# How can I get better reception on my phone?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-better-reception-on-my-phone/716930>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 5, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-better-reception-on-my-phone/716930 "2015-04-05T23:42:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-better-reception-on-my-phone/716930/1 "2015-04-05T23:42:29Z")

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I have AT&T and a Galaxy S4. I have far more minutes than I use, so that is not the issue. I need to be able to talk to my co-workers at all times when I am working, and there is a large area in and near one of the offices I work at where calls are always cutting out, and internet doesn’t work. Should I change carriers? Is there anything I can do to my phone to fix this?

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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:** [April 6, 2015, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-better-reception-on-my-phone/716930/2 "2015-04-06T01:35:57Z")

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You might enable voice over LTE. You also could use voice over IP (VoIP) services such as Skype.

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-better-reception-on-my-phone/716930/3 "2015-04-06T01:37:32Z")

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You can get a [microcell](http://www.att.com/att/microcell/) that converts WiFi to cell reception, maybe, if you get wifi in the office.

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**Author:** ![Umbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Umbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbridge)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-better-reception-on-my-phone/716930/4 "2015-04-06T01:39:55Z")

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There are many ways that may prevent the successful, correct transmission of cell phone signals. Sometimes, an elevator or a basement can block the signal. Other times, you may be too far away from a cell phone base station, which may explain why you are not receiving any radio signals. Try moving around a bit, if you can’t reach someone.

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-better-reception-on-my-phone/716930/5 "2015-04-06T02:21:13Z")

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> [@Reply](#):
>
> You can get a [microcell](http://www.att.com/att/microcell/) that converts WiFi to cell reception, maybe, if you get wifi in the office.

I live in the sticks and ATT supplied one of these. Works great on my DSL.

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-better-reception-on-my-phone/716930/6 "2015-04-06T04:34:30Z")

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Boffking: are you the boss there? If not then complain to management.