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Issues with T-Mobile network reception. Misleading info on website. **May need to buy signal booster**

  • 20 April 2020
  • 24 replies
  • 11419 views
P

I recently moved to T-Mobile after checking on the web page that they have very good coverage in my area. After porting in my lines only I got to know that this was not the case. I never got more than 2 network bars will now and my signal strength also hovers around -115 dBm. I called tech team and they advised me that as the phone is not bought from T-Mobile I may experience and issue with the signals reception and quality (I use iPhone XS). The rep asked me to restart my phone as he has refreshed my sim - but after that as well - the reception was not good enough.

I do have a question here - why the website provided false info about the network coverage and quality and why it is like if I do not buy phone from T-Mobile I may not experience quality coverage. I checked the details of my cellphone and it supports all LTE bands of TMo.

Secondly - what can be done to resolve the issue.

Thanks.

 

 

Message was edited by: Piyush Khare

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Best answer by tmo_mike_c 4 May 2020, 21:24

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24 replies

syaoran
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Does your iPhone have an Intel modem?  If so, that explains it.  Inside coverage is different than outside.  Inside coverage should be expected to be less strong inside than outside.  Other things, like an abundance of WiFi networks can also degrade cellular reception.  If the area you are mentioning is heavily congested with lots of different WiFi signals and large structures, then that will impact your reception as well.

Syaoran - I am not a T-Mobile Employee but I could use a new job!
P

I believe almost all iphone models have intel chipset modems - so am not sure how thats an issue with the reception of network. I do understand that inside coverage would be less strong when compared to outside coverage however it should not be like getting signal strength of -115dBm or way less than that. When talking about wifi - I can see only 2 wifi ssids on my phone - so that possibility is also nullified.

Could you tell me if I can get any signal booster from T-Mobile to improve the signal reception

syaoran
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Not all, but there was a big backlash at Apple a while back over how bad the reception on their devices with Intel radios were. 

Syaoran - I am not a T-Mobile Employee but I could use a new job!
P

I experienced very good network reception with other wireless providers like Sprint and AT&T. I am only facing issue with TMo.

Do you have any idea if TMo still providing signal boosters?

syaoran
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Signal boosters are still provided.  You will need to contact Customer Care to obtain one.

Syaoran - I am not a T-Mobile Employee but I could use a new job!
tmo_mike_c
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Hey there!

Did you need any more help? Please let us know if this was resolved.

P

Hi,

This has not been resolved yet. What can be done to address the issue faced by me.

Thanks.

P

Hi,

This has not been resolved yet. What can be done to address the issue faced by me.

Thanks.

tmo_mike_c
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Getting a Signal Booster may still be an option. You should Community-2153​ and have our Care folks troubleshoot this further and get a signal booster order.

P

4G LTE Cellspot - Utilizing my own internet for getting LTE coverage???

P

4G LTE Cellspot - Utilizing my own internet for getting LTE coverage???

tmo_mike_c
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Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I did see that message on the thread. We'd need folks like our Tech care or T-Force team to get account access and help further with that booster equipment.

M

I bought my T-Mobile A20 phone on 5/14/2020 and live in a semi-rural area of CA. IAfter being mislead for over a MONTH by T-mobile reps that a signal booster would be delivered to me, it never came. I found out 2 days ago by a T-Mobile rep that T-Mobile discontinued providing boosters to its customers 5 MONTHS ago!So now I have this useless phone. Have decided to go back with Verizon.

 

 

F
Userlevel 6
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Much of T-Mobile’s coverage is over promoted.  In many areas that T-Mobile claims as ‘fair’ coverage - I get ‘No Service’ - outdoors in an open area.  T-Mobile is aware of this, and has refused to do anything about it.  They have actually asked me why I stay with T-Mobile.  I don’t always use service in those areas, HOWEVER, I do expect them to honor their service - where they have ‘4G LTE Verified’ - I should be able to get some form of service… not Emergency SOS.  Similarly, in a newly deployed 5G area, with a LOT of spectrum full ‘bars’ in a small community, I shouldn’t be struggling to get … 500kbps, along with T-Mobile’s response of ‘12 month ETA to fix’.

B
Userlevel 1

Same here, they sent me a test drive device before switching from Verizon, and there were almost always full three bars on that particular device inside my house. Once I signed up and got iPhone from t-mobile I barely have 1 bar and almost no coverage around my house. Their map shows excellent or good coverage. Don’t trust t-mobile when the coverage is in question. Read these forums before you sign up with them. I wish I could go back with Verizon, but they lock you up to a 2 year contract with “free” phones. Another thing that I don’t understand is that Sprint users can use T-mobile towers and have expanded coverage but t-mobile users can’t use Sprint towers. 

F
Userlevel 6
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T-Mobile will NOT fix your service issue where they don’t have an issue on their backend.

In some places like Cambria, CA - the ‘claim’ to have service, yet outdoors in the West Village my phones (plural) only get Verizon or AT&T.  The locals know this, and as a result do not use T-Mobile (or Sprint).  When you use another provider to ‘troubleshoot’ they appear dumbfounded when they cannot make a call to your device.  If you open a ticket, they will close it stating ‘No alarms found, service is as expected’.

