Cell Phone Dead Zones....!

Try a messaging app

If Wi-Fi calling doesn’t work for you, and you’re unwilling to buy a new phone, you can still try another solution—though none of them are quite as seamless.

Most messaging options—like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Skype—allow you to make voice calls and send messages to any of your friends within those apps.

There’s a good chance most of your contacts are on Facebook anyway, so that’s a decent option—but it isn’t always as reliable as text messaging, since your friends may not receive notifications about Facebook messages or check the app very often.

If you’re willing to go through a bit more setup, Google Voice lets you make calls and send actual text messages using a regular phone number, and your recipient doesn’t have to download any special apps—they’ll just receive your calls and texts as normal. There’s only one catch: Google Voice doesn’t use your phone’s existing number; you have to pick a new number when you sign up for the service. That means you’ll have to either give this second number to your friends (so they know who’s calling), or port your current number to Google Voice, get a new number for your phone, and use the Google Voice app for all your calls and texts going forward. Like I said...it’s complicated.

Boost or create a wireless signal

Lastly, there are devices out there that can either boost or create a cellular signal inside your house. But they can also be complicated and expensive, and come with their own limitations.

Verizon, for example, offers a 4G LTE Network Extender for $250. This is a microcell device that uses your home internet connection to “create” a tiny cell tower within your house. AT&T used to offer a similar device, but has discontinued it since the release of Wi-Fi calling.

Not only are these devices expensive, but they allow anyone passing by your house to use your home internet for cell service. Meanwhile, if you have friends and family that use a different carrier than you, they won’t get a signal from it. If you want something that works with all major carriers, you can buy third-party microcell devices, but they’re even more expensive than the proprietary ones.

T-Mobile offers a different kind of network extender: Instead of using your home internet, it merely extends the network from a low-signal area (like a window) to a no-signal area (like the rest of your house). This requires that you have at least one bar of signal somewhere in your house, and it may require some finagling to get working properly. Still, it’s another option, and T-Mobile offers it for only a $25 deposit.

If you have a different carrier, there are other third-party devices that can do something similar. We recommend buying your device from a store with a good return policy so you can test it before committing, since everyone’s home is different.

Overall, Wi-Fi calling is the easiest and most reliable option—but if you absolutely can’t use it, these alternatives will work. You just have to be willing to spend time setting them up.

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So how's the service in your home? Let us know in the comments!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!