The inevitability of going to a hospital will always be there, and it’s always helpful to everyone involved if operations are efficient, something that good digital communication helps with.
This, however, is made null when said digital communication, be it via calls or the internet, is hampered by poor signal, which every place in the UK and the world at large faces.
Because of their importance, the question of “why is there no signal in hospitals?” comes up.
Fortunately, several things can be pointed to as causes of poor signal in hospitals, according to UCtel.
Let’s discuss these issues to better understand the situation. We’ll also take a look at signal boosters, which are considered a good solution for improving poor signal in hospitals.
A hospital’s need for good communication
The first thing to point out is that good digital communication as a result of quality signals is especially important for hospitals, as lives are at stake.
The following are just a few of the reasons why:
- It allows for clear communication within the facility among the staff
- It allows patients to communicate with family and loved ones outside the facility
- In the event that the facility’s services are required, it enables emergency communication with the outside world
The sources of poor connection
Now, depending on your source, the UK as a whole has well over 1,100 hospitals at the moment, and this includes 187 private facilities (as of 2020).
Regardless, each of them needs good signals for the above reasons, and they may not always get them.
Numerous factors, including the following, contribute to this:
Meteorological barriers
This is arguably the most looked-at issue, as the weather, especially in the UK, is renowned for being rather dank.
It’s especially when things get extreme that the signal is negatively affected.
If you’re wondering why the mobile signal in a hospital is poor, consider the following potential culprits:
- Thick cloud cover
- Heavy rain
- Heavy snowfall
- Strong winds
Topographical issues
Your hospital’s location also matters quite a bit, which is why it’s ideal to seek out areas with fewer signal-blocking geographical features.
This includes mountains, hills, forests, or any type of foliage tall enough to be a barrier.
This very idea also applies to taller buildings and other man-made structures.
Mobile-specific issues
Among the other things you could look at as to why mobile signal is poor in the hospitals around the UK are the numerous mobile-related issues that are commonly encountered.
These include:
- Network congestion, which is when the network has too much traffic
- Remoteness from the nearest base stations, which would especially be a prominent issue for hospitals built in rural areas
- Throttling, which occurs when the Internet provider intentionally slows down network speeds, is often a measure to curb network congestion
Structure composition
One reason that may be easy to overlook is the hospital itself, or rather, the materials used to construct it.
Just about every material is going to hinder signals, but the most prominent include concrete, glass, brick, metal, and insulation.
If you haven’t noticed, all of these are found in just about every building, and the thicker they are, the more of a problem they pose to signals.
Staying within the realm of structure composition, we can also talk about underground locations like garages and basements.
Not only do they consist of the aforementioned materials, but the presence of soil above them significantly hinders signal penetration.
Why boosters are perfect for hospitals
Now there are a few basic solutions to the signal issue, such as moving around to find the right spot to make a call or simply going outside where there are fewer obstructions.
However, hospital personnel can’t afford to do this, so they need something more permanent—enter the signal booster.
A signal booster is an amalgamation of multiple pieces that allow for the heightening of signal strength.
The following are the components, their locations, and their functions:
- The goal of the donor/exterior antennas, which are located outside in a high spot with minimal signal obstruction, is to collect all available signals, regardless of strength.
- The amplifiers, securely positioned within, aim to enhance and intensify the signal, a process known as “boosting”.
- The interior antennas: these are placed inside where the signal is most affected, and their purpose is to rebroadcast the stronger signal throughout the hospital
- The coaxial cable: this is responsible for connecting the components and reduces the amount of signal loss as it travels along
Overcoming signal challenges with boosters
The reason boosters are a hospital’s best solution for signal-related problems is twofold.
The first aspect lies in the fact that so long as there is a signal, the unit can boost it to a level that can be used for the best internet and calls. If there is no signal to speak of, then the unit won’t work.
The second aspect lies in how, due to their build, they can bypass obstacles with amplifiers, particularly regarding building materials. This is what allows the signal to reach even underground locations.
Their build also means that they can fit into any situation. Hospitals in the UK, much like all over the world, come in different configurations and sizes.
Regardless, boosters can be fitted around them, with larger facilities being able to accommodate more amplifiers and internal antennas to help with coverage.
Boosters are so versatile that just about every building can use them, and smaller units even go in cars.
Final thoughts
Because of how much of a problem poor signal can be in all walks of life, it’s important to have ways to work around it.
Many things can be pointed to as answers to the “Why is there no signal in hospitals?” question, as the above has shown.
Because they actively work to save lives, they need signals to be at an optimal level, which is why boosters are perfect for them.
Their ability to make even the smallest of signals usable and the fact that they can be fitted around any structure of any size make them more than an ideal choice.
