Our life runs on wireless network signals: Mobile phones, Wi-Fi, Data plans; everything has become an essential part of human ecosystem. Increasing efficiency of wireless network systems over the last few decades demonstrates our prowess in technology and innovation. With time, we have excelled in mobile technology and have been successful in defeating almost all odds.

Natural hindrances and obstructions however still poise to be a challenge in seamless cell phone reception and result in poor network signals. The ones that most commonly cause disruptions are rain, fog, snow and thunderstorms. Heavy rain shower has often been associated with people moving out in their balconies- a time-proven remedy for curing weak signals.

In this article, let us study the reasons why such natural occurrences lead to problem in cell phone connectivity and what are the measures that are taken by network service providers to overcome it.

Are all Mobile Signals susceptible to adverse weather conditions?

Well, the answer is both yes and no! Factors such as cell phone frequency, antenna installation and quality of components go a long way in determining the impact that a bad weather shall have on mobile network. Sheer mobile technology does not guarantee phone reception and cell phone performance in rough weather.

Cellular signal can become 99.9% reliable, irrespective of the weather if the antenna is robustly installed and the system is properly engineered and designed. Any strong wireless system, which has been designed to operate seamlessly under adverse weather conditions, takes into account appropriate levels of link margins. Link margin is the path loss in decibels that every wireless signal experiences while travelling from one antenna to another. A good cellular operator usually keeps a considerable link margin (at least 10 dB) such that the signal transmitted, despite attenuation or path loss would still make it to the receiving end reliably.

Impact of Weather on Network Signals – Rain | Fog | Snow | Thunderstorms

Rain

Rain has always been the most widespread reason for weak signals and loss in phone reception. Heavier the rain and bigger the raindrops, higher is the attenuation. The ratio of size of the rain drops measured against the wavelength of the wireless network communication is directly proportionate to loss in signal strength.

If the cellular operator is tuned in to a higher frequency and has his basics right, it is usually capable of sustaining heavy rainstorms that last about 6 hours at a stretch. The link margin plays an important role here and absorbs the attenuation caused due to such rainfall.

Fog

Though fog appears dense and more hazardous for wireless communications, such is not the case. Fog contains low amount of moisture in it, much lesser than present in rain (10 to 1000 times smaller water droplets) and snow.

Thus fog causes negligible attenuation and path loss for signals. Smart phones, which are being developed today, use robust cellular technology which can handle such levels of attenuation without major disruptions in signal strength.

Snow

Snow can cause higher attenuation as compared to fog. This can be attributed to higher content on moisture which is trapped within large flakes of snow. However, the attenuation levels are contained and do not usually lead to disruption in network.

Many a times the wireless antenna gets covered by snow which again leads to attenuation. Usually, attenuation due to snow is 1 decibel per meter. This means that if both the receiving and transmitting networks are covered with snow, it would together lead to signal loss of 2 dB/meter. Such attenuation can be easily managed through link margin leading to zero obstruction in communication.

Sandstorms

Sandstorms are yet again believed to be a reason for communication loss through wireless network system. However, it is not actually so.

On an average, a sandstorm particle that is suspended in the air, measures .02 centimeters. The size is comparatively quite small to the frequency that the mobile operators function on. The attenuation thus does not lead to significant impact on network and smooth communication prevails.

Unlike rains, the networks operating on higher frequency are more impacted by sandstorm as opposed to those on lower frequencies.

To conclude, let alone few random instances, smart phone devices and robust use of technology has made our network weather resistant by large.