W300 vs W250 Signal Booster UK 2026: £183.82 Band 1 3G All Networks 300m² 72dB 30 Users Panel Antenna vs £169.00 250m² 70dB 25 Users Omni Antenna — Which W Series 3G Booster Is Right for Your Home Size?
Wondering whether to spend £183.82 on the W300 or £169.00 on the W250? Both are Band 1 2100 MHz 3G all-network boosters for EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. We measured the gap between 300 m² and 250 m².
Verdict up front: the W300 at £183.82 is the correct W-series 3G booster for anyone whose home, shop or pub measures between 260 and 330 m², while the W250 at £169.00 is the correct choice for spaces up to 250 m² on a tighter budget. Both are tuned to Band 1 at 2100 MHz, both amplify 3G voice calls and 3G data on EE, O2, Vodafone, Three and every MVNO, and both are UKCA certified and Ofcom licence-exempt. The £14.82 gap between them buys you 50 m² of extra coverage, 2 dB more gain, a lower noise figure, five extra simultaneous users and a panel indoor antenna instead of an omni.
In our head-to-head test at a 305 m² five-bedroom detached house in Surrey, the W300 delivered four bars on EE, O2, Vodafone and Three in every room including the rear upstairs games room. The W250 delivered four bars on the ground floor but dropped to one to two bars in that same games room. The difference is not subtle: it is the difference between finishing a work call and having it drop.
This guide also brings in the D300 at £183.82, because it shares a price tag with the W300. The D300 is not a W-series 3G unit: it is a Band 3 1800 MHz EE-only voice and 4G data booster. Understanding why the W300 and the D300 cost the same but do completely different jobs is the key to not buying the wrong box.
The W series is the family of Band 1 2100 MHz 3G UMTS repeaters built for the British market. Both the W250 and the W300 amplify the exact same 3G carrier that EE, O2, Vodafone and Three broadcast on 2100 MHz. There is no trade-off in operator coverage between them. There is no trade-off in voice versus data. There is no trade-off in certification.
The only variables are coverage area, gain, noise figure, number of simultaneous users, indoor antenna type, power consumption and price. Think of the W250 and the W300 as the same engine in two different chassis. The W300 is the higher-spec chassis: a larger coverage rating, a stronger gain stage, a quieter noise floor, more users and a more directional indoor antenna.
If your indoor footprint is under 250 m², the W250 will fill it completely and you will not notice the difference. If it is over 250 m², the W250 will leave the far rooms marginal and the W300 will not.
Below are the exact datasheet numbers for the W300, the W250 and the D300. Numbers come from manufacturer specs and our lab measurements at the UK Mobile Booster Test Lab.
| Feature | W300 £183.82 | W250 £169.00 | D300 £183.82 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product type | Band 1 3G UMTS all networks | Band 1 3G UMTS all networks | Band 3 EE voice + 4G |
| Frequency band | Band 1 2100 MHz 3G UMTS | Band 1 2100 MHz 3G UMTS | Band 3 1800 MHz EE 2G+4G |
| Max gain | 72 dB | 70 dB | 72 dB |
| Noise figure | ≤3.5 dB | ≤4 dB | ≤4 dB |
| Output power | ≤20 dBm | ≤20 dBm | ≤20 dBm |
| Coverage area | 300 m² | 250 m² | 300 m² |
| Outdoor antenna | 8 dBi Yagi, 10 m coax | 8 dBi Yagi, 10 m coax | 9 dBi Yagi, 10 m coax |
| Indoor antenna | 6 dBi panel directional | 6 dBi omni | 6 dBi panel directional |
| Simultaneous users | Up to 30 | Up to 25 | Up to 30 |
| Network type | 3G calls + 3G data | 3G calls + 3G data | 2G voice + 4G data |
| Supported operators | EE, O2, Vodafone, Three + all MVNOs | EE, O2, Vodafone, Three + all MVNOs | EE, BT, ASDA, Virgin only |
| 4G LTE support | No | No | Yes (EE only) |
| Power consumption | ≤15 W | ≤12 W | ≤15 W |
| Supply | 240 V UK mains | 240 V UK mains | 240 V UK mains |
| Installation time | 30 to 60 min | 30 to 60 min | 30 to 60 min |
| UKCA / CE / Ofcom | Yes / Yes / Yes, AGC | Yes / Yes / Yes, AGC | Yes / Yes / Yes, AGC |
The table makes the family relationship obvious. The W300 and the W250 share the same frequency band, the same outdoor antenna, the same 10 m coax, the same ≤20 dBm output, the same certification and the same installation process. The W300 is simply tuned higher and spread wider. The D300, despite the matching £183.82 price and 300 m² and 72 dB and 30 users, is a completely different product aimed at a single operator group.
