# CEL-FI WAVE

> Manage and optimize Cel-Fi smart signal boosters for improved indoor mobile coverage. (iPhone/iPad app by Nextivity, Inc.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cel-fi-wave/id980050278 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Nextivity, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/928976824)
- Category: Business, Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.40/5 from 44 App Store ratings · 82 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 27 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2015-04-02
- Data updated: 2026-08-25
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cel-fi-wave/id980050278/reviews.md

## What is CEL?

The CEL-FI WAVE app allows you to easily set up and manage your CEL-FI Smart Signal Booster (sold separately).

The app does not work with any other manufacturer’s equipment. CEL-FI products supported by the app are CEL-FI CONNECT, CEL-FI GO, CEL-FI PRO, CEL-FI PRIME, CEL-FI ROAM, and CEL-FI SOLO. 

WAVE features:
- Register your booster (required by some network operators)
- Monitor and optimize the booster’s performance
- Troubleshoot any coverage issues
- Update the booster software
- External antenna aiming

The app can also be used to configure advanced settings (check the specific product), these include:
- Select a network operator to boost
- Antenna settings  
- Bands to relay
- Switch between Mobile and Stationary mode (GO G31 & GO G32)

CEL-FI is the safest, most advanced, smart signal booster available, designed to eliminate in-building dead zones and improve indoor mobile 3G, 4G and 5G service.
 
For more information and troubleshooting help, go to https://nextivityinc.com/support/

## Key features

- Booster registration
- Performance monitoring and optimization
- Coverage issue troubleshooting
- Software updates
- External antenna aiming
- Network operator selection
- Advanced settings configuration

## What do users think of CEL?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Works for some users
- 🚀 Boosts signal effectively (when it works)
- 💡 Useful for initial setup
- 🤝 Responsive customer support (mentioned by one user)

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent connection issues
- 🐛 App crashes often
- 🐛 Slow performance and lag
- 🐛 Outdated user interface
- 🐛 Difficult to navigate
- 🐛 Multiple units displayed with same name
- 🐛 Cannot flash LED before connecting
- 🐛 "Downloading settings" hangs
- 🐛 Frustrating to use
- 🐛 Does not work offline
- 🐛 Expensive hardware with poor app support
- 🐛 Latest updates worsen experience
- 🐛 "Gathering information" indefinitely
- 🐛 Blank settings screen
- 🐛 Antenna aiming function not working
- 🐛 Cannot register device
- 🐛 App errors on webform
- 🐛 Bluetooth connection errors
- 🐛 Out of range issues
- 🐛 Disconnects during calls
- 🐛 Cannot find signal booster
- 🐛 Laggy when signal is low
- 🐛 Humorous messages during connection attempts
- 🐛 App shows incorrect signal strength
- 🐛 No explanation for indicators
- 🐛 Does not work with Canadian providers
- 🐛 Portrait mode only
- 🐛 Locks to one device
- 🐛 App keeps crashing
- 🐛 Continually says update available but won't update
- 🐛 Over promises and under delivers
- 🐛 Stationary to mobile setting removed
- 🐛 Poor interface for a good device
- 🐛 Spurious alerts
- 🐛 "Too close" alert frequently
- 🐛 Vague explanations
- 🐛 App says non-existent signal when phone has signal
- 🐛 Latest update breaks access
- 🐛 Connection slower after update
- 🐛 Drops out on hands free
- 🐛 Always searching, never finds
- 🐛 Never stops searching
- 🐛 Useless app
- 🐛 App is garbage

