Electronics

[anitagayle]

I'm back with another Tracfone question. Almost a year ago, we purchased a phone for Mom for her to use to let us know what she is up to when out and about and for emergencies. She really doesn't want it, but we insist!! Unfortunately, the phone doesn't work in her apartment, but others who visit have no problem. Sometimes there are problems with her landline, so it would be very helpful for her cell to work in the building. How does one find out if a particular phone (tracfone) will work in certain situations?

[Nightowlz]

You can go to the Tracfone site & click on it browse all phones. If the phone she has is listed there click on it & click on buy & it will ask for your zip code. It will say if it works in her area or not. You can also click on Coverage & enter your zip code & it will show which phones are available that work in her area. We bought one for my dad to use when he's outside in case he needs to call for help or other emergencies. He did not like using it & he did not add airtime so all his mins & number are gone. He has a home phone & OnStar in his car but thought he could keep the cell phone with him just in case.

[Kachina624]

You have no way of knowing except by trial and error. I've had a TracPhone for 4 or 5 years and have never had a problem with reception. Sometimes reception is best near a window.

[olewoman]

My brother lives in mobile home but no matter what kind of phone that he buys he has to go out on his porch to get reception,and live in the city limits.

[Nightowlz]

On 2/21/2014 kachina624 said: You have no way of knowing except by trial and error. I've had a TracPhone for 4 or 5 years and have never had a problem with reception. Sometimes reception is best near a window.

I use mine in the house with no problems. Maybe it has something to do with being in an Apt building. I have never had any problems with reception.

[gailcoco]

The Tracfone site showed that it should work in my zip code but it doesn't work inside my house. As soon as I step outside my garage the phone will work.

I think it's the cheap cell phones that isn't connecting. Everyone else in my family have nice phones like iPhone and Samsung, with different plans and their phones work fine in my house. But of course Tracfone wouldn't offer triple minutes with an expensive phone.

[circles]

Gee....I hope that doesn't happen to my brother....I talked him into a Tracfone that HSN is offering...and one of his questions to me was will it work in my home....and I said Yes, of course..........hahah...I have never had a Tracfone that did not work inside my home...

I am sorry your mom is having this problem...not much use having a phone you have to go outside to get service....who the heck wants to do that...

Hope you can get that problem resolved...

[keri]

There are variables with all phones. I've had several different TracFone models for the last decade, used each in multiple states and never had the connectivity problems that I experienced with Verizon. Conversely, my friend who swears that the only one for him is an iPhone (AT&T service), can't use his mobile phone on a major highway in a large metropolitan area for nearly half of his commute because either the calls don't connect or drop shortly after they do. In his home, other than outside, there are only two locations where his precious iPhone works even marginally.

[Deadeye Daisy]

On 2/21/2014 Nightowlz said:

We bought one for my dad to use when he's outside in case he needs to call for help or other emergencies. He did not like using it & he did not add airtime so all his mins & number are gone. He has a home phone & OnStar in his car but thought he could keep the cell phone with him just in case.

You don't have to have any minutes or even a phone number available to use a cell phone for 911 calls. ANY phone (even an old 'flip phone') will work to that end. That's why we encourage people to donate old cell phones and chargers. They are given out to people who just need something in case of an emergency.

Just make sure he keeps a charge on it.

[Deadeye Daisy]

Not working in the house has NOTHING to do with Trac Fone service or your make/model phone at all. I can't make voice calls on ANY cell phone service inside my house unless I go to the other end of the house or out on the patio. Neither can anyone else who comes here. No problem with texting, though, but texting doesn't need the same kind of reception as voice.

Samsung Galaxy 4, Motorola Droid, IPhone. Doesn't matter if it's a prepaid plan or regular cell service. ATT, Sprint, Verizon, TracFone, TMobile. Doesn't matter. NONE work.

By the same token, my cheapie TracFone can make and receive text messages at the gun club, and people with expensive plans with the big 3 can't make calls or text.