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Weak Signal in Tucson, AZ

My part of town has terrible signal strength. My mother and I live in the same condo complex, both with Verizon, and neither of us have more than 1 bar (4g LTE) within our complex, inside or outside our homes. There are times when we are lucky to have 1 bar of 1x. We cannot make or receive calls as they are constantly dropped. If we want to make a call, we have to do so over WiFi (and turn off the cell signal because Verizon thinks we have one).

To add insult to injury, the spotty signal has gotten worse over the last week or so. I have 1x more often than not at home. And, of course, it eats my battery.

It's been a topic at multiple HOA meetings - no one with Verizon has a usable signal in our complex or wider neighborhood and no one has been able to get any answers from Verizon. We are actually looking to form some sort of group complaint, for whatever good it would do.

We are in area code 85745. The Verizon coverage map claims there is coverage in all of Tucson, including our area. I previously lived in 85741, and the signal was also very week in that area, though I could usually make and receive calls at home with only occasional dropped calls.

I do not get a reliable signal (that won't drop calls) until I get to 85713 (but only the northern half. South of Starr Pass Blvd, if you're looking at a map, has the same issue). In the greater Tucson area, the ONLY place with a strong signal that stays 4G (and doesn't bounce to 3G regularly) is on the University of Arizona campus (zip code 85719), the downtown area, and some bits here and there. It's become a habit to watch my cell signal strength as I'm moving through town - it's usually 1-2 bars at best.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S7, my mom has a Galaxy, though the version before that. As for the rest of my condo complex, it's a range, from iPhones to flip phones (we compared while Verizon was a topic).

So. What's the deal?

Comments

Verizon_Support

Grimalkin74, thank you so much for the very detailed post. I understand your concern about needing a good working cell phone service. We want to make sure that we do what we can to help with the issues in your area. Service indoors can be a bit tricky because of different building material that is used can drown out the cell service. Wi-Fi calling is a great feature that a lot of the newer phones have, this way you can use your service when the cell network is not strong.

We understand that you and others are having issues in the area. While reviewing the zip codes that you provided, you're correct; you should have excellent service in the area. I'm not showing that there are any reported issues in these zip codes. Since you've had troubles over the past week, have you been able to power off your cell phone and remove the sim card for a good 30-40 seconds, place the sim card back in the phone and power it back on:https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-203851/.

KevinR_VZW

If my response answered your question please click the "Correct Answer" button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

Grimalkin74

We all (those of us in our condo community) understand that in our houses, service could be spotty. The buildings are brick/adobe/cement block, and we know cell signals don't do too well inside to begin with. Our HOA meeting was actually laughing about how often we all make calls outside in the hopes of getting a signal. However, if it was just the building materials, the signal should improve outside (especially in the street), and it DEFINITELY should improve when we leave the complex entirely. It doesn't.

Using WiFi at home would be an option - if we could set up our phones to allow US to tell the phone when to use WiFi instead. If there's 1x, my phone will use it instead of the nice, strong WiFi signal unless I put it in airplane mode. Sure, it's a minor inconvenience. But still. I should't have to do it at all, and at the very least I should be able to tell my phone that if there's only 1.5 bars, use the WiFi instead.

I've also looked at cell signal boosters (including the $249 one from Verizon). But again, I shouldn't have to get a booster for my home when the entire area has poor signal. If it was JUST in the house, then sure, I'd consider it more seriously.

We are 2.6 miles (via road...shorter in a direct line) from a major freeway. There is another college (which has spotty signal) within a mile. I'm actually fairly surprised that the students that live in the area don't complain. But, maybe they do. And there are quite a few threads recently about signal strength going downhill, and quite a few are coming from Arizona.

It's not a new issue, that Tucson's cell signals aren't what Verizon claims.

Grimalkin74

And I apologize if I'm not using the right terminology for what I'm trying to say. I understand it's not about bars and such. However, it IS about 4G, and even 3G not being available and the inability to make calls in my neighborhood, when everything says I "should" be able to.

Verizon_Support

Grimalkin74, we do want all our customers to get great service from us. We apologize that the option you are looking for with Wi-Fi calling is not something available within the Settings of the phone. Possibly in the future Google and the manufacturer will add that option.

Regarding your signal experience at your location home, it would be better to be in direct contact with us. So we can assistance you with trouble shooting, since this platform is usually for asking general questions that other customers would help answer. We have sent you a Private Message, please respond to that message going forward.

StevenG_VZW

If my response answered your question please click the �Correct Answer� button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

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