Teacher
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2 Messages
AT&T poor signal strength
I have been a faithful AT&T Custer for the past five years and the signal in Pokipsy New York regarding phone calls as well as Internet have been poor and I've done nothing but got even more poor!!!!
I was connected to technical support a multitude of times and was even giving a free month service and that three months service was just as bad as the other months of service that I paid for...
In two different locations of residence for myself and family members as well as friends while inside the residence I have had to go outside and walk up and down the street to obtain a service necessary to continue a lengthy phone call as well as Internet service and this is quite embarrassing while other individuals using other internet services such as straight talk and Verizon and Boost Mobile had to go nowhere to utilize their phones in the same manner that I attempted to....
This does not say a lot for AT&T that I stuck with for more than five years with different phone numbers not saying that this would have made a difference but AT&T is terrible in providing a powerful service necessary so that I do not have to walk up and down the street leave a residence or stand up by a window to get a stronger service to utilize my phone and complete a task necessary for me to do so via internet or the phone calls that I'm receiving or making...
They have given me no choice but to change services and I'm sorry to say so because at one point in time I enjoyed you Liza AT&T while I was up in the capital of New York which is Albany and the signal there is incredibly strong but here in my Homestead of Poughkeepsie New York and across the river in New Paltz New York or Highland New York the signal is incredibly terrible..
Multiple times I've spoken to technical support and have gotten nowhere I'm sorry AT&T but you have lost a customer
I was connected to technical support a multitude of times and was even giving a free month service and that three months service was just as bad as the other months of service that I paid for...
In two different locations of residence for myself and family members as well as friends while inside the residence I have had to go outside and walk up and down the street to obtain a service necessary to continue a lengthy phone call as well as Internet service and this is quite embarrassing while other individuals using other internet services such as straight talk and Verizon and Boost Mobile had to go nowhere to utilize their phones in the same manner that I attempted to....
This does not say a lot for AT&T that I stuck with for more than five years with different phone numbers not saying that this would have made a difference but AT&T is terrible in providing a powerful service necessary so that I do not have to walk up and down the street leave a residence or stand up by a window to get a stronger service to utilize my phone and complete a task necessary for me to do so via internet or the phone calls that I'm receiving or making...
They have given me no choice but to change services and I'm sorry to say so because at one point in time I enjoyed you Liza AT&T while I was up in the capital of New York which is Albany and the signal there is incredibly strong but here in my Homestead of Poughkeepsie New York and across the river in New Paltz New York or Highland New York the signal is incredibly terrible..
Multiple times I've spoken to technical support and have gotten nowhere I'm sorry AT&T but you have lost a customer
Accepted Solution
formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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117.1K Messages
5 years ago
@sailboatjimm
@Texas999
You guys gotta wake up. You can scream cry and picket, and it is still not AT&Ts problem you have lousy reception and not on AT&T to fix it. It is always, ENTIRELY on the customer to choose a carrier that works for them.
Read the disclaimer on coverage maps.
https://www.att.com/maps/wireless-coverage.html
This is AT&Ts TOS, but a similar paragraph can be found in every carriers agreement.
https://www.att.com/legal/terms.wirelessCustomerAgreement.html#whereAndHowDoesAttServiceWork
3.2 Where and How Does AT&T Service Work?
AT&T does not guarantee availability of wireless network. Services may be subject to certain Device and compatibility/limitations including memory, storage, network availability, coverage, accessibility and data conversion limitations. Services (including without limitation, eligibility requirements, plans, pricing, features and/or service areas) are subject to change without notice.
When outside AT&T's coverage area, access will be limited to information and applications previously downloaded to or resident on your device. Coverage areas vary between AT&T network technologies. See coverage map(s), available at store or from your sales representative, for details or the coverage map at www.att.com/coverageviewer.
Actual network speeds depend upon device characteristics, network, network availability and coverage levels, tasks, file characteristics, applications and other factors. Performance may be impacted by transmission limitations, terrain, in-building/in-vehicle use and capacity constraints.
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ATTHelp
Community Support
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231.4K Messages
7 years ago
Hi @Mr.Springsteen!
We never like to hear of our customers experiencing service issues in their area. These days, it’s so important to maintain great service in order to maintain daily activities. I can help you check out this issue further!
