10 ways to improve bad cell phone reception without signal booster
Sep 22, 2021
Try our ten tips to get that cell phone signal you need, to make or receive a call in a jiffy! None of the tips suggest anything that costs money like a cell phone signal booster.
Nowadays, we use our smartphones for a lot more than simply calling someone. We text, send emails, browse the internet, watch live media streams and use numerous apps that need a cell phone signal to work properly. The result of this is that we need good cell phone reception wherever we are, and at any time of the day or night. Whether you are at home or at work, or commuting in between, at school, university or college, out doing shopping or working out at the gym, visiting a restaurant, bar or club, or even simply taking a stroll in the park, we want our cell phones to work and have a strong, uninterrupted signal.
Unfortunately, this is often not the case and the result can be endless frustration and even anger.
Apart from using phones, we also increasingly use the cell network for our other devices such as tablets and even laptops such as ChromeBook or MacBook when we take these with us wherever we go.
What causes bad cell reception?
If you understand why cell phone signal is bad at certain places, it will help you solve the problem more easily. There are 3 main causes for bad or spotty cell phone reception:
- In rural areas, there might not be enough cell towers to cover the area you are in. If this is the case, there is unfortunately not much you can do apart from getting to an area where the cell phone reception is better.
- The quality of cell phone reception depends very strongly on there being nothing between the cell tower and your phone. The more obstacles block the signal, the bigger you problem is likely to be. In an urban area with lots of buildings and other structures, these obstacles will cause the signal to be weak, or in very bad cases, even disappear completely.
- The number of people using the signal from a cell tower at the same time has a big influence on the quality of your signal. A cell tower can typically handle from a few hundred to a few thousand users at the same time. If it suddenly has to cope with tens of thousands of users, it will not be able to cope and the result will be bad or spotty service on your phone. This would typically be the case at big events such as concerts or sporting events.
How to check how good your reception is.
I'm pretty sure we have all been on a phone call where the quality was far less than perfect, and you could hardly hear the other person. One trick we have all used is to walk around while talking, desperately trying to find a spot where we can hear properly and when we find it, freeze into a position like a statue hoping that the signal will stay clear.
Another way often used to find a spot with good reception is to check the signal bars on your phone. When you know of a specific building or place where you always battle with signal, you could walk around and try to find a place where the most signal bars show on your phone, and then always try to use that place when you make a phone call, or use the cell signal in any other way.
While both of the methods described above may have some measure of success, there is a better, easier way that can quickly be used to find the spots with the best cell reception. The signal bars on your phone are at best a very rough indication of signal strength, and each carrier uses a different scale to represent the signal strength. All phones nowadays have a function in the Settings menu that will show the cell phone signal strength in dB. "dB" ia an acronym or short form that stands for "Decibels". It is a unit of measurement for signal strength. Normally, anything between -50 dB and -95 dB is a good working signal. Closer it is to zero, the stronger the signal strength. If your signal strength however falls below - 95 dB, you're likely to get spotty service, or even a complete dead zone.
10 Ways to Improve Cell Phone Reception without Signal Booster:
Tip #1: Don't move around when using the cell network.
When you move around, the phone and network constantly have to adjust to cater for your changing location. This makes it much more difficult to obtain and hold onto strong signals.
Tip #2: Remove the case on your phone.
If you have a case on your phone, removing it might improve the signal. A case could block the cell signal and prevent it from reaching the phone's internal antenna. If you check the dB reading in a specific location and then remove the case, you will be able to see if it improves the reception.
Tip #3: Don’t block the internal antenna with your hand.
Unlike older phones where the antenna was outside the phone and clearly visible, new phones use internal antennas. As it is possible to block the signal depending on how you hold the phone, be aware of your hand's position on the phone while using it. Experimenting with different positions might improve reception.
Tip #4: Get away from obstructions.
As buildings and structures block cell signals, going outside might improve reception. If you are outside, an open area like a park will make it easier for the cell signal to reach you.
Tip #5: Keep your battery charged atleast 25%.
