With so many cell towers and frequently-evolving cell phone technology, it seems like poor reception should be a thing of the past. Yet, dropping a cell phone signal remains a common problem for people every day.

Traveling across town or entering a business can cause your phone to lose reception. Sometimes it seems like there’s rhyme or reason why your phone disconnects a call—but several things can increase your chances of bad reception.

Keep reading to learn some of the most common reasons why you might experience a weak cell phone signal

Too Far From a Tower

In the earlier days of cell phone technology and expanding coverage areas, you could venture off of the main highway and immediately lose cell phone reception. How is that still a problem today?

While it’s not as much of a problem, you can still find places without a nearby cell tower. Rural areas could rely on a tower several miles away. Or worse, landlines could still be the most common method of using the phone when a cell tower hasn’t made it’s way to a remote area.

Traveling internationally can also ruin your connection with nearby towers. If your service provider doesn’t work with towers outside of the country, you might find it difficult to connect or maintain a strong signal.

Obstructions Block the Signal

Have you dropped a call in the middle of the city? Even if you’re close to a cell tower in a highly-populated area, buildings and other structures can block the signal from the tower and weaken your cell’s reception.

Walking into an elevator, entering a building, or going around the corner on a street with tall buildings can cause signal obstruction. Depending on a building’s materials, cell phone use can be completely useless while you’re inside. However, it happens outside of the city, too.

When traveling through remote areas, the lack of a nearby tower isn’t your only issue. Going through a canyon with steep walls or driving through a mountain range can cost you a steady cell phone signal. Rocks, water, trees, and dense earth can keep the signal from completing its patch from the tower to your phone.

Overcrowding

When too many people try to complete calls on the same network or tower, everyone loses. If you’ve ever been to a sporting event where it was impossible to make a call or post a selfie on your social media profile, you were probably dealing with too many people trying to use the signal at the same time.

If you notice frequent dropped calls while at your office or home, you could have the same challenge on a smaller scale. Too many employees or family members using the same cell signal can quickly overwhelm the signal and disconnect multiple users.

Mobile Repeaters can help resolve this issue. Adding a repeater to the office or your home boosts the available bandwidth. With a larger signal to work with, more users can safely make calls and use the cell service without dealing with poor reception or dropped calls.

Low Battery

A weak phone can’t hold onto a signal. If you’re not in a canyon, surrounded by tall buildings, or competing for signal space with too many other people, you might need to charge your phone.

As the power drains from the battery, your phone goes into conservation mode. You might be able to complete a few functions with low battery strength, but you’re more likely to deal with reception issues without enough power.

Bad Weather

Storms, heavy snow, and even extreme heat can affect your phone’s cell phone reception. Significant storm activity can knock out a tower or prevent it from putting out a signal. Heat or snow can impact how cell signals travel through the air.

Extreme heat or cold can also affect your phone. If you’re out in the heat and notice your phone brightness dims and it’s tough to make a phone call, take your phone inside and cool it down. When the phone returns to room temperature, it should hold a signal again.

Driving

We know it’s not safe to text and drive, but many people carry on a hands-free phone conversation while driving. Completing business on your cell phone while driving between meetings is an excellent use of your time. However, sometimes being in the car can interfere with your cell signal.

Vehicles today have different computer systems and GPS navigation. Some newer cars also have wifi. In the right mix of conditions, your vehicle’s onboard systems can interrupt your cell phone signal and drop a call.

Clutter

It might not be a hoarding issue, but too much clutter in your home or office can disrupt your cellphone’s connection to the cell tower.

If you frequently lose calls or can’t dial out, maybe it’s time to declutter! Too much stuff piled in an office or a house can obstruct the signal to your phone. Depending on the type of clutter, some materials are more likely to create a barrier to a strong cell phone signal. If you have stacks of newspapers or magazines, this can insulate the room’s interior and block a cell signal.

Materials

Drywall, glass, brick, and concrete can make it difficult for your phone to find and keep a signal. If you have a metal roof, you might never be able to make a call from inside your home.

Glass windows usually allow the signal into a room. However, too much glass or too many windows can cause the signal to bounce around and never find your phone.

Check Your Surroundings To Improve a Cell Phone Signal

It’s frustrating to suddenly lose a phone call in the middle of a conversation. If you’re unable to dial a phone number from your phone, you risk not being able to reach help if you need it. When dealing with a weak cell phone signal, check your surroundings, and adjust!

If you found this information helpful, we hope you’ll check out more of our Dragon Blogger articles!