Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
I grew up watching The X-Files. In the late 1990s, cell phone reception was nothing like it is today. So back then, I couldn't help but question how Scully and Mulder could call their boss, Skinner, back in Quantico even when they were investigating the most remote, bizarre locations across the continental US.
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Suspending disbelief aside, maybe FBI agents Scully and Mulder knew real-life tricks to get reception in the middle of nowhere.
We can be sure our Special Agents' little flip phones were not satellite phones. And, that show aired before the advent of the iPhone in 2007. But if you are one of the billions of people using an iPhone or Android today, there are a few factors to consider and tricks you can try if you find yourself struggling to get a signal.
1. Rule out physical factors first
Jason Hiner/ZDNET
Tucked neatly inside each handset is at least one antenna -- possibly up to four antennas. Metal objects and concrete walls impede signals to those antennae, so be sure to move yourself (i.e., your phone) away from obstructions. Climbing to a higher location is always helpful, as I long ago discovered by summiting the hill behind my friend's cabin in Cub Run, Kentucky. Similarly, moving nearer to a window helps if going outside isn't an option.
Even your phone's protective case might hinder the strongest signal. It might be a pain, but removing that Otterbox or LifeProof could make the difference if you're struggling to find a few bars.
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