The modern world is more connected and online than ever before. And there are few things more dreadful than the "No Service" notification or one bar of coverage, especially if you're running a business. If your calls are frequently dropping or you're experiencing agonizingly slow data speeds, it's a case of poor signal strength.
According to a Pew survey, about 75% of American adults experience dropped calls and slow speed. But what causes poor signal strength?
Your connectivity issues can stem from an older mobile phone, a network with poor coverage, or faulty and outdated wireless routers and equipment. They can also result from a faraway cell tower or congested bandwidth. Read on to find out the causes of poor signal strength and how suitable external antennas or a signal booster can give you reliable signal strength.
Top Causes of Poor Signal Strength
From the distance to the cell tower to your wireless equipment, numerous factors can cause poor signal strength. Here are the top causes of spotty signals and how to troubleshoot them.
Distance To Closest Cell Tower
The primary factor that impacts your signal strength is your distance from a cell tower. The cell phone signal weakens the farther it travels, leading to poor connection. While you would have plenty of cell towers nearby in a city, the more isolated, rural areas tend to struggle for solid reception.
You can find resources and cell tower guides online to locate the closest tower quickly.
Large structures can block the cell signal, and the high density of buildings and walls in an urban cityscape can cause poor signal strength. Trees, hills, mountains, and even weather can disrupt the signal too. Any of these obstructions between your home and the nearest cell tower can weaken the signal that reaches your devices.
Congested or High Traffic Radio Signals
Much like all the vehicles on the road during rush hour, high internet traffic can slow down your connection. Suppose more people are using the network than it can handle. You will experience slow connection speeds, faulty internet connections, endless buffering, or other signs of a slow network.
The cell tower and the corresponding network can handle only so many calls and data transfers simultaneously. Multiple active devices that are consuming bandwidth will cause congestion. Extremely high traffic can lead to unexpected upswings in network traffic, jamming up the network and causing dropped calls or overburdened data signals that can't connect to the internet. The nearest tower may hand the overload to towers farther away from you.
Wireless Router and Wireless Equipment
Faulty or old wireless routers and equipment can be a reason for poor signal strength and disrupted Wi-Fi networks. They can be prone to firmware crashes that cause connectivity issues. A possible solution is power cycling the router to refresh the system and reset any firmware crashes.
To power cycle the equipment:
- Power down your router.
- Unplug the AC adapter from the power source.
- Wait for at least 30 seconds, plug the adapter back in, and turn it on.
- Allow the Wi-Fi signal indicator to stabilize.
Often, the solution is even simpler. If the Roku signal strength is poor, moving the device closer to your router could help.
If troubleshooting doesn't work, consider upgrading to a modern network device. Older routers may not be up to the latest standards (802.11ac/Wi-Fi 5) or cannot provide dual-band support for 2.4 GHz and 5GHz networks. Similarly, upgrade the antenna to a higher-gain, more powerful one for better efficiency, speed, and range.
Your Mobile Network Has Bad Coverage
If you haven't had signal issues before, and your wireless router and equipment are up-to-date, your mobile network could be the problem.
For example, if you think the poor signal strength of Verizon in your region is the cause of dropped calls, switching to another provider might get you better service. It's sometimes possible to change networks with a text and even retain your existing phone number. You can also use several resources and coverage checkers to learn if changing the network will provide better signal strength.
By opting for a pay-as-you-go SIM, you can add some credit and try out various mobile networks and their coverage in your area. Try until you find the provider with the best speeds.
Sudden issues with your service could also mean a tower is in disrepair or something is wrong with the network.
Certain Mobile Phones
An older mobile phone could also lead to signal issues. Carriers often add frequencies to their networks, and your phone may not connect to the newest frequency.
As technology standards for cellular networks improve, older iPhone and Android phones become outdated. Your older 3G phone won't be able to tap into 4G LTE or 5G networks and will experience poor reception. Or worse, with carriers phasing out 3G, your phone might not get any reception.
It can occasionally be a software issue. While your phone's hardware helps you communicate with cell towers through frequency bands, the software guides the process and the performance. So it's essential to check for software updates. Not only do these updates patch security gaps, remove bugs, and enhance performance, but they can also improve cell phone reception.
Ready To Fix Your Connectivity Issues?
Your mobile phone, network provider, wireless equipment, and the distance from the cell tower can all interfere with the cell signal. By using a better exterior antenna, you can experience a stronger signal and dramatically increased speed. The right antenna can work wonders.
Or opt for a signal booster that can amplify cellular signals within a given area to achieve higher data speeds and an extended range of coverage with fewer drops. Check out Novotech's range of signal boosters from major manufacturers such as Cel-Fi (by Nextivity) and WeBoost.
Novotech is a leading Internet of Things hardware and services distributor in North America. We offer mobile antennas, single-purpose antennas, and more to suit your preferences. Reach out to us, and our team of experts will give you information about top-tier products and how they can help optimize your business.