Improve cell phone reception - these tips really help!

Germany is one of the most advanced countries in the world. Basically, the economy is in good shape, export volumes are rising and employment figures are at a record high.

However, there is one problem that Germany does not seem to know how to solve: poor cell phone reception and the associated network expansion. Most people nowadays always have their cell phone with them and have therefore certainly experienced at least once that the connection simply drops during a call - reception problems. This phenomenon is still extremely common, especially in rural areas.

The reason for this is the reception rates, which are often not stable enough in Germany. Even in Germany's major cities, the expansion of the network can be described as mediocre at best compared to other European countries. However, the issue does not seem to be a high priority for politicians.

Fortunately, there are also some measures that cell phone users can take on their own to improve reception with their mobile devices. The following article shows what these are.

Use the right provider

The networks in Germany are often overloaded because their capacities are too low. As a result, it is no longer possible to send or receive data. The main victims of this phenomenon are people who live in rural areas. In these areas, the providers - i.e. the mobile phone providers - often only have inadequate network coverage to offer.

Network coverage is the ratio of the number of users of a network to the total population. There is therefore a difference between network coverage and the coverage area. The network coverage refers to the complete coverage area of the mobile phone provider in which it operates several radio stations.

When it comes to choosing a provider, the network coverage factor should therefore be taken into account. There are sometimes very large differences between the individual mobile phone providers in terms of their network expansion. As a result, their reception rates and capacities also vary greatly.

On the German mobile phone market, Telekom and Vodafone in particular are examples of providers that have hardly any problems with network availability - with the exception of individual incidents. Before making a final decision on a provider, it makes sense to carefully weigh up which provider best suits your own requirements and needs. Making the right decision will significantly reduce the risk of suffering from slow Internet and poor cell phone reception in everyday life.

However, even if a provider with good network coverage has been chosen, reception problems can often still occur. In this case, there are other ways to boost the 5G signal, for example with additional antennas for amplification.

Changing the location

Sometimes, however, very simple tricks are enough to improve cell phone reception. Perhaps all you need to do is change the room in your home.

For example, steel beams built into the walls can also impair reception. These shield the radio waves. It is often helpful, for example, to position yourself near an open window when surfing the internet or making phone calls. This often significantly improves cell phone reception.

However, cell phone users also very often experience interruptions in reception when they are on the move, for example in the car. Here, however, the speed of movement is generally higher, so that the cell phone repeatedly connects to the nearby radio masts. This means that dead spots can usually be overcome quickly.

Using a Bluetooth headset

In everyday life, however, it can be extremely annoying to constantly search for a place where there is sufficient reception. In many cases, this annoying problem can be solved with the help of a Bluetooth headset.

If the smartphone is connected to the headset, reception can be improved by placing the cell phone in a place where reception is particularly good. You can then move freely within the range of the headset. This is extremely practical when working from home, for example.

This role is played by apps for reception

Many smartphone users are not aware that cell phone reception is also greatly influenced by the apps installed on the device. If too many applications are running in the background, there is a high load on the working memory. This in turn has a negative effect on reception quality.

Apps such as Instagram or Snapchat are particularly likely to cause problems with reception if they are active in the background. The speed of mobile data in particular is negatively affected by these applications.

However, there are also apps available that indirectly help to improve reception. For example, they are able to analyze cell phone reception and show where the nearest Wi-Fi routers and radio masts are located.

Changing the network mode

Three mobile networks are currently active in Germany. Based on the GSM standard, the D-network and the E-network have been in operation since 1991 and 1993 respectively. Over time, the importance of data transmission has increased continuously. For this reason, the networks have undergone constant further development. With the LTE standard, the fourth network generation is already in use today.

Almost all modern smartphones now have the option of switching between the different wireless standards. Particularly in regions that do not have a comprehensive LTE network, it can therefore make sense to switch from LTE to GSM. This increases the reception rates for making calls and sending text messages - the GSM network is still more extensive than the LTE network.

Nevertheless, it is undisputed that LTE technology and its corresponding further developments represent the future of the mobile network. In addition, the switch to GSM will reduce the speed of surfing and mobile data.

Carry out a system update

It may sound a little strange at first, but the poor reception may well be due to the smartphone's operating system. After all, data can only be exchanged at an appropriate speed if the operating system is up to date. 

It is also important that the system is not unnecessarily overloaded by too many installed apps. These can also impair the performance of the device. Low battery power and overloaded memory can also have a negative impact on the interaction between the mobile network and the smartphone. This manifests itself in a slow internet speed and poor reception.

(Disclaimer: Devdiscourse's journalists were not involved in the production of this article. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Devdiscourse and Devdiscourse does not claim any responsibility for the same.)