Help Is HSPA+ affected by altitude?

[diemerm]

Any experts on HSPA+ out there?

I've had my Nexus for about 2 weeks now, with T-Mobile service.
Love the phone and service works great everywhere.
Well... almost everywhere. I work in Downtown LA and, although my phone works fine when I am on the street and in restaraunts during my lunch break, I'm having trouble connecting in my office in a highrise building.

Funny thing is, the phone says I have full bars, with the "H" symbol there and everything.

However, I've done speed tests and am getting more like Edge speeds. (0.04 MBPS down and 0.01 MBPS up)

Literally everywhere else, the phone works great and gets fast service. Even when I go down to the bottom floor of my office building.

So, I guess I'm just wondering why is my phone telling me I have full HSPA+ service up here in my office when I clearly do not.

I've thought that maybe the service is affected because of my office being high up? But at the same time, I'm only on the 18th floor... so I kinda don't think thats the case. Plus, you would think my bars would be lower if that were the case, but as stated I have full bars with the "H" symbol.

Very confused.
Please help!

 

[Tim K]

Its not the height... you can get a cell signal in a plane at low enough altitude. Its probably the structure of the building itself, or something in the building that is affecting the signal.

 

[diemerm]

Its not the height... you can get a cell signal in a plane at low enough altitude. Its probably the structure of the building itself, or something in the building that is affecting the signal.

thanks, yeah I was pretty confident it didn't have anything to do with the height I'm at.

I'm still confused though, because if it is something to do with the building shouldn't I have barely any bars? Again, my phone is showing full service with the "H" symbol.

Been having trouble all morning, and its getting worse because today the service bars will every once in a while change from blue to grey... which I believe means it can't connect to Google's servers. I'm about to go to lunch right now and I know the second I get down to the bottom floor everythings going to work fine.... just wish it would work up here

 

[SlyFerret]

It could have something to do with the height in that you are above the height of the antennas on the cell towers. The panel antennas on the towers are directional, and they are aimed to focus the majority of the signal to cover devices at ground level.

It is probably a combination of this and the building materials/design that is causing your problem.

-SF

 

[Tim K]

I wonder if there may be interference of some kind. Since you get a strong signal but poor data rates....

I wouldn't think height plays a big role unless you are in one of the highest buildings around and it doesn't have your carrier's antenna? Usually they try to get antennas on the highest buildings to avoid obstacles.

 

[Demache]

I wonder if there may be interference of some kind. Since you get a strong signal but poor data rates....

I wouldn't think height plays a big role unless you are in one of the highest buildings around and it doesn't have your carrier's antenna? Usually they try to get antennas on the highest buildings to avoid obstacles.

Probably building material and design. Some buildings are natural faraday cages. Not to mention, receiving signal isn't the only issue, the tower needs to be able to hear YOU too and natural a cell phone radio isn't nearly as powerful as the antenna on a base station.