No Signal !
Does lifting your phone in the air really improve your signal?
The signal bars on our smartphones are one of the great mysteries of modern living, but EE's top network expert, revealed the truth behind our mobile-flailing antics.
According to Howard Jones, the Head of Network Communications at mobile network EE, waving your phone around doesn't make a difference to signal – and could make your signal even worse.
He warns that "if you cover antennas up with your hand, for instance, your hand does get in the way, because the radio waves have to get to the antenna. Your hand being in the way can limit the amount of signal you get".
The direction of phone-waving doesn't really matter, saying that "up, down, left, right" makes "no difference. It's more about where you are.
"What does make a difference is proximity to stuff. If you're in your house, you could lean out the window, if you've got thick stone walls," "Your hand in particular acts as a real barrier, albeit a small one. But the best way to get maximum signal is with headphones, and with your phone out of your pocket."
"Better signal strength will mean faster downloads and updates."
But your phone's mysterious signal bars don't necessarily always mean the same thing.
"One bar on a site with loads of capacity could be better than three or four bars on a site with not much capacity.
Well - and you see people all over the world doing it.
No Signal !
Does lifting your phone in the air really improve your signal?
The signal bars on our smartphones are one of the great mysteries of modern living, but EE's top network expert, revealed the truth behind our mobile-flailing antics.
According to Howard Jones, the Head of Network Communications at mobile network EE, waving your phone around doesn't make a difference to signal – and could make your signal even worse.
He warns that "if you cover antennas up with your hand, for instance, your hand does get in the way, because the radio waves have to get to the antenna. Your hand being in the way can limit the amount of signal you get".
The direction of phone-waving doesn't really matter, saying that "up, down, left, right" makes "no difference. It's more about where you are.
"What does make a difference is proximity to stuff. If you're in your house, you could lean out the window, if you've got thick stone walls," "Your hand in particular acts as a real barrier, albeit a small one. But the best way to get maximum signal is with headphones, and with your phone out of your pocket."
"Better signal strength will mean faster downloads and updates."
But your phone's mysterious signal bars don't necessarily always mean the same thing.
"One bar on a site with loads of capacity could be better than three or four bars on a site with not much capacity.
Well - and you see people all over the world doing it.