Most cell phone antennas are aimed with a downward tilt. In most cases, it’s tilted at a 5-10-degree angle. The higher the tower is, the greater the angle, generally speaking. The wireless service providers do this by design and for good reason. Not all cellular antennas aim downward though. There are some that are installed to transmit and accept signals above the antenna’s location. This means that the cellular antennas you see could be sending and receiving signal upward or downward. Let’s take a closer look at cellular phone towers and antennas to learn why this is.
Cell Towers and Cellular Antennas
Before we get into why some cell phone antennas transmit downward, let’s take a look at the towers. These structures don’t transmit or receive cellular signals. These tasks are handled by the cellular antennas that are mounted upon the towers on triangular platforms. These antenna configurations are typically arranged to cover 120 degrees with each point is divided into 40-degree sections. This helps ensure signal strength and accuracy.
Wireless providers also put cellular antennas on rooftops, water towers, church steeples, and other structures. It’s usually very costly for wireless carriers to purchase of lease the amount of property needed to house a cell tower. Despite needing more, especially in under-served rural areas, the carriers can’t afford to construct the amount of cell towers they need. That’s why they supplement their tower locations with cellular antennas placed atop these other structures.
Why Some Cellular Antennas are Aimed Downward
As stated earlier, most cellular antennas are tilted downward at 5-10-degree angles depending on the height of tower and other factors. Why do the cellular carriers do this? That’s an easy answer: because down here at ground level is where many people are making and receiving calls, texts, and data transfers. Think about all the homes, businesses, vehicles, and people who live and work here. All of these people depend on their cellular devices so the carriers aim many antennas downward to serve them.
Other Cell Phone Antennas could be Aimed Upward
If most of life happens down here on the ground, why would any carrier aim a cell antenna toward the sky? Because there are plenty of people who live and work in apartments, high rises, and other tall buildings. Aiming cellular antennas upward is a way to provide these people with optimal cell phone reception. In metropolitan areas, many buildings have a second set of cellular antennas mounted to it. Ideally, these are placed at the top of the building to help those on lower floors. Sometimes though they can be pointed upward to improve reception to everyone who lives above where the antennas are mounted.
Upward-aiming cellular antennas aren’t only placed on skyscrapers. There are instances of these units being pointed upward to improve cellular service on flights. That such a solution was developed shows you how important cellular connection is to nearly everyone these days. Things have come so far since the 1980s, when the first cellular phones were huge grey “cinder blocks” that people lugged around. (Yes, I know I just dated myself with that.)
How to Improve Cell Phone Reception
If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of the 98 percent of Americans (or more) who own a cellular phone. We depend on these devices for so much, both in our personal and professional worlds. Because of this, it’s important for everyone who uses these devices to know as much about them as they can. Knowledge is power, after all. Hopefully you feel a bit empowered after reading this. I hope it’s helped you better understand how wireless technology works.
There’s something else I hope that this post has been able to do. That’s get you thinking about the quality of your cellular reception. You live in a world where cell phone signals are being sent and received up and down. How is your reception? If you experience dropped calls, missed texts, and slow or interrupted data, you have a problem. Fortunately, it can be solved with a cell phone signal booster; but, how do you get the device that you can count on?
Call Solid Signal for Expert Help
Are you ready to reduce those connection issues that plague your home or vehicle? Solid Signal can help. We carry a full line of cell phone booster from today’s top brands. What’s more, we can answer questions and provide product recommendations to anyone who needs some help. If you’re a business owner, our team can put together a customized solution to address your company’s needs. Want to know more? Give our team of cellular reception experts a call at 888-233-7563.
