Repairing a broken phone and your questions answered

Q: I bought a Motorola Slvr L6 on eBay and just received it. The seller said it was a quad-band world phone, but the user manual had only the 900/1800/1900 bands stated on the manual cover. Which information is correct?
—Hawk

A: Unfortunately, I'd put my money on the manual. As is the case with many cell phone manufacturers, Motorola makes two versions of the Slvr L6. The model designed for the North American market is actually a quad-band world phone that uses all four GSM frequencies (850/900/1800/1900). The model sold in Europe, however, is triband and uses only the 900, 1800, and 1900 bands because the 850 band isn't used there. So it's quite possible you have the European version, but I would check with Motorola to make sure.

But don't despair. It's still possible to use such a phone in the United States. You'll get adequate coverage in most places even if your Slvr doesn't use the 850 band. A quad-band will make a difference in some places, but you should be fine overall.

Q: I would like to know what cell phone is best known for picking up a signal in large buildings. I see others talking on their cell phones, and I've even asked some people who use the same service I do. The cell phone I use always drops the bars!
—Jacob

A: The extent to which cell phone signals penetrate buildings involves a lot of factors. First off, the building material plays a role. For the most part, signals pass through wood and glass more easily than they pass through stone, brick, or metal. That's why you're more likely to get a signal near a window than you are in an elevator.

The transmission band your phone is using also plays a role. It can get a bit complicated, but the easiest way to think about it is that lower-frequency bands penetrate buildings better than higher-frequency bands. If you're a GSM customer, you'll have better luck overall with a phone that uses the 850 band than you will with a handset that uses the 1900 band. So if your phone supports the GSM 900/1800/1900 bands (900 and 1800 aren't used in the United States) that could be the source of your problem. Alternatively, if you use a CDMA phone, you'll have better luck making calls with a handset that supports analog roaming or AMPS 800. Analog is an older technology, but it's sometimes usable in subways.

Finally, you can't neglect the strength of your phone's antenna and receiver, as they are factors in your reception as well.

Q: I recently cracked the external display of my Samsung SCH-A950. I love the phone, but it wasn't covered by a warranty and I don't have the money to spend on a brand-new handset. Is it worth getting repaired?
—Matt

A: I'd advise against getting it repaired as I doubt it will be worth the time and effort to save a few dollars. And in reality you probably won't save that much anyway. My first suggestion is to go to your local Verizon store and explain your predicament. There's always a small chance they could take pity on you and replace it without charge, especially if you bought your SCH-A950 only recently. If that doesn't work, you should be able to buy a new phone without paying full price. Even if you're not a new customer, you can be eligible for any rebates that come with signing a contract. The trade-off is that your contract will be extended with a new start date, but if that's not an issue, you should be able to get some kind of price break. Just keep in mind that your discount will vary. I'd also check Verizon's Web site as most carriers offer deeper discounts for buying online.