[mcmasterxx]

7/29/09 5:40pm in SE VA and its raining... my 3 day old tour is in and out of signal. Did a quick pull, but didnt help... is anybody else having this issue or have experienced this? I am hoping its the weather not the phone... please advise... thanks!

[BlackBerryBob]

Is this your first phone with Verizon? How well did your your previous phone's signal do?

[anon(1600764)]

I have the same problem in my house. Phone doesn't pull a signal indoors. Seems like after having verizon for about 7 years...I've found the one place I cannot get a signal and decided to live there lol. Signal is fine outside my house though.

I just left radio shack, I purchased a cell signal amplifier for $299 + tax. I should get it next week. Ill report back how it works when I get it.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[BlackBerryBob]

I just left radio shack, I purchased a cell signal amplifier for $299 + tax. I should get it next week. Ill report back how it works when I get it.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

You'll be happy that you did. That's the "real deal" you bought and it works great. A family member of mine lives in BFE (literally) and he bought a amplifier (not a booster pos) and he gets almost all bars where he had no service before.

[cbunting]

I am using my $30 telesis repeater from ebay, works great in my house until they get the tour fixed.

[jdbower#CB]

If you're talking about one of these it should work fine. I've got one with an antenna run up to the attic and my reception is much better on both AT&T and Verizon (T-Mobile is still dead in the water, but, well, it's T-Mobile...). My only issue is that the service can be a bit sporadic, maybe it's overamping the signal but I frequently lose connection to the BIS server (getting stuck in 1x or 1xev mode instead of 1X/1XEVDO).

Here's hoping the next Verizon Femtocell has support for EVDO services as well!

[anon(1600764)]

I was thinking of putting it on the roof instead of the attic. I'm worried it being in the attic won't be good enough. Bad idea?

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[crackzilla]

Troubleshoot 101:

*as a previous poster indicated have u had other phones with Vz?
*if yes, then most likely they were wrkg just fine then its the OS thats installed
>>if no, then get the amp booster: Wilson 841262 it works like a charm I had a friend that had the same problem(you'll notice on this site everybody had a friend)..

Also is there a police precinct/barrucks near ur house that can also affect signal greatly. As much as I hate to say this because I love Vzw, but if this continues and you've exhausted every possible option then you may need to switch carriers. BUT THATS THE LAST RESORT!!!

Good luck

[anon(1600764)]

If you're talking about one of these it should work fine. I've got one with an antenna run up to the attic and my reception is much better on both AT&T and Verizon (T-Mobile is still dead in the water, but, well, it's T-Mobile...). My only issue is that the service can be a bit sporadic, maybe it's overamping the signal but I frequently lose connection to the BIS server (getting stuck in 1x or 1xev mode instead of 1X/1XEVDO).

Here's hoping the next Verizon Femtocell has support for EVDO services as well!

Yep...ZBoost is what I bought. I hope it works. It would be great not to have to go outside everytime I have a call. I'm a casino host, so I get a lot of calls lol.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[xliderider]

Try a *228, option 2 to ensure that you have the latest prl (Preferred Roaming List) on your BB.

[mcmasterxx]

I have been with Verizon for quite a while now. This is just my 1st blackberry, and I have the tour. I have had the phone since Sunday night. I havent had too many probs with my other phones. It was really storming this afternoon. I have it sitting on my counter charging right now, and it keeps going in and out of service. I was outside while it was still raining, and tried to make a call, but lost the signal again. I havent taken it outside since, but am worried that either I got a bum tour, or the bb just doesnt do well right here. I got my wife a new enV Touch and hers works fine... any other advice? I am going to go try the *228 thing...

[jdbower#CB]

I was thinking of putting it on the roof instead of the attic. I'm worried it being in the attic won't be good enough. Bad idea?

There are instructions for both inside and outside mounting if it's the Z-Boost. Roof would be better reception than attic, but you'd want to make sure everything's grounded and be careful about water damage (if you know what a "drip loop" is, know how to ground it against lightning strike or have installed stuff that goes outside the house you'll probably be fine). I went with the attic to avoid using a ladder, with the thought that it would last longer if protected, and with the thought that I could move it to the roof easily afterwords.

Also note that the range of the ZBoost is limited to a few rooms and if you've got a lot of phones in the area they may confuse it. With both my wife's phone and mine (both Verizon) we're OK, even when I also had my AT&T work phone in the mix it didn't seem to have an issue, but we rarely talk at the same time.

