How to Boost Mobile Signal in High-Rise Buildings

Living or working in a high-rise building can sometimes lead to poor mobile signal. This is a common issue in many urban areas across the United Kingdom. Tall buildings often block or weaken mobile signals, making it difficult to make calls, send messages, or use mobile data effectively. Fortunately, there are simple and effective ways to boost mobile signal in high-rise buildings. This guide will walk you through the causes of poor signal and how to boost it in the high-rise buildings.

Understand Why Signal Weakens in High-Rises

Before finding solutions, it’s important to know why high-rise buildings can have weak mobile signals. Here are some reasons:

• Building materials: Concrete, steel, and glass used in construction can block signals from reaching inside.
• Distance from cell towers: The higher the floor, the farther you are from ground-level cell towers.
• Interference from other buildings: In busy cities like London or Manchester, nearby buildings can reflect or obstruct signals.

Knowing these factors can help you choose the best solution to boost your mobile signal in high-rise buildings.

Find the Best Spot for Stronger Signal

Finding the best spot in your building where the signal is stronger can make a big difference. Follow these tips:

• Move closer to windows: Walls block signals, but glass allows them to pass through. Signal is usually stronger near windows.
• Higher floors aren’t always better: While it seems logical that higher floors might have better signal, they are often too far from ground-level towers. Try lower floors if possible.
• Avoid obstructions: Stay away from large metal appliances or thick walls, as they can interfere with the signal.

By experimenting with different spots, you can find an area where the signal is at its best.

Use Wi-Fi Calling

Wi-Fi calling is a feature that allows you to make and receive calls over a Wi-Fi network instead of using your mobile network. Many UK providers, including EE, Vodafone, and O2, offer this service. Wi-Fi calling can be especially useful in high-rise buildings where mobile signal is weak but Wi-Fi is strong.

How to enable it:

• Go to your phone’s settings and turn on the Wi-Fi calling option.
• Ensure you are connected to a stable Wi-Fi network.

This is one of the easiest ways to maintain good call quality and avoid dropped calls in high-rise buildings. Technically, it’s one of the most used methods to boost mobile signal in high-rise buidings.

Install and Use a Mobile Signal Booster

A mobile signal booster can significantly boost your mobile signal in high-rise buildings. Here’s how it works:

• An outdoor antenna captures the weak signal from the nearest mobile tower.
• An amplifier boosts the signal.
• An indoor antenna rebroadcasts the boosted signal inside your building.

You can purchase signal boosters that work with all major UK networks, including Three, EE, and Vodafone. However, ensure that the signal booster is legal and approved for use in the UK, as unregulated boosters can interfere with mobile networks.

Use a Femtocell

A femtocell is a small device that acts like a mini mobile tower in your home or office. It connects to your broadband internet and provides a strong, stable signal for your phone. This option is useful in high-rise buildings where both mobile signal and Wi-Fi might be weak.

Several UK mobile providers, like Vodafone and EE, offer femtocells to customers with poor indoor coverage. However, you will need to check with your provider if this solution is available for you.

Upgrade to a 4G or 5G Router

If you rely on mobile data for internet access, using a 4G or 5G router can boost your signal. These routers are designed to capture mobile signals better than phones and distribute a stronger connection throughout your home or office. They also often come with external antennas, which can be placed near windows to capture a stronger signal.

Benefits:

• More stable and faster internet connection.
• Ability to connect multiple devices.

In areas with 5G coverage, upgrading to a 5G router can give you faster speeds and better overall signal strength.

Reduce Network Congestion

High-rise buildings can have many residents or businesses using the same mobile network, leading to network congestion. This can weaken your signal, especially during peak hours. To reduce the impact of congestion:

• Use mobile data during non-peak hours: Late at night or early in the morning often have less traffic.
• Limit the number of devices on the network: If possible, reduce the number of devices connected to the same network.

By reducing congestion, you can improve your mobile data speeds and signal reliability.

Check for Network Upgrades or Issues

Sometimes, poor signal is not due to your location, but due to network issues. Mobile providers in the UK regularly upgrade their networks or perform maintenance, which can temporarily affect your signal.

What to do:

• Check your provider’s website for updates on network status or planned upgrades in your area.
• Use apps like OpenSignal to find the best available mobile network in your building.

Knowing if there are network problems can save you from unnecessary troubleshooting.

Upgrade Your Phone or SIM Card

Older phones may not support the latest mobile network technologies, such as 4G or 5G, which can result in weaker signals. Additionally, an outdated SIM card may not work well with newer network features, causing poor connectivity.

Solution:

• Make sure your phone supports the latest mobile technologies.
• Contact your provider for a new SIM card if yours is several years old.

Upgrading your phone or SIM card can lead to better signal reception, especially if you’re in a high-rise building.

