Why the Signal Will Not Come Under the Cell Tower

For the same reason there is no light at the bottom of a candle, or at the base of a flashlight. Same reason you can't see directly behind your head. Antennas radiate over a specific pattern.

Because the cell tower antenna is directional and at the top of the tower. It radiates it's signal from that height in such a manner that the signal does not go directly down but is more like a doughnut shape. So when you move away from the tower you, you move back into to signal.

OMG I'm right in the radiation zone.....no wonder I'm,,,, never sick....

Maybe, but, it looks like you've grown a rhino nose.

Rhino nose is worth money....

Why do I get the feeling that if I say 'Can you hear me now?' anywhere in the world, he'll nod.

I'm not talking about using a cellphone, jhust speaking aloud into the empty air.

That white-on-blue caption had to have been written by some technophobe.

If you're in the 50-200 meter radius AND elevated so you were within the dark blue area, THEN you'd be in the 'high radiation zone.' chocolate bars will melt in your pocket, you'll feel warmer than you'd expect to be, and you'd be getting GREAT cellphone reception. your phone will need a second phone just to show how many bars you've got!

At ground level, 50-200 meters is the 'umbrela zone, where you're too close to the tower to get any signal, or any radiation, it's all 'over your head.' You get the same effect with broadcast radio and TV, they have their own 'umbrela zones' around their towers.

The slide wasn't selected for its technical merits, but rather to illustrate graphically to someone with no concept of a radiated signal, such as the OP why the phone doesn't work under, or directly above a cell tower.

You can achieve reception using a helium filled Mylar balloon, some string, two soup cans (empty) and some duct tape.

I would call it the coning effect!

Lyn said that 50-300 meters are a high electromagnetic radiation zone. Is there a way to tap into that electro magnetism and siphon off some of the juice for free power ?

Yes its possible, but if you get caught you are it!

Does your instructor/professor know your using CR4 to complete your home assignments??

What if "we" is him and his students?

It depends on what you mean by "proper signal". If you look to the signal level indicator (while under the tower) does it show a low level (one short line or no line) or a full level (all the lines) but you cannot talk?

In the first case the cause is mentioned in posts #1, 2 and 3 - however, I suspect that you are in the second case and the real reason is that the signal level is too high. So high that the cell phone is "overwhelmed" and the demodulated digital signal is very distorted, making communication impossible. When you go to some distance the signal level will lower enough to allow the cell phone to work normally.

So, look to the level indication and you will know which of the above two cases apply.

You will get a signal if you apply a tin foil hat to your head, stand on one foot and wave your phone around in a figure "8" pattern while chanting "CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW"!

Any more questions?

Lyn gave a good visual of what's happening.

To the others who have posted, remember that the height of the tower will be a factor. I've seen towers as low as 20-30 feet off the ground or as high as hundreds of feet high. Also, it depends on how the antenna is aimed.

One other thing to think about. If the radiation hits an object, the signal will bounce off of it. So, if the radiation hits something nearby, the reflected signal may reach to someone under the tower and they will get signal. Think about it for a second.