Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: neilep on 22/12/2009 18:34:27

Title: Why Does My Phone Signal Fluctuate When I am Not Moving ?
Post by: neilep on 22/12/2009 18:34:27

well ?

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Title: Why Does My Phone Signal Fluctuate When I am Not Moving ?
Post by: graham.d on 24/12/2009 10:02:59

The wavelength is very short (a few cm) so even small movements can change your position and affect how all the waves, reflected off other objects and arriving at the aerial via various (multipath) routes, are summed. If you keep the phone very still it will be fairly good, but even then the multipath routes can be reflections off other people, vehicles, trees etc which can all be moving. The signals, being waves, can reinforce or cancel depending on their relative phases, so the received signal strength will fluctuate.

Title: Why Does My Phone Signal Fluctuate When I am Not Moving ?
Post by: neilep on 24/12/2009 12:37:29

Quote from: graham.d on 24/12/2009 10:02:59

The wavelength is very short (a few cm) so even small movements can change your position and affect how all the waves, reflected off other objects and arriving at the aerial via various (multipath) routes, are summed. If you keep the phone very still it will be fairly good, but even then the multipath routes can be reflections off other people, vehicles, trees etc which can all be moving. The signals, being waves, can reinforce or cancel depending on their relative phases, so the received signal strength will fluctuate.

EXCELLENT !!...thank ewe for the brilliant answer Graham !! Graham is great !

I had no idea the wavelength was so short !

Title: Why Does My Phone Signal Fluctuate When I am Not Moving ?
Post by: Zufolek on 26/12/2009 12:57:25

The atmosphere might also have a little impact on signal strength.