[jdbower#CB]

I got my wife a new enV Touch and hers works fine... any other advice? I am going to go try the *228 thing...

If that's the case you may also just want to wait a bit to see if there's a new OS update for the Tour (leak or official). Some people reported improved reception with the Storm updates due to changes in the radio algorithms.

[mcmasterxx]

How often do the updates come out?

[Alerio]

I have no bars either!!!!! What I'm scared is I keep it past my 30 days an it can't be fixed with an update

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[MikeL483]

I'm having the exact same problem in my house. Previously with my VZW Curve never dropped a call,even got a signal in the basement.

I think the Tour is going back until it's been a confirmed fix.
Too bad,I really like this phone but no good reception at home is a dealbreaker.

[collopy]

Verizon sells a Netword extender now! I was one of the first people to publicly purchase one as I happened to call and complain of that same situation the very date it came on the market.
It's worked great as long as you're within maybe 200 feet from it.

[mcmasterxx]

So I am on the phone with tech support... have pulled the battery 2x and cant even dial *228 or anything else for that matter. I had to even go outside while on the phone to try to keep a signal on it.... still not working and am currently waiting for the tour to start back up so we can further troubleshoot. All the while talking on my wife's enV Touch...

[mcmasterxx]

So I am on the phone with tech support... have pulled the battery 2x and cant even dial *228 or anything else for that matter. I had to even go outside while on the phone to try to keep a signal on it.... still not working and am currently waiting for the tour to start back up so we can further troubleshoot. All the while talking on my wife's enV Touch...

[HollyDolly]

I just left radio shack, I purchased a cell signal amplifier for $299 + tax. I should get it next week. Ill report back how it works when I get it.

So you just $300 plus the cost of phone (let's say $199) for a total of $499, just to get your phone to work?

Uh..

[cammy9]

How often do the updates come out?

Take it from a previous Storm owner, do not sit around a wait for updates that may or may not fix your issue. If you think you have a defective phone, exchange it or return it for something else while you are still within the 30 day period.

[VJgamer]

For the first couple days I could not find out why no one could hear me. I then figured out that I go from 2 bars to 0 when I put the phone up to my head! So now I just talk to everyone on speaker phone or with a headset and no one complains anymore!

[cbunting]

yeah isn't it redic, I find myself doing that too. I love the phone other than it's shat reception. I'm going to wait until 25 or so days, and if no fix, return my 3rd one

[scruffles]

If you're talking about one of these it should work fine. I've got one with an antenna run up to the attic and my reception is much better on both AT&T and Verizon (T-Mobile is still dead in the water, but, well, it's T-Mobile...). My only issue is that the service can be a bit sporadic, maybe it's overamping the signal but I frequently lose connection to the BIS server (getting stuck in 1x or 1xev mode instead of 1X/1XEVDO).

Here's hoping the next Verizon Femtocell has support for EVDO services as well!

Wait.. so does the Verizon Network Extender not work with the BB Tour? I just switched to Verizon so that I could buy the Network Extender so I would get a signal in my apt.

[xliderider]

If you're talking about one of these it should work fine. I've got one with an antenna run up to the attic and my reception is much better on both AT&T and Verizon (T-Mobile is still dead in the water, but, well, it's T-Mobile...). My only issue is that the service can be a bit sporadic, maybe it's overamping the signal but I frequently lose connection to the BIS server (getting stuck in 1x or 1xev mode instead of 1X/1XEVDO).

Here's hoping the next Verizon Femtocell has support for EVDO services as well!

Wait.. so does the Verizon Network Extender not work with the BB Tour? I just switched to Verizon so that I could buy the Network Extender so I would get a signal in my apt.

From the Verizon Network extender FAQS:

What type of Internet connection do I need?
Your Verizon Wireless Network Extender will work with most broadband or DSL connections (from Verizon or another Internet service provider). A minimum broadband speed of 300 Kbps is required. The Network Extender is not recommended for use with EVDO or satellite broadband service.

Which features are not compatible with the Network Extender?
Network Extender does not support Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband (EVDO) data speeds, the V CAST family of products or Location Based Services (LBS). Examples of LBS include VZ Navigator and Chaperone. The V CAST family of products may still operate when such services are available from the nearest Verizon Wireless cell tower. Mobile Broadband (EVDO) data speeds may still be available when Mobile Broadband service is available from the nearest Verizon Wireless cell tower. NationalAccess data speeds are available when Mobile Broadband data speeds are not available. Visit Verizon Wireless for details on individual product coverage requirements.