unusable reception in uptown Fredericton

[RD96]

There seems to be a very long stretch of Bishop drive that extends from smythe street to hanwell road where I see 1 bar of 3g (1-2km). I work in this stretch and have noticed it for the last little while. Theres a few new large businesses , could be because the area is serving more people now but its to the point where at work I'm having to walk outside sometimes because I'm not being heard or clear to the caller on the other end.

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum

There are many other factors that can affect & limit signal strength topography, environmental conditions, line of sight to towers, types of buildings in your area, etc.

What is the make and model of your mobile device? Is this an older device that only supports 3G? Does your mobile device support 4G / LTE & 5G reception?

• You mentioned that this is happening within a 1-2 km work & that it is prevalent while indoors. Do you have another compatible phone that you can try your SIM with, as this will help to determine if the issue is stemming from your current SIM?
• You could also try powering off the device, removing the SIM, giving the gold contacts a rub with a dry, clean, microfibre cloth, then reinserting it and powering the device back on.
• Do you know of anyone else in the area having similar issues?
• If available while indoors, & your device / plan is compatible, have you tried using: Wi-Fi calling
• What troubleshooting steps have you done so far?
• As a last resort, you can choose to do a reset. Go to > Settings > General management > Reset > Reset network settings > Reset settings. Please be aware that this will also reset your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings, so you'll have to re-register any modem & Bluetooth devices. 
• Have you gotten in touch with Bell Mobility technical support team or are you able to visit a Bell store to have your SIM card tested? If not, then may I suggest that you do so.
• Have you contacted Bell Mobility Tech support at: 1 800 667-0123 or dial *611 from any Bell mobile device to report this issue?

FYI Only. 3G is being phased out by carriers in Canada and globally to make way for newer technologies like 4G and 5G. The phase-out timeline varies by provider, but many have already begun the process or have plans to complete it by the end of 2025. Older phones that only support 3G will lose service and will not be able to make calls, send texts, or connect to data, including emergency services. Bell is phasing out its 3G network in a two-stage process, starting with Manitoba on December 31, 2025, and the rest of Canada on March 1, 2027. To continue receiving service, customers must upgrade to a device that supports 4G/LTE with Voice over LTE (VoLTE) or 5G.

Take care.

[dks · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your question. I often find looking at a cell tower map can provide clues to reception issues. In this map, I see at least four Bell cell towers between or within range of Smyth St. to Hanwell Rd. along Bishop Drive. It is possible towers are being upgraded or need repair. As this is a user to user site, we have no way to access that information. If towers need to be added, that can take months as well. Sorry I can't be more specific.