Why does my Verizon signal suck?

[Casey Cheung]

I used to blame whatever particular phone I had for my poor cellular signal. But now I'm certain the blame is on Verizon. My previous phone, the Samsung S9 had poor reception (barely 1 to 2 bars) while indoors at home inside a 15 story condo building. I literally had to hold my phone next to the window to even get a sliver of cell reception. With my poor reception, this means I can barely make or receive phone calls, and internet connection is pathetic. Fortunately, wifi signal is fine connected to my home router. Now that I have the new Note 10+, the same poor Verizon cell phone signal problem is exactly the same. In fact, I have this same problem when I'm indoors at my sister's home and at my aunt's place (located in 2 different cities). When I'm indoors at certain restaurants, I have this same problem. But when I'm outside or in most public places, my Verizon cell signal is usually fine. I live in a major large metropolitan city, not out in the burbs, so this shouldn't be a problem. Do others have this same problem with Verizon? Is there a solution?

 

[Almeuit]

Could just be your market is crowded. Check other carriers and see how they fair or use wifi calling in some of those places if possible.

 

[leerandall]

I'm having the same problem with my Note 10+ on Verizon. I can't even get 4G in my house. I do, however, have 3 out of 5 bars of signal. But it's evidently just not enough to light up the 4GLTE symbol next to the signal strength meter on the top bar of the phone.

 

[felloffthetruck]

I used to blame whatever particular phone I had for my poor cellular signal. But now I'm certain the blame is on Verizon. My previous phone, the Samsung S9 had poor reception (barely 1 to 2 bars) while indoors at home inside a 15 story condo building. I literally had to hold my phone next to the window to even get a sliver of cell reception. With my poor reception, this means I can barely make or receive phone calls, and internet connection is pathetic. Fortunately, wifi signal is fine connected to my home router. Now that I have the new Note 10+, the same poor Verizon cell phone signal problem is exactly the same. In fact, I have this same problem when I'm indoors at my sister's home and at my aunt's place (located in 2 different cities). When I'm indoors at certain restaurants, I have this same problem. But when I'm outside or in most public places, my Verizon cell signal is usually fine. I live in a major large metropolitan city, not out in the burbs, so this shouldn't be a problem. Do others have this same problem with Verizon? Is there a solution?

Call Verizon and they will send you their network extender 2 signal booster for free (a $249.99 value).
Makes your phone think it has 4 bars of LTE inside of your home. Does it actually help or not, don't know.

 

[leerandall]

I went to Verizon a couple years ago when I heard about the signal boosters and I was having the same problem with my Note 8. They told me they don't give out free boosters, you have to buy them for about $350, I think it was.

 

[Casey Cheung]

I went to Verizon a couple years ago when I heard about the signal boosters and I was having the same problem with my Note 8. They told me they don't give out free boosters, you have to buy them for about $350, I think it was.

I recall reading about so-called booster devices many years ago. $350 for a booster is an absurd price to pay to compensate for poor Verizon reception. I used to rationalize this as being "normal" because I knew others who complained about various dead spots with their AT&T iPhone reception. Still others I know complain about their Sprint reception. So I figured it didn't matter what carrier you're on, there will always be complaints about dead spots. But barely having 1 or 2 bars of cell reception while at home is sad. :-(

 

[toenail_flicker]

Still others I know complain about their Sprint reception.

my reception is so bad they gave me a device free of charge.

 

[Casey Cheung]

my reception is so bad they gave me a device free of charge.

Do ya live in the boonies or an urban area?

 

[leerandall]

I recall reading about so-called booster devices many years ago. $350 for a booster is an absurd price to pay to compensate for poor Verizon reception. I used to rationalize this as being "normal" because I knew others who complained about various dead spots with their AT&T iPhone reception. Still others I know complain about their Sprint reception. So I figured it didn't matter what carrier you're on, there will always be complaints about dead spots. But barely having 1 or 2 bars of cell reception while at home is sad. :-(

I agree. And what's even more sad is that I am only 2.33 miles as the crow flies (measured using Google Earth) from my closest Verizon tower.

 

[toenail_flicker]

Do ya live in the boonies or an urban area?

MIA when they gave it to me. couldn't even call them for help. brought it with me to WA and it's a good thing. virtually no service here in the boonies.

