In this technological era, uninterrupted communication is an essential requirement to the modern world. Low signal reception can be a total turn-off to most businesses and individual use. However, if you seek how to receive better signal with straight talk you will have multiple tips to improve the quality and strength of this Company’s network signals.
In the end, you will get uncompromised connectivity and signal strength for cell phone services. Straight Talk works as a mobile virtual network operator company under Tracfone brands. Interestingly, it operates on all US major carrier networks, including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
This prepaid carrier offers a range of top-notch plans and phone deals. However, there are incidences whereby Straight Talk customers experience weak signals or inadequate coverage. Thus, this article gives you ways to achieve increased network speed, better internet connection, and high network coverage.
Moreover, a drop in signal strength leads to the inability to make calls, send and receive texts, and poor internet connectivity. Thus, understanding ways on how to boost cell signals at home for free can be helpful. Many reasons may lead to a weak network signal that includes environmental, technological, and human factors. In other cases, incorrect PRL, APN settings, and cell towers are contributing factors. So, this guide helps on how to remedy Straight Talk signal issues.
About Straight Talk
Straight Talk is the brand of Walmart and TracFone and operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). The Company offers GSM as well as CDMA support. The CDMA network provides access using Verizon, while on the other hand, the GSM network offers access using AT&T and T-Mobile.
Additionally, Straight Talk offers 99.6% coverage in the United States, covering a significant number of customers. Nevertheless, Straight Talk customers might experience poor signal reception. This issue happens for many reasons, and none of it is the operator’s fault.
The challenge can result from customers’ location, the obstacles that block the direction of the signal and impend your cell phone antenna from tapping it. Such obstacles include certain building materials, tall buildings, billboards, or bridges.
Why Your Straight Talk Signal Is Weak?
Cell phone signals resemble the radio waves, the AM-FM kind. Besides, like all wind and waves, electromagnetic waves can quickly go in different directions without alert. The following are examples of what can cause poor signal reception with Straight Talk:
i) Internal building obstructions
Materials like thick walls, drywall, plaster, and other electrical devices and clutter can cause interference with signal transmission.
ii) Weather
Period of rain, thunderstorms, solar flares, and such can impair signal power.
iii) Cell tower distance
The physical distance between your home and the location of the cell tower can affect the power transmission distance.
iv) Outside interference
Trees, mountains, hills, valleys, and tall structures can block waves coming from the cell tower.
v) Building material
Certain construction materials like metal, glass, brick, concrete, radiant barrier, and other conductive material, whether electrical or magnetic, can affect your signal reception.
How to receive better signal with straight talk?
This section will get an outline of the troubleshooting tips and ways for Straight Talk consumers to ensure strengthened internet signals. Let’s have a gist at some of the remedies for a better signal reception with Straight Talk.
1) Check your settings
At times, your network settings can be one of the causes for having a poor signal. So, ensure your network settings get correctly configured. You’ll have to ensure that you’re connecting to the proper carrier and that voice and data get switched on. If you have a poor connection with Straight Talk, you may need to change your network preferences and check whether it makes a difference.
i. APN Settings
APN means “Access Point Network” and acts as the proof of ID for differentiating between users. The APN also details the data plan and network capability (2G, 3G, or 4G LTE). Additionally, it stores data concerning the type of connection that is ideal for your device.
Thus, if you have a weak signal or no network signal at all, the first thing you require to check is the APN settings. You should always check the APN settings for Straight Talk using the official website.
ii. PRL Updates
PRL means “Preferred Roaming List” and is a term given to the database responsible for CDMA services. However, it also updates data for Straight Talk. Besides, network carriers provide and retain PRL settings and use network towers upon activation of your SIM card.
Moreover, PRL gives information on service provider IDs and radio bands. These specific towers look for services and connect devices to match and secure network requirements. Therefore, an outdated PRL will interrupt the network strength, which will make the signals weak.
If you want to update your PRL settings, you will have to dial *22891 to get directions from Straight Talk. This call will automatically alert Straight Talk that you are searching for PRL updates, and the Company support team will refresh it for you.
2) Towers Update
If you are constantly struggling with low or weak signal reception, one of the essential things to do is get the cell towers updated. You need to seek the following actions:
i. Roaming List
When your cell phone searches for network signals, it will most likely look for a Preferred Roaming List (PRL). This PRL list defines different radio frequencies to come up with a signal connection.
However, Straight Talk automatically configures the PRL list to strengthen the signals without changing tower and frequency widths. If you are outside your country, you need to confirm the roaming charges in the country that you are visiting.
ii. Smartphone Apps
Smartphones are featuring built-in or downloadable apps which can help you update carrier settings automatically. For iPhone users, you can update the carrier settings in the ‘About‘ section of your iPhone. Android users need to check in the ‘Carrier Settings‘ update in their settings app.
3) Straight Talk Signal Boosters
A phone signal booster can help you boost up your 4G LTE and 3G data speeds. However, it works in any location by taking any existing 3G & 4G signal and amplifying up to 32X, and then rebroadcasts the improved signal into the home, office, or car.
Additionally, signal boosters, although a little pricey, are relatively easy to use and install. Ultimately, a cell phone booster is straightforward and gives you more bars for better service. You will get reliable reception with no more dropped calls, no low-quality calls, and no spotty service.
4) Perform a Signal Refresh
Essentially, your phone needs a simple signal refresh when it’s fighting to get a stable connection from a nearby cell tower. Thus, you don’t have to stress yourself about how to go about this process. Well, you need to shut down your phone completely and then start it back up. Another option you can switch on airplane mode for a few seconds or so and then switch it back off.
5) Move To a Better Location.
Your surroundings can affect the quality of cell phone signal reception. If you have poor reception inside your home or office, and it keeps getting better whenever you go outside, there’s a likelihood that the building is interfering with your signal.
However, if you’re outside but not yet in good reception, try moving away from trees, tall buildings, and anything else that could cause signal blockage. If you reside in a rural area, move to higher ground. Similarly, crowds or even downtown areas with significant events in town can create overloading on the wireless towers, affecting signal and data speed on your smartphone.
6) Use Wi-Fi calling
If you have Wi-Fi installation at your home or office, you can use it to make and receive calls. Wi-Fi calling is widely applicable, and it is simple to set up on your phone. For Apple iPhone users, go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling and slide the button on.
You open up your Settings for Android phones and use the search engine at the top to locate the Wi-Fi calling feature. You will also need to confirm with your carrier to understand how their policy on Wi-Fi calling is. Some carriers may require you to pay extra coins or jump through a few steps to activate it.
Additionally, if you can’t find Wi-Fi calling to function with your usual number and carrier, you can as well use an app or service to make and receive Wi-Fi calls. Besides, several best messaging apps enable you to make calls over your Wi-Fi connection, although the person on the receiving end will require the same app.
What is straight Talk Customer Service?
Easy Exchange or Easy Exchange Plus offers toll-free tech support 24/7/364, which is only closed on Christmas Day by calling (877) 637-7875. A representative will guide you through the claim setup process, and a prepaid shipping label will be sent to you via email the next business day.
Bottom line
If you are experiencing dropped calls and slow data speeds with your Straight Talk cell phone due to poor cell reception, this guide is for you. You will find several StraightTalk cell signal booster methods to help you tackle any situation of poor cell signals. If you strive to improve your Straight Talk cell signal, increase data speeds, and end dropped calls, you can get the best results here.
