Q. Why can’t I place calls?
A. Make sure your battery or other power supply is charged and functioning properly.
Make sure the area where you are calling from offers cellular service and a strong cellular signal.
Make sure you are dialing correctly.
Q. Why can’t I receive calls?
A. Make sure your phone is turned on.
- Check your battery. It may need recharging.
- Did you activate Call Forwarding?
- Did you activate the Outgoing Call Only feature?
- When roaming, did you deactivate automatic call delivery? To reactivate dial Dial *350 SEND. See How to Roam for details.
- Your phone has failed to register with the cellular switching system, and may require repair or reprogramming. Visit a Cellular One branch location or authorized dealer.
Q. What causes a fast busy signal?
A. Placing a call in a NO SVC (No Service) area
- Pressing the SND button before the NO SVC indicator goes off.
- Dialing more than 7 digits when phone or service are programmed for Local Use Only.
- When the cellular network has heavy volume.
- If your phone is partially locked, allowing local dialing only.
- If you dial too fast.
- When placing a call at the fringe of your cellular network coverage area where the signal is weak and susceptible to interference.
- When placing a call in a location where buildings or hills may be blocking signal reception.
Q. What causes dropped calls? (lost connection)
A. Travelling at the fringe area of your cellular network coverage area where the signal is weak and susceptible to interference. Travelling into a location where buildings or hills may be blocking signal reception.
- Travelling in areas of high radio traffic (airport, radio/TV stations.)
- When your call fails to switch automatically (handoff) to another cell site.
- The phone antenna has disconnected from the vehicle or phone.
- The phone antenna needs to be replaced.
- The antenna cable may be loose or damaged.
- The phone cord may be damaged.
- Low/dead battery.
- You pressed the END button by mistake.
Q. What causes static?
A. Travelling at the fringe area of your cellular network coverage area where the signal is weak and susceptible to interference.
The phone antenna is off the vehicle or phone.
The phone antenna needs to be replaced.
Your phone may be out of tune or off frequency.
Q. What causes crosstalk? (hearing another user on the line)
A. Cellular voice channels often are assigned to more than one cell site in order to maximize the number of phone calls possible on the cellular network. However, situations occur where the signals from two users can interfere (crosstalk) with one other. Use our Report a Technical Problem online form to report crosstalk.
Q. What causes dead air?
A. Dead air is caused by faulty network equipment. We call this an open channel or a one way audio problem. Dead air problems usually can be fixed within a day of locating the problem.
Q. What causes hi/low tones?
A. Placing calls while phone displays NO SERVICE.
The phone is having trouble receiving the signal from the cellular site.
Hitting the SEND key without first dialing a number.
Q. Why does my phone display ROAM?
A. When you travel outside the Cellular One Washington-Baltimore network area, your phone will display ROAM. If your display says ROAM, and you are in the Cellular One Washington/Baltimore network area:
- Make sure your phone’s system select is set on ‘A’.
- Your phone could be receiving another carrier’s cellular signal.
- Your phone is programmed incorrectly. Have your phone checked at a Cellular One branch location or authorized dealer.
Q. Why does my phone display No Service or NO SVC?
A. NO SERVICE indicates that your wireless phone is unable to receive the signal from the cellular site.