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App does not work
- Multiple units displayed with same name
- Will not connect to units without hours of closing & reopening
- Cannot flash LED on displayed device before connecting
- App is cumbersome to navigate
- Legacy Bluetooth 4.2 hardware stack causes delays
- App could work much better when offline
- Latest 'Update' rendered the product useless
- Support webform errors
- App implies system is configured but no signal strength increase
- Rarely connects after last update
- Hard to connect without jumping through hoops
- Tech help suggests basic troubleshooting
- Never connects to the app
- Unit fails to boost signal
- Refuses to connect to Bluetooth after app update
- App becomes extremely laggy with low signal
- App takes an eternity to make a connection
- Regularly fails to achieve a connection
- Humorous messages during connection attempts
- App crashing
- App screen goes white
- Hangs during 'downloading settings'
- Cutesy messages when app doesn't work
- Blank settings screen after update
- Antenna aiming function doesn't work
- Cannot register the cell booster
- Features that worked well now don't work
- Slow and frustrating system for antenna separation and signal quality
- Taken away ability to swap between roaming and stationary
- Cannot connect to unit even though it is functioning
- No interface with the unit
- App hangs at looking for a booster with no option
- App does not agree with tech/customer support
- App continues to tell you to register device
- App only scans for one device
- Need to restart phone to pick up a different device
- Majority of the time app cannot connect to stationary booster unit via Bluetooth
- App cannot maintain a connection
- Bluetooth connection error
- Out of range apparently
- Always disconnects from Bluetooth
- Sometimes cannot find a connection to the signal booster
- Only connects about 1 out of 10 tries
- No information on what screens mean
- App stops working
- Still says 'gathering information'
- App won't connect by Bluetooth even when next to unit
- Slow, inaccurate rubbish app
- App shows nothing once connected
- Clunky
- Fails to connect to the Celfi Go
- States it's 'gathering data' forever
- Connection lost
- Phone shows 3G when app shows 4G
- Phone does not find booster after update
- Web site is useless
- Cannot contact support
- Waste of money
- Constantly disconnects from the cellfi
- Slow to connect and gather data
- Sometimes cannot find the booster
- Wants to update booster software frequently with no improvement
- Slow and outdated app
- Most of the time app can't find the booster
- App shows zeros for incoming signal strength until restarted
- App freezes and requires phone restart
- Lost blue tooth connection
- App freezes and requires booster restart
- App needs UI update for iPhone 12 Pro Max
- UI looks small on iPhone 12 Pro Max
- Stationary to mobile setting removed
- App works in portrait mode only
- Major accuracy and performance doubts
- Forgets the Go and doesn't find it again
- Rebooting Go and going through registration process again
- Keeps showing need for firmware update but says up to date
- Interface doesn't support iPhone X/XS/XR
- App crashes a lot
- Uninstall and reinstall app to reconnect
- Continually says update available but will not update
- App keeps going into offline mode
- Only supports one device and locks to it
- Reset each device and reinstall app to change config
- Latest update makes app useless
- App sits at 'installing operator configurations' 0%
- App keeps crashing
- Update available but will not update
- Does not work if you live in Australia (US addresses only)
- App always searches, never connects
- Latest software doesn't help
- Never stops searching
- App says it is not boosting but phone has full signal
- App doesn't function properly
- Latest update breaks access to cel-fi device
- Cannot take readings
- Screen needs optimization for iPhone X
- Latest update made connection slower
- Drops out on Hands Free
- Boosters defaulting to band 2 over band 12 or 4 and not releasing it
- App shows basic networking statistics
- Little information on functionality features
- App still not working after July 2016 update
- Keeps saying booster update required
- App is garbage
- Cannot see any information from the device
- Constantly searching but never finds anything
- App always searches, never connects
- Never stops searching
- App says it is not boosting but phone has full signal
- App doesn't function properly
- Latest update breaks access to cel-fi device
- Cannot take readings
- Screen needs optimization for iPhone X
- Latest update made connection slower
- Drops out on Hands Free
- Boosters defaulting to band 2 over band 12 or 4 and not releasing it
- App shows basic networking statistics
- Little information on functionality features
- App still not working after July 2016 update
- Keeps saying booster update required
- App is garbage
- Cannot see any information from the device
- Constantly searching but never finds anything
- App always searches, never connects
- Never stops searching
- App says it is not boosting but phone has full signal
- App doesn't function properly
- Latest update breaks access to cel-fi device
- Cannot take readings
- Screen needs optimization for iPhone X
- Latest update made connection slower
- Drops out on Hands Free
- Boosters defaulting to band 2 over band 12 or 4 and not releasing it
- App shows basic networking statistics
- Little information on functionality features
- App still not working after July 2016 update
- Keeps saying booster update required
- App is garbage
- Cannot see any information from the device
- Constantly searching but never finds anything
- App always searches, never connects
- Never stops searching

**Most requested features**

- Allow users to see phone's cell signal strength while app is running
- Auto-login feature
- More descriptive device state (booting up, scanning, service detected)
- Faster signal strength meters
- Instruction manual detailing settings/features
- Ability to increase Maximum Uplink and Downlink dB's power per carrier
- Real-time Donor antenna optimal placement location
- Option to swap between roaming and stationary
- Password protection for settings
- Block certain traffic
- More flexibility with settings, e.g., specific WiFi band
- Landscape mode support
- UI update for newer iPhones
- Explanation of indicators and settings
- Ability to lock to specific LTE bands

## Recent user reviews (10 of 82)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cel-fi-wave/id980050278/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Would give 0 starts

*2026-06-27, version 2.1.18*

App does not work making it useless

### 5/5 — Update booster

*2026-06-24*

Used the app to update firmware in a booster that had quit working.  Worked great!

### 1/5 — Substantially Worse Experience

*2026-02-13*

This app somehow got worse with each update.
It displays multiple units while searching with the same name (a sequence of letter led and numbers at first good, luck deciphering that while you’re in a roof cavity), will not connect to said units without an hour of closing & reopening the app.
You can now no longer flash the LED on a displayed device  before connecting to it, instead you have to just connect and hope it’s the device you’re after or else wait for it to “download settings” which clearly does nothing.
Once you’re finally in, the app is cumbersome to navigate and alter settings.

If you’re not going to do the app properly and instead outsource its development (which I would hope it has been, since if this was in-house I’d be ashamed to put my name to it), just don’t have an app at all.

