Poor signal

[wdm]

Poor signal strength in high-rise.  Frequent dropped calls.  Anyone have a solid (perhaps Verizon supported) fix?

[Ann154]

Where are you located? Is this with all phones? Can you get a network extender to boost the signal? Or maybe a signal repeater?

[Ann154]

TheDiabolicaL1 wrote:

hahahahaha.. yea-  that's what the OP wants to hear.  Spend what is it, $200 to make the service he/she is paying for usable?

I mean, seriously Ann154.  Even for you and your rhetoric this is a stretch. 

Did you read any details in the OP's post? I didn't. How can a person give any suggestions for the person to try without knowing the scope of the problem?

Why are you attempting to change the subject by questioning my posts? Isn't that what you keep trying to do with your discussion threads?

[ans02 · Accepted solution]

Updating your Preferred Roaming List (PRL)

Verizon Wireless is constantly making advancements in our roaming technology to provide you with superior roaming capabilities. By updating your Preferred Roaming List, you will have access to these enhancements, which may include:

Longer battery life Fewer dropped or blocked calls Clear, crisp connection in even more areas across the United States Ability to connect to the digital network in more parts of the country

Here are some basic instructions on how you can update your Preferred Roaming List:

Power on your Verizon Wireless phone. Dial *228 from your home digital coverage area, followed by the SEND key. This call is airtime free. When prompted, press option 2 to update your phones roaming capabilities (This process may take up to 2 minutes). Once completed, a confirmation message will be played informing you that your phone has been programmed.

[PJNC284]

ans02 wrote:

Updating your Preferred Roaming List (PRL)

Here are some basic instructions on how you can update your Preferred Roaming List:

Power on your Verizon Wireless phone. Dial *228 from your home digital coverage area, followed by the SEND key. This call is airtime free. When prompted, press option 2 to update your phones roaming capabilities (This process may take up to 2 minutes). Once completed, a confirmation message will be played informing you that your phone has been programmed.

One thing to note is *228 doesn't apply to LTE devices.

[TheDiabolicaL1]

Seriously, it hammers them.

*228 didn't really do much if your phone already worked.  *if* VZW put in a new tower in your area, it would then do something or if USCC put in a new tower, you could roam on it and your device would recognize it but really *228 was just to blow you off and see if you really needed your device fixed and how persistent you were. 

*228 for a device that works = VZW brushing you off.

I love that it's touted as a "fix" still to this day by people who don't know better.

Sad, really.

[commonsense101]

depends on the area they are in, traveling a lot in a different area, in an area they have never been

how out of  date the prl is

small % of time prl update will fix minor issues..

more likely the issue is being in a high rise multi apartment building. raido freq isn't going to to work

femtocell might be the only option if you want service in your home

[wdm]

Thanks for all the input.  I'm using an iPhone 4 in downtown Chicago.  Good news is updating my PRL (*228) actually made a significant improvement.  Thanks for the assistance.  WDM

[RiceRanch]

Irony of irony.... the verizon satisfaction call dropped. This is the thrird or fourth time in two years that the cell connection at my house has deteriorated to unuseable. Over a year ago I had a patient with whom i was trying to communicate through multiple short dropped calls commit suicide. Today I had a paranoid patient call me at home (thankfully I had given him my home phone number) because he could not get through to my phone after numerous attempts. This poor many has schizophrenia and now thinks my cell service is being manipulated and will only talk to me in person (we set up apt on Monday). My service used to be great before they put in a new tower. My wife and I are both physicians and extremely dependent on our cell phones. This is a very frustrating situation.

[commonsense101]

sounds like for less than $300 you will help your clients and never have a phone problem...

I'm confused on how someone with so much schooling can't figure out cost of doing business

[vzw_customer_support]

RiceRanch-Of course nobody likes to have a dropped calls. Especially during a crisis like the ones you have experienced over the past two years. I would love the opportunity to get a resolution filed for the area you reside in in order for us to look into the towers in the area.
Did you already speak with someone in Technical Support to get this addressed? If not, I would love to have you message me with your information so we can begin the process. Since you are listed as private, it won't allow me to follow you or send you a message. It is my goal to look into this matter for you.

Tamara H.
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[#12]

NOT all handsets are equally capable

- some have lousy antennae

- some have louse audio fidelity

- some are purchased for non-phone functionality

the antennae in your handset might "suck"

update NAM1 PRL at the highrise

&

update NAM2 PRL at your home