[Hidden-tech] Cell phone reception

[Deborah Chandler]

Hi everyone,

I know there was some discussion recently about cell phone providers,  
but I don't think it included actual cell phones. I looked through my  
emails and on the Hidden_tech website and didn't see this specific  
discussion, but if it's there, and it's fairly recent, I would love  
to be directed to it.

Okay, my situation:
I recently lost (had stolen?) my wonderful Nokia cell phone (I think  
it was a model 6010? it was simple and inexpensive), and needed to  
buy a replacement. On a salesperson's advice, I bought a Samsung SGH- 
A117 and I am very disappointed with its reception. The battery also  
dies quickly.

What I find interesting is that I continue to have AT&T service, (A  
Pay As You Go by the way, no contract) yet I get alerts that I have  
no service in my own house, where there was always service  
previously. (Okay, aren't they the ones with the ads for "least  
dropped calls?!)

I now need to replace it for one that gets better reception and  
doesn't drop calls so easily. It seems that there is no longer a  
simple, inexpensive Nokia available for my type of service.

I am confused by what reception problems are due to the carrier vs.  
the actual phone and its antenna. Of course, I am further confused by  
what the salespeople tell me....One said that the Nokia phones (the  
bar style, more so than the flip phones) have great reception because  
they have an antenna that wraps around the entire internal edge of  
the phone, whereas the other brands only have a small area with the  
antenna. Another salesperson says that's bunk.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I would like to make the  
switch this week if possible. If you know of a source of information  
that is actually unbiased (ha!) as to cell phones and their service/ 
reception, I welcome it.

Thanks,
Deb Chandler