Rules of Reception: Finding a Used Cell Phone With Excellent Coverage
http://www.ads-get-read.co.uk/articles/102606/1/Rules-of-Reception-Finding-a-Used-Cell-Phone-With-Excellent-Coverage/Page1.html
S. Bradshaw
Scott Bradshaw writes articles that focus on cell phones, cellular apps, and mobile services. He encourages people to save money with used cell phones and avoid signing contract extensions by purchasing refurbished cell phones. By S. Bradshaw
Published on Tuesday 5th 2010
When you sign up for cell phone service, you expect excellent customer service and superior coverage Unfortunately, what you pay for is not always what you get
When you sign up for cell phone service, you expect excellent customer service and superior coverage. Unfortunately, what you pay for is not always what you get. And you may not even see it coming. Even if you try out your new service using your used cell phone before you leave the store, you may soon realize that service is sketchy once you get out on the road. Some cell phone companies will let you try out their service for a short period of time before you sign a contract, but many do not. Even if you are able to try out service beforehand, you might be locked into a certain provider because there are not a lot of choices in your area. Regardless, there are several steps that you can take to ensure that your used cell phone is getting all of the reception that you need.
Antenna Size
Nearly all cell phones produced in the last few years are equipped with internal antennas. Smaller antennas do not secure as much reception as larger antennas. When you decide to purchase a used or refurbished cell phone, you have a great advantage. You don’t have to rely on information obtained from a salesperson regarding the reliability of a new model. You can go online and read reviews from people who have used the same cell phone you are interested in for an extended period of time.
The Power of Networking
Always research network coverage in your area before purchasing a used cell phone. Different models, even those from the same provider, may connect to different networks which could have a dramatic impact on the reception that you receive. For example: Two used [provider] Blackberry cell phones might sell for the same price, but receive varying degrees of reception in your area based on the network that each individual phone connects to.
Power Supply
A drained battery will negatively affect cell phone reception as well. So, avoid all of the cell phone functions that use a great deal of battery juice including your camera, mp3 player, GPS, internet browser, etc. Only use the functions that you need. Pay attention to functions that might be running in the background (i.e. Bluetooth) as this could affect your battery life without you even being aware of it. Another factor that zaps battery life is cold weather. Avoid using your cell phone outside in cold weather if at all possible and if you do spend a lot of time out in the cold, try to keep your phone in a pocket versus a bag or purse to keep the battery warmer and longer lasting.
Taking the time to research a used cell phone before you purchase it is the best thing that you can do to ensure great reception for the life of your phone contract. Of course, there may be factors that you can’t predict such as a defect in the phone itself or the relocation of towers. You can’t control everything, but you can dramatically increase phone satisfaction with a little bit of homework before you purchase your phone.
Antenna Size
Nearly all cell phones produced in the last few years are equipped with internal antennas. Smaller antennas do not secure as much reception as larger antennas. When you decide to purchase a used or refurbished cell phone, you have a great advantage. You don’t have to rely on information obtained from a salesperson regarding the reliability of a new model. You can go online and read reviews from people who have used the same cell phone you are interested in for an extended period of time.
The Power of Networking
Always research network coverage in your area before purchasing a used cell phone. Different models, even those from the same provider, may connect to different networks which could have a dramatic impact on the reception that you receive. For example: Two used [provider] Blackberry cell phones might sell for the same price, but receive varying degrees of reception in your area based on the network that each individual phone connects to.
Power Supply
A drained battery will negatively affect cell phone reception as well. So, avoid all of the cell phone functions that use a great deal of battery juice including your camera, mp3 player, GPS, internet browser, etc. Only use the functions that you need. Pay attention to functions that might be running in the background (i.e. Bluetooth) as this could affect your battery life without you even being aware of it. Another factor that zaps battery life is cold weather. Avoid using your cell phone outside in cold weather if at all possible and if you do spend a lot of time out in the cold, try to keep your phone in a pocket versus a bag or purse to keep the battery warmer and longer lasting.
Taking the time to research a used cell phone before you purchase it is the best thing that you can do to ensure great reception for the life of your phone contract. Of course, there may be factors that you can’t predict such as a defect in the phone itself or the relocation of towers. You can’t control everything, but you can dramatically increase phone satisfaction with a little bit of homework before you purchase your phone.