A phone needs enough power in order to utilize the cell signal. If your battery is low, there might simply not be enough power for the phone to acquire and hold the signal.
Tip #6: Change location.
The cell signal will be different in different parts of the same building. Moving to another part of the office or home might give you better reception. Try the reception at different windows, as a window will not block the signal as much as a wall would. An open window would be best if weather permits, because glass can also reduce reception signals - Especially Low Emission (Low-E) windows.
Tip #7: Move to a higher position.
Higher positions, be it within a building, or on a hill outside, will reduce the probability of obstructions blocking the cell signal. Finding the highest point in your immediate surroundings and moving there might improve reception dramatically.
Tip #8: Use WiFi.
All smartphones allow WiFi calling and texting nowadays, and this is supported by all major cell carriers in the U.S. There are many messaging apps available that will allow you to do audio and video calling. If the cell reception at your location is bad, and you have access to strong WiFi coverage, switching to WiFi might solve your problem.
Tip #9: Identify the nearest cell tower.
If you know where the nearest cell tower is, you know where the signal is coming from. This will help you identify which side of the building is nearest to the tower and this is where you’re most likely to get a good signal. If you’re outside, try to move to a position where there are no obstructions between you and the tower.
Tip #10: Try switching between 2G, 3G and 4G.
Different networks will have different signal strengths at a specific location. Experiment by switching between the networks to see which one works best for where you are. How you switch between networks will be different for different carriers and phone models. Go to "Settings", and choose "Networks" in most cases and you will be able to choose 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE.
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28 comments
These 10 tips on improving bad cell phone reception are still useful—even though this was posted in 2017. Wi-Fi calling is always a good option for me but I never use Wi-Fi at a restaurant or bookstore because I’m concerned about safety. The only option that won’t work now is switching from 3G to 2G because I don’t think either generation is supported now.
Each mobile phone company uses different frequencies. Your phone may receive only some of those frequencies. Before changing companies check which frequencies are being used by your company at the closest mobile tower. Then check your phone’s frequencies, Google “gsamarena (your phone model)” Look at network info for your model in your country. See if frequencies match. If you are thinking of changing mobile phone provider check what frequencies that provider uses. If you have an old phone changing phones may be the solution. Even a cheap new phone may be a satisfactory solution. These differences can also explain why members of your household get different signal strengths using different model phones.
You ask “Guess I know better now. I’m confused though about finding the nearest cell tower. How exactly do you do that?” How do you find the nearest tower? It’s actually not hard at all. There are apps that can help find nearest cell tower. This article lists them all along with good tips: https://www.signalbooster.com/blogs/news/how-to-find-cell-tower-locations-near-me
Tips #1 (don’t move) and #9 are intriguing. I always thought you had to move around when you have a bad signal. Guess I know better now. I’m confused though about finding the nearest cell tower. How exactly do you do that? I imagine that would be good information in general, and especially when you can’t get a strong signal.
A cell phone signal booster can be a great fix. However, you need a 24-7 internet connection and if you have a loss of power or power outage you will be out of luck, until power is restored.
Once when remote in the Australian outback I attached my cell phone to the end of my 4m beach fishing rod to get 1 bar of reception and hotspot it to the camp site. This allowed everyone to use messenger or whatsapp.
i live in the north where the signal is weak, at my cabin i use my tin Dish wash basin and point it to the closest town or tower (Guessing) holding the phone in front of the basin about 12" to 18" if you are on the edge of the signal you will get a stronger signal. you just have to move the basin around till you find the sweet spot. A TV sateleite Dish works even better, i went from 1 bar to 3 bars by using a Dish to concentrate the signal to my phone, could even watch videos.
A funny comment I’ve read. Phones are damn epidemic? Nice joke. People survive in emergencies without phone? You’re kidding right? Then dont use phone when you’re in need of ambulance, dont use phone when someone is already dying in your family and dont use phone when you’re in need to communicate with your love ones. Let’s see if your so called ‘can live without phone’ will Last.
