Why does my cell phone lose its charge so quickly?

Cell phones can vary by the strength of the signal they transmit and, in general, the stronger the signal they send, the more drain they cause on your battery.

So as you travel down the road between cell sites, the amount of battery you consume changes.

When you're in an area with no signal, the phone increases its signal to its maximum capability, thereby draining your battery quickly.

I've found that when I keep my cell phone on in a no-service area, my battery is almost completely drained after about six hours -- even if I never make or pick up a call. At other times, it could last several days on a charge. My solution is to turn off the cell phone when I know I'm in a no-service or low service zone. It doesn't do me any good to keep it on because I can't make a call there, anyway.

Some phones allow you to turn on a beep that signals you when you change service areas. It also will tell you when you move from a digital service area to an analog-only service area (analog consumes more power than digital). If you hear your phone beep every minute or less, consider it a sign that you should turn off the phone until you enter an area with a stronger signal.