Improving signal reception?

[Clak]

Was looking for a way to improve reception in my house and was actually looking at one of the extenders (femtocell) that Verizon sells, but consisdering they cost $250 and it's still using your minutes, I just don't think I can do that. I did find peoeple saying that you should dial *228 to update your roaming list, but on the Fascinate that just restarts the activation process.

 

[sushiguy732]

if you call *228 you need to press option 2 to update your roaming. Option 1 will start the activation process.

 

[Cyber Warrior]

Those home cell phone boosters are not the greatest. I've done a lot of research on them because for some reason the only place I do not get service with Verizon is my house. The good ones cost around a $1000 and those still aren't the greatest. *228 is for all phones on Verizon. Option 1 is activating and option 2 is for update roaming. Its good to do once a month.

 

[Chris3D]

Dialing *22899 will go directly to option 2 with no user input. Just dial, it'll update, disconnect and then reboot.

 

[gunnermike53]

im gonna agree with everyone about the booster. its a great idea, but it uses you home broad band connection. so it has to go all over the place then into the cell network and then back out to get to where its going. there will be a point when this is no longer an issue, "we have the technology", but it isnt used properly or even widely enough for this to be a good option.

 

[NickA]

Thanks for all the replies, and I didn't even ask the questions; but I have been thinking it. There are a few spots in my house where I get no reception. If I move the phone 6 inches to the left or right, I'll get 3 or 4 bars. It's weird.

I was looking at signal boosters on eBay, trying to find a good deal. But from what I heard on here, and in reviews, they really don't work.

 

[gunnermike53]

Thanks for all the replies, and I didn't even ask the questions; but I have been thinking it. There are a few spots in my house where I get no reception. If I move the phone 6 inches to the left or right, I'll get 3 or 4 bars. It's weird.

I was looking at signal boosters on eBay, trying to find a good deal. But from what I heard on here, and in reviews, they really don't work.

you have something reflective in you home construction. metal roof, aluminium coat on sheet insulation in walls, chicken wire in stucko, ect.

 

[Clak]

Well my house seems to be a dead zone for radio signals period. I can't even get an OTA TV signal reliably. I see about updating the PRL, first time I dialed it just said it was activation and I didn't listen long enough to hear the other options. Unfortunately I'm still only getting 1, maybe 2 bars if I'm lucky.

 

[NickA]

you have something reflective in you home construction. metal roof, aluminium coat on sheet insulation in walls, chicken wire in stucko, ect.

There is hardly any insulation because the house is now 110 years old. But, it is stucko, and I'm sure there is wire under it. It will work when I sit on one side of the couch, but move to the other side and I get no signal.

 

[jtbledo85]

well the construction of the house might have something to do with it but my X has 4 bars and the fascinate has 2 at the same spot in the house , it seems that the x has better reception than the fascinate 90% of the places i go so maybe its the phone. idk

 

[Cyber Warrior]

I have the same problem. I think its my house because Verizon works everywhere else for me. My house is one big dead zone. Its most likely that I have a flat roof with a lot of metal or the neighbors huge satellite dish that hovers over my roof. I use to also have problems with wifi and cable reception but that has gotten better. I do get 2 bars from time to time on my DX compared to my BB storm that couldn't even hold a call. So the DX definitely has much better reception.

 

[Sheepdog Elite]

You guys are missing one fundamental of the droid X, it's got two antennae. The fascinate has one of the lowest radiation ratings of any of the android smart phones. The X is like pointing an Xray machine at the side of your head by comparison. In low reception areas the X is one of the best possible choices. I agree with the idea's about the metal construction materials possibly causing interference. The X is just going to do better with the little bit of signal that makes it through the uncle bubba quality Faraday cage you live in.

 

[jtbledo85]

Xray machine !! I like it. But as the function of the fascinate I have no dropped calls and the phone does what it suppose to do so there's no complaint about the reception yet

 

[Landshark]

Fail!

I dialed *228, pressed option 2, but after a while got a message saying it was unable to update my phone. Is that because I was in my home and getting poor reception?

 

[Sheepdog Elite]

Xray machine !! I like it. But as the function of the fascinate I have no dropped calls and the phone does what it suppose to do so there's no complaint about the reception yet

Then obviously the bars aren't a big deal for you? LOL.

I dialed *228, pressed option 2, but after a while got a message saying it was unable to update my phone. Is that because I was in my home and getting poor reception?

Could be, give it another try. On the rare occasion they do that to me at work I usually just give it another go and it works. Also you can call customer service from another phone, and they can mess with stuff to try and get it to work if you keep having problems.

 

[zakth]

re

Perhaps you have lead paint on your walls. You are going to see mixed reviews from signal boosters. If you have a good signal outside of your home then there is no reason that a booster would not provide a signal inside of your home since it would simply be transferring that signal from outside-in.