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Today we’re looking at the Sleek 4G-V from Wilson Electronics.

The Sleek 4G is a mobile signal booster specifically made for Verizon 4G LTE.

Click here for the full review with clickable links and where to buy

Main advantage: Genuinely improves coverage when needed

Main concern: Build needs more attention, some phones will have trouble staying put

Unique features: ability to go between car and home using optional home/office accessory kit

Click here to see a video slideshow of the Sleek 4G-V

Chances are good that you aren't familiar with the ups and downs that have been surrounding the manufacture and sale of cell phone signal boosters for literally years. Wilson has been one of the companies at the forefront of the issue, fighting on the right side to at least allow sales of the few high quality signal boosters. Wilson held the position that boosters, “. . . hold great potential to empower consumers in rural and underserved (sic) areas to improve their wireless coverage in their homes, at their jobs, and when they travel by car, recreational vehicle, or boat.” In the years since the first cell phones emerged, the market had surely been flooded with imposters and snake oil salesmen selling all kinds of flim flam boosters that did absolutely nothing aside from damaging the reputation of booster tech as a whole. An initial movement to ban the sale of signal boosters outright was followed by companies like Wilson pushing for well-designed models to still be sold somehow. Eventually, a set of technical specifications was agreed upon and the big four American carriers agreed to give their consent to any device meeting these new standards. The timeline that follows was provided by Wilson:

“Background

-In November of 2007 citing concerns over possible interference on cellular networks, CTIA-The Wireless Association® petitioned the FCC for a ruling that would prohibit their customers from using any consumer cellular signal boosting devices.

-In November of 2009, Wilson Electronics filed a Request for Rule Change asking the FCC to increase the technical certification standards that cellular signal boosters must meet to gain FCC approval. Wilson’s position was that properly designed boosters could be helpful to consumers without creating cellular network interference.

-In April of 2011 the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to facilitate development and deployment of well-designed signal boosters, which, the FCC noted “. . . hold great potential to empower consumers in rural and underserved areas to improve their wireless coverage in their homes, at their jobs, and when they travel by car, recreational vehicle, or boat.” Shortly after, Verizon Wireless contacted Wilson about jointly developing adequate specifications for consumer boosters.

-In March of 2012, Wilson, Verizon Wireless, and independent telecommunications engineering firm V-COMM jointly filed with the FCC proposed technical specifications for consumer cellular signal boosters. Later in the year, T-Mobile added their voice in support of the specifications in a subsequent joint filing. Those specifications are the basis of today’s FCC vote.”

With the Sleek 4G, Wilson offers something that's increasingly rare in today's market... a product that actually works. They plain deliver on the promises made by the advertising. You really have to see it to believe it, but buying a product like the Sleek-4G can instantly take you from 1 bar to a full consistent 5 bars. It's that simple. Going further in the right direction, they aren't robbing you blind for the privilege. The reasonably priced Sleek 4G-V can be had for a little over a hundred dollars on Amazon and after connecting two simple cords, you're at the pinnacle of your mobile coverage. An included magnetic antenna attaches to your car's roof without scratching the finish and stays put at any speed. The unit is powered by a cigarette lighter adapter with a built in on/off switch. A pass-through usb outlet allows you to still charge your device with the device docked.

The word “docked” brings up the one real drawback of the Sleek-4G, the device has to remain in contact with the cradle to retain functionality. This means you'll need to use a headset or bluetooth device to make calls with your phone. While you can technically hold the phone to your ear while still in the cradle, it's a bulky tangled mess and I wouldn't recommend it. The cradle itself doesn't even fully lock into the dash mount for this reason. It's really just held in place with gravity, which is no match for a well placed speed bump. The design is not ideal and I'm confident that it will be addressed and most likely phased out in future iterations of the Sleek 4G. It works, just not as well as it should. With such a great product, the Sleek really needs exceptional design to match its exceptional functionality.

Wilson has the internals down without question, but the physical design of the cradle is definitely a work in progress. The included arms are molded plastic with no additional gripping. They keep the phone in place using pressure alone. No clicking, no straps, no foam. They are very thin at some points, which is another point of concern which allows the real potential for them to snap under the pressure of the larger phones available today. Luckily for us, Wilson is more than happy to support their products should the need arise. If you have any issue with the arms, they will be happy to replace them without hassle. If you'd like, you can even purchase upgraded rubber coated versions of the arms (which should be included by default in my opinion)

To wrap things up, I'd like to say that having to write an article about a signal booster is a sad affair. While Wilson does make great products and I'm happy to give the Sleek 4G a strong recommendation, these products only remedy a deficiency in the cell phone service that we're drastically overcharged for as Americans. For whatever reason we still accept subsidized phones and inflated contract bound plans. We live in a world of infinite technological advances from self driven cars to voice operated trash cans, yet Verizon can't deliver a consistent signal to your cell phone. Rural areas are understandable sure, but I live in a major suburb of Los Angeles and I'm lucky to get 1 bar on a good day without the help of Wilson's products. Verizon wields a heavy thumb on manufacturer's backs and if they really wanted to, if they were pushed enough, they could demand better antennae or even find a way to integrate Wilson's tech into existing phones. Samsung, Motorola, and more would fall in line quickly rather than have their phones unavailable to Verizon's customers

Thank you again to Wilson Electronics for supplying their product for review.

Alternatives: The 4G-V is made specifically for Verizon customers but Wilson also has models to cover other American and Canadian carriers. Make sure you find what's right for your phone. Wilson offers many larger solutions as well. They vary in strength and size covered. Some of the more sophisticated options don't require the phone to be docked to increase signal. All options available at wilsonelectronics.com

How much: $105.01 at Amazon.com during the writing of this article

Is it worth buying: If you need a service boost immediately at home or in the car and don't mind using a bluetooth earpiece, don't hesitate to buy the Sleek. It sets up quick and works consistently. A slightly improved design of the cradle itself will make this a near perfect product.

If you haven’t already, click here to see a video slideshow of the Sleek 4G-V

ENJOY YOUR GADGETS!