Does a hotspot work in an area that you can't get reception

Probably not. A hotspot device might have a slightly better antenna than a phone but no way of knowing if that will make any difference in such a building.

Thanks so much.  Not what I wanted to hear but it was the answer I expected.  

Hello kayc817, we're here to help with signal loss while in a building with a tin roof.

That is a good question. Metal is like kryptonite when it comes to signals. The reason, a wireless signal consists of radio waves. Metal conducts electricity and in turn, absorbs it. This means if your home has a metal roof, your LTE signal is affected. The best option to address this is Wi-Fi Calling. Check out my personal story about metal roofs.

You may notice certain rooms get poor LTE signals. This could be caused by your roof, walls, ground elements, and electronics. 

• Roofs: Depending on what your roof is made out of, can impact your reception.
• Walls: depending on the thickness of your walls and how they are made, can affect the signal. Especially if it is reinforced with rebar.
• Ground elements: Depending on what is under you can impact signals. Rocks, metals, even water can affect wireless signals.
• Electronics: Electronics emit electromagnetic interference. This can interfere with the wireless signal.

You factor in everything we mentioned above and dead spots, you can see why your service may not be the same while in your home, office, or even outside. Check out my story when a dead spot affected my ability to get to get a text message. 

Thank you for visiting AT&T Community Forums!

Carlton, AT&T Community Specialist 

Thanks