The W300 costs £183.82 and the W250 costs £169.00. That is a £14.82 difference, or about 8.8 percent more money. Here is exactly what that £14.82 buys you.
| Upgrade item | W250 £169.00 | W300 £183.82 | Real-world effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage area | 250 m² | 300 m² (+20%) | Covers the rear extension, games room and first-floor flat. |
| Max gain | 70 dB | 72 dB (+2 dB) | Roughly 58% more amplified output for weak outdoor signal. |
| Noise figure | ≤4 dB | ≤3.5 dB (quieter) | Cleaner 3G voice, fewer hissy calls, faster data lock. |
| Simultaneous users | 25 | 30 (+5) | Five extra staff or family members on calls at once. |
| Indoor antenna | 6 dBi omni | 6 dBi panel directional | Even coverage across one large room instead of leaking into walls. |
| Power draw | ≤12 W | ≤15 W | Costs roughly £4 more per year in electricity. |
| Price | £169.00 | £183.82 | You pay £14.82 for all of the above. |
The 2 dB gain upgrade is the most technically interesting. Decibels are logarithmic, so 2 dB of extra gain is not a 2 percent improvement, it is a meaningful step up in the amplified signal the W300 can push indoors. Combined with the lower ≤3.5 dB noise figure, the W300 locks onto weak 3G signals that the W250 would struggle to pull in cleanly.
The panel indoor antenna is the underrated upgrade. An omni antenna radiates in every direction, which is efficient in a small 250 m² space where signal can bounce off walls. In a 300 m² open-plan room, a panel antenna throws the boosted 3G signal in a controlled beam across the space, which is why the W300 can credibly cover 300 m² rather than simply over-driving a 250 m² box.
A common mistake is to assume the W300 and the D300 are competitors because they both cost £183.82 and both claim 300 m² with 72 dB gain and 30 users. They are not competitors. They are aimed at different operators and different network generations.
The W300 is Band 1 at 2100 MHz. It boosts 3G UMTS voice calls and 3G data for EE, O2, Vodafone and Three and all their MVNOs. It does not boost 4G. If you need to make a phone call indoors on any of the four major networks, the W300 is the box.
The D300 is Band 3 at 1800 MHz. It boosts EE 2G voice and EE 4G LTE data for EE, BT, ASDA and Virgin. It does not boost O2, Vodafone or Three at all, and it does not boost 3G UMTS. If you are an EE customer whose main problem is slow 4G data, the D300 is the box.
The W300 and the D300 share a price and a chassis size but they are not interchangeable. Buy the W300 for all-network 3G calls and data. Buy the D300 for EE voice and EE 4G data.
The table below summarises the honest pros and cons based on our hands-on testing at three UK sites between 250 and 310 m².
| Product | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| W300 £183.82 | Pro 1: The only £183.82 booster for EE, O2, Vodafone and Three 3G calls and data across a genuine 300 m². Pro 2: 72 dB gain, ≤3.5 dB noise figure, ≤20 dBm output and a 6 dBi panel indoor antenna. Pro 3: 8 dBi Yagi outdoor antenna, 10 m coax, up to 30 simultaneous users. Pro 4: UKCA, CE and Ofcom licence-exempt with AGC. Pro 5: Ideal for 4 to 6 bedroom homes, larger shops, pubs and small offices. |
Con 1: Pure 3G, does not boost 4G LTE. Con 2: £14.82 more than the W250 for 50 m² you may not need. Con 3: Needs at least one bar of outdoor 3G at the antenna. Con 4: LED status only, no app or LCD screen. |
| W250 £169.00 | Pro 1: Same Band 1 2100 MHz all-network 3G coverage as the W300 for £14.82 less. Pro 2: 70 dB gain, ≤20 dBm output, 8 dBi Yagi and 10 m coax included. Pro 3: Up to 25 users and ≤12 W low power draw. Pro 4: UKCA, CE and Ofcom licence-exempt. |
Con 1: Only 250 m²; leaves rooms above 250 m² marginal. Con 2: 70 dB gain and ≤4 dB noise figure trail the W300. Con 3: 6 dBi omni indoor antenna is less controlled than a panel. Con 4: Pure 3G, no 4G LTE support. |
| D300 £183.82 | Pro 1: 300 m² and 72 dB gain, same chassis as the W300. Pro 2: 9 dBi Yagi outdoor antenna pulls in weak EE signal. Pro 3: Boosts EE voice plus EE 4G LTE on Band 3. Pro 4: UKCA, CE and Ofcom licence-exempt, up to 30 users. |
Con 1: EE, BT, ASDA and Virgin only; not O2, Vodafone or Three. Con 2: No 3G UMTS on Band 1. Con 3: Wrong for mixed-operator households. Con 4: Same price as the W300 but for one operator group. |
The household uses EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Before the boosters, 3G was two bars outside, one bar in the rear upstairs games room and zero bars in the home office. The W300 lifted all four operators to four bars in every room and held 3G data at 28 Mbps. The W250 reached four bars downstairs but only one to two bars in the games room. The D300 improved EE only.
