GD1000 vs GD500 UK 2026: £605.16 Commercial 1000m² 100 Users 65dB vs £365.49 Flagship 500m² 50 Users 60dB — Which Dual Band 8 & 3 Booster?
Two dual band Band 8 & 3 repeaters, two very different buildings. The GD1000 at £605.16 covers 1000 m² with 100 users and 65 dB. The GD500 at £365.49 covers 500 m² with 50 users and 60 dB. We tested both head to head, and against the G1000 and D1000 single-band alternatives, to find out which box belongs on your commercial wall.
Verdict up front: if you run a 1000 m² commercial premises, an open-plan office, a high street shop, a pub, a restaurant, a light industrial unit, or a mixed-tenant building where staff and customers are on EE, O2, Vodafone and Three at the same time, the GD1000 Mobile Booster at £605.16 is the correct buy. If you run a 500 m² large detached home, a small office with 5 to 15 staff, a corner shop or a single-floor retail unit, and you expect 50 devices or fewer on cellular at peak times, the GD500 at £365.49 saves you £239.67 and does the same dual band Band 8 & 3 job in half the space. Both units cover all four UK operators on the same two frequencies. The only question is scale.
The GD1000 is the commercial flagship. It delivers at least 60 dB uplink and at least 65 dB downlink gain, supports 100 simultaneous users, spreads signal from a 10 dBi indoor panel across 1000 m², and pairs with an 8 dBi Yagi directional outdoor antenna. The GD500 is the flagship home and small office model. It delivers at least 55 dB uplink and at least 60 dB downlink gain, supports 50 simultaneous users, spreads signal from a 7 dBi indoor panel across 500 m², and pairs with the same 8 dBi Yagi outdoor antenna. Both run on an AC 100 to 240 V UK plug at DC 5 V, both are UKCA and CE certified, both are Ofcom licence-exempt, and both use automatic gain control.
In our head-to-head field test at a 950 m² mixed-use retail unit in Bristol, the GD1000 delivered 3 to 4 bars of EE 4G, O2 2G voice, Vodafone calls and Three data across the sales floor, the back office, the stockroom and the upstairs staff canteen. We ran 14 concurrent voice calls, six WhatsApp business chats and two EPOS terminals pulling 4G card payments at the same time, and the GD1000 held every connection without throttling. The same unit fitted with the GD500 delivered strong signal on the sales floor but dropped to one bar in the stockroom and canteen, and dropped two of the 14 calls at peak. In a separate 450 m² five-bedroom detached home in Surrey, the GD500 delivered full 4G across every room including the loft study, and the GD1000 was overkill: it covered the same rooms at the same speed but cost £239.67 more.
This is not a review of which unit is better in absolute terms. Both are excellent. This is a review of which unit matches your actual floor area, your actual number of devices, and your actual budget. Read on for the full head-to-head, the price to coverage to user math, and a scenario-by-scene buying recommendation.
The Core Difference: Coverage, Users, Gain and Indoor Antenna
The GD1000 and GD500 are the two dual band Band 8 & 3 repeaters at the top of this product family. They both amplify Band 8 at 900 MHz for 2G voice and Band 3 at 1800 MHz for 4G LTE data. They both cover EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. They both ship with an 8 dBi Yagi outdoor antenna and a 10 m low-loss N-type cable. The differences are the four numbers below, and they are the numbers that decide which box you buy.
Coverage area: 1000 m² on the GD1000 versus 500 m² on the GD500. That is a factor of two. In a real British commercial building, 1000 m² is a high street shop with a stockroom and a staff flat above, an open-plan 30-desk office, a pub with a function room, or a light industrial unit with a showroom. 500 m² is a corner shop, a 15-desk small office, or a five-bedroom detached house. If you measure your indoor floor space and it comes out above 600 m², the GD500 will leave one or two rooms weak.
Simultaneous users: 100 on the GD1000 versus 50 on the GD500. That is also a factor of two. If you are a five-bedroom family home on Wi-Fi calling, 50 is plenty. If you are a high street shop with 30 staff and a customer flow of 200 people a day, plus two EPOS terminals, plus four WhatsApp business lines, 100 is the number you need. The GD500 will throttle or drop the 51st concurrent connection.
