Testing cell signal strength

[denchen]

I understand that leaves on trees will cut down signal strength. Perhaps a look to see where the transmitter is, then check if any trees are in the way might be the easy way to go.

 

[oosik]

If I have a really important call to make. Bite the bullet - drive into town where I will get four bars.

And "they" say technology is improving our life - HA!!!! Technology can be a REAL PITA.

 

[SouthernSky]

I understand that leaves on trees will cut down signal strength. Perhaps a look to see where the transmitter is, then check if any trees are in the way might be the easy way to go.

I have a 300’ tower less than 1/2 mile from me. It is nothing but woods between me and the tower. I’m positive I’m on that tower, but I only get 1-2 bars at best. So I don’t know if my issue is woods or if I’m just too close to the tower and the cell signal is broadcast out above me.

I miss the 3 watt bag phone. These new phones are .6 watt

 

[denchen]

I have a 300’ tower less than 1/2 mile from me. It is nothing but woods between me and the tower. I’m positive I’m on that tower, but I only get 1-2 bars at best. So I don’t know if my issue is woods or if I’m just too close to the tower and the cell signal is broadcast out above me.

I miss the 3 watt bag phone. These new phones are .6 watt

It might be an idea to stand in a fixed spot and check the signal strength. Then later when the leaves fall, go to the same spot and check again, and perhaps after a good rain [wet leaves]. If the signal is affected by the trees, I would guess all networks would suffer the same. 1/2 mile, you should have a good signal, I would have thought.

 

[Torvy]

We have had Verizon for years. Before that, we briefly had AT&T. Part of our decision on what property to buy was that we could get a good signal. We are 7 miles from the nearest town and about 15 from a big highway.

You should not need to switch phones for a new carrier, but ymmv.

I'd prefer to have a different carrier, but we haven't had problems with Verizon.

 

[SouthernSky]

It might be an idea to stand in a fixed spot and check the signal strength. Then later when the leaves fall, go to the same spot and check again, and perhaps after a good rain [wet leaves]. If the signal is affected by the trees, I would guess all networks would suffer the same. 1/2 mile, you should have a good signal, I would have thought.

I tried that last winter but it was before they upgraded the antennas on the tower. The 4GLTE antennas don’t actually have 360 degree coverage, more like 320, and I’m in the open spot between radiuses.

 

[ponytug]

I have a 300’ tower less than 1/2 mile from me. It is nothing but woods between me and the tower. I’m positive I’m on that tower, but I only get 1-2 bars at best. So I don’t know if my issue is woods or if I’m just too close to the tower and the cell signal is broadcast out above me.

I miss the 3 watt bag phone. These new phones are .6 watt

I have put cell phone amplifiers in my cars a couple of times. That bumps you up to 5W for some units. That really makes a difference.

All the best,

Peter

 

[techman]

try the phone app Network Cell Info Lite. It will tell you the signal strength of the connected cell.

paul

 

[SouthernSky]

My average is between -101 and -115db. I test all the time, the lower number during the winter months when the oaks have shed their leaves.

 

[TheMan419]

I changed carriers for the same reason. I went from Virgin (Bell) to Koodo (Telus) and get the exact same worthless coverage. I have to use Wifi in the house but outside I'm lucky if I get one bar. I tried using the phone with no wifi and there's only one spot I get reception and even there I have to lean over my kitchen sink and not move. Dropped calls, missed texts, no picture downloads etc.
Come to find out after installing a cell strength program that also highlights the towers used, they both have the same tower.

We put up a point to point system to get internet out to our barn. The receiving end is actually an outdoor wifi extender like this https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Wire...8228&sprefix=out+door+wifi,aps,90&sr=8-3&th=1

It would need to be hardwired into your router but would give good coverage for several hundred feet around its location. Ours is about 300 feet from the house and it gives good signal back at the house. So we have a nice Wifi island around the barn. It also has an ethernet port on it so we drop the signal into the metal building and use it in there for security cameras.

Once I get around to setting up the outside cameras on the house they will all "see" that device and use it to connect to my network.