Since your service started to display issues, have you attempted to restart your phone? By simply powering your phone off and back on, this can assist in refreshing your device connection to our network.
I also suggest downloading our free, awesome app called Mark the Spot. This app is downloadable unto your phone to notify us of any service issues in your area. What’s wonderful about this feature is it assists our network of any possible issues we can fix.
If you are still running into any additional issues, I also recommend running your phone through our Troubleshoot & Resolve tool. Select your make and model phone > Calling, this will specialize your troubleshooting to focus on the service issue.
I would also like to suggest any of our signal assistance methods. These include acquiring a MicroCell tower for boosted in home signal. Depending on the make and model of your phone, you can also reap the benefits of using Wi-Fi calling.
I do hope this is found to be advantageous. Please reach out if you have any additional issues.
Shenoah, AT&T Community Specialist
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Mpedraza
Curator
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1 Message
7 years ago
I strongly agree. I have been with AT&T for years as well and for the past few months I have lost signal all down the east coast. After talking to multiple people in corporate basically I have no other choice but to close my five lines and pull my clients to go with Verizon. I stood strongly behind this provider but now seeing the helpless support I will no longer advertise AT&T as being #1. I hate to see it go but I will not loose money because of one bar of signal any longer. The crazy thing is AT&T stated they bought out 20 states of Verizon's towers but how is it the signal crashes with no explanation from corporate. So in 3 days I'll be solving the problem for multiple within my business.
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Barber5
Tutor
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1 Message
7 years ago
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MrBryant
Teacher
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1 Message
7 years ago
I test the signal strength about once a month and have seen my strength go from -49dBm about a year ago to today -114 dBm. This is such a drastic loss in strength.
I work for one of the largest computer companies in the world as an engineer and ATT was one of my customers in a previous role.
Earlier this year once the signal strength got so bad, I called on me of my counterparts at ATT to inquire what was happening.
As he went through the explanation it made total sense to me.
Over the last year to year and a half ATT has slowed down or completely backed off their claims of being the strongest network and started the process of turning down almost all of their towers power.
The have a process of reducing that power little by little over a long period of time.
This results in a lower coverage area, lower signal strength and larger holes.
They have done this as a cost savings.
If they turn down the power to their thousands of towers. That translate so smaller electricity bills for the company.
And we are not talking a small savings. The cell towers are power hogs when the signal is at maximums. So likely this is a savings for the company in the 10s to 100s of millions of dollars.
I spoke to customer service a couple of months ago and explained that I know what's causing it.
Over the last year I took all the steps mentioned in the above string. None were of any help. So when I found out it was truly being caused by them i have to say I'm not a happy customer of about 20 years.
It means that Management is working to charge their network coverage for the worst and not telling their support teams or they are telling them but they are instructed to run customers through a series of time wasting steps hoping that non tech savvy customers would just fall for the steps like a placebo affect.
I asked support to request a credit for me of about $650 to allow me to purchase a micro cell for my home and office and a booster for my vehicle. (Retail of that equipment is actually $1150). I pay about $750 a month for both of my accounts with all our phones.
About 2 weeks after the request I found out it was declined.
"AT&T Free Msg: We couldn't complete your request CM20170720_126209777. For more info, go to http://www.att.com and choose Personal or Business. Or call us at 800.331.0500"
So needless to say I am going through the steps to move all 9 of my phones off to a different provider.
There are a couple of cell services offering to purchase my account and pay most if not all of my buy out fees.
I am considering going to the Wall Street journal and USA Today with how ATT is duping and frankly stealing from their customers by cheating them on dependable services.
I hate that after 20 years of being a customer and what I can estimate to about $84,000 personal funds spent. That ATT doesn't think I am worth the cost of less that what I pay for one month of services. And crappy services at that.
See ya ATT and since you didn't seem to care about me. I guess I'm going to give all your dirty business secrets to the rest of the world.
Mr Bryant.
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formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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117.1K Messages
7 years ago
I spent a month back on Verizon, convinced it was ATT. Guess what? Verizon got worse too.
