Why can't my iPhone get a reception where others have no problem?

[iMore Question]

why can't my iPhone get reception where others have no problem?

In my new apartment in an old, brick high school building, my iPhone gets no reception while everyone else has no problem. Even my friend's 8 or 9 year old flip phone gets 4 -5 bars. What's wrong with my iPhone? it's a 4S model. At best I get a dot for the 1 bar but it can't continuously hold on to the connection. Works just fine everywhere else - just not where I live.

 

[Just_Me_D]

Re: why can't my iPhone get reception where others have no problem?

I don't know. If you have a case on it, try removing the case to see if the reception improves.

 

[Rob Phillips]

Re: why can't my iPhone get reception where others have no problem?

Welcome to iMore! Are you with the same carrier as your friends? Different carriers have different levels of service depending on geographic area. Try resetting your network settings by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Also try checking for a carrier update by going to Settings > General > About. If there's a carrier update you'll get a pop up notification. Install the carrier update and check to see if your signal is improved.

 

[robertk328]

Re: why can't my iPhone get reception where others have no problem?

My iPhone on Verizon sometimes doesn't get signal where my sister's does (she's on ATT). Like @DevilishBanker said it's going to be carrier dependent. Some phones may have stronger signal than others but the biggest difference I've seen is between carriers.