How To Get Cell Phone Signal In a Dead Zone?

How to Get Cell Service Where There is None?

We have grown to depend on our mobile phones and expect great cell service everywhere we go. How could we not? They’re small portable computers that help us stay connected. Unfortunately, perfect cell phone signal doesn’t exist. There are cellular dead zones scattered all over the world, and some are inside buildings.

Dead zones can be extremely frustrating and worrisome, especially for those who live in remote and rural areas. What if there is an emergency? How will you get in contact with emergency responders?

We will discuss what cellular dead zones are, what causes them, and different solutions that can help you get cell service where there is none.

What's a Cellular Dead Zone?

Simply put, cellular dead zones are areas where there is no cellular signal, either because the signal is being blocked or because the cell phone tower is too far.

What Causes Cell Phone Dead Zones?

Cell phone signal is facilitated by the radio frequency (RF) signals cellular towers transmit. If the RF signal is too far or is blocked by obstacles a dead zone will be created. The most common culprits that cause dead zones are:

• Cell Phone Tower Distance: RF signals can only travel so far, the further away you are from cell towers the weaker the signal becomes. Finding your nearest cell tower is often the first step to understanding why you’re in a dead zone.
• Topography: Hills, mountains, ridges, and foliage are natural signal barriers. They can absorb or reflect the signal waves, preventing any signal from reaching your phone.
• Building Material: Metal, low e-glass, concrete, and brick are the biggest culprits for bad cell phone signal indoors. Signal waves have a hard time penetrating these materials, causing extremely poor signal or dead spots.
• Tall Buildings: Cell phone signal can be greatly interfered with in areas that have numerous tall buildings. Not only are they blocked by the building, but the signals collide with each other when they are reflected off the building.
• Weather: Humidity, rain, and snow can weaken cell phone signal.

How to Check for Dead Zones

The worst way to find out you’re in a dead zone is when you drop an important call or after moving into your new home. Cell phone dead zone maps are great tools to use to check for dead zones ahead of time and avoid being betrayed by your cellular signal.

Every cellular service provider has their own cell phone coverage map, but we all know that those maps are not 100% accurate. Cell phone dead zone maps can reveal real-world holes in your carrier’s coverage. Knowing where the dead zones are can help you prepare for future travel plans, long commutes, and future real estate purchases.

Downdetector.co.za is a fantastic website that will identify areas where cell phone signal is out, network congestion is experienced, or where cell phone signal is not available. The data is gathered by real users who report dead zones all over the world.

Cell Phone Dead Zone Solutions

The most common areas where dead zones occur are in remote locations in the middle of nowhere. However, they can also occur inside homes and commercial buildings.

Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to resolve dead zones in areas where there is absolutely no signal for kilometers, but dead zones in an indoor space can be patched up.

Here are different tips to improve your cell phone signal:

WiFi Calling

If you have a reliable WiFi connection, you can try to use WiFi calling. WiFi calling allows you to talk and text over an internet connection rather than a cellular network. Many people who experience weak or no signal inside their homes use WiFi calling to improve their call quality and texting capabilities. You can enable WiFi calling through your phone's settings.

Apple iPhone -> Settings -> Phone -> WiFi Calling

Android -> Settings -> Connections -> WiFi Calling

Switch Cell Phone Network Operators

Switching mobile network operators can be extremely inconvenient and time-consuming. But, if you have no service in your area, it could be worth it. Many cell phone towers are owned and operated by different operators. It’s possible that your nearest cell phone towers are not operated by your current operator, hence the dead spots.

There are multiple websites and apps you can use to find your nearest cell towers, such as CellMapper, Network Cell Info (for Android Phones), and OpenSignal (for Android and Apple). Or, you can kick it old school and ask your neighbours which networks they use.

Cell Phone Signal Booster

Cell phone signal boosters (sometimes referred to as signal extenders or cell phone repeaters) use antennas, rather than an internet connection, to improve your cellular network.

They capture poor outside signal, boost it, and rebroadcast the boosted signal into the desired areas in your home or vehicle. They also work in reverse, they will pick up on your phone’s outgoing signal, boost it, and send it back to the cell phone tower.

Keep in mind that cell phone signal boosters will only work if there is an existing signal outside your home, office, or vehicle - even if it's just one bar. They can enhance the signal, not create it.

Most signal boosters require three components:

• An External Antenna – Captures the poor outside signal
• An Amplifier – Boosts the poor signal
• An Indoor Antenna – Rebroadcast the boosted signal into your home, office building, or vehicle

The location of the outside antenna is key to significantly improve your cell phone signal. It’s best to mount the antenna on the roof of your home or vehicle. This will help reduce the number of obstructions blocking the signal waves.