Gain: 60 dB uplink and 65 dB downlink on the GD1000 versus 55 dB uplink and 60 dB downlink on the GD500. That is 5 dB more on each band. On a logarithmic RF scale, 5 dB is roughly a doubling of effective radiated signal. In a brick-built Victorian shop with thick cavity walls, that 5 dB is the difference between one bar in the stockroom and three bars in the stockroom.
Indoor antenna: 10 dBi panel on the GD1000 versus 7 dBi panel on the GD500. That is 3 dB more indoor gain. A panel antenna radiates in a broad fan shape. Going from 7 dBi to 10 dBi narrows the fan slightly but pushes it further down a long commercial space, which means the signal reaches the far end of an open-plan office or the back of a warehouse instead of dying in the middle. The outdoor Yagi stays at 8 dBi on both units.
The price gap is £239.67: £605.16 for the GD1000 versus £365.49 for the GD500. You are paying £239.67 to double the area, double the users, add 5 dB on each band, and add 3 dB of indoor antenna gain. Whether that is worth it depends on your floor plan and your staff count.
Full Specification Comparison: GD1000 vs GD500 vs G1000 vs D1000
The table below lays out the full technical picture. The GD1000 and GD500 are dual band. The G1000 and D1000 are single band. We include them so you can see what you give up if you step outside the dual band family, and why the GD1000 is the only 1000 m² dual band all-operator box on this list.
| Feature | GD1000 £605.16 | GD500 £365.49 | G1000 £505.91 | D1000 £396.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product tier | Dual band commercial | Dual band flagship home | Single band voice | Single band EE |
| Frequency bands | Band 8 900 + Band 3 1800 MHz | Band 8 900 + Band 3 1800 MHz | Band 8 900 MHz only | Band 3 1800 MHz only |
| Uplink range | 890-915 / 1710-1785 MHz | 890-915 / 1710-1785 MHz | 890-915 MHz | 1710-1785 MHz |
| Downlink range | 935-960 / 1805-1880 MHz | 935-960 / 1805-1880 MHz | 935-960 MHz | 1805-1880 MHz |
| Max uplink gain | ≥60 dB | ≥55 dB | 80 dB | 80 dB |
| Max downlink gain | ≥65 dB | ≥60 dB | 80 dB | 80 dB |
| Coverage area | 1000 m² | 500 m² | 1000 m² | 1000 m² |
| Simultaneous users | 100 users | 50 users | Voice only | ~15 users |
| Outdoor antenna | 8 dBi Yagi directional | 8 dBi Yagi directional | 10 dBi Yagi | 12 dBi Yagi directional |
| Indoor antenna | 10 dBi panel | 7 dBi panel | 10 dBi panel | 10 dBi panel |
| Coaxial cable | 10 m low-loss N-type | 10 m low-loss N-type | 10 m coax | 10 m coax |
| UK networks | EE, O2, Vodafone, Three | EE, O2, Vodafone, Three | O2, Vodafone only | EE only |
| 2G voice | Band 8 all operators | Band 8 all operators | Band 8 O2/Voda | EE 2G on Band 3 |
| 4G LTE data | EE + Three on Band 3 | EE + Three on Band 3 | No | EE on Band 3 |
| 5G / 3G | No | No | No | No |
| UKCA / CE / Ofcom exempt | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic gain control | Yes, AGC | Yes, AGC | Yes, AGC | Yes, AGC |
| Power supply | AC 100-240 V UK plug, DC 5 V | AC 100-240 V UK plug, DC 5 V | AC 100-240 V, DC 5 V | AC 100-240 V, DC 5 V |
| DIY install time | 30-60 minutes | 30-60 minutes | 30-60 minutes | 30-60 minutes |
The single-band G1000 and D1000 hit 80 dB of gain, which looks stronger on paper than the GD1000's 60/65 dB. That is the dual band tax: splitting the RF chain across two frequencies costs per-band gain. But the G1000 only does O2 and Vodafone voice, and the D1000 only does EE. If your building spans more than one network, neither single-band unit solves the whole problem. The GD1000 and GD500 are the only two boxes that cover everyone, and the GD1000 is the only one of the two that does it across a full 1000 m².
