Why Does My Phone Keep Dropping Calls: 9 Reasons

Dropping calls without explanation will have you screaming at the sky and punching the air more quickly than almost anything. In today’s world, with our heavy reliance on cellular technology, one of the most burning questions is “why is my cell service so bad?” With around-the-clock access to fancy, space-age gadgets that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, SURELY, we should be able to make and complete a simple phone call without dropping it.

But before you start screaming at the sky or smashing your cell phone on the ground, take a deep breath and read this article. There are quite a few reasons why your phone keeps dropping calls. Once you understand them better, you may be able to keep yourself connected 24/7.

1. Your proximity to the nearest tower matters.

Cell phone signal is a radio frequency (RF) wave that is broadcasted by cellular towers and received by your cellular devices. You can probably understand that the closer you are to your cell tower, the stronger your signal will be.

There are many ways to find your nearest cell tower quickly and painlessly, which will help you understand if this is indeed the problem. If it is, a signal booster can help. They can reach faraway cell towers to provide you with superior coverage inside your home, office, or vehicle.

2. The wrong construction materials will almost completely block cellular signal.

Somewhat analogous to the story of the Three Little Pigs (work with us here), the sturdier the building, the more it deflects or weakens the incoming signal, also known as downlink.

Cellular signal strength is measured in dBm and ranges from –50 dBm (great signal) to –120 dBm (very poor signal). Your signal needs to fall within -50 to -100 dBm for your phone to be able to send and receive calls properly. If your signal readings are any higher/worse than –100dBm, you have some very shaky cellular coverage. Measuring signal strength varies across iPhones and Androids, so make sure to read our articles on “How to Get Exact Signal Readings in Five Minutes or Less” and “5 Smartphone Apps to Help You Know your Cell Signal Strength with Precision”. Sure, you could also use the bars on your phone, but signal bars are very subjective.

Every layer of material adds more interference to incoming cell signal that would otherwise be very strong. The following materials wreak havoc on signal and can lower dB gain by as much as –50 dBm:

• Interior Sheetrock (-2 dBm)
• Standard Fiberglass Insulation (-2 dBm)
• Plywood (-4 to -6 dBm)
• Concrete (-10 to -20 dB)
• Low-E Glass (-32 to -50 dBm)

Read this article that has the full list of materials that kills cellular signal.

3. There is TOO much cell phone traffic.

Are you in the middle of a busy city using your phone during peak business hours? Chances are you are caught in a cellular “jam.” This happens when too many users simultaneously bombard the same cell tower. It can also occur during large-scale emergencies, large events/venues, or celebrations when everyone is taxing the network at the same time.

Even if you DO secure a connection, it may be very weak; if you move your location closer to a different tower that is already overloaded you could get dropped in the process.

4. Obstructing your phone’s internal antenna.

Cell phones are so advanced that it is easy to forget that they use an antenna – not too different from the one strapped to grandma’s old television. Positioning or holding the phone wrong may be blocking the antenna from receiving maximum signal. Look up your model on the internet to find out exactly where your antenna is…. and then don’t put your fingers there!

5. Low battery can lead to bad signal.

If you don’t have enough juice in your battery, you won’t have enough bars. There are no two ways about it. If you keep your phone properly charged and maintain healthy battery life, you should run into signal strength issues much less frequently.

6. Your crappy old phone.

Are you currently sporting an outdated flip phone that once boasted about “bleeding edge” 2G speed? There’s better technology out there, friend - likely for a very reasonable price. Even earlier model smartphones can miss the mark when you’re considering technology requirements to get the best cellular signal possible.

Talk to your carrier and see if they can offer you a good deal on new or even refurbished phones before you consider switching to a different cell service provider.

7. Topography and geography are huge factors.

In addition to building materials, you must also consider your location’s topography. If you’re in an area that is covered in trees, shielded by rolling hills and mountains, or surrounded by water, you should plan on getting aid from a signal booster for your home office or vehicle. Why? Such characteristics are prone to absorbing, reflecting, and refracting cellular signal waves, preventing you from receiving adequate cell phone signal.

8. Stormy weather will cloud up on your signal game.

Dark, heavy clouds can obstruct cell phone reception and rain is the most disruptive of all. Lightning storms, excessive humidity, big clouds with a lot of moisture, thunderstorms, heavy gusts of wind, torrential rain, snow, and ice storms can also interfere with the signals or possibly damage the towers themselves.

9. Atmospheric events in space.

Solar flares, while rare, could possibly affect your cell phone signal strength, but these events are not something to lose a lot of sleep over. Additionally, solar flares can mess up your GPS which makes location tracking difficult.

What To Do Next

The things that cause your cell signal to fade out and drop calls are beyond your control most of the time. You can’t cancel the rain or humidity, but you CAN upgrade your phone or invest in a signal booster.

Boosters are designed to grab your existing outside signal with powerful cellular antennas, significantly amplify it, and broadcast it wherever you need it most (inside your home, office, or vehicle). Whether your connectivity issues are due to weather conditions, tress, a metal roof, or cell tower distance, signal boosters can decently keep you connected. Plus, if your phone’s tech is sufficient to carry a signal under normal conditions, then a signal booster will make your life a lot easier and secure.

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Signal Boosters Canada is your one-stop-shop for everything you need to boost cell phone reception in your home, office, car, or even boat. (Sorry, there’s no signal booster available for camping in the great outdoors.)

Signal Boosters Canada makes it very easy to find the right equipment perfect for your situation. Whether you are looking for a small antenna to boost cellular coverage in your back house or a giant one to put on the roof of a commercial building, check out Signal Boosters Canada. We’ve got you covered… literally!