Does your phone end calls as soon as you dial out? Or perhaps at odd intervals during a phone call? It’s arguably among the most annoying experiences you could have with your phone. Hearing that the number you have dialed is unallocated is a close second.
It’s one thing when a personal conversation doesn’t go through or gets cut off, but quite another when it’s an important business call.
In the corporate world, dropped calls are a nuisance at best. It might mean that your auto phone dialers are having to work harder, or worse, you’re prevented from successfully completing a contract.
Calls can drop for several reasons, and we’ll review how to fix those below. We will also explore possible ways to prevent it from happening again.
What Does a Dropped Call Mean?
The call setup process starts when a call is made. When you make a call, your network’s signaling protocol creates an electronic connection between your device and the remote party.
For a cell phone communication, the call is sent to the MSC (mobile switching center) that is geographically nearest to the digital mobile network. A connected call is the result of a completed setup procedure.
Of course, there are situations when a call is cut off before its intended recipient hangs up. This is called a “dropped call.”. And there are several possible causes.
The good news is that workplace phone conversations are no longer solely dependent on telecommunications networks thanks to innovations like cloud calling and VoIP phone systems for small businesses. However, for those who haven’t made the switch yet, let’s dive a little deeper into the issue.
Why is My Phone Dropping Calls?
There’s one thing that iPhone and Android users have in common: a shared desire to place the blame for bad coverage and missed calls squarely at the feet of the cellular service provider. The fact is that it’s usually not their fault.
Voice and particularly video calls are vulnerable to glitches if you don’t use a strong network that employs 4G LTE or 5G.
One straightforward approach to guarantee improved call quality and more reliable, lightning-fast network coverage is to upgrade to a more advanced network.
Natural obstacles to cell signals
Cell signals are impeded by local topography such as hills, ridges, mountains, and bluffs. Problems with reception might occur if there is an elevation difference between your location and the nearest cell tower.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, almost any form of vegetation, from trees and bushes to grass and weeds, can distort radio frequency signals and disrupt mobile phone service. Mobile service is usually terrible in densely forested areas. Trees are great, but they do not improve signal strength.
Poor weather and other atmospheric factors can also interfere with transmissions. Dust in the air can function as a reflector and refractor for radio waves.
Man-made obstacles to cell signals
Your building itself may interfere with your cell phone’s coverage if calls frequently disconnect when you’re inside. The outer walls of most modern structures are often constructed from materials that are not easily penetrable by radiofrequency (RF) waves.
Distance from cell towers
When calls keep getting dropped, people usually check this first. Since cellular transmissions are electromagnetic waves, they act similarly to other RF signals. You won’t get a strong or detectable signal on your phone if you’re far from the tower where the signal is broadcasting.
6 Possible Ways to End Dropped Call Issues for Good
1. Reboot your phone
SIM card problems and dropped calls on iOS and Android devices can often be fixed by just restarting the phone. If restarting your phone doesn’t fix the issue, try powering it down for a while and starting it up again.
2. Try a signal booster
Having a weak signal is a major contributor to dropped calls on mobile devices. See that there are a minimum of two bars showing on your phone’s signal strength indicator. Less than two bars indicate you are a significant distance from a cell tower.
Absorption and reflection of radio waves often create signal-weak areas and dead zones. Your house or place of business may benefit from a signal booster if it is located in an area with poor mobile phone reception.
Signal boosters for cell phones, often known as “cellular repeaters,” can overcome interference by amplifying weak signals and penetrating brick-and-mortar barriers.
The number of users on the network is another issue that might affect the quality of your calls. You can expect a lot of competition for network resources from other users if you’re trying to get work done in a crowded environment.
Wi-fi calling and hosted IP telephony are two ingenious workarounds that can be explored whether you’re using a cell phone or a fixed-line. Switch to Wi-Fi calling if the cellular network is poor where you are, but you still have an internet connection, and your calls should be more stable.
Keep in mind that cellular boosters only strengthen already-existent signals. A booster won’t help if your carrier doesn’t have service in your region.
