bad reception: Is it T-mobile or my phone?

ynnejleigh · 06-14-2004, 09:40 AM

Hi.
I have the free Motorolla phone that T-mobile gave me when I signed up about a year ago - aparantly not a good phone 'cause it's discontinued.

I work in the middle of a concrete office building in Houston, TX & I get no reception. My co-workers have Sprint and their Sanyo phones work great.

So, what I want to know is . . .
is it T-Mobile service or my cheap-o phone??

Thank you!

speedo · 06-14-2004, 05:16 PM

When my wife got a dual band tri mode phone from Sprint, she suddenly got reception inside her concrete work space. There is speculation that the digital 800 PCS band that Verizon uses penetrates concrete buildings better. Pure Sprint 1900 PCS usually won't do the job, don't think T-mo will either. You could get a better phone, Nokia supposedly has better reception on all of their phones. Why don't you put your chip in a friends phone and try it out? Know someone with a different T-mo phone? Check them bars and make a call!

Kalico · 06-17-2004, 03:22 PM

t-mobile has crappy reception period..they need to stop being cheapskates and start putting up more towers

Stevo89 · 07-03-2004, 11:50 PM

CDMA which Verizon and Sprint PCS use has a better signal strength in buildings than GSM which is what T-Mobile uses, so thats why. Also, the T-Mobile tower is probably farther from your building than the Verizon/Sprint towers.

jaicam · 07-11-2004, 05:51 AM

try replacing your phone first, maybe it's the phone since the model is discontinued. it might also be the signal connection since tmobile's main towers are in the east coast. GSM does not suck though. actually more cell service providers wants to convert to GSM. for example, AT&T just converted to GSM, and they used to be a CDMA company. plus, would you really prefer kyocera and sanyo over nokia and motorola? hahaha.

**Vidguy11** · 07-27-2004, 11:57 AM

more than likely its ur equipment, and no, cdma has worse penetration of buildings since its a lower band of cellular networking and no again to jaicam, att had TDMA not cdma but he is right that most companies wanna go GSM because its a worldwide medium and it is newer and better technology

scooterphish · 08-04-2004, 11:37 AM

I have to go with the equipment consensus.
I live out in BFE and went with T-Mobile cuz they have the best coverage out here.
My first phone had excellent reception (usually 3 bars, sometimes 2).
2nd phone, crappy reception. I was lucky if I got 1 bar. Sitting on my porch. In the same spot I got 3 bars with phone #1.
Now I'm on phone #3 (upgrade upgrade upgrade!).
Right now, I'm in a room that is usually zero to 2 bars (regardless of phone) - if I'm lucky. I'm sitting at 3 to 4.
Equipment. YMMV

**Vidguy11** · 08-31-2004, 12:07 PM

yea, get a better handset, signal strength is based on many things, equipment, area, surroundings, battery life, how many times u turn your phone on and off, and interference by any other electronic equipment

sping012 · 09-04-2004, 12:09 AM

yea it seems like t-mobile's coverage is not as great any more...

Ukim · 09-04-2004, 12:48 AM

Unless your battery is running low, or your phone is a dual/tri bander with poor antenna (more unlikely) then the problem you are getting is common for inbuilding coverage. People assume that a Mast outside should produce coverage inside. Not so. This is why shopping malls have indoor nano cells, pico cells and, in some cases in large malls, micro cells to cover the large walkway canyons. You say you are in a concrete jungle - it is not a surprise there is a good chance of poor reception. I imagine the walls are acting like a faraday cage.

If you do a search on google there are people who supply signal booasters indoors. Get the supplier to confirm whether they are legal in your state regarding interference. FCC generally seem particularly focused on radio interference to avoid troubling radio communications for the emergency services.

Good luck