F
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Much of T-Mobile’s coverage is over promoted.  In many areas that T-Mobile claims as ‘fair’ coverage - I get ‘No Service’ - outdoors in an open area.  T-Mobile is aware of this, and has refused to do anything about it.  They have actually asked me why I stay with T-Mobile.  I don’t always use service in those areas, HOWEVER, I do expect them to honor their service - where they have ‘4G LTE Verified’ - I should be able to get some form of service… not Emergency SOS.  Similarly, in a newly deployed 5G area, with a LOT of spectrum full ‘bars’ in a small community, I shouldn’t be struggling to get … 500kbps, along with T-Mobile’s response of ‘12 month ETA to fix’.

 

 

“fair”=1-2 bars...good=3-4 and so on..so knowing this you can probably imagine the slightest of things happening at the tower or between you and said tower would drop you into no mans land..this goes for any carrier though

***I like many others come onto this site for assistance and to help others. Marking a reply as helpful or correct helps others with like issues when they try to search the site for assistance. I do not work for Tmobile and my suggestions and or opinions are my own**.~~~~ The site here is primarily peer to peer with some TMO moderation to keep the site in order..They do not have account access..The prefered method would be to contact TMO through either calling in (tier 1 support) or by contacting them through either Facebook/Twitter (tier 2 support)**~~~~
F
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What I typically have seen ‘fair’ (in some areas - 5-10 miles) = Emergency SoS outdoors.  In some cases for ~5 years.  I have actually met with the T-Mobile ‘drive team’ on this - and they know that this is a ‘No Service’ area by a handset.  Tower is typically 8 miles away, there is also a +1 mile wide +300’ “hill” in between.  While I don’t expect T-Mobile to service this - with this configuration, I also don’t expect T-Mobile to claim this as ‘4G LTE verified’ either.   If I was flying a drone ~300’ above the ground, I would probably have service.  I personally expect them to fix their service map - especially when they’ve been called out, and their engineers + ‘drive team’ have verified this as a ‘No Service’ area.  T-Mobile’s OEM refuses, as I suspect that has some issues to deal with in how many people are ‘covered’, and of course… sales.

F
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What I typically have seen ‘fair’ (in some areas - 5-10 miles) = Emergency SoS outdoors.  In some cases for ~5 years.  I have actually met with the T-Mobile ‘drive team’ on this - and they know that this is a ‘No Service’ area by a handset.  Tower is typically 8 miles away, there is also a +1 mile wide +300’ “hill” in between.  While I don’t expect T-Mobile to service this - with this configuration, I also don’t expect T-Mobile to claim this as ‘4G LTE verified’ either.   If I was flying a drone ~300’ above the ground, I would probably have service.  I personally expect them to fix their service map - especially when they’ve been called out, and their engineers + ‘drive team’ have verified this as a ‘No Service’ area.  T-Mobile’s OEM refuses, as I suspect that has some issues to deal with in how many people are ‘covered’, and of course… sales.

 

yeah things are kind of stacked against you there with a mountain signal blocking you as well as the closest tower being that far away lol

***I like many others come onto this site for assistance and to help others. Marking a reply as helpful or correct helps others with like issues when they try to search the site for assistance. I do not work for Tmobile and my suggestions and or opinions are my own**.~~~~ The site here is primarily peer to peer with some TMO moderation to keep the site in order..They do not have account access..The prefered method would be to contact TMO through either calling in (tier 1 support) or by contacting them through either Facebook/Twitter (tier 2 support)**~~~~
F
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The closest site is actually ~3 miles away, but it would literally have to go through 3 miles of earth to get to the other side.  The one that is 8 miles away covers the town of Agua Dulce as it is at +4400’ elevation.  It is weak, but actually usable as long as there is nothing in between such as indoor of a house.

 

F
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oddly enough im willing to bet on overcast days you get a slightly better signal compared to nice and clear days?

***I like many others come onto this site for assistance and to help others. Marking a reply as helpful or correct helps others with like issues when they try to search the site for assistance. I do not work for Tmobile and my suggestions and or opinions are my own**.~~~~ The site here is primarily peer to peer with some TMO moderation to keep the site in order..They do not have account access..The prefered method would be to contact TMO through either calling in (tier 1 support) or by contacting them through either Facebook/Twitter (tier 2 support)**~~~~
F
Userlevel 6
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This is SoCal… overcast days /year can be counted on your hand.  Slightly better ‘No Service’ is still… ‘No Service’.

F
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im NorCal...just north of Sac about an hour ish..

***I like many others come onto this site for assistance and to help others. Marking a reply as helpful or correct helps others with like issues when they try to search the site for assistance. I do not work for Tmobile and my suggestions and or opinions are my own**.~~~~ The site here is primarily peer to peer with some TMO moderation to keep the site in order..They do not have account access..The prefered method would be to contact TMO through either calling in (tier 1 support) or by contacting them through either Facebook/Twitter (tier 2 support)**~~~~
J

 

 

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