We’ve all been there. Problems with cell reception are not uncommon, and reasons for poor cell signal are versatile, but that fact doesn’t make us feel better when the cell signal drops in the middle of an important conversation. With the decrease in landline use, we have become more dependent on our cell phones, and any fluctuation in signal reception can be anything from mildly frustrating to downright hazardous. It raises the question of what can interfere with cell phone signal and, most importantly, the question of what can we do about it?

Let’s see why this is happening and how we can save our calls and precious time. 

What are cell phone dead zones?

Cell phone dead zones are areas that get minimal to no signal at all from the cell tower. That can be a remote area, or vice versa, a busy street in the middle of New York City. So how to boost cell phone reception and how to get cell service where there is none? First of all, we have to understand the reasons behind the problem to give it an adequate solution. It can be anything from materials that block cell phone signal to location and provider problems. 

Reasons behind cell phone dead zones

1. Environmental obstacles. As we mentioned before, what causes bad cell phone reception, might just be a tall building or the building’s material, blocking your signal, or a forest, or any other obstacle big enough to affect that signal. In cities, that can be even vehicles or certain wiring materials. 

Solution:  Before traveling to a certain rural area or a city, get a dead zone map off of the internet. So if you are a Verizon client and you’re worried about a Verizon dead zone, you can search for Verizon dead zone map or use the same principle for any other provider. You can also install an app in order to have those at hand if you are a frequent traveler. Those apps are used not only to identify the dead zones but also to locate the nearest cell towers, which has actually saved more lives than you think. 

1. Remote location. This is a popular reason for signal disturbances. The signal simply has trouble reaching your phone because you are too far from the source, aka, the cell tower. We are used to getting a signal everywhere and oftentimes forget that when we are in the countryside somewhere, there’s a good chance we can be too far from the nearest tower to get any signal. And what if you want to live in a location like that and encounter that problem all the time? Now the most important question is how to boost cell phone reception in remote areas and how to get cell service in a dead zone, especially when you live there?

Solution: The most foolproof way to answer this problem is to get a cell phone booster. It will solve this issue once and for all, and give you some peace of mind. The basic principle behind it is the following: This device catches the signal from outside (however weak), enhances it, and spreads the strong signal over a certain area. It uses a carefully placed antenna system to make sure it can locate the signal coming in, and that signal is available to your devices. There are a few things to consider when you are choosing a booster.   

• Your provider. A booster uses a certain frequency (or multiple frequencies) to function, and they are tailored for a certain area, where providers use those frequencies. So make sure the device you are getting is compatible with the providers in your area. If you don’t want to be tied to a certain cell signal provider, get a broadband device to support the country’s major companies. 
• The signal you want to boost.  If we are talking about dead zones, the chances are you have both cell signal problems and mobile internet problems. There are devices that work for Cell reception, 3G, 4G, or 4G/LTE exclusively, or support all of those services at the same time. So consider that before making a final decision. 
• Coverage. The boosters in question are tailored to provide a signal for a certain area only. Depending on whether you have a problematic signal in the basement or all over a 10-acre cornfield, you’ll need different devices.  Booster coverage areas vary from a few hundred sq ft or less to 20.000 sq ft or more. 

1. Internal problems. The problems in your signal consistency can be caused by some glitches on your phone. Your device might have lost the connection with the tower or has harmful apps affecting its performance. 

Solution: If that’s the case, you might want to dig a bit deeper into your phone settings to locate and remove the problem. If there is simply too much clutter in your phone, you can remove it manually, or download a cleaning app to notify you whenever you have a build-up again.  

If your phone has trouble locating the tower, you might have to reconnect your networks manually. This is how to do that: 

In case you have an Android-powered phone, go to Settings > System/ General Management > Reset Network Settings. Every Android phone is different, but these are the general steps to take. 

If you have an iOS-powered phone, hit Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. After that, the device will ask you for a restart and then reset all of the networks and connections. 

NOTE, as this method resets all of your previous network settings, you will have to retype all of your wifi passwords and reinstall all the Bluetooth connections, as well. 

1. Weather conditions. This is one of the reasons behind fluctuations in the signal. Although this is not a very popular occurrence, it can still be quite frustrating to experience. Whether it’s rain, thick fog, or a hailstorm, weather can affect our cell phone reception. 

Solution: This one is bound to be disappointing, as there’s not much we can do to control the weather and how the signal travels through rough conditions. The only thing we can actually do is try and switch on to wifi connection and try to communicate with the outside world through wifi or use the landline if you have it. 

If you are dealing with materials that block cell phone signal or experience cell phone dead zones much more often than you’d like, don’t despair. There are ways to fix that situation. Even if you are wondering how to boost cell phone reception in remote areas, there’re ways to remedy that too. The most important thing is to do your research and be prepared! Be safe and connected with our tips, and don’t be impatient when it comes to connection diagnostics. You will definitely be able to find the reason behind the problem and successfully remove it!