poor International reception on calls

We don't have land lines and need to be mobile.

Around here the carriers have opted for less than great call quality. Let's be honest here, it's junk.

Sure you can try a few carriers but it's rarely if ever the phone and again, be honest as this is a valid complaint. Did you think you can fix this?

OK, then move off cellular and go with a satellite phone.
Bob

Unfortunately family plans are in effect with no upgrades and so trying to switch to satellite phones isn't an option and likely it's cost prohibitive.

I never thought *I* could fix the problem...I was wondering if anyone has any experience with working around this problem, like I originally asked (I don't have any experience with any of these three things, but someone suggested they might be worth trying):

Would using calling cards work better since local exchanges are used?
Would it be better to try and use Skype or yahoo voice?
Buying one of those add-on antennas?

You both need to do the following to narrow down the issue:

-Switch to different handsets to see if that improves the situation. I realize it can be a pain w/ Sprint, but you need to do this to eliminate the handset as the issue. Your friend will likely have SIM card and backup phone to use for this purpose (or he can borrow one).

-Test both of your current handsets in different locations to help verify if it's not the particular cell site that's presenting an issue. FWIW, I get worse cellular reception about a quarter mile west of my home, on the same network, but probably a different cell site based on what I saw on an online map from ATT.

-Sometimes Skype, Yahoo or another VoIP program will sound better, but that's not often the case IME. It's more of a fallback so I can make calls over wifi when I travel/roam. When quality doesnt' matter as much as opportunity

Both of our handsets work fine when calling other people both local and regular LD. I can call a friend in the UK and it's fine too. I'm not sure handset changing will likely be an option anyway, but I'll check into it.

We will try and change internal locations next time we talk. The time difference makes testing a bit of a pain. Would one of those cell phone extender antenna's help resolve the problem if this is the case where quality improves if we move around?

How about using calling cards. They usually have local exchange #'s...so it would only be cell phone to those and then wired from one exchange to another. ?

I'll consider the voice programs then if we can't get anything else to work.

Thank you very much for your advice

You are still hitting the cellular sites, then routing somewhere else.

Antennas really only help in some cases if you have a low signal, which you say you don't since you can use your mobile to call landlines just fine.

Also, have you borrowed a friend's cell phone on another US cellular carrier to call your friend in Perth? That would be a great test too in order to determine if Sprint is dropping the ball here.

That's a great idea actually. I'll have to see if I can borrow a friends phone to make a call and see how good or bad it is.

I should also find out what carrier my friend is on...could be an issue on that end too.

thanks again.

I like these ideas. Skype completely side steps what the carriers do to the data.

Skype does that too

It's NOT an issue with reception. The term 'reception' unfortunately gets thrown around willy nilly with lack of understanding of the other parts of the equation. Re-read the entire thread more carefully. It's about carrier/network traffic and types of connection(s) at one or more particular locales.

If it were reception related (e.g. poor RF) there are a million products to assist as such, including yours of course.