tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7584057580176321643.post7209962225436694912..comments2022-11-02T20:36:54.031-04:00Comments on Where Liz Lives: Patentable IdeaLiz Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787713419728198832noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7584057580176321643.post-66571628159501148942010-06-17T00:38:05.307-04:002010-06-17T00:38:05.307-04:00I've seen things that will help boost your sig...I've seen things that will help boost your signal, and ways to put your phone into "signal test" mode that will give you more accurate numbers on how good your reception is, but nothing that will do it cross-brand. The best I can offer you is the benefit of my web research on this question about a year back when my parents were looking for a cell plan up in the North Country (which used to be about as benighted as it got for cel coverage, with all the mountains and the sparse populace and whatnot).<br /><br />So. Firstly I offer Mobiledia's <a href="http://www.cellreception.com/" rel="nofollow">Can You Hear Me Now? What?</a> cellular coverage page-- I've found the anecdotal evidence exceedingly useful, although a map would be nice (more on that in a bit). They also map cell towers and actually tell you which towers belong to whom, so you can find out why that cell tower practically in your back yard seems to have the reception of that great-aunt who's always forgetting to put fresh batteries in her hearing aids. It tends to be a little out of date but that's a GOOD thing, because it's not like they're taking *down* cell towers these days. They also link to different carriers' coverage maps.<br /><br />Secondly, we have the gnifty <a href="http://www.signalmap.com" rel="nofollow">SignalMap</a> page. Remember that map I wished for? Here you go. SignalMap essentially puts the anecdotal info into a visual form (yay, Google Maps). Like CYHMN?W?, it's volunteer; it's also very, very beta. (I could never get the little pop-up info tags to work, or I'd have rated it higher than CYHMN?W?.)<br /><br />Of less usefulness but not entirely without purpose is <a href="http://www.deadcellzones.com/coverage-maps.html" rel="nofollow">Dead Cell Zones.com</a>, which is kind of a reverse coverage map-- it tells you where all those nasty dead zones are for each carrier. Not very useful if you've already GOT the phone and the dead zone in question is, say, your office, but it might be helpful for your purposes in knowing who to avoid. I'm not sure how connected ('scuse the pun) these guys are, but they also offer a feedback form for indoor dead zones that (they claim) will be "used by wireless service providers to better understand your wireless requirements and to help develop and deliver solutions that address your needs for indoor wireless coverage."<br /><br />That's what I got. Hope it helps. :)Glossariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05055088795654054620noreply@blogger.com