I’ll tell y’all what, I just stumbled across this article looking for a booster to put in my shop for my employee’s, for business purposes because it is needed,,,,,, car’s, boat’s, RV’s, holy moly in a world where everybody walks around with the face jammed in there phone is there ever a break from it, Jesus I can’t believe that it’s something that so many people are worried sick about it seems, put the damn thing away I’m the glove box of whatever, it’ll be ok I’ll guarantee it, and please don’t say what about an emergency, really, people made it for years without cell phones, and if that’s is your thing by an old flip phone it’ll work when all the towers are tied up or hit the 911 button in your car, good lord so many people cannot survive without a frickin cell phone. The invention of the cell phone is what caused everybody to go haywire, it put everybody in hurry gotta have it now mode, it made people non-reliant, no more giving somebody your word from a landline then having no choice but to keep it, cell phones and texting gives people the easy way out, anybody can say anything via text, then you have google, hey I got it, let’s all just quit learning things because we got google, kids are so much different these days because of cell phones and I don’t think that it’s completely come all of the way around yet to where the good old way is completely removed from the way good things use to be, it’s truly sad, I just come back from a hunting trip in Argentina, it was one of those amazing places where time was still really time, it felt as if it almost stood still compared to anywhere with cell phone service, I’m sure there will be those who say after reading this I’m crazy, and that’s fine I guess, I remember the rotary phone and how it use to be, find a place in the world that’s up to par almost with the rest but lacking cell phone service and see the difference In people’s attitudes, there nice people, nice to each other, because they don’t have there homies on speed dial and no one else matters to them, cell phones are a damn epidemic.
I will agree that there is a place for a cell phone In the day we live in, I think that there needs to be a whole week where everyone has to put down there cell phone, turn off the signal, just to remind people that life is much more deeper, there is more to it than google, texting, cell games and speed dial…….
Thanks……
Rlrocket3
If you lose your smart phone in a non-cellular range can you find your smart phone using the GPS in it. I Will state it differently this time say your phone is stolen smart phone and it is not in a cell tower range can it be located. If so how do you do that.
Thanks
I live about a half mile from a Verizon tower, I can even see it from my front and back yard yet I have a really crummy signal.
We get poor reception all the time. There are three cell phone towers one mile away. It doesn’t matter if we are inside or outside, the reception is the same. I have to have a cell phone just in case for emergency, but the reception from Sprint is horrible. The one day I went to the tex store, thinking it was my phone, & they told me they were having trouble with the tower. Then a couple of days later, I received a message the tower was fixed. But it still didn’t approve my reception. When we go to my husband’s parents, we don’t have service at all. They live in an open area, & a tower is right up the mountain, you can see it from their place. This is ridiculous.
Well, I live off grid in the desert (next to a major freeway) I have 2 towers on the mountain in my yard. I had perfect service from ATT but I was tired of the bill so I switched to Verizon. I got the new iPhone XS Max. I now do not have a signal at my home. Whomp Whomp. Ok, so I’m offered the free service extender, here’s the problem, you have to have WiFi in order to use it. Again, I live in the desert… I’m off grid, only solar power, I’m not paying $60 a month for satellite WiFi just to use my phone. Super disappointing, as I stated before, ATT was perfect service. I can switch back but I lost my grandfathered plan…don’t rely on Verizon coverage maps either, not accurate.
Will all of these tips work well on my Samsung Galaxy 7?
Tip #6 (moving to another location) is another example of how cell phones can drive people batty. You’re in one room and you can’t get a signal for anything, but you move to another room and the situation is fine. Why? Usually because there’s some sort of interference in the room reducing your signal (such as other users, windows, walls, etc.) which is why it works better in the other room. A cell phone booster can make for a better signal throughout the house or apartment because it strengthens the signal throughout the house. That’s an option to consider too.
These are good tips, but it’s important that people know how to check their phone’s signal strength. If you look at your bars only, you’re going to get an inaccurate reading because signal bars are just plain unreliable. The best way to check your signal (as this blog points out) is to check your cell phone’s signal strength in dB’s (decibels). This will give you the true indication of what strength signal your phone is receiving. As noted in the blog, the best dB readings are anything -50 and below (although as noted, -50 to -95 is good too). So, the next time you run into a problem and you think your signal strength is weak, don’t look at the bars. Instead, go to settings, find cell phone signal strength, and note the readout. That way, you can see if you need to do any of the suggestions listed here. You don’t have to buy a cell phone amplifier, but remember it’s a permanent fix to bad cell phone signals.
