of
Attenuation. Increasing gain has the same effect as turning up the volume control of a radio or
stereo speaker.

LED: Light Emitting Diode.
Omni-directional antenna: an antenna designed to radiate its energy equally in all

directions.
Oscillation: term to describe a feedback loop. This occurs when the signal from one
antenna reaches the other antenna and the booster amplifies the signal creating a loop. This is
the same effect as the squeal one hears when a speaker is brought close to a microphone.

RF: Radio Frequency.
RX: ‘receive signal’ originating at a base station or tower.
Splitter/Power Divider: a component with input and output connectors that will allow one

originating signal to be split and distributed to two or more antennas.

TX: ‘transmit signal’ originating from a cellular phone or data device.

FCC Part: §15.21 Information to Users

“The users manual or instruction manual for an intentional or unintentional radiator shall

caution the user that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party

responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

In cases where the manual is provided only in a form other than paper, such as on a

computer disk or over the Internet, the information required by this section may be

included in the manual in that alternative form, provided the user can reasonably be

Please Note: Antenna should be positioned at least 8”(20cm) from all person/persons as per requirements

1-This booster is not user configurable. User changes are a violation under FCC rules and will void the user’s

expected to have the capability to access information in that form.”

“This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.

Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and

(2) this device must accept any interference received, including

interference that may cause undesired operation.”

RF Exposure Warning

necessary to comply with the FCC MPE rules.

Notes:

authority to operate the equipment.

2-User changes changes or modifications will void warranty.

Warranty

Smoothtalker boosters are warranted against manufacturing defects for a period of two years from the date of purchase.

The original bill of sale is required for any warranty claims.

For warranty claim contact original dealer or smoothtalker.com