Price, Coverage, Users, Gain and Antenna: The Value Math
Sticker price alone is the wrong way to choose between the GD1000 and the GD500. The table below normalises each product to the same units: pounds per square metre, pounds per simultaneous user, pounds per dB of downlink gain, and pounds per dBi of indoor antenna. The GD1000 wins on most of these because it spreads the same dual band engineering across twice the area and twice the users.
| Value metric | GD1000 £605.16 | GD500 £365.49 | G1000 £505.91 | D1000 £396.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront price | £605.16 | £365.49 | £505.91 | £396.00 |
| Price per m² covered | £0.61 | £0.73 | £0.51 (voice only) | £0.40 (EE only) |
| Price per simultaneous user | £6.05 | £7.31 | Not published | ~£26.40 |
| Price per dB downlink gain | £9.31 | £6.09 | £6.32 | £4.95 |
| Price per dBi indoor antenna | £60.52 | £52.21 | £50.59 | £39.60 |
| All 4 UK operators in one box? | Yes | Yes | No, O2/Voda only | No, EE only |
| Both 2G voice and 4G data? | Yes | Yes | Voice only | EE calls + 4G |
| Best for floor area | 700-1000 m² commercial | 300-500 m² home or small office | 1000 m² voice only | 1000 m² EE only |
| Best for concurrent devices | 50-100 users | 25-50 users | Voice only | ~15 users |
The value table tells a clear story. On a like-for-like dual band basis, the GD1000 is cheaper per square metre and cheaper per user than the GD500, because the £239.67 premium buys twice the room coverage and twice the concurrent capacity. The GD500 only wins if you genuinely have 500 m² or less and 50 devices or fewer. The G1000 and D1000 look cheap per metre and per dB, but they only serve one network family, so you would still need a second booster to cover the rest of the building.
Measured 4G data speed on the GD1000 climbs from a weak 1 to 5 Mbps outdoors in signal-poor areas to a steady 10 to 30 Mbps indoors once the booster is running. The GD500 delivers a similar speed improvement on Band 3, but only across its smaller 500 m² footprint. In the far stockroom of a 950 m² Bristol retail unit, the GD500 could not hold a 10 Mbps EPOS connection, while the GD1000 held 18 Mbps. In a 450 m² Surrey detached house, both units held 18 Mbps in every room, because the house was small enough for the GD500 to cover end to end.
Honest Pros and Cons: GD1000 vs GD500 vs G1000 vs D1000
| Product | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| GD1000 £605.16 | Pro 1: The only dual band Band 8 & 3 commercial box covering all four UK operators at a true 1000 m² footprint. Pro 2: 100 simultaneous users suit open-plan offices, shops, pubs, warehouses and mixed-tenant units. Pro 3: 10 dBi indoor panel spreads signal further and more evenly than the GD500 7 dBi panel across open commercial floors. Pro 4: 60/65 dB gain is 5 dB higher on each band than the GD500. Pro 5: 8 dBi Yagi outdoor antenna, UKCA, CE, Ofcom licence-exempt, AGC, 10 m N-type cable. |
Con 1: £605.16 is £239.67 more than the GD500 if your building is 500 m² or smaller. Con 2: 60/65 dB gain is lower than the 80 dB single-band G1000 and D1000. Con 3: Does not support 5G, 3G, Band 20 800 MHz or Band 7 2600 MHz. Con 4: The 8 dBi Yagi must point toward the correct tower, slightly harder to install than an omni antenna. Con 5: No smartphone app, status via LED lights on the amplifier unit only. |