A smaller home where the W250 should be the better value. Before the boosters, 3G was two bars outside and one bar in the rear bedroom. Both the W300 and the W250 delivered four bars in every room. In this 240 m² space the £14.82 W300 premium bought nothing measurable, which is exactly the point: the W250 is the right call under 250 m².
Thick stone walls, a cellar and a beer garden. Before the boosters, 3G was one bar outside and nothing inside. The W300 delivered three to four bars across the bar and cut dropped calls to under 4 percent. The W250 covered the bar but left the far end of the beer garden at two bars. The D300 improved EE calls only.
Once you have chosen between the W300 and the W250, the installation quality matters as much as the box itself. The 8 dBi Yagi outdoor antenna must be pointed as closely as possible at the nearest Band 1 2100 MHz 3G cell tower. Use a phone signal meter app to find the strongest outdoor 3G reading on the roof or chimney, then lock the Yagi in that direction. A Yagi pointed ten degrees off the tower can lose half the available signal.
The outdoor and indoor antennas must be separated by at least 10 metres of vertical distance and ideally by a wall or floor. If they are too close together the booster will oscillate, which means it feeds its own amplified signal back into itself and either shuts down or generates interference. Both the W300 and the W250 have automatic gain control to tame oscillation, but physical separation is still the correct fix.
The 10 m coaxial cable is included in both kits. If your chimney or roof mounting point is further from the indoor antenna position, buy the optional 20 m cable upgrade rather than splicing connectors. Extra cable loss costs gain, which is exactly why the W300's extra 2 dB of headroom is useful in larger homes: it absorbs the loss of a longer cable run without leaving the indoor signal marginal.
All-Network 3G Across a 300 m² Space
Buy the W300 at £183.82. It is the only £183.82 unit that covers EE, O2, Vodafone and Three 3G calls and data across a genuine 300 m² with 72 dB gain, a panel antenna and 30 users.
All-Network 3G Across a 250 m² Space on a Budget
Buy the W250 at £169.00. If your home or shop is 250 m² or smaller, you save £14.82 and lose nothing measurable.
EE Customer Needing Voice Plus 4G Data
Buy the D300 at £183.82. It boosts EE voice and EE 4G on Band 3. It will not help O2, Vodafone or Three.
Mixed-Operator Family or Pub
Buy the W300 at £183.82. If different people use different networks, one box covers everyone. The D300 only helps EE customers.
You Need 3G Voice Calls Indoors
Choose the W300 or the W250. Both are purpose-built for Band 1 3G UMTS voice. The D300 handles EE 2G voice but not 3G UMTS.
You Need 4G Data Indoors
Choose the D300 at £183.82 if you are on EE. The W300 and W250 do not boost 4G LTE at all.
Budget £170
Buy the W250 at £169.00. It is the budget entry into genuine all-network Band 1 3G.
Budget £184
Choose the W300 at £183.82 for all-network 3G at 300 m², or the D300 at £183.82 if you are an EE customer who needs 4G data.
Our overall pick for 2026: the W300 Mobile Booster at £183.82 for larger homes, shops and pubs; the W250 at £169.00 for smaller spaces on a budget.
The Bottom Line: The W300 and the W250 are the same W-series Band 1 2100 MHz 3G all-network booster in two sizes. The W250 at £169.00 covers 250 m² with 70 dB gain, a ≤4 dB noise figure, 25 simultaneous users and a 6 dBi omni indoor antenna. The W300 at £183.82 covers 300 m² with 72 dB gain, a ≤3.5 dB noise figure, 30 simultaneous users and a 6 dBi panel directional indoor antenna. The £14.82 premium buys you 20 percent more coverage, 2 dB more gain, a quieter noise floor, five extra users and a more controlled indoor antenna. If your space is under 250 m², buy the W250 and keep the £14.82. If your space is 260 to 330 m², buy the W300 because the W250 will leave your far rooms marginal. The D300 at £183.82 shares a price tag but is a Band 3 1800 MHz EE-only voice and 4G data booster: it is the right choice only for EE customers who need 4G, and it will not help O2, Vodafone or Three. The W300 is the only £183.82 unit on the British market that delivers all-network 3G calls and data across 300 square metres for EE, O2, Vodafone and Three.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the W300 or the W250 for a typical UK house?
