CENTRAL U.S. -- help & advise

Step 1: If u have any high speed internet "modem" (DSL, Cable, etc), and more than one computer, chances are you also have a router. If the router is not wireless, go to Costco, Best Buy or the likes and replace your router with a wireless one. (Even if you only have one computer, now is the time to put a wireless router between your modem and your computer.)

Step 2: Add security to your wireless router so that others do not steal your bandwidth (and data)

Step 3: Put your phone in wi-fi mode.

Problem resolved.

 

The solution I proposed goes way beyond the service this site focuses on, however, as smartphones get smarter, the lines between information devices become more & more blurred. Smartphones & tablets are merely an extension of your home computing system when using wi-fi.

Here is a few tutorials offered by AT&T. Regardless of whether or not they are your carrier (I remember you said you have Verizon) the videos are still very educational in an introductory way.

AT&T Wi-Fi Access

Further, you might check Youtube for tutorials on wireless routers.

 

Using chicken wire for a backing for plaster is common in older homes. The problem with this is that the spacing on chicken wire is almost perfect to block signals from mobile phones and wireless routers. What essentially happens is that you are trying to operate your wireless devices in a Faraday cage. It is quite possible that no matter what you do, you will experience poor signal. Using WiFi may help, but those signals may not be able to travel throughout your entire house either.