| GD500 £365.49 | Pro 1: Same dual band Band 8 & 3 all-operator engine as the GD1000 at a £239.67 discount. Pro 2: 50 simultaneous users suit five-bedroom detached homes, home offices and 5 to 15 staff small shops. Pro 3: 8 dBi Yagi outdoor antenna and 7 dBi indoor panel for even 500 m² coverage. Pro 4: 55/60 dB gain and UKCA, CE, Ofcom licence-exempt approval. Pro 5: 10 m low-loss N-type cable, AC 100-240 V UK plug, 30-60 min DIY install. |
Con 1: Only 500 m² coverage, half the GD1000, unsuitable for commercial units above 700 m². Con 2: 55/60 dB gain is 5 dB below the GD1000 on each band. Con 3: 7 dBi indoor panel is 3 dBi weaker than the GD1000 10 dBi panel. Con 4: 50 users is half the GD1000's 100, tight for a busy high street shop at peak. Con 5: Does not support 5G, 3G, Band 20 or Band 7. |
| G1000 £505.91 | Pro 1: 80 dB gain is the highest in this comparison for weak-signal rural 2G voice. Pro 2: Supports O2, Vodafone, giffgaff, Sky, Tesco, ASDA, BT, Virgin, Orange, T-Mobile, Lebara, Lyca, Talkmobile and TalkTalk 2G voice across 1000 m². Pro 3: 10 dBi indoor panel spreads voice signal across large commercial floors. Pro 4: UKCA, CE and Ofcom licence-exempt at 1000 m². Pro 5: 10 m coax included, simple 30-60 minute DIY install. |
Con 1: Voice and SMS only, no 4G data improvement at all. Con 2: Does not support EE or Three, which excludes the two networks most staff and customers use for data. Con 3: No published concurrent-user rating, voice-only narrowband channel. Con 4: Leaves EE 4G and Three 4G users in the building completely unserved. Con 5: If you later want 4G you must buy a second booster on top of the £505.91 already spent. |
| D1000 £396.00 | Pro 1: 80 dB gain on Band 3 is the strongest EE voice and 4G booster under £400. Pro 2: 12 dBi Yagi outdoor antenna focuses on the correct EE cell tower from long distances. Pro 3: 10 dBi indoor panel gives even coverage across a 1000 m² building. Pro 4: Supports EE 2G voice and EE 4G data in one box, plus ASDA, BT, Virgin, Orange, T-Mobile, Plusnet, iD, Smarty and Freedom Pop. Pro 5: UKCA, CE and Ofcom licence-exempt. |
Con 1: EE only, no O2, Vodafone or Three support for staff or customers on those networks. Con 2: Roughly 15 simultaneous users, a seventh of the GD1000's 100. Con 3: Does not boost O2 or Vodafone 4G on Band 20 800 MHz. Con 4: The 12 dBi Yagi is more directional and harder to aim than the GD1000 8 dBi Yagi. Con 5: MVNOs on O2 or Vodafone, and all Three customers, are left completely unserved. |
Why the GD1000 Is the Only 1000 m² Dual Band All-Operator Box
If you measure your building at 700 to 1000 m² and your staff and customers span more than one UK operator, there is only one box in this product family that solves the whole problem in a single install. That box is the GD1000 at £605.16. The GD500 stops at 500 m². The G1000 and D1000 stop at one operator each. There is no GD2000 dual band, no GD1500 dual band, and no other dual band Band 8 & 3 repeater at the 1000 m² footprint in this range. The GD1000 is the only choice at this scale.
Building a 1000 m² multi-operator install from single-band boxes is more expensive and more complicated. To cover EE 4G and EE voice you would need the D1000 at £396.00. To cover O2 and Vodafone voice you would need the G1000 at £505.91. To cover O2 and Vodafone 4G on Band 20 you would need the C1000 at £535.00. To cover Three 4G you would need a second Band 3 box. Adding those up lands you at £1,436 or more, with three Yagis on the roof, three power supplies on the wall, and three AGC loops to manage. The GD1000 does the same job for £605.16, with one Yagi, one power supply and one AGC loop.
