There are lots of technologies available to help boost your cell phone signal. You could install a signal booster, set up a cell to VoIP antenna, or hop carriers. Which option is right for you depends on your specific situation. We’ll help you decide the best decision for you and your calling habits.
Signal Booster
Using a signal booster, you can improve the cellular reception in your car, home, or office. There are a range of models and options to choose from, but they all work basically the same way. These devices relay the signal between your phone and the cellular tower. This can be a simple repeater or a smart signal booster. The difference is that a repeater will just repeat anything it receives. On the other hand, a smart signal booster will clean up the incoming signal before forwarding it. This can improve call quality while boosting your signal.
Cell to VoIP
Similar to a signal booster, there is a range of devices you can purchase to pickup your cellular signal and transmit your call over the internet. This is a good option when you have a broadband connection in an area with poor cellular reception. However, rural areas will commonly have poor cellular service and lack high-speed internet service. Also, if you’re going to use VoIP, why would you pay for a cell phone bill? You can save a lot of money by switching to a VoIP service and forwarding your calls to your cell phone when you’re away from your home or office.
Switch Carriers
Depending on where you live, the carrier with the most national coverage may not be the best choice for you. It’s much more important to have coverage where you live and work than to simply cover a large part of the country where you don’t typically make your calls. Before switching carriers, always check their sites to see if you’ll get service in your area. T-Mobile has a dedicated page of its coverage maps, with with a zip code finder and detailed information about its network’s range. It also offers a no-contract service that allows you to switch carriers easily if your calls are dropped too frequently.
Deciding What To Do
Now that you see the options you have, you’re probably wondering what you should do. Unfortunately, there’s no one answer for all situations. With some troubleshooting, you can figure out what’s right for your needs. Begin by using your phone to map out the signal strength in your area. If you’re having too many dropped calls at work or at home, take your phone on a tour of that location. Note the places where your signal drops below two bars, or cuts out entirely.
Finding the Signal
If you have at least two bars near a window, you could focus on making and receiving your calls in that area. Simply moving your home office or repositioning your desk can make a big difference in cellular reception. Ensuring that you’re not blocking your phone with your hand or pointing the antenna away from the location with the best reception can also help. If none of these options work, you can consider installing a signal booster. Most of these devices will need to be setup in a location with at least two bars of service.
Jumping Networks the Right Way
Don’t make the mistake of jumping out of a contract with poor reception at home only to find that your new contract has poor reception at work. Instead, you should focus on the no-contract plans that allow you to easily switch if the service doesn’t meet your needs. These pay-as-you-go plans will usually offer the most competitive plans because customers can easily switch services at any time. For this reason, they also tend to offer the best coverage.