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  #1  
Old 04-17-2006, 09:57 PM
sfloriII's Avatar
Still pedaling...
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern VA
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Question Why does cell phone signal strength change so much?

It's enough to drive me absolutely crazy! In my condo, I can only talk on my cell phone if I'm literally leaning up against the window in the sunroom. I can't even sit down on the couch next to the window to get a signal!!

Why do cell phone signals go in and out? I can have 5 bars one minute and no more than a dot the next. I can actually look at the signal on my phone and watch it fade in and out.

If I'm always the same distance from the tower, why does the signal stregnth change so much?

BTW, I have Cingular Wireless and a recent model Sony Erikson.

PLEASE enlighten me!

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Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
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  #2  
Old 04-18-2006, 01:54 AM
iwrock's Avatar
roflmonster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Hella NorCal
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It has to do with wavelength, amplitudes, and refletion....

I learned this in physics. We applied the harmonic sound theory to radio waves to see what would happen. We figured a certain frequency of sound would resonatae and repeat at X distance. We vreated a radio wave with the same frequency and wavelength, and voila, we had dead spots because certain frequencies reflect at different distances.

Other than that, I have nextel.... One bar, and the call is as clear as 5 bars on cingular....
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  #3  
Old 04-18-2006, 02:44 AM
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I suggest you re-evaluate your reception with another brand cell phone...I would recommend borrowing a Nokia or some other brand, stick in your SIM card, and give it a try...Sony-Ericsson phones are known to have very poor/scattered reception...you shouldn't be having such a noticeable performance distance only inside a condo...
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  #4  
Old 04-18-2006, 11:27 AM
sfloriII's Avatar
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Location: Northern VA
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Thanks, guys.

I've done some research and am considering getting an antenna amplifier like this one:

http://www.criterioncellular.com/antennas/yagiantennas.html

I'd like to switch carriers, but I'm locked into my plan with Cingular for over a year still.

Anyone know which Cingular phone carries the best reception? I'm lucky I have a brother in law in the business and I can get any phone for free.
__________________

Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.
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  #5  
Old 04-18-2006, 11:32 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 101
Not to get all Bot on ya here, but doesn't foil backed insulation impede or distort the signals? Something in my house screws up my signal, but in the front yard it is crystal clear. I don't think a signal amplifier would help my situation.
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  #6  
Old 04-18-2006, 11:35 AM
sfloriII's Avatar
Still pedaling...
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern VA
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BTW, if you want to know what frequency your cell phone operates at, here's some info:

This is a general list with help determining the frequency your carrier / phone uses:

Cingular (AT&T) = Both but primarily 1900MHz
800MHz (TDMA system - NOT GPRS or GSM) - Old AT&T System now dwindling
1900MHz (aka; GPRS, GSM, Next Generation phones) - Newer system with SIM Cards

Sprint = 1900MHz

T-Mobile = 1900MHz

Verizon = 800MHz (CDMA)

Nextel = 806-869MHz (SMR frequencies - Does not use cellular frequencies)

Other Carriers, Read on...
When cellular began the frequencies were 800MHz (analog). There were two carriers in every area. These companies have been around since the mid 1980's. They may have changed their names several times but not their frequencies. If your carrier has been around for that long, chances are that they are using 800MHz. (only now they use digital in those same frequencies)
If your phone is in analog mode (not digital) it is using 800MHz.
However, if your phone is using digital, it DOES NOT mean that you are using 1900MHz.

PCS, GSM, GPRS, Sim Cards, Sim Chips, Next Generation - These are all indications of a system running at 1900MHz.
TDMA and CDMA usually indicates an 800MHz system.

Check your phone model specifications in the manual or on the manufacturers web site. Many times your phone may only have the capability of one frequency range. In the case of Tri-Band phones, if it uses 900MHz, 1800MHz and 1900MHz, the first two are irrelevant for the US and you use 1900MHz exclusively here in the US.

Here's the website I got this from:
http://www.criterioncellular.com/home2.html
__________________

Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.
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  #7  
Old 04-18-2006, 11:48 AM
Dee8go's Avatar
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Location: The People's Republic of Arlington, VA
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Sprint's good

I've got Sprint service on a Palm Treo650. I've almost never lost a call from my end. It works in the Grand Canyon, Atlantic Beach, NC, Half Moon Bay, CA, Denver, Yosemite, Sedona, AZ, you name it. Sprint merged with or bought Nextel, so I guess they are very similar. My previous phone was a Moto StarTac.