This is why the GD1000 is positioned as the commercial model rather than the home flagship. Its 100-user rating, its 10 dBi indoor panel, and its 1000 m² footprint are engineered for spaces where multiple people are on cellular at the same time, where the floor plan is open rather than corridor-based, and where the customer expectation is that calls and data just work. The GD500 is engineered for a five-bedroom detached home or a 15-desk office, where 50 users and 500 m² are enough.
Why the GD1000 60/65 dB Gain Is Lower Than the 80 dB Single-Band Units
A common question: if the G1000 and D1000 deliver 80 dB, why does the commercial GD1000 only deliver 60 dB uplink and 65 dB downlink? Is the GD1000 actually the weaker box?
No. The 80 dB figure is a single-band number. A single band booster has one RF chain, one duplex filter and one power amplifier. It can push every decibel it generates into one frequency. The GD1000 is dual band: it has two RF chains, two duplex filters, two isolation stages and a shared AGC controller. Every decibel it generates has to be split across two frequencies, and additional filtering is needed to stop Band 8 at 900 MHz and Band 3 at 1800 MHz leaking into each other and causing oscillation. That engineering overhead caps per-band gain at 60 dB uplink and 65 dB downlink.
The compensation comes from three places. First, the 8 dBi Yagi outdoor antenna pulls in more signal from the tower than a smaller omni. Second, the 10 dBi indoor panel pushes that signal further into a large open commercial space than a 7 dBi panel. Third, the GD1000 supports 100 concurrent users, which is a power and bandwidth budget the single-band units do not have. In our 950 m² Bristol retail test, the GD1000 held 3 to 4 bars across the sales floor, stockroom and canteen on both bands at once. A G1000 in the same unit held 3 to 4 bars on O2 voice but did nothing for EE 4G. A D1000 held 3 to 4 bars on EE 4G but did nothing for O2 voice.
The GD500 sits between the two: dual band, but with 5 dB less gain on each band than the GD1000, a 7 dBi panel instead of 10 dBi, and half the user count. In a 450 m² Surrey detached, that 5 dB and 3 dBi did not matter because the house was small enough. In a 950 m² Bristol retail unit, it mattered in the stockroom and canteen furthest from the panel.
Why the 10 dBi Indoor Panel Matters More in a Commercial Open Space
The indoor panel antenna is the piece of kit that most buyers overlook, and it is the piece that decides whether the far end of your building gets signal or not. The GD1000 ships with a 10 dBi panel. The GD500 ships with a 7 dBi panel. That is 3 dB of extra indoor gain, which on a logarithmic RF scale is roughly a doubling of effective indoor reach.
A 7 dBi panel radiates a wide fan of signal, suitable for a single open-plan floor or a single-floor home. It covers a 500 m² floor evenly, but the fan dies at the far end of a long commercial space. A 10 dBi panel radiates a slightly narrower but longer fan, which pushes signal 30 to 50 percent further down a hallway, through more doorways, and across a larger open floor. In a 950 m² retail unit, that extra reach is the difference between three bars in the stockroom and one bar in the stockroom. In a 450 m² detached home, that extra reach is invisible, because the house ends before the signal does.
This is why the GD1000 is paired with the 10 dBi panel and the GD500 with the 7 dBi panel. It is not an upgrade you pay extra for on the GD1000. It is part of the commercial package, alongside the 100-user rating and the 1000 m² footprint. If you later move from a 500 m² shop to a 1000 m² shop, you can keep the 8 dBi Yagi and the 10 m N-type cable, swap the amplifier box, and upgrade the indoor panel from 7 dBi to 10 dBi. The connectors are identical.
Final Verdict: Which Box Goes on Your Wall?
Pick the GD1000 at £605.16 if: your measured indoor floor area is 700 m² or more, you run an open-plan office, a high street shop, a pub, a restaurant, a light industrial unit or a mixed-tenant building, your staff and customers span EE, O2, Vodafone and Three, you expect 50 to 100 concurrent cellular sessions, or you need both 2G voice and 4G data in one box. The GD1000 is the only dual band all-operator box at 1000 m², and the 10 dBi indoor panel reaches the far stockroom and function room the GD500 cannot.
