# Cell Phone Reception and Trees

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-reception-and-trees/137690>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 20, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-reception-and-trees/137690 "2002-11-20T03:40:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-reception-and-trees/137690/1 "2002-11-20T03:40:41Z")

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My phone works fine almost anywhere except for my house. my house has LOTS of HUGE oak trees around it. could this be the reason for the bad reception and if so why? i can’t come up with any other possible reason…

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**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-reception-and-trees/137690/2 "2002-11-20T13:19:53Z")

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I’ve heard that trees appear like huge columns of standing water to radio signals. Also summer would be worse then winter (unless you have all pine trees or something.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-reception-and-trees/137690/3 "2002-11-20T14:09:30Z")

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That sounds entirely plausible **k2dave** ; an oak tree can comprise something like 60% water by weight. Also the water is laden with salts and ions, making it conductive - it is in contact with the ground - I _think_ this may make a difference.

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**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-reception-and-trees/137690/4 "2002-11-20T18:33:40Z")

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thanks. anyone else know?