3G in a 4G Land

Question

I am in an area that supposedly has 4G LTE service.  The best I get is 3G fluctuating with 1X.  I went to the local Verizon store recently in which they switched out the SIM card in the Jetpack.  They assured me I would now be getting 4G service.  My Zipcode is 62450.  Any suggestions as to what can be done?  FYI the number of bars on the Jetpack fluctuates between 1 and 3 bars.

Answer 1

  I am using Verizon Jetpack® 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi® 5510L.  Here is what I have learned talking to Verizon Tech Support.  The nearest cell tower is about 4 mile away from my house.  Again I am in a rural area with the only obstructions being tall trees but I can see the cell tower from my house. When we ran diagnostics it showed a weak signal however if I put the jetpack outside my house on my window sill I would get 4G LTE service.  If the jetpack was brought into my house  and left near the window, the service would be 3G with only one bar showing.  That is what I am doing as I write this response..  I received a text from tech support earlier Tuesday stating the problem I had reported had been investigated and had been resolved. In fact, the problem has not been resolved.  Would you like the ticket number to verify?  To add insult to injury the cell phone I am using is fluctuating constantly between 3G and 1XX with 1 bar of signal strength. Calls are dropped unless I walk outside of my house. I am thinking about putting up a wooden box on the exterior of my house to keep me on a 4G signal (to protect the jetpack from rain) or perhaps purchasing an antenna.  The sad thing is I have many neighbors who are looking elsewhere for high speed internet when with a tweak of the cell tower focus we could probably all have high speed internet from Verizon.  Please keep my posted.  I have increased by data plan to 12Gb per month in anticipation of Verizon Wireless improving the service.