Improving Cell Phone Reception at Home

Boost the Battery

A cell phone requires power to retrieve a signal. The more power it has access to, the better it can reach the signal from the closest tower. If you are having trouble with indoor reception, check the phone's battery indicator. If it is showing less than two or three bars, plug it into its charger and allow it to charge for an hour or so. If the battery seems to lose its charge quickly, contact your mobile phone service provider to find out how you can get a new battery.

Check the Signal

If you are experiencing poor reception, dropped calls, lots of static or the inability to dial out, check the phone's signal indicator. Try using the cell phone in different rooms of the house, or even different locations in the room.

External factors, such as metal rebar in an exterior wall, dense trees or large buildings, can block the signal your phone needs to receive in order to work properly. If your home has a metal roof, this can interfere as well. Try standing near a large window or sliding glass door.

Please Repeat That

A cell phone repeater is an amplification device that can be installed in your home. Some cell phone repeaters, also known as signal boosters, consist of two antennae. The first is a large one that is set up outside of your home, and the second is a smaller one used indoors. The large antenna picks up the cell phone signal from the nearest tower. It then "repeats" the signal to the smaller, inside antenna.

Other signal boosters are simply one device, which is used indoors. In the same way, this repeater obtains the signal from the nearest tower and sends it to your phone, only with an added boost for better reception. It is important to note that cell phone repeaters can be costly. However, with units ranging from $100 to over $1,000, there should be something to fit every budget and need.

Upgrade

Many current cell phone makes and models can be upgraded with the installation of a superior antenna. Check with your cell phone provider to find out whether they offer such an option. If you relay the problems you are having with your at-home reception, they may upgrade it at no cost to you rather than risk losing your business. There are also third-party providers who can upgrade the antennae on many cell phones. Check your local mall for a cell accessory kiosk.

Resources

• Cell Repeater Review