Mobile phones are the perfect way to stay in touch with your loved ones with a sense of security. Through the years, they have become a necessity for everyone all over the world. It doesn’t just allow placing and receiving calls but also storing data, taking photos and videos, and many other features.
In buildings like hospitals, where emergencies frequently take place, a weak cell phone signal might lead to problems. In most cases, in-building wireless solutions may solve this issue.
Causes of Bad Cell Signals Inside Buildings
1. Proximity to One or More Towers
Cell phone signals are transferred from towers and travel to your phone through the air. Almost all cities have mobile phone towers anywhere, so people living in the city have more access to better mobile phone signals. While service providers encounter issues in some cases, the main reason for a weak or dead signal in the rural areas is the lack of towers.
2. Thick Building Materials
Construction materials used in structures are most likely the reason for “dead zones” in the cities. Concrete, steel, and even insulated glass can avoid signals from penetrating a building. Other possible obstructions include trees, mountains, or other buildings.
If your building is not close to a tower, mobile signals could be poor. Unfortunately, old buildings have thick walls that often result in signal problems. Whereas many new buildings are thickly insulated, so drafts and cell phone signals can penetrate. In the US, a building code called the International Fire Code (IFC), Section 10, says there should be approved radio coverage for emergency responders inside buildings.
How to Boost Mobile Signals Inside Your Building
After finding out where and what the problem is, the next thing to do is amplify the signal. You may consider the following steps:
Do It Yourself Signal Boosters
Big buildings may require advanced solutions from professionals, such as IFC 510 – Diversified Electronics. For small offices, try these simple steps:
- Try resetting your cell phone to force reconnection.
- Go outside and check if the signal is better. If nothing changes, there may be some issues with your service provider.
- Inspect your phone’s performance and ensure that it’s performing at its best. Make sure that you have the most recent software updates.
- Consider removing or replacing your phone’s case since it can sometimes block your phone’s antenna.
- If you can, try WiFi calling.
- Switch to 3G network. If you’re using 4g LTE, it may be congested, causing your data speed to weaken.
- Try switching carriers if your signal improves. Just make sure that the cause is your service carrier because a new carrier isn’t going to solve your problems.
Invest in Mobile Signal Boosters
Mobile boosters are devices that improve mobile signals to strengthen cellular coverage in areas with weak signals, including tunnels, inside of buildings, trains, and rural areas. It’s important that they’re properly installed to avoid interference to a range of calls, especially emergency and 911 calls.
Nowadays, a lot of workplaces utilize mobile phones and other web applications and software such as skype, slack, etc., for business transactions. When the signal is dead, it can greatly affect their business. Mobile signal boosters can help:
- Reduce dropped calls
- Increase data speeds
- Improve quality
