Cellular signals have revolutionized the way people communicate with each other. The current technology available has changed the whole aspect of communication. From simple SMS messages, the world has moved on to instant messengers accessible right from a smartphone. Browsing the internet even has become more convenient since the advent of smartphones. It is hardly surprising that people have become accustomed to this convenient connectivity made available to them. It is frustrating, however, when people face cellular signal problems.
One of these problems is a cellular dead zone where no signal can get through to. According to Pew Research, it is one of the most frustrating problems reported by cell phone users. Due to the nature of cellular signals and the benefits, it is not limited to making calls either. Everything from surfing the net, to sharing files and video calls to sending important emails are blocked off due to dead zones.
However dead zones could be the result of multiple factors, and depending on the cause, the solutions might involve something quite easy like a mobile signal booster to some truly complicated procedures.
Causes For Dead Zones or Dead Signal
Building Materials
All types of radio signals are always at risk of being blocked by building materials, and modern buildings are oftentimes hard to penetrate. The construction materials of most buildings nowadays are one of the leading reasons for dead zones in buildings.
Modern houses use materials that aims towards durability and efficiency. This however results in radio signals weakening significantly before reaching any smartphones or cellular devices. Materials like concrete, insulation of any kind, wood, and modern high-efficiency glass can contribute to blocking or weakening all cell signals.
If these obstructions are thick, signals may completely be stopped from reaching inwards thus resulting in dead zones.
Distance From Cell Towers affect Signal
Cell towers are responsible for transmitting and receiving signals to and from cell phones. They are the only reasons cell phones can communicate with each other. This is why it matters how far the nearest cell tower is located. Most people don’t know this, but signal strength gradually decreases the further away the tower is.
Taking into account other factors, like geographic locations such as mountains and forests, the network strength might weaken enough to result in a dead zone.
This kind of problem is also usually faced in rural areas, where phone companies prefer not to build a tower due to a lack of customers.When switching between towers this problem is further worsened. This occurs especially when on the move between locations with the closest towers far away.
Usually, this switch is seamless and doesn’t result in any interruptions. However, due to long distances, the switch can interrupt signal reception, resulting in dropped signals and temporary losses in service.
Too many users and devices connecting to one tower
Dead zones aren’t always created in rural areas either. Sometimes due to the high number of cell subscribers, cell towers aren’t able to manage properly. This is why living in a densely populated area doesn’t necessarily mean there’s an advantage in regards to cell signals.
For example, if attending a concert or a sporting event, with the number of people attending these, there’s a high chance that people will encounter poor signal quality or no signal at all.
After all, each cell tower has limited bandwidth, so when there are too many users using the same cell tower at the same time, even though the phone may show bars, it won’t be possible to make calls or browse the web.
Efficient Glass Windows
In residential buildings, when people lose signals, or encounter dropped calls, they usually move next to a window to catch any stray signals. After all, it would make sense to get closer to a window where there is less blockage, to nothing at all blocking the cellular signals.
Nowadays, however, modern housing uses a kind of efficient window which contains a type of metal oxide coating to prevent light from entering. Unfortunately, this also repels cellular signals from getting in. This is why, getting close to them, won’t help with better signals at all.
Go For Workarounds or A Proper Solution?
Cell phones aren’t usually on a constant search for better cell signals. That would effectively drain the battery at a quicker rate. When in a dead zone there are ways to ‘fix’ the situation, however, but more often than not, these ‘solutions’ do not guarantee to work.
When it comes to the proper solution, there are usually only two, live in an empty field close to a cell tower, or get a mobile network booster for home installed. Yes, signal amplifiers get a bad reputation sometimes because people have been fooled in the past.
Nowadays however, the use of signal boosters is almost everywhere, at least primarily by carriers themselves. When it comes to escaping from dead zones, a signal booster is the only effective solution anyone can go for. Of course, there’s never a scarcity of workarounds for anyone to use.
When it comes to workarounds, there are quite a few, but with varying degrees of success. Also it depends on different circumstances for workarounds to fix them and may not fix a dead zone at all. For instance, if there are multiple cell towers nearby, toggling the Airplane mode could help switch the towers nearby, or look for one that is more responsive.
On the other hand, a sim with scratches or dirt on it can make signals unreliable. In which case, cleaning the sim, or getting a new one is the only answer. Sometimes, even changing from 4G to 3G can help get back online, or at least gain the ability to get calls again. Of course, that would mean sacrificing better quality for the sake of connectivity.
Signal Amplifier to Boost Connectivity
It is of course not a sustainable solution to go after workarounds, which of course come with limited success rates. For long-lasting interruption-free and seamless connectivity, a signal amplifier is the best solution any cell phone user should go for.
It is applicable for both residential places, where people might be using cellular data for calls, streaming series or playing games, or at workplaces, for connecting systems together for work use. After all, why go stutter at high-speed cellular data, when it can be eliminated for everyone’s benefit?
