Reception on cell phones

[LPS]

This has been bugging the heck out of me.  I have had an Iphone 5 for 2 or 3 years and I like it.  Well lately my reception at home has been weak to say the least.  2 bars is the best I ever get and 1 is more common.  I have to walk around the house to get a phone call through at times.  I live right across the river from Rainy River ON.  Well I called Verizon today and talked to a tech.  Seemed like a good guy and I could understand him.  He said I could get a booster for $250 and they work "pretty good" or I could upgrade my phone to at least an Iphone 6 S or 7.  He said those phones have a reception device in them that will use your high speed internet to pick up the signal whenever it gets below 3 or 4 bars.  When you leave home it goes back to the regular.  We have a wireless router and high speed internet so I am good to go.  The I 5 picked up wifi fine but they do not use the internet to improve the reception.  We shall see....  I ordered it today.  Just thought this may be an issue for some of you guys.

[glenn57]

the union phone i use is also thru verizon. other then a spot here and there i usually get good reception......except when i'm up at the cabin. i have a few spots i can use it without my bluetooth otherwise i have to use the bluetooth and leave the phone in one certain particular spot. but we seem to be in an area thats a low area.

[Steve-o]

What did you order, the booster or the iPhone 7?

[mike89]

about 8 to 10 years ago I had Verizon with same receptions issues.  went to AT&T no more issues at home, but now I issues with it in other places.  one can't win I think so I'll be reading this thread.

[glenn57]

when my boss, our business manager took over the office he went to verizon for our cell phone provider based on information that verizon hadthe best coverage overall...............he lives in the boonies south of mandan north dakota!

[mike89]

where I live it's 10 miles any direction to a Verizon tower.  AT&T tower is 1 mile away, so no brainer, went them cause of the wife being home.

[LPS]

I decided to order the Iphone 7 Stevo.  When he looked at the map he said the closest tower to me was 6 miles.  My phone seems to work everywhere but at home.  Seems like they program them to get funky after 2 years doesn't it???  I will update you on how much the new one works.. (or better work)

[snow1]

Good point LPS,going into my 2nd year with my droid2,things are starting to happen already...funny how that works.

[glenn57]

Well there's always the green acres method!!!

[Steve-o]

[Jerkbiat]

I am on year 2 with my droid turbo. Keeping my fingers crossed, but still seems to be working good. With the last system update we were able to start using wifi calling. Seems to be working pretty good. We have verizion. Phones always work good outside, but in the house with the steel roof not so good. The wifi definitely improved it. Good luck LPS!

[glenn57]

Think I'm on year 5 with my Droid!

[Reinhard]

I had Verizon for many years.  Worked good in most places except up north.  Our friends who own a resort up on the Ash River used AT&T and got great reception.  I could not get anything up there with Verizon the whole week up there until I got to Orr on the way back.  So I switched over to AT&T.  I get great reception everywhere for the most part.  Especially up north which is important to me.  All the way up the north shore and the Arrowhead area that I have been so far.  good luck.

[Boar]

no problem here, i started with cell2000, 21 yeqrs ago they went to cell 1 the verizon. except for a dead zone here and ther. ive not had a problem. got a droid. the only thing i dont like, is when im at south tip of buffalo onLOW and the reception hits the closet tower wilhich is a canada based tower, then im roaming.  so i switch it to home. or i call and bi ch if i get hit with roaming fees

[glenn57]

I had Verizon for many years.  Worked good in most places except up north.  Our friends who own a resort up on the Ash River used AT&T and got great reception.  I could not get anything up there with Verizon the whole week up there until I got to Orr on the way back.  So I switched over to AT&T.  I get great reception everywhere for the most part.  Especially up north which is important to me.  All the way up the north shore and the Arrowhead area that I have been so far.  good luck.

but reiny? isnt that the reason we head north? to get away from phones and the rat race in general???????????

i hear ya though!!!!!!!!!

[Gunner55]

I get the same reception everywhere I go......................................... cause I don't have a cell phone! I heard recently that Verizon just put up a new tower just south of us here. On hwy 46 down by GDP

[glenn57]

I get the same reception everywhere I go......................................... cause I don't have a cell phone! I heard recently that Verizon just put up a new tower just south of us here. On hwy 46 down by GDP

Hmmmm..........doesnt do us any good! confused-3316.gif confused-3316.gif so the one they talked about around the bowstring airport didnt pan out????????????

[Steve-o]

I decided to order the Iphone 7

What would you have said to me if I told you in 1977 that you would pay over $700 for a phone in 2017?

[Gunner55]

Didn't know they were talkin about 1 over there. I'll have to ask them over at the store & see what they say. Seen the construction starting on 46 but didn't know what it was until we did the ditch cleanup , 1 of the neighbors was complaining about Verizon coverage & was hoping the new tower would take care of it.

[Reinhard]

Glen, yes that's why I go up north for sure.  But I also want to have the ability to call someone in case I need help in a emergency.  I'm 68 and to me that's not old but I want that ability in case I need it for me, family, or friends if needed.  Plus I'm kind of a Picture taker and like to send photo's to the family and friends of where I am and of fish if I get some ect.  Had a tough time with Verizon with that up there.  We complained to Verizon and they told me about the booster stuff but I'm not paying for that.  So I changed to AT&T.  Hopefully Verizon builds more towers up there.  I liked them in general but I needed coverage up there.  These phones are great also to check the weather while in the wilderness.  Look at the radar a lot for storms for example.  good luck.

[LPS]

I decided to order the Iphone 7

What would you have said to me if I told you in 1977 that you would pay over $700 for a phone in 2017?

I would have said you were completely off your rocker....

[glenn57]

i agree 100% reiny. with my job i cant be to far from a phone for to long either unfortunately!!!!!!!!!!! and as we grow older ............ confused-3316.gif

[LPS]

12 years ago when I moved up here I had a flip phone.  I had to have a car antenna hooked up to my curtain rod here in my office to get reception.  A buddy of mine who lived by Madison Mn at the time called me a lot and vice versa that first month.  He called me one day all pissed off cuz her got his phone bill and it was about $400 for that month cuz we were bouncing off the Canadian towers.  Well he called Verizon and they dropped the charges.  I thought it was sort of funny....  Then a couple of days later I got the phone bill and it was about $400.  I didn't think it was funny then...  lol  I had to get an updated phone that had the home thing so it wouldn't do the Canada thing.  They dropped my charges too.  So here I am 12 years later still upgrading to make it all work......   

[Rebel SS]

   

[Steve-o]

We had bad cell reception on a deer hunting trip.  One guy figured out that if he stood next to a disconnected satelite TV dish and put the phone near the center, the dish boosted the signal enough for us to make calls.

Turns out this is a real thing.  Its kind of the digital-age equivalent of the Green Acres method.

https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-boost-your-cell-phone-signal-with-a-satellite-dish

[LPS]

great idea....