Here's some easy tips to help increase your cell phone's reception, along with remedies that may fix the problem: Poor Signal in Home/Better Signal Outside: If your cell phone's reception is adequate just outside your home, your carrier may not be the problem. The problem may actually lie in the type of material used when building your home. Some types of materials used during a home's construction can interfere with a cell signal. For instance, concrete structures use rebar, which is too dense for most cell signals to penetrate. Stucco exteriors (and interiors) use wire mesh, which can also interfere with signals. Even aluminum siding can be problematic because it tends to reflect cell signals, instead of absorbing them. If you don't have construction related issues, you may have issues inside your home. Everyday electronic devices, such as computer screens, blenders, or microwaves, can interfere with a cell tower's signal if they're operational at the time of the call. If you suspect your interference is coming from an electronic device, simply move away from it while you're on the call, or turn it off. If your reception improves, you've found the culprit. Remedy If you've tried everything and still don't have good cell phone reception in your home, you may want to consider a cellular repeater. A cellular repeater: is a large antenna that attaches to your roof, or another object. located adjecent to your home. The antenna's program allows it to seek the strongest cellular signal available, then "repeats" it to the smaller antenna, located inside your home. A good cellular repeater can increase your signal strength up to 1000%, and are manufacturered for any cellular network in the US. This will probably fix your problem, but they are pricey. Repeater packages for homes and small offices can run between $400 - $900 for a 3,000 square foot area. Larger homes that require more coverage area will, of course, be higher. If you'd like more information about cellular repeaters, we recommend CellAntenna.com This site provides a helpful forum to answer any questions about your cell phone reception problems, along with suggestions on which of their products would work best.
Poor Reception Everywhere - Is it my carrier or my phone? Most of us enjoy blaming our carrier for any dropped calls or lost connections we experience. But realistically -- your carrier is not always at blame. There are a few common conditions that can interfere with a cell tower's signal. They are:
The Weather Which weather pattern affects your receptions most? Storms, with heavy rainfall and lightening. Exceptionally humid days rank number two.
Buildings If you're in the central part of a city with numerous skyscapers around you, try placing your call at an intersection. Or, go inside a public building. More large city restaurants and lounges are now installing cellular repeaters (or antenna's) for their patron's use.
Terrain Mountains, hills and even trees can become obstacles that interfere with your cell phone's reception. If the cell phone tower cannot 'see' the area you are calling from, the signal either arrives to your cell phone distorted, or not at all. If you're in a particularly mountainous/hilly region, try calling when you reach the top. If you're not in a car, and you have no idea where the cell phone towers are located, try angling your antenna in different directions. Finally, if your phone has a speaker phone, try using it. A Speaker phone uses both a loundspeaker and microphone, which amplifies anything that's being said. Many of our readers have reported that when they use a speakerphone, calls are dropped less and tend to be much clearer.
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