3. Inspect your SIM card
When a SIM card is not properly placed, the phone may have trouble functioning normally. The cell phone signal might also be disrupted if the SIM card is unclean or broken.
Try cleaning the SIM card’s metal contact face. Remove the SIM card and wipe it gently with a soft cloth. In addition, blow gently into the SIM card slot to remove debris. Damaged or severely scratched SIM cards should be replaced.
Verify that the cellular connection is stable after reinserting the SIM card and see if it resolves the issue. The call quality can be improved by switching the SIM card to another port on devices with multiple slots.
SIM cards are not immune to aging. Older SIM cards may have weaker cellular signals and worse reception if they stop receiving carrier configuration updates.
SIM cards have a shelf life of roughly 5-10 years, after which they should be replaced. If you don’t, you could have to deal with sluggish mobile data speeds and call problems.
4. Install updates
Several versions of both iOS and Android smartphones suffer dropped calls. Yet, it’s interesting to note that both providers often make software upgrades to address bugs impacting cellular calls and other concerns.
If you’ve already tried the aforementioned solutions without success, try updating your phone’s operating system.
To upgrade to the most recent iOS version, open the Settings app, navigate to General, and then Software Update. Select Download and Install to complete the update.
Check for updates can be accessed from Settings; navigate to System — Advanced — and then System update on Android devices.
The specifics of upgrading Android depend on the specific phone you have. To get in-depth information on updating Android, you might need to get in touch with your device’s manufacturer for support.
5. Your app settings are off
Your device’s settings may be to blame for call drops, rather than the quality of your cellular service. Hence, before you complain to your provider, double-check for errors.
For instance, if your mobile device’s caller ID isn’t turned on, it may not be able to pick up incoming calls. Also, frequent flyers might want to check their data and time settings because they may be related to their calls being dropped. If you have been traveling, you must ensure that your home time zone matches your present location.
Remember to double-check your preferences. A caller ID system comes first, followed by a clock and calendar.
6. Initiate a network settings reset
Dropped calls are often the result of a smartphone’s carrier and network settings being at odds with one another. The call-dropping problem might be fixed by reverting your device’s network settings to their original factory defaults.
iOS devices
Any device operating iOS 15 or newer can have its network settings reset by tapping Settings — General — Transfer or Reset iPhone — Reset. Choose Reset Network Settings, then input your passcode and confirm using the Reset Network Settings option.
If you’re on iOS 14 or earlier, reset your network settings by visiting Settings — General — Reset — Reset Network Settings.
Android devices
To do a factory reset on your Android device, launch Settings, then Advanced, then Reset options, and finally Reset Wi-Fi, mobile, and Bluetooth. Tap Reset Settings to finish.
When All Else Fails; Troubleshooting Tips to Fix Dropped Calls
If you feel like you’ve exhausted every possible solution, consider one of these. Something subtle may often be the root of a larger issue.
- Confirm that your device is not set to “airplane mode.”
- Make the switch to a corporate calling app or enjoy the benefits of cloud solutions that support Wi-Fi calling.
- Verify that your battery’s still in good shape and doesn’t need a replacement. Reduced mobile signal strength can occur when a phone’s battery is low.
- Take your phone or other electronic devices out of the case. Phones with cases might have impaired reception if the internal antenna is blocked from receiving signals.
Try a combination of these tips if no single one delivers the expected results.
Get Rid of Dropped Calls for Good
It’s annoying when calls get dropped unexpectedly. Regardless of the nature of the call, no one wants to experience a situation where they cannot communicate with others easily.
Repeated call failures can also be disastrous for a company’s efforts to establish an effective internal communication network such as a robust staff-wide communication system.
When connectivity issues do arise, you can take several easy measures to fix them. Use the tips listed above to avoid dropped calls and stay connected to the people that matter.
Bio:
John Allen – Director, SEO, 8×8
John Allen is a driven marketing professional with over 14 years of experience, an extensive background in building and optimizing digital marketing programs across SEM, SEO, paid media, mobile, social, and email, with an eye to new customer acquisition and increasing revenue
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