Frustrated and annoyed. I bought a used micro cell, a wifi calling phone (also used) and a booster for my car.
http://techland.time.com/2011/03/23/yes-your-cell-phone-reception-is-getting-worse/
http://www.deadzones.com/2010/05/is-cell-reception-getting-worse.html#.WbEundEpChA
http://lifehacker.com/5930147/how-can-i-get-to-the-bottom-of-bad-phone-reception
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patchelect10
Teacher
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19 Messages
7 years ago
Yesterday I managed to be on the phone for almost two hours while trying to make changes needed to my Medicare coverage as I moved from a different state and needed to call instead of just make the changes online. Between my wife and I (that's TWO changes, not one!) we were dropped at least three times without even moving from the physical location we were in. I was in the middle of a conversation at one time and was told I was breaking up. After repeating myself three times, my call was dropped. I needed to go back through the phone tree of press one, press tow, etc until I succeeded in getting someone who was able to connect me to the person I had been speaking with. When I succeeded in making my changes I gave my phone to my wife who attempted to make the same changes. She was at least smart enough to get the name and direct line of the person she was speaking to, but only after getting dropped once herself. At no time were we walking around the room and I know weren't even fidgeting for fear of being dropped. Seven years ago when we originally purchased the home I had gotten AT&T because Verizon was not covering the location. I used to find voice mails whenever I travelled to areas that had a signal because of missed calls. I've never been on such a long call before but I also don't remember having such trouble maintaining a clear conversation either. According to the signal maps I am solidly in a red zone of strength, not on the fringes of a pink zone. That is a large improvement from when I originally got AT&T and was actually in a pink area instead of solid red. Nothing has been constructed in the area that would have altered signal strength, no towers, wires, or anything else have been built or moved. Since the local cable company forces us to buy the "Triple Play" package I will be enabling my cable sourced phone for all future outgoing call. I cannot depend on AT&T and am seriously suspicious that Verizon or any of the others will be any more reliable.
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patchelect10
Teacher
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19 Messages
7 years ago
I neglected to add that I have been having regular issues with simple text messages lately where I have NO signal in places I never had problem with in the past. A reboot generally resolves the problem, but it is happening more and more frequently. I'm using iPhone 5S for my wife and I but I'm even having issues with my iPad which is only about a year old.
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vaughngo
Contributor
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1 Message
7 years ago
My mom has had ATT for over 15 years.... honestly I do not know why. I use a competitors service because of the poor signal strength where I live and the fact they treat my mom, a loyal ATT customer!, like crap! The phone will not ring and she will miss important calls which she won't be notified of unless someone leaves a voicemail and many times she can not call OUT because the signal strength is not there. A competitor just gave me a booster/repeater for my phones to put in my house for free so I'm wondering why ATT doesn't do the same for my mom.
Any thoughts ATT?
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wiggum333
Tutor
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1 Message
7 years ago
I just want to chime in here as well about the poor signal strength of AT&T's towers/coverage. I'm in Baton Rouge LA and our coverage is generally mediocre to bad. Downtown Baton Rouge is awful, which is baffling seeing how many people are downtown working 5 days a week, and we have a decent night/weekend life there too. The surrounding areas of Baton Rouge are terrible. In fact, I had moved my office to a jobsite (temporarily) in the middle of an industrial office park area with lots of existing business, and it's only a mile or two down the road from a very dense business area. AT&T's coverage there was so bad we had to use a competitor's internet service with a hard-line to our job trailer just to get usable internet (we normally use mi-fi devices for internet on our jobsites).
Now, for clarity ... I have been with AT&T for well over 20 years, more like 25+. I have been as loyal as anyone can be, and still love AT&T overall. However, based on what I read above about AT&T purposefully lowering the signal strength and coverage, I'm a bit upset. I understand the mechanics of business, and how just a fraction of a cent per tower/antenna can amount to huge savings, it's bad practice to devolve your coverage and service to the customers.
I'm at the point now where I'm finally considering switching to a competitor. I never thought it would come to this, but when I'm constantly having to walk around, go to windows in my office building, etc. just to try to get 2 bars of coverage so that I can make a call, it's just not worth the hassle. I would gladly even pay a little more with a competitor if it meant that I got decent to good coverage and service.
It's funny ... our smart PHONES seem to have the most trouble these days actually being a phone. Imagine that.
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