I pretty much know why (in a way) but... why? I'm thinking the steel that some buildings are constructed of block the signal. But that doesn't happen in all buildings. Like my daughter's school, I have no signal at all. And I was in a hospital today. Nothing. But I've been in other hospitals and schools and have had full signal. And that signal wasn't WiFi. Why is that?
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Why do we lose signal in some buildings?
- Thread starter iMas70
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Proximity to your providers tower also plays a lot in the reason why. You may have had full signal in some of those places if the tower was nearby or even on the building itself.
Additionally, some places use BDA's or bi-directional amplifiers, inside their facilities to boost cellular signals for the people inside where the tower's signal just isn't effective enough.
At the college I go to, most of the buildings except for the 2 newer ones are built out of cement block, and I basically go down to 1 bar and no data when in those buildings. Campus wifi comes from one location, and doesn't reach through the buildings.
Proximity to towers.
Some places have in building repeaters, common for hospitals for reliable communications.
Brick is a strong absorber of RF energy. Lot of schools are cinder block.
I don't think that's what he means. It appears to me he is asking so he can have knowledge and understanding of the reasons why he either has signal in a place or doesn't. There's no harm in asking.
Think about all of the obstacles that the signal has to travel through. The typical office building is god awful for reception because of the design of the building. Cables run through floors, ceilings, etc, fluorescent lights, metal used all throughout, and many other electronics. All of those sorts of things can and will cause interference with your cell reception.
Yup, nothing wrong with learning something new!
I can go 50 feet into the local high school and have absolutely no signal. While I can go into the elementary or middle school a half mile away and have at least 2-3 bars.
I started to really think about this tonight while in a hospital. No signal. But I've been in other hospitals and had full signal.
alot of it has to do more with the actual frequency of the signal, more than it does with the proximity to the tower. this is an age old question, that gets beaten to death time and time again. the good old CDMA vs GSM, 850 vs 1900 mhz building penetration.
the lower frequencies, like at&t's 850 mhz, penetrate buildings better than lets say verizon or t-mobiles 1900. in fact, the building im in now has full signal outside on both at&t and verizon phones, however inside verizon's signal drops down to one bar and at&t's stays at full signal. you can scour the web all night for this, as there are plenty of articles discussing the effects of radio signal/frequency/building penetration. pair the above with the different types of building construction and you have alot of variables.
the lower frequencies, like at&t's 850 mhz, penetrate buildings better than lets say verizon or t-mobiles 1900. in fact, the building im in now has full signal outside on both at&t and verizon phones, however inside verizon's signal drops down to one bar and at&t's stays at full signal. you can scour the web all night for this, as there are plenty of articles discussing the effects of radio signal/frequency/building penetration. pair the above with the different types of building construction and you have alot of variables.
Yup, nothing wrong with learning something new!
But you are not gonna get an answer, to the point of being able to do anything about it, that's what I mean.
There are of course many variables. So OK you learn what those are. So now what? When you get into a building, do they post signs on different rooms that says, faraday cage here, expect bad cellular signal! Nope.
OK you want to be a radio engineer? fine, get a degree, I don't think browsing through Wiki will be enough.
Why are you being so negative towards this member? He's merely asking a question so he can understand the reasoning behind the signal. I didn't see anywhere, where he was going on a mission to change things once he found out.
Many schools are brick, large cinder block. Brick has high RF absorption. That is not surprising for schools. But different schools are built differently, and are different distances from towers.Yup, nothing wrong with learning something new!
I can go 50 feet into the local high school and have absolutely no signal. While I can go into the elementary or middle school a half mile away and have at least 2-3 bars.
I started to really think about this tonight while in a hospital. No signal. But I've been in other hospitals and had full signal.
Some hospitals use in building signal boosters fir interior cellular coverage.
Based on post posts [and spelling] he's a 12 or 13 year old who knows everything and has to let everyone else know that he does.
Since we're talking about schools and hospitals, places where they usually frown upon usage of cell phones, one reason might be that they've installed signal jammers.
Can you provide actual examples of this in a school or hospital?
Which law specifically prohibits this practice?
http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/jamming-cell-phones-and-gps-equipment-against-law
Jamming Cell Phones and GPS Equipment is Against the Law
In recent years, the number of websites offering cell jammers or similar devices designed to block communications and create a quiet zone in vehicles, schools, theaters, restaurants, and other places has increased substantially. While these devices are marketed under different names, such as signal blockers, GPS jammers, or text stoppers, they have the same purpose. We remind and warn consumers that it is a violation of federal law to use a cell jammer or similar devices that intentionally block, jam, or interfere with authorized radio communications such as cell phones, police radar, GPS, and Wi-Fi. Despite some marketers claims, consumers cannot legally use jammers within the United States, nor can retailers lawfully sell them.
