With over one billion smartphones in use around the world today, and with that number expected to double in the next two years, it's no surprise that one of the biggest frustrations in everyday life is dropped calls. We rely on our cell phones for calling of course, but also messaging, accessing email, searching the web, video chatting, and more. It's our way of staying connected, which is why call dropping, dead zones and poor cell phone reception are so frustrating.
In a recent study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, dropped calls were cited as the biggest complaint by cell phone owners. According to the study, 72% of cellphone owners experienced dropped calls at least occasionally, and 32% experience this at least a few times a week. That's an enormous number of people who are frustrated on a very regular basis. So what causes a cell phone call to drop and is there anything we can do to make that happen less? Let's take a look.
Why Do Call Drops Happen?
There are a number of reasons why a cell phone call might drop, which can be categorized by problems with the carrier, problems in your local environment, and finally problems specifically with your phone. Let's examine each in more depth.
1. Tower Handoff Problems
A cellular network is composed of many different cellular towers that your phone communicates with in order to make a phone call. Your phone automatically connects to the nearest tower when you're making a call and continues to communicate with that tower as long as it remains the closest one in range. If you're on the move though, whether walking, driving, or other, then you'll likely move out of the range of your closest tower and a handoff will occur to move your call to the new closest tower.
Most of the time this handoff will occur without a problem, but occasionally there will be a complication resulting in your call dropped during the handoff. That complication could be due to extreme cell traffic on either one of the towers, glitches in the backend software, power outages, and more. These are all problems on the side of the carrier, and while an inconvenience, you're usually able to make your call again without problem.
2. Distance from Cell Towers
Another common reason for call dropping is when you encounter an area with no reception, known as a "dead zone". Dead zones exist for a few different reasons. In remote areas, there are wide swaths of dead zone where there is no coverage available from cell towers because there are very few inhabitants or travelers.
Desert areas are a great example of an environment where you'll find a large number of dead zones. In more populated areas, dead zones can still exist due to improperly aligned towers, which result in areas not receiving proper coverage, as well as in locations that are obstructed by obstacles like hills, mountains, trees, large buildings, etc. Finally, dead zones are frequently found underground, such as in subway lines, basements, and parking garages.
3. Construction Materials
Apart from dead zones, your local environment can have an effect on dropped calls too. The main cause of bad reception in your local area is most likely the type of construction materials used in your home or office. Materials like wire mesh, sheet metal, types of insulation, reinforced concrete, and more all contribute to signal degradation and loss.
If a digital cell phone signal becomes too degraded and enough data is lost in transit, then there is a high likelihood that the connection will be terminated and the call dropped, even if your phone shows that it still has a bar of signal.
4. Damaged Equipment
Finally, your cell phone itself can be the cause for dropped calls. If your cell phone has a damaged antenna, you may experience poor cell phone reception, data loss and frequent dropped calls. Call dropping and other problems can also occur if your phone's roaming software has not been updated recently or if it has been corrupted in any way. Finally, a cell phone requires a quality power supply to maintain a stable connection during a call, so if your battery is running out, the likelihood of a dropped call is also increased.
Overall, there are a number of factors related to location that are out of your hands which affect dropped calls, but there are also some that are within your power to change. In the next section, we'll cover how to solve the problems that you have control over to decrease the number of dropped calls that you experience.
How to Fix Dropped Calls
Dropped calls are frustrating, especially if you're in the middle of an important conversation. Fortunately, most problems can be solved once you identify the root cause. Here are the most common solutions.
1. Improve Indoor Coverage with a Signal Booster
If you get strong reception outside your home or office but constantly drop calls indoors, the building materials are likely blocking your signal. In this case, a cell phone signal booster is the best solution.
A signal booster works by capturing a good signal outside, amplifying it, and rebroadcasting it inside to eliminate dead zones. Keep in mind that you'll need to install an outdoor antenna in a location with reliable signal. If your area has no signal at all, a booster won't work.
Read our guide to cell phone signal boosters or use our product selector wizard to find the right system for your space.
2. Check Your Phone for Hardware or Software Issues
If you're dropping calls while others on the same carrier nearby aren't, the issue may be with your phone. Contact your carrier and have them run a diagnostic. They can check if your antenna is faulty, if there's a software problem, or if another issue is affecting your device.
3. Understand the Cause to Prevent Future Problems
Dropped calls can happen for many reasons, from poor reception to equipment issues. Once you know what's causing the problem, you'll be in a much better position to fix it and avoid disruptions in the future.
Need Help?
If you're still unsure whether a signal booster is right for you, contact us or call us at 800-590-3564. Our signal experts will be happy to guide you to the best solution.