It's possible to find a Wi-Fi signal in a cell dead zone.
Although cell phone towers and wireless routers allow you to send and receive calls with your cellphone and access the Internet on a laptop computer, these two technologies are not directly related. As such, it can be occasionally possible to find and use a Wi-Fi signal while you're in a cell dead zone.
Cell Zone
Cellphone towers and antennas are located throughout the United States to give cellphone users as large a zone of coverage as possible. If you live in a city, it's relatively uncommon to come across a cell dead zone because of the number of cellphone towers and antennas in the city. These towers and antennas each create cell zones that overlap. Occasionally, when you're in the specific location directly between two cell zones, known as a "dead zone," you'll temporarily lose your signal. Dead zones are uncommon in large cities; a 2010 article in "The Wall Street Journal" showed New York City, Dallas, Chicago and Seattle cellphone users have at least a 97 percent call completion rate.
Wi-Fi Zone
An area that has Wi-Fi coverage is not related to a cellphone coverage zone. If an area has Wi-Fi coverage, it's because a wireless router in the area is transmitting a signal. Unlike cellphone signals, which cover vast areas, wireless routers send smaller signals, and it's most common to only find Wi-Fi signals inside buildings or directly outside them. If you were in the middle of a forest that was a cell dead zone, for example, it would be almost certain that you wouldn't have a Wi-Fi signal, either.
Connecting
You can look for Wi-Fi in any given area with a laptop computer, tablet or electronic device such as an iPod touch. The methods you use to determine if Wi-Fi is in the area vary slightly according to the device, but you can typically check the device's "Wireless" option to see if any Wi-Fi networks are available. Some Wi-Fi networks are open, meaning anyone can use them, while others are protected by a password.
Zones
If you find yourself in a cell dead zone, and are not located in an extremely remote area, keep moving until your cellphone network once again has coverage. Often, you will not have to move far for the coverage to return. If you're in an urban area and are looking for a Wi-Fi zone, you'll often receive multiple signals regardless of where you are. Many of these signals will be password protected, but common areas such as malls, coffee shops and airports typically have free Wi-Fi.
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