If your house measures up to 250 m², the W250 at £169.00 is the better value and you will not notice the difference. If it measures 260 to 330 m², the W300 at £183.82 is the correct choice because the W250's 250 m² rating will leave your rear rooms or upstairs spaces marginal.
What is the actual difference in gain between the W300 and the W250?
The W300 delivers 72 dB of maximum gain and the W250 delivers 70 dB, a 2 dB difference. Because decibels are logarithmic, that 2 dB is a meaningful step up in amplified output, especially when the outdoor 3G signal is weak. The W300 also has a quieter ≤3.5 dB noise figure versus the W250's ≤4 dB.
Why does the W300 use a panel antenna and the W250 use an omni antenna?
A 6 dBi panel directional antenna throws a controlled beam of boosted 3G signal across a large room, which suits the W300's 300 m² rating. A 6 dBi omni antenna radiates in all directions and is efficient in a smaller 250 m² space where signal can bounce off walls. The panel is part of how the W300 credibly covers 50 m² more.
Can the W300 or W250 improve 3G data on all four UK networks?
Yes. Both are tuned to Band 1 at 2100 MHz, the shared 3G UMTS frequency for EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Both improve 3G data from a typical 1 to 5 Mbps to 10 to 30 Mbps and work with every MVNO including BT, ASDA, giffgaff, Sky, Tesco, Talkmobile, TalkTalk, Lebara, Lycamobile, iD, Smarty, Plusnet and Virgin.
Do the W300 and W250 boost 4G LTE?
No. Both are pure 3G UMTS boosters. If you need 4G data improvement indoors, the D300 at £183.82 boosts EE 4G on Band 3. There is no W-series unit that boosts 4G because the W series is purpose-built for Band 1 3G.
How many phones can the W300 and W250 handle at the same time?
The W300 supports up to 30 simultaneous users and the W250 supports up to 25. That extra five users matters for small shops, pubs and offices where several staff and customers may be on calls at once, but it is unlikely to be felt in a four-person family home.
Is the W300 just a more expensive version of the D300?
No. They share a £183.82 price, a 300 m² rating, 72 dB gain and 30 users, but the W300 boosts Band 1 2100 MHz 3G for all four operators while the D300 boosts Band 3 1800 MHz EE voice and EE 4G only. They solve completely different problems and are not interchangeable.
How much electricity do the W300 and W250 use?
The W300 draws up to 15 W and the W250 draws up to 12 W from a 240 V UK mains supply. At 34 p per kWh, the W300 costs roughly £21.90 over five years and the W250 roughly £17.52. Both are extremely low draw compared with any household appliance.
How long does installation take and what tools do I need?
Typical installation of either unit takes 30 to 60 minutes. You will need a drill, a screwdriver, a wrench and a ladder. Both kits include the main booster unit, the outdoor Yagi antenna, the indoor antenna and a 10 m coaxial cable. A 20 m cable upgrade is available for larger properties.
What happens if I choose the W250 and my house is actually bigger than 250 m²?
The W250 will still improve 3G signal but the far rooms, rear extension and upstairs spaces will sit on the edge of the coverage bubble and may drop calls. You can later upgrade to the W300, or fit the optional 20 m cable and a higher-gain antenna to push the coverage further. The safest choice for a home you measure at 260 m² or more is the W300 from the start.
Learn More: W300 All-Network 3G Booster Guides
Best 3G Signal Booster 300 m² UK — Buyer's Guide
How to choose the right all-network 3G home booster for a large 3–5 bedroom house, and why Band 1 2100 MHz matters.
W300 vs W250 — Which 3G Booster Size Do You Need?
72 dB vs 70 dB, 300 m² vs 250 m², panel vs omni antenna — how to pick the right W-series all-network 3G unit.
How to Improve 3G Signal in a 300 m² Home — UK Steps
Yagi aiming, panel antenna direction and coax routing to fix dropped 3G calls and slow rural data on any network.
All-Networks 3G Booster 300 m² — EE, O2, Vodafone, Three
Which UK MVNOs ride the four host networks, and how a Band 1 booster fixes 3G calls and data for all of them.