I've had Sprint service for about 5 or 6 years and have no complaints other than their dismal customer (dis-)service. If you need technical help, you're on your own. I expect that's standard with all of them, though. Everyone else in my family has Cingular and their calls drop out frequently and they seem to get out of range from their system very easily (in Washington, DC) in spite of being in an area where you would expect excellent coverage.
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  #8  
Old 04-18-2006, 11:54 AM
iwrock's Avatar
roflmonster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Hella NorCal
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I have three phones.... I have nextel because I do alot of insurance work with a company, and they gavew it to me as it is a FAST direct line of communication. I have a phone that has an unlimited plan on it, and that is my personal phone. My work phone is the Treo 650, as it allows me to access my files via the wireless internet it has...

I can play golf, and work at the same time.
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91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
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  #9  
Old 04-18-2006, 01:38 PM
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back-ff, I'm going Bot!

My clairvoyance tells me your problem is not amplification but filtering. You're getting interference because the phone isn't capable of discriminating the proper signal from the reflections.

If you buy an amplifier alone then wont it amplify the entire spectrum, not just the proper signal? Hmm, unless the amplifier antenna is outside.

nevermind.

UnBot
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  #10  
Old 04-18-2006, 01:59 PM
sfloriII's Avatar
Still pedaling...
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 1,614
Quote:
Originally Posted by Botnst
back-ff, I'm going Bot!

My clairvoyance tells me your problem is not amplification but filtering. You're getting interference because the phone isn't capable of discriminating the proper signal from the reflections.

If you buy an amplifier alone then wont it amplify the entire spectrum, not just the proper signal? Hmm, unless the amplifier antenna is outside.

nevermind.

UnBot
I can buy an antenna that amplifies the signal unique to my carrier.
__________________

Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.
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  #11  
Old 04-18-2006, 02:08 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 101
Quote:
Originally Posted by Botnst
back-ff, I'm going Bot!

My clairvoyance tells me your problem is not amplification but filtering. You're getting interference because the phone isn't capable of discriminating the proper signal from the reflections.

If you buy an amplifier alone then wont it amplify the entire spectrum, not just the proper signal? Hmm, unless the amplifier antenna is outside.

nevermind.

UnBot
I had the same theory, but threw in the Bot thing because of the foil reference
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  #12  
Old 04-18-2006, 02:11 PM
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Location: DFW / Collin County Texas
Posts: 1,882
I have a TREO 700w on Verizon unlimited plan - no problems at all, reception is quite good. EVDO (broadband) browser and email sync are awesome. Bluetooth a little buggy, but I should have the new firmware by week's end and it'll fix a host of "bugs."

In the past I always had great reception with a Nokia phone on AT&T network.

Consumer Reports rates Verizon as the best overall hands-down, the runner up isn't even close, in all markets across the U.S. YMMV...
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  #13  
Old 04-20-2006, 12:44 AM
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Your cell phone is nothing more that a radio. If the antenna is close by, your signal is good. If there are obstacles or the cell antenna is far away, the signal is attenuated and your reception gets worse.
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  #14  
Old 04-20-2006, 12:25 PM
I miss my MBZ
 
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Location: Cincinnati, OH
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(where are the Hams on here ?)

When you get up into the higher frequencies -800Mhz and higher (2.4Ghz for newer cell phones ?) The signal is more drastically affected by objects in between the Reciever and the transmitter.

How about this - an average wall will affect a cell phone signal (800Mhz) more than an FM radio signal (97Mhz). Hence the above comment about foam insulation - I'd venture to guess that once you are in teh 1.2Ghz or 2.4Ghz range that if the long axis of a wall stud (2x4) is between the phone and the tower then that will noticeably affect your signal.

Remember also, that if you are using the numnber of "bars" as ametric - it is a slow-reacting one - the phone doesnt update the bars instantaneous (my guess also)


One more thing I noticed - the frequencies in use - if your phone is a 1900Mhz (1.9Ghz) then what else is creating interference/using those frequencies - your computer (mine runs at 2000Mhz), your microwave oven, I think that WiFi networks run aroun 2.4Ghz - any thing that transmits or makes "noise" at a frequency near what your phone is using will cause it to lose signal.

Hams - correct my info here - I know I dont have it all right.

-John
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  #15  
Old 04-20-2006, 01:49 PM
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I was tempted to have a repeater installed (roughly $500) at the house a couple years ago, but my reception improved dramatically when a tower was installed about 1.5 miles up the road from me.

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