There is a variety of different signal boosters available, and they range in the amount of square feet they can cover. Signal boosters can cover anywhere from 150m²-500m² in small to large homes and offices. For commercial use, they can cover areas up to 8000m².

You won’t need to buy multiple signal boosters to have a strong signal inside your home, but additional equipment might be needed to extend the signal into multiple floors.

In addition, our cell phone signal boosters are compatible with all major mobile network operators (Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom). You and your guests will all be able to enjoy a great signal inside. They are also compatible with all cellular devices, such as iPhone, Samsung, Lg, and more.

In conclusion, cell phone signal boosters are great solutions for those who struggle with dead zones and poor cell phone signal inside their home, office, or vehicle.

Best Cell Phone Signal Boosters for Homes, Offices, and Vehicles to Resolve Dead Zones

Best Signal Booster for Medium Sized Homes and Offices

• Up to 500m² of coverage under best conditions
• Up to +70 dB of gain
• Multiple accessories for maximum coverage and customisation available (sold separately)
• Coverage for multiple rooms or midsize home for all mobile networks across multiple devices
• Outdoor yagi antenna and indoor panel antenna configuration, with stylish fabric front

The WilsonPro A500 is the most popular cell phone signal booster with a coverage range that usually works for most people. It’s perfect for midsize homes and offices in the city with strong outside signal, or small homes in rural areas with weak outside signal.

It features a maximum uplink power of 20 dBm, meaning the booster can communicate with far distanced towers, making it a good performer in rural areas where tower distance is the biggest problem.

Assuming you have excellent cellular signal outside your home, the WilsonPro A500 can cover areas up to 500m², but most people will get between 150m-350m² of indoor coverage, areas with extremely poor cellular reception can expect much less coverage.

If you’re in an area where you receive next to no signal, or you want a reliable connection throughout your large home, this is the lowest grade signal booster you should get, consider its sister product, the WilsonPro A1000.

Best Professionally Installed Signal Booster for Homes and Offices

• Superior cell phone service for your entire home or office.
• Up to 1000m2 to coverage under best conditions
• Up to +74 dB gain.
• Multiple accessories for maximum coverage and customization (sold separately)
• Complete coverage for entire home for all carriers across multiple devices

The WilsonPro A1000 is the most powerful home booster you can get. It’s capable of providing whole-home coverage for a large home with strong outside signal or a midsize home with weak outside signal.

It features a maximum gain of +74 dB, which is the highest of any multi-network home unit, making it roughly a shade over 2x more powerful than the WilsonPro A500. And with its powerful uplink and downlink outputs, the WilsonPro A1000 can reach far distanced towers to provide you with superior service indoors.

Under perfect conditions, the installed WilsonPro A1000 can cover areas up to 1000m². However, depending on your outside signal strength, most people will get between 450-650m², even with below average outside signal, fringe zones can expect a little less.

To maximize your coverage, additional antennas are required, especially if you’re trying to cover more than one floor.

You don’t have to stress about installing the signal booster yourself nor trying to figure out what the best location for the signal booster is – the professionals can take care of it. However, if you would rather install the booster yourself, we also offer a Do-It-Yourself version.

Most Powerful Multi-User Signal Booster for Vehicles

• Boosts Voice, Text, and 3G & 4G LTE Data 
• Amplifies multiple cellular devices across all networks
• Works in extremely rural and remote areas
• Extremely customizable, with variants for any type of vehicle and situation

The weBoost AM100-Pro is the most powerful vehicle cell phone signal booster, designed to boost up to 4 cellular devices across all networks. It’s the booster we highly recommend for most situations.

A mini magnet mount outside antenna picks up the signals, and a low-profile interior antenna (usually Velcroed to a seat) broadcasts the signal inside your vehicle. For optimal results, your cellular device will have to be about an arm's length from the inside antenna to benefit from the boosted signal, so it's best for your typical sedan, truck, or SUV, but will work with any vehicle.

It features the highest uplink output power of any multi-network vehicle booster, allowing it to reach cell towers that are 2x further for twice the signal strength, making it much more powerful than its competitors and a great performer in the most rural of roads and highways.

Contact Us

Bolton Technical is a leading provider of cell phone signal boosters, devices that amplify 4G & 3G LTE for any phone with any carrier for home, office, or car. We’ve boosted signal for hundreds of homes, buildings, and vehicles across Southern Africa.

• Free consultation (ask us anything) with our JHB-based customer support. Email: (sales@boltontechnical.co.za). Phone: 011 749 3085
• Free shipping over R500. 
• 30-day money back guarantee. You want to make sure you're satisfied.

Our goal is simple: keep people connected. Ask us anything and we'll be glad to help.