It’s unbelievable how many tricks there are for helping to improve your cell phone reception without getting a booster (although they sound pretty helpful). I’ve sometimes asked myself how can I boost my cell phone signal at home, but didn’t know there are so many options. I didn’t know the causes of these problems so now that I do, some of the solutions make perfect sense. Even when I do get a cell phone booster, these will come in handy for times when I’m not at home such as going to the mall, attending a concert, or visiting a friend’s home. This was an informative article and I can’t wait to employ these different methods.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE USING THE SIGNAL FROM A CELL TOWER AT THE SAME TIME HAS A BIG INFLUENCE ON THE QUALITY OF YOUR SIGNAL. I think anyone who’s been in a storm can relate to this. I remember being stuck in a blizzard and it was almost impossible to get through on my cell phone (I’m sure the weather didn’t help either as I hear weather conditions can affect cell phone reception). I didn’t have a cell phone booster in my car at the time and I didn’t know about any of these tips for fixing bad reception. I think I’m going to print these and give them to my family because everyone runs into cell phone issues and not everyone knows the major benefits of cell phone boosters.
Just when I think I know every tip, you guys come up with a new one. I had no idea removing the cell phone case could help you get a better signal. You need all the help you can get today because phones seem to be doing so much more and everyone around you is using the cell phone signal. While I don’t have a cell phone booster right now, it sounds like a permanent fix for someone experiencing dropped calls or poor data speeds on a regular basis. By the way, speaking of Wi-Fi video apps, I hear there are ones you can use when your traveling overseas so you can call without any extra charge. If you’re going away, I would definitely look into these, particularly in countries that have good Wi-Fi.
I didn’t know there are so many ways how to boost your cell phone signal strength for free. I have heard about trying to go to higher ground to get a signal (or seen people holding their phones up over their heads). I’ve definitely had success going outside because something seems to interfere with my signals. I didn’t know the reasons why though—cell phone signals are weakened and/or blocked by things like what a house is made of, from other radio signals, and from outside terrain. Thanks for posting about how to test your signal too. I will have to try that the next time I’m making an important phone call. The cell phone boosters look interesting too for a more permanent fix to the problem of weak signals.
This is a good question because everyone has had a dropped call before or a music download that takes longer than the artist took to record and produce the song. Why are cell phones so powerful yet so weak at the same time? Cell phones have been around since the 1980’s I believe, but they still have issues getting clear call quality, fast download speeds, and of course, solid connectivity. It’s good to know there are tricks you can use to tweak your phone’s power and that there are cell phone boosters for people looking for a permanent solution to the problem. I have to look to see whether I want a cell phone signal booster for my home first or my car. I think I use them in both locations about the same amount of time. Any suggestions?
My new car comes with a cell phone booster in it. Do I need to do anything before I use it?
You’re getting angrier by the second as you talk on your cellphone. How many times does the person on the other end have to say, “What did you say?” The static in the call or worse yet—the multiple dropped calls are enough to drive anyone up a tree. The problem is that the cell phone towers send out signals to our phones, thus allowing us to make calls, text, and download items like songs or movies. However, if the cell phone tower is far away, or there are things interfering with the signal like terrain or the make-up of the structure you’re in, you can have problems. Sometimes, you can solve your problems by switching to airplane mode then back to normal; going outside (less interference); or just standing still (that way the signal isn’t trying to find your phone while you’re walking around). You can also get a cell phone booster which really strengthens your signal. Chances are, you’ll never have any issues with your cell phone once you do this.
Oh wow, I didn’t realize so many things could affect your cell phone signal. I wondered why sometimes my phone would work perfectly fine one minute then the next not work quite right when I had a “full signal bar” available. I’ll have to give these a try next time the issue comes up.