 

[anon(7901790)]

I agree. And what's even more sad is that I am only 2.33 miles as the crow flies (measured using Google Earth) from my closest Verizon tower.

The problem isn't distance. The problem is what is between you and that tower.

 

[leerandall]

Nothing other than 1 and 2 story homes. And a few trees as well. I had this same problem with my Note 8 at first. But after one particular update, the issue was resolved. So that's why I'm not too upset about yet it since I use wi-fi at home anyway. But I'd like to have 4GLTE for times when there are power failures so I can use my phone as a hotspot.

 

[rabernet]

My folks live in a dead zone - but it's the house, not the location. It's an older home that originally had lead paint (removed, but the lead has already leeched into the walls), AND chicken wire inside the walls as part of the construction. It's a also a Wi-fi nightmare unless you are in the room directly below the modem.

Thankfully - they are moving at the end of October. It was my grandparents' house - now my folks are moving to a retirement community into a new cute cottage with modern ammenities and NO LEAD PAINT! LOL

 

[rabernet]

I'm having the same problem with my Note 10+ on Verizon. I can't even get 4G in my house. I do, however, have 3 out of 5 bars of signal. But it's evidently just not enough to light up the 4GLTE symbol next to the signal strength meter on the top bar of the phone.

View attachment 309352

So - I also don't have 4G lit up, when I have Wi-fi on, but when I turn it off, the 4G illuminates. I only have 2 bars as well, but my phone is performing just fine on either Wi-Fi or 4G.

Work is where I have issues with Wi-Fi and 4G. I sit in the only dead zone cube it seems. I have to get up and go a few feet away from my desk not to disconnect from a call.

 

[KruseLudsMobile]

I used to blame whatever particular phone I had for my poor cellular signal. But now I'm certain the blame is on Verizon. My previous phone, the Samsung S9 had poor reception (barely 1 to 2 bars) while indoors at home inside a 15 story condo building. I literally had to hold my phone next to the window to even get a sliver of cell reception. With my poor reception, this means I can barely make or receive phone calls, and internet connection is pathetic. Fortunately, wifi signal is fine connected to my home router. Now that I have the new Note 10+, the same poor Verizon cell phone signal problem is exactly the same. In fact, I have this same problem when I'm indoors at my sister's home and at my aunt's place (located in 2 different cities). When I'm indoors at certain restaurants, I have this same problem. But when I'm outside or in most public places, my Verizon cell signal is usually fine. I live in a major large metropolitan city, not out in the burbs, so this shouldn't be a problem. Do others have this same problem with Verizon? Is there a solution?

Turn on wifi calling that will help

 

[toenail_flicker]

Turn on wifi calling that will help

some verizon folks are getting extreme battery usage with that setting on.

 

[anon(10598448)]

This is just how carriers are. I can't get Verizon or AT&T at my house yet T-Mobile and Sprint give me the best speeds in my whole area while I am at home. T-Mobile and AT&T have transmitters on top of an office building one block west of me and so T-Mobile is just amazing at my house. Unfortunately, the AT&T transmitter is facing the west so as soon as I drive just west of that building, I get amazing speeds on AT&T. It's been like this since 2007 for AT&T and at least 2011 for Verizon.

Verizon is amazing around my area. I just happen to live in very small void where AT&T and Verizon has zero coverage. I have to use WiFi caring while I am at home and that works great. I turn on WiFi calling and out my phone in airplane mode so that the phone doesn't keep trying to get a good cell signal which drains the battery.

I just leave WiFi on 24/7 so that when I get home, it automatically connects to it and enables WiFi calling. You might want to try WiFi calling. It allows to make calls and send text still and they're often better thnn being on the carriers signal.

 

[anon(10598448)]

some verizon folks are getting extreme battery usage with that setting on.

Turning on airplane mode while on WiFi calling solved that problem for me.

 

[toenail_flicker]

Turning on airplane mode while on WiFi calling solved that problem for me.

and I made a mistake. it was ATT device owners with that issue. I'm always on wifi (calling) at home (that's my work too) because that's all I get. no need to even turn that on.

 

[felloffthetruck]

Verizon sent me one with no problem at all. They want me to return it if I ever quit Verizon.

I went to Verizon a couple years ago when I heard about the signal boosters and I was having the same problem with my Note 8. They told me they don't give out free boosters, you have to buy them for about $350, I think it was.