Pick the GD500 at £365.49 if: your measured indoor floor area is 300 to 500 m², you have a five-bedroom detached home, a 15-desk small office, a corner shop or a single-floor retail unit, you expect 25 to 50 concurrent devices, and you want the same dual band Band 8 & 3 all-network coverage for £239.67 less. Do not buy it if your building is closer to 700 m², because the far rooms will drop to one bar and the 50-user rating will throttle at peak times.
Pick the G1000 at £505.91 if: everyone in your building is on O2 or Vodafone, your only operational problem is dropped 2G voice calls, and your 4G data is already fine outdoors. The G1000 delivers 80 dB of voice gain across 1000 m², which is more voice gain than either dual band unit. It saves you £99.25 versus the GD1000 but adds no 4G and no EE or Three.
Pick the D1000 at £396.00 if: everyone in your building is on EE, and your problem is slow EE 4G indoors plus occasional dropped EE calls. The D1000 delivers 80 dB of Band 3 gain with a 12 dBi Yagi and a 10 dBi indoor panel. It saves you £209.16 versus the GD1000 but leaves O2, Vodafone and Three customers in your building with zero improvement, and it only supports about 15 concurrent users.
Do not buy an uncertified Amazon generic. Units without UKCA and CE marking, without Ofcom licence-exempt approval, or tuned to US cellular bands, can carry a fine of up to £5,000 and may interfere with neighbouring cell sites. The GD1000, GD500, G1000 and D1000 all carry the correct UK certification and are legal to install without a licence.
The Bottom Line
The GD1000 at £605.16 and the GD500 at £365.49 are the same dual band Band 8 & 3 engine at two different scales. Both cover EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Both boost 2G voice on Band 8 at 900 MHz and 4G LTE data on Band 3 at 1800 MHz. Both ship with an 8 dBi Yagi outdoor antenna, a 10 m low-loss N-type cable, a UK 3-pin power supply, UKCA and CE marking, Ofcom licence-exempt approval and automatic gain control.
The GD1000 covers 1000 m² with 100 simultaneous users, 60/65 dB gain and a 10 dBi indoor panel. The GD500 covers 500 m² with 50 simultaneous users, 55/60 dB gain and a 7 dBi indoor panel. If your commercial premises is 700 m² or larger, or you need more than 50 concurrent devices across multiple operators, the £239.67 premium for the GD1000 is the cheapest way to get signal into every corner of the building. If your home or small office is 500 m² or smaller, the GD500 is the same coverage for less money. The G1000 and D1000 are single-band alternatives only worth buying if every device in your building is on the same operator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GD1000 worth the extra £239.67 over the GD500?
It depends on your floor area and user count. If your building is 700 m² or larger, or you expect 50 to 100 concurrent cellular sessions, yes: the GD1000 doubles the coverage from 500 m² to 1000 m², doubles the users from 50 to 100, adds 5 dB on each band and upgrades the indoor panel from 7 dBi to 10 dBi. If your home or small office is 500 m² or smaller, no: the GD500 delivers the same dual band all-network coverage for £239.67 less, and the extra GD1000 capacity will sit unused.
Can I start with the GD500 and upgrade to the GD1000 later?
Yes. Both units use the same 8 dBi Yagi outdoor antenna and the same 10 m low-loss N-type cable, so when you move to a larger shop or extend the building you can keep the outdoor antenna and cable, swap the internal amplifier box, and upgrade the indoor panel from 7 dBi to 10 dBi. The N-type connectors are identical on both units. You do not need to re-run the outdoor coax. This is the safest way to buy if you are not yet sure whether your next lease will be 500 m² or 1000 m².
Why does the GD1000 support 100 users when the D1000 only supports 15?
The GD1000 is a wideband dual band data and voice repeater with a higher-power amplifier stage and a wider digital front end, rated by the manufacturer for 100 simultaneous connections. The D1000 is a single-band EE booster rated for roughly 15 concurrent users. The G1000 is a narrowband voice repeater that does not publish a concurrent-user figure because it only carries one narrow 2G voice channel. The 100-user rating on the GD1000 is what makes it suitable for a high street shop, an open-plan office or a busy pub.
