Staying connected on the go is a must these days. But sometimes, even when you’re in a city, you can struggle to get a solid mobile signal or decent internet speed. Annoying right? There’s usually a reason behind bad mobile reception. The ability to communicate via mobile networks, in whatever form it takes, is a necessity today. You may even have sky mobile signal issues.
In cities, thick concrete walls or buildings blocking signals from cell towers can cause issues. Basements, underground parking garages, and top and ground floors of tall buildings often have poor signal. Outside cities, distance from towers and natural barriers like forests lead to problems.
In my opinion, having access to a solid mobile signal and fast internet, especially in populated areas, should just be a given these days. Yet, in my experience, even living in the heart of the city, I find myself struggling with frequent signal dropouts and glacially slow mobile data. I can’t be the only one annoyed by this, right?
After troubleshooting the issue in my apartment, I realized our fancy concrete high-rise was likely blocking signals from reaching my device. Chatting with my neighbors revealed I wasn’t alone – poor indoor mobile reception was a common gripe in my building, it seems.
So Here Are My Ways To Improve Cell Phone Signals:
- Move to a Higher Ground: Signal strength tends to be better at higher elevations. Moving to an upper floor or higher ground can improve signal reception.
- Stay Near Windows: Walls and other dense materials can block signals. Being close to a window can reduce interference.
- Avoid Obstructions: Buildings, trees, and other large obstructions can weaken signals. Try to minimize these physical barriers.
- Use Wi-Fi Calling: If your phone supports it, enable Wi-Fi calling to make calls over a Wi-Fi network instead of using a cellular network.
- Remove Phone Case: Some phone cases can block signals. Try removing the case to see if it improves signal strength.
- Switch Carriers: If you consistently have poor signal, consider switching to a carrier with better coverage in your area.
- Update Your Phone: Regularly update your phone to ensure it has the latest software, which can include updates for better connectivity.
- Airplane Mode Trick: Switching to airplane mode for a few seconds and then turning it off can help your phone reconnect to a closer cell tower.
There are Various Antenna Options Available
As I’ve come to learn, there are several antenna types to choose from, depending on your needs and location. If you’re in a city like me plagued by tall buildings but still sort of get a workable indoor signal, a little omnidirectional or wide-angle antenna with about 9-15dB power boost can apparently help enormously. This style nicely catches mobile signals bouncing around urban landscapes. As long as you’re within a few kilometers radius of a transmitter tower, you should notice positive effects.
So what can you do? Adding an external antenna can help amplify weak mobile signals. Different types work best in different situations:
- In cities: If you usually get a decent signal but want maximum speed, use an omnidirectional or wide-angle antenna. They catch signals well in urban areas. A 9-15dB gain model should do the trick if you’re within 1-5 km of a cell tower.
- In cars: Omni-directional antennas work best. They pick up signals coming from all directions, which is important as your position to towers constantly changes while driving. Large directional antennas can’t be easily mounted on vehicles anyway. A 5-12dB gain omni antenna will improve reception when moving around or between cities.
A few extra tips:
- Bluetooth can drain the battery, which reduces signal strength. Turn it off when not needed.
- Disable auto updates and notifications that require a continuous data connection.
- Give your phone a break from the internet when the signal is weak to let the radio cool down and operate better.
The key is choosing the right antenna for your specific needs. For home use, you can likely set up something yourself using the guidance above. For large commercial spaces, it’s wise to get professional support to ensure proper coverage across a big area.
Have any of you tackled frustrating indoor signal problems yourselves? I’d love to hear some other success stories or antenna recommendations in the comments! Hopefully, more awareness around solutions will lead to fewer wireless woes for city dwellers relying so heavily on mobile connectivity. Our smartphones are practically extensions of ourselves these days – reliable cellular service shouldn’t be such a luxury! So, in summary – there are affordable DIY options to amplify weak mobile signals these days, whether at home or in the car. With the right antenna, you can improve call quality, prevent dropouts, and speed up mobile internet. This content was created in mutual collaboration with Sims Direct.