to get the better bandwidth from the newer generation signals (2g to 3g, 3g to 4g, etc) you end up needing a stronger signal, which often results in the need to be closer to the tower, which can make the holes in the coverage see a little bigger.

At my house, my ATT coverage is poor. My old phone got 1-2 bars of signal strength. My new phone started off with the same strength of signal. However, one of the quarterly android OS updates resulted in a 1-bar increase in signal strength. For me, the signal strength at home does not really matter since my phone connects to the wifi router and the phone has wifi-calling enabled.

Signal strength seems pretty good..for now...

If your att signal is poor, wouldn't that affect your cell phone use-age? Your phone is a hot-spot device..you can connect to the internet...and send and receive calls, and run a tablet etc..All dependent on a good signal?

Texting via the phone signal does require a bit higher signal strength, 2-bars usually gets the job done.

Internet access and data usage does require a decent signal, 2-bars can work but it will be a slow connection.

Since my home wifi router is connected to a high speed internet feed, the phone uses that instead of the cellular data connection. Since my phone and phone plan include wifi-calling, I can also use the wifi internet for phone calls and sort of texting.

If you are using the phone as a hot spot for other devices to connect to, that will need a good signal.

Is that similar to a "T" line...Aerospace co. usually have that type of connection..fast fast..

Or..Is it provided by verizon, etc...just curious..

Previously I had copper cable DSL. Not sure about the exact technology handling the signals now. The fiber optics are capable of much better speeds than the 40 Mb/s I am currently paying for.

What I have now is still from the phone company (Century Link), similar to the offerings from the cable TV company (Comcast).

Yeah, I should have known that..I live in the country and rely on towers for a signal...which is kinda iffy..But I used to travel and live in the 'burbs'..closer to dsl availability..which was really nice.