Can I use a China-bought signal booster at home?
Yes, if the exact booster and its installation meet the applicable Ofcom licence-exemption conditions, or use is covered by an appropriate licence. Check the indoor route and obtain matching technical evidence before buying. Ask Cambridge China Bridge to obtain the factory evidence.
Check the home installation route
For the indoor exemption, the booster's downlink transmissions must be made indoors. Evidence covering the motor vehicle exemption does not establish suitability for home installation: that route restricts installation and use to a motor vehicle. Ask the supplier to identify the route claimed for your proposed home setup.
Request a layout showing the booster, outdoor-facing antenna, indoor coverage antenna and cables. Ask a competent radio specialist to assess the complete arrangement. Keep spectrum permission separate from the product checks explained in our radio compliance guide.
Identify the exact model and configuration
Obtain the manufacturer's name, full model code including suffix, hardware revision, firmware version and regional settings. Request label photographs, the manual and an antenna and cable schedule. Compare these with the model identified in the test report. A shared enclosure or similar product name is insufficient purchasing evidence.
If the seller claims an Ofcom listing, ask them to identify the precise entry and compare it with Ofcom's current information yourself. Investigate different suffixes, rebranding or alternative antennas before ordering. Have the laboratory explain in writing whether its results cover the configuration being offered.
Build a clause-by-clause evidence checklist
Ask the laboratory to identify the provider-specific or multi-operator route it is assessing against the revised mobile repeater exemption regulations. Earlier provisions have been omitted, so use the revised text. Request a comparison recording each applicable clause, its condition, the test method, the result and the report page supporting the conclusion.
The indoor provisions include a system noise figure limit. They also require manual reset before resuming operation after the shutdown specified in the anti-oscillation provision. Ask for measured results and functional test records, rather than accepting feature names such as 'automatic protection'. Use the questions below to brief the laboratory.
| Assessment area | Evidence to request |
|---|---|
| Frequency coverage and installation | Actual uplink and downlink bands, operating modes and the proposed antenna arrangement. |
| Oscillation protection | Detection and suppression tests, response times, shutdown behaviour and manual reset records. |
| Noise and standby | System noise measurements and uplink noise results during active use and inactivity. |
| Power, gain and unwanted signals | Measurements for each operating configuration, gain control behaviour and intermodulation results where applicable. |
Verify the reports before purchasing
Request the complete reports, not just a certificate cover sheet or a screenshot of a pass result. Ask the issuing laboratory to confirm the report identity and explain its assessment scope. Follow our test report verification guide for the document checks.
Keep the declaration of conformity and product compliance reports alongside the separate exemption assessment. If a clause is untested, the model identity differs or the laboratory cannot explain coverage, leave purchase approval pending. Send Ofcom the specification, installation drawing and reports for advice where the proposed route remains unclear.
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Make the approved configuration part of the order
Attach the agreed model, firmware, regional settings, antenna types and cable details to the purchase specification. Require written approval before substitutions. Agree what happens if the supplier cannot provide satisfactory matching evidence, including whether the order will be cancelled or the proposed configuration reassessed.
Before shipment, compare production labels and configuration records with the approved evidence. Use our pre-payment checklist for the wider purchasing checks. Cambridge China Bridge's staff in China can collect factory records and compare the supplied equipment with the agreed specification.
Frequently asked questions
Does a CE mark make a signal booster licence-free?
A CE mark alone does not establish licence exemption. Check the exact booster, configuration and installation against the applicable exemption conditions, separately from product conformity.
Can I use a car signal booster at home?
Evidence for the motor vehicle exemption is insufficient for home use. That route restricts installation and use to a motor vehicle. Obtain an assessment for the proposed indoor arrangement.
Is a similar model's test report enough?
Ask the laboratory to explain whether it covers your model suffix, hardware, firmware, antennas and settings. Leave approval pending until differences are resolved in writing.
What should I obtain before buying a booster from China?
Obtain the exact specification, installation layout, complete matching reports, declaration of conformity and a clause-by-clause exemption assessment. Resolve gaps before approving the order.