### 3/5 — Ok functional but time to upgrade.

*2025-12-30*

OK functionality. 
Could do with some more polish on UX. Some things are not easy to find. 

Expect to wait for the legacy Bluetooth 4.2 hardware stack to provide settings. 

Often frustrating

COULD WORK MUCH BETTER WHEN OFFLINE which is when I most need it to work. In some dark double brick shielded utility room in marginal MNO cell.

### 1/5 — Substantially Worse Experience

*2025-08-29, version 2.1.10*

This app somehow got worse with each update.
It displays multiple units while searching with the same name (a sequence of letter led and numbers at first good, luck deciphering that while you’re in a roof cavity), will not connect to said units without an hour of closing & reopening the app.
You can now no longer flash the LED on a displayed device  before connecting to it, instead you have to just connect and hope it’s the device you’re after or else wait for it to “download settings” which clearly does nothing.
Once you’re finally in, the app is cumbersome to navigate and alter settings.

If you’re not going to do the app properly and instead outsource its development (which I would hope it has been, since if this was in-house I’d be ashamed to put my name to it), just don’t have an app at all.

### 1/5 — App does not work! Can I get refund on hardware !!!!!!!!

*2025-08-28, version 2.1.10*

App does not work! Can I get refund on hardware !!!!!!!!

### 1/5 — Buy Star link mobile don’t waste money

*2025-07-03*

I have both cel fi roam and star link mobile set up in the car. Cel fi will let you down more times than you can count. Won’t connect to wave app so you can’t update and check on the function of the unit. Signal is boosted f all when it does and you make calls it drops out. For $1000 it is junk. Star link mobile cost $350 will connect anywhere no matter how remote you are, multiple people can be connected and once and pay so you go plans starting at $50 month with no lock in (before you go traveling depending on how long you are away just pay the $50 and then cancel when your back till the next trip away) and install of the star link takes 30 seconds. really disappointed in the cel fi because it let me down when I needed it the most and if I didn’t have the star link I would of had to of called emergency services because of the situation I was in. Don’t waste your time and money on this.

### 1/5 — Latest ‘Update’ rendered the product Useless

*2025-04-25*

Since the latest update, the R41 Roam is now an expensive paperweight! When trying to write to the support webform, it keeps erroring saying ‘this field is required’ despite the field being filled in! What the actual???? Pay nearly $1000 for this product and get less than useless support and a product that doesn’t work!

### 1/5 — Stay away

*2025-04-13, version 2.1.7*

App implies my system is configured and working correctly, but not getting any additional signal strength. Whole system is a waste of money.

### 1/5 — Worse

*2025-04-11, version 2.1.6*

This app has gone downhill  after the last update or two. It rarely connects with the most recent update making it almost useless.

## Frequently asked questions about CEL

### What does the CEL-FI WAVE app do?

The CEL-FI WAVE app is designed to help you set up, manage, and optimize your CEL-FI Smart Signal Booster. It allows you to register your booster, monitor its performance, troubleshoot coverage issues, update its software, and configure advanced settings for improved indoor mobile 3G, 4G, and 5G service.

### What Cel-Fi products are supported by the WAVE app?

The app supports specific Cel-Fi products including CEL-FI CONNECT, CEL-FI GO, CEL-FI PRO, CEL-FI PRIME, CEL-FI ROAM, and CEL-FI SOLO. It is not compatible with equipment from other manufacturers.

### Is the CEL-FI WAVE app free to use?

Yes, the CEL-FI WAVE app is free to download and use. The app itself does not have any associated costs, although it requires a separately sold CEL-FI Smart Signal Booster to function.

### What are some advanced settings I can configure with the app?

Advanced settings vary by product but can include selecting a network operator to boost, configuring antenna settings, choosing which bands to relay, and switching between mobile and stationary modes for specific GO models.

### How can the app help improve my mobile signal?

The app helps improve your mobile signal by allowing you to properly set up and optimize your Cel-Fi signal booster. Features like antenna aiming, performance monitoring, and troubleshooting coverage issues ensure your booster is working effectively to eliminate dead zones and enhance indoor mobile service.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.1.23 — 2026-08-20

Minor bug fixes.

### 2.1.22 — 2026-08-14

Bug fixes.

### 2.1.21 — 2026-08-08

Bug fixes.

### 2.1.20 — 2026-08-06

Bug fixes.

### 2.1.19 — 2026-07-08

Spectrum changes for Egypt.

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## More apps by Nextivity, Inc

- [CEL-FI WAVE PRO](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cel-fi-wave-pro/id1488656034)
- [CEL-FI MyWAVE](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cel-fi-mywave/id1560705133)

All apps by Nextivity, Inc: https://appshunter.io/developer/928976824

## Related topics

[celfi](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/celfi) · [xwave](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/xwave) · [wave intercom](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wave-intercom) · [xwaves](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/xwaves) · [signal booster network](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/signal-booster-network)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-25.*