Question re: cell phone signals

[JohnT]

Question about cell phone coverage and signals for those more knowledgeable than myself. I live very close (under a mile) to a cell phone tower, and yet the signal breaks up whether I'm inside or outside my home. I use an iPhone, get all bars, and the person on the other end says that they can hear me clearly, but the incoming communication breaks up, garbles, etc. What is strange is that it doesn't happen all the time but probably most of the time. Anyone else have a similar issue or a possible answer?

[studiocygnet]

I'm not real knowledgeable about it myself, but I think that it may be a bandwidth problem. The more folks using the same band in a given area, the more problems with the signal. So if you are in a more populated area, you can have problems with too many people using the same bandwidth.

[bondarnes]

The nearest cell tower may not be for your provider. You could have a bad speaker in your phone. There could be a source of interference near your home. yada yada

[Jake]

I read an article online a while back that said it's the iphone. They had tested a bunch of AT&T cell phones and the iphone had the most dropped calls even though they had the same service.
But I can't find that link so just take it for what it's worth.

But I do know I have more phone call issues(same as you described sometimes) with my iphone than my wife has with her blackberry. Both AT&T.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

I read an article online a while back that said it's the iphone. They had tested a bunch of AT&T cell phones and the iphone had the most dropped calls even though they had the same service.
But I can't find that link so just take it for what it's worth.

But I do know I have more phone call issues(same as you described sometimes) with my iphone than my wife has with her blackberry. Both AT&T.

Thanks for this info. Another love-hate relationship I've entered into.

[srwatters]

Yes. The iPhone sucks as a phone. It's sad but true. Hopefully software will fix it, but IMHO it's doubtful. Maybe the 4G version will get there...

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Yes. The iPhone sucks as a phone. It's sad but true. Hopefully software will fix it, but IMHO it's doubtful. Maybe the 4G version will get there...

I really should have checked that out before committing to it. If Apple doesn't get it right with the next version, I'll probably switch to the BB, which was my second choice in the beginning.

[Jake]

A joke last month on SNL's weekend update:

Originally Posted by Seth Meyers

“It was reported this week that Google will launch its own cellphone as a challenge to the iPhone.
Also a challenge to the iPhone?........Making phone calls.”

[janikphoto]

Also, if you live in a busy area, that tower may be getting maxed out with other phone users, forcing your phone to find another tower. It was more of a problem in the analog days, though. Digi towers can hold a ton more phones than analog could. I used to sell phones during my college days...

[brad]

I must have gotten a good iPhone.. first gen version.. I rarely have dropped calls and rarely have a lousy connection. As phones go, its the most reliable I've had in 17 years.. yes, my first cell phone was in 1993.. a brick of a phone, followed by that silly plastic Motorola flip phone... and I've had the same phone number for all that time.

Anyway.. back to the OP.. Digital means that the information for the call is transmitted as a series of ones and zeros that are translated on either end of the call.. and at the tower. So if either the other phone or yours is having trouble encrypting/decrypting.. crummy quality. Same goes for the tower.. if its having trouble due to load.. both sides of the convo have problems... if the trouble gets too bad... boom, dropped call.

[srwatters]

The 2.5G iPhone was better. The 3G took a huge step back IMHO. The 3Gs that I have now might be marginally better than the original 3G, but still not as good as the 2.5G. And yes, I've owned at least one of each model...

[DSL_PWR]

Switch to Sprint. Plain and simple, no dropped calls, always clear, phone always works, used on an airplane before and never have a signal issue.

[pbyd]

“If Apple doesn't get it right with the next version"
John,
From what I have heard it is not Apple, but AT&T. CBS had a segment about cell phones, over 30 thousand people were asked, Number one in both customer service and coverage was Verizon Wireless, in last place in service was Sprint and in last place because of coverage was AT&T. Sometimes it helps to research, with both cameras and phones.
Wayne
Photography by Design

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by pbyd

“If Apple doesn't get it right with the next version"
John,
From what I have heard it is not Apple, but AT&T. CBS had a segment about cell phones, over 30 thousand people were asked, Number one in both customer service and coverage was Verizon Wireless, in last place in service was Sprint and in last place because of coverage was AT&T. Sometimes it helps to research, with both cameras and phones.
Wayne
Photography by Design

Research, yes. The problem is who or what report to believe.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

If this is consistent let your provider know that it is happening and they may be able to tweak your tower to get you a better signal.
(worked for Motorola when they were developing cell tech back in the early 80's-so got to handle some of the early bricks-dealt with the financial side of the biz-actually had seperate people handling mobile phone accounts back then (mostly docs and rich oil men and lawyers).

Also see if any of your neighbors with IPhones are having similar problems and get them to call in also.

You can also buy a mini-repeater to add to your house that boosts the signal.
Cellular repeater - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(this would also kick up the blackberries signal also!)