Use a Mobile Signal App

Mobile signal apps, such as OpenSignal or Network Cell Info, can help you find the strongest mobile signal in your building. These apps show you where nearby cell towers are located and can guide you to the best spots for signal.

How they help:

• Track signal strength in real-time.
• Find the best location in your building for better reception.

By using these apps, you can better understand your signal issues and find ways to improve them.

Reposition Your Router

If you rely on Wi-Fi for mobile calls or data through Wi-Fi calling, the location of your Wi-Fi router can affect the signal strength. Sometimes the router is placed in a corner or far from areas where you use your phone the most. Thick walls, metal objects, or electronic interference can further reduce the Wi-Fi signal strength.

Solution:

• Place the router in a central location in your flat or office.
• Ensure it’s not blocked by furniture, walls, or electronic devices.
• You can also use a Wi-Fi extender to improve signal coverage throughout your high-rise.

Improving Wi-Fi strength can lead to a more stable mobile connection when using Wi-Fi calling.

Use Mesh Wi-Fi Systems

Mesh Wi-Fi systems are another solution for ensuring strong and consistent Wi-Fi coverage across large or multi-room spaces, common in high-rise apartments or offices. These systems consist of multiple nodes that work together to distribute Wi-Fi evenly, preventing dead zones.

Solution:

• Install a mesh Wi-Fi system to extend your internet signal throughout your space.
• Place mesh nodes in different areas to ensure complete coverage, especially in large high-rise apartments where traditional routers struggle.

Mesh systems can support a better Wi-Fi connection, allowing smoother mobile data usage and clearer calls.

Choose the Right Mobile Network Provider

Not all mobile networks offer equal coverage in every area. In some high-rise buildings, one network provider may perform better than another due to the location of cell towers. If you frequently experience poor mobile signal in your high-rise, it may be worth considering whether your current provider is the best option.

Solution:

• Use online coverage maps provided by UK mobile operators (such as Vodafone, EE, Three, or O2) to check which network has the best signal in your building.
• Consider switching to a provider that has a stronger presence or better infrastructure in your location.

Choosing a provider with stronger signal in your specific area can significantly boost your mobile signal in high-rise buildings.

Regularly Restart Your Phone

Sometimes, weak signal issues can be caused by your phone, especially if it has been running continuously for long periods. Phones can lose connection to the nearest cell tower or fail to switch to a stronger network band if they’ve been running for too long without a restart.

Solution:

• Restart your phone regularly, especially when you notice a weak signal.
• This refreshes the phone’s connection to nearby cell towers, helping it find a stronger signal.

A simple restart can sometimes fix poor signal reception, especially when the phone fails to switch between towers or bands correctly.

Switch to a Network with Better Indoor Coverage

Some mobile networks offer better indoor coverage than others. This is because different mobile providers use different frequency bands, and some frequencies penetrate buildings better than others. For instance, lower-frequency bands (such as 800 MHz) travel farther and penetrate walls better, while higher-frequency bands (like 1800 MHz or 2100 MHz) provide faster data speeds but have limited range indoors.

Solution:

• Opt for a mobile network that offers better indoor coverage by using lower-frequency bands.
• Research or ask your mobile provider if they offer coverage on the 800 MHz band, which is often used for better indoor penetration in the UK.

Switching to a network that operates on lower frequencies in your area can improve signal quality inside high-rise buildings.

Check for Electrical Interference

Electrical devices like microwaves, cordless phones, and other appliances can cause interference with mobile signals, especially if they are near your mobile phone or Wi-Fi router. This type of interference can disrupt both your mobile signal and your Wi-Fi signal, leading to dropped calls and slow data speeds.

Solution:

• Keep your phone and Wi-Fi router away from large electronic devices that may cause interference.
• Turn off unused electrical devices, especially those that emit radio waves or use wireless communication.

Reducing interference from other electronics can help boost your mobile and Wi-Fi signal inside high-rise buildings.

Maintain Your Phone’s Antenna

Sometimes, the issue isn’t just with your signal but with your phone’s ability to receive it. The antenna inside your phone can become damaged over time or covered by protective cases that interfere with signal reception. This is particularly common with thick or metal phone cases, which can block or weaken the signal.

Solution:

• Avoid using bulky or metallic phone cases that can interfere with signal reception.
• Ensure your phone’s antenna is in good condition. If you suspect damage, contact your phone manufacturer for advice or repair.

By ensuring your phone’s antenna is unobstructed and well-maintained, you can improve your chances of getting a stronger signal.

Conclusion

Boosting mobile signal in high-rise buildings in the UK can be challenging due to building materials, distance from cell towers, and electronic interference. However, solutions like Wi-Fi calling, mobile signal boosters, and choosing the right network provider can significantly improve your mobile experience. By understanding these factors and using the tips provided, you can enjoy better mobile reception, even in tall buildings. Regular phone maintenance, checking for interference, and using Wi-Fi systems can all contribute to better signal quality.