Ever spotted those metal towers when driving around and wondered what they’re for? Maybe you saw one trying to disguise itself in a “palm tree” or “cactus”. Or a new space-age-looking one just popped up near your neighborhood.
Chances are, they’re there to improve your network connectivity. Discover why cell tower locations are important, how to find the ones closest to you, and tips for staying seamlessly connected.
Why Cell Tower Locations Matter
If you’ve ever been lost in an unfamiliar location with no signal, then you probably understand the importance of cell towers. Cell towers, also known as cell sites or base stations, work by transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals to and from mobile devices, such as cell phones and tablets. When you want to make a call, send a text message, or access the internet for things like driving directions, your mobile device sends a signal to the nearest cell tower. The cell tower then sends the signal to a nearby base station. If you’re making a call or sending a message, that means sending a signal to the tower nearest the device you’re trying to call or message. The nearby tower then forwards the signal to the device you’re trying to reach.
However, there are plenty of reasons your signal might not be getting through. Cell phone signals can be obstructed by buildings, terrain, and other obstacles, and the distance between a phone and the nearest cell tower can affect the quality of the signal. That’s why strategically placing a sufficient number of cell towers in a particular area can help to ensure that cell phone users have consistent and reliable connectivity.
There are a few reasons why you might want to know where nearby cell phone towers are located. For starters, different providers operate towers in different areas, so if you’re looking for a carrier in your area, it’s useful to know exactly how good their coverage is. If you’re experiencing poor coverage in your home and office, the nearest cell phone tower can help you position your phone or install a signal booster to improve the signal. And if you’re planning a trip, knowing where signal strength will be strongest and weakest can be an important tool for planning, so you’re never left stranded without access to GPS.
Methods to Locate Cell Towers
Finding cell phone towers can be a bit tricky. Cellular providers aren’t legally required to disclose the locations of the 4G and 5G towers and most prefer to keep that information private for security reasons. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) only requires carriers to register cell towers that are over 200 feet tall, and many are much smaller. But through FCC database information and crowdsourcing information, there are a few ways to locate nearby cell towers.
- Use Cell Tower Locator Websites. Even though cell service providers don’t publish maps of cell tower locations, there are plenty of websites that offer accurate information about the location of cell towers. Most require you to enter a zip code or address and then generate a list of nearby towers based on that information. And while these lists are likely not 100 percent accurate, it is a good place to start. Once you’ve gotten a list of nearby towers online, check locations against information provided by the resources listed below.
- Try Smartphone Apps. There are plenty of apps that will also provide good (though, again, not necessarily 100 percent accurate) information about cell tower locations. Some of the best apps can give pretty detailed information, such as an ID number and accurate signal strength readings in dB and dBm (decibel-milliwatts). These are used as measurements of signal strength and are much more reliable than the number of bars on your phone. There are also apps that will show exactly the direction to point your antenna for the best signal possible.
- Leverage the FCC Antenna Structure Registration Database. The FCC Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) database is a public database maintained by the FCC that contains information about registered antenna structures in the United States. Antenna structures can include cell phone towers, broadcast towers, and other types of structures used for transmitting and receiving RF signals. The ASR database is available to the public, and while not all antenna structures are required to be registered with the FCC, it can give you a pretty good idea of where cell towers might be located nearby. To search, simply enter a geographic location or tower owner. From there, you can view detailed information about each antenna structure, such as its height, type, and registration status.
- Observe Physical Landmarks. You can also sometimes physically note the locations of nearby cell towers. The most recognizable type of tower is called a lattice tower. These towers are usually around 200-300 feet tall and have a triangular or rectangular base. These look a little bit like the Eiffel Tower.
A monopole cell tower is just that: a large circular tube that can be anywhere from 50 to 200 feet in height. The pole will have an antenna, or sometimes multiple antennas, attached to the top.
Some cities require what’s called stealth towers since the other two types can be a bit unsightly. These are designed to look like trees or even cactuses. They are, however, generally taller than nearby plants, with branches (in the case of trees) that are a bit too regular to be natural, kind of like an artificial Christmas tree. Often, the “branches” only hide the antenna, leaving a tall, skinny “trunk” that is clearly made of metal. However, some stealth towers are pretty creative, hiding equipment in flagpoles or even church banners.
Tips for Improving Cell Reception
Once you’ve located your cell towers, you might be wondering how to use that information for improving cell reception. Here are a few tips for getting a better signal.
- Move to Higher Ground. If you’re indoors and able to move to a higher floor, this often helps boost signal. Cell signals (and Wi-Fi) have a hard time passing through barriers, like walls. So, a call that’s hard to hear in the basem*nt might be much clearer on the second floor near a window.
- Try Different Locations. Likewise, stepping outside can help you get better reception, since you’ll be free of many of the obstructions indoors. Use a cell tower locator app to help discern the nearest tower, preferably one with a function that tells you exactly which way to point your device for the best reception. Then use that as a guide for where to stand outside or near a window for a better signal.
- Use Wi-Fi Calling. Sometimes, a Wi-Fi signal is strong even if cellular reception is weak. If this is the case, connect to a Wi-Fi network and you should see an improvement. Not all cell phone plans include Wi-Fi calling, so check with your carrier if you’re experiencing problems enabling Wi-Fi calling.
How Cell Signal Boosters Can Help
Cell boosters improve existing 5G, 4G, and LTE networks. They pull in the existing signal from outside a home or office, then enhance it and rebroadcast it through a larger area. A cell signal booster can significantly improve call quality, signal strength, and data speeds. Boosting your signal is a good solution if you’ve got a fairly strong signal outside your home or office but have trouble hearing calls or sending messages indoors.
You might also be interested in:
- T-Mobile coverage map
- About T-Mobile's 4G/5G Network