Does the GD1000 really cover 1000 m² or is that marketing?
Rated coverage is 1000 m², and in our Bristol test unit at 950 m² the GD1000 delivered 3 to 4 bars on both bands in every room including the stockroom and the upstairs canteen. In a solid-brick Victorian building with thick cavity walls, expect the effective number to drop to roughly 800 m². In a modern steel-frame industrial unit with glass partition walls, expect closer to 1000 m². The GD500's rated 500 m² scales the same way.
What is the real-world difference between the 10 dBi and 7 dBi indoor panels?
A 7 dBi panel radiates a wide but shorter fan of signal, suitable for a single open-plan floor up to 500 m². A 10 dBi panel radiates a slightly narrower but longer fan, which pushes signal further down a long commercial space, through more doorways, and across a larger open floor. In practice, the GD1000's 10 dBi panel reached the stockroom at the back of a 950 m² retail unit, while the GD500's 7 dBi panel died in the middle. Both are ceiling or wall mount, both use N-type connectors.
Do both the GD1000 and GD500 support EE, O2, Vodafone and Three?
Yes. Both are dual band Band 8 & 3 repeaters. Band 8 at 900 MHz carries 2G voice for EE, O2, Vodafone and their MVNOs including giffgaff, Sky, Tesco, ASDA, BT, Virgin, Orange, T-Mobile, Lebara, Lycamobile, Talkmobile and TalkTalk. Band 3 at 1800 MHz carries 4G LTE data for EE, Three and their MVNOs including Plusnet, iD Mobile, Smarty, Freedom Pop, ASDA, BT and Virgin. The G1000 and D1000 do not cover all four operators.
Will the GD1000 boost 5G home broadband or 5G business broadband?
No. Neither the GD1000 nor the GD500 boosts 5G. UK 5G broadcasts on Band n78 at 3.5 GHz and Band n1 at 2.1 GHz, neither of which these units amplify. They also do not boost 3G, Band 20 800 MHz 4G or Band 7 2600 MHz 4G. If you need to improve a 5G home or business broadband router, you need a different product class. The GD1000 and GD500 improve 2G calls and Band 3 4G only.
How much 4G speed improvement should a business expect from the GD1000?
In our weak-signal commercial field tests, the GD1000 lifted measured 4G download speed from a patchy 1 to 5 Mbps outside the shopfront to a steady 10 to 30 Mbps indoors once the booster was running. That is enough for HD video streaming on multiple devices, video conferencing with screen share, cloud POS terminals, and general staff browsing. The exact speed depends on how much outdoor signal the 8 dBi Yagi can pull in. If you have zero bars on Band 3 outdoors, even the GD1000 cannot create signal from nothing.
Can I extend the outdoor cable on either unit to 30 or 40 metres?
Yes. Both the GD1000 and GD500 ship with a 10 m low-loss N-type coaxial cable, and optional extension lengths of 20 m, 30 m, 40 m and 50 m are available at extra cost. We recommend adding the 18 KA lightning surge protector if the Yagi is mounted on a chimney, above roofline, or on a tall industrial building. Every additional 10 m of cable costs roughly 2 dB of signal loss, so keep the run as short as practical. DIY installation takes 30 to 60 minutes on both units.
Which unit should I buy if my business is split between 500 m² now and 1000 m² next year?
Buy the GD500 at £365.49 now. When you move or extend, keep the 8 dBi Yagi and the 10 m N-type cable, swap the amplifier box for the GD1000 at £605.16, and upgrade the indoor panel from 7 dBi to 10 dBi. The connectors and cable type are identical, so you do not need to re-run the outdoor coax. This phased approach costs you £365.49 now and £605.16 later, but you avoid paying for 1000 m² of capacity you cannot use in year one. If you know on day one that you are moving to a 1000 m² unit, buy the GD1000 straight away and save yourself the swap labour.
Learn More: Dual-Band Commercial, 1000 m² Guides
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How to Improve Mobile Signal Across a 1000 m² Commercial Premises — UK Step by Step
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