Why Does My Phone Have Signal, But My Halo Collar Doesn’t?

Understanding LTE-M vs. Cellular Data

It can be confusing when your phone shows a strong LTE signal, but your Halo Collar isn’t connecting as expected. This comes down to the type of network your collar uses, which is different from your phone.

The Key Difference

Your phone uses standard cellular LTE, while your Halo Collar uses LTE-M.

What is LTE-M?

LTE-M (Long-Term Evolution for Machines) is a special type of cellular network designed specifically for devices like the Halo Collar.

It’s built for:

• Low power usage (longer battery life)
• Smaller devices
• Consistent background connectivity

This allows your Halo Collar to stay connected throughout the day without draining the battery quickly.

How is LTE-M Different from My Phone’s Signal?

Even though both use cellular networks, they behave differently:

Your Phone (Standard LTE)

• Designed for high-speed data (streaming, apps, browsing)
• Connects to the strongest available signal
• Prioritized by the cellular tower separately from LTE-M devices
• Can switch between multiple network types (LTE, 5G) - and often fall back on 3G (or even 2G)
• ALSO:  Your phone's ability to make phone calls has no relationship to LTE/data services at all; it is totally independent.  Your phone's data services are connected when you can browse the Internet, not when you make phone calls.

Your Halo Collar (LTE-M)

• Designed for low-power, consistent connection
• Uses only towers upgraded to support LTE-M over the last five years (some still are not)
• Prioritizes efficiency over speed
• Does not downgrade to earlier generation cellular like a phone

Why You Might See a Difference in Coverage

Even if your phone has a strong signal, your collar may experience weaker connectivity because:

• LTE-M coverage is not identical to standard LTE coverage
• Cellular towers prioritize phones and LTE-M devices separately, so they can disallow your Halo to join the network but still allow your phone to connect
• The collar uses less power, so it may not reach as far as low-bandwidth phone data can; a Halo Collar should be able to reach a tower within about 5-9 miles of its location (depending on the environment around it)

What This Means for Your Halo Collar

• It’s normal for your collar’s connectivity to differ from your phone
• Slight delays in updates or location can happen in lower LTE-M areas
• Battery life is much longer by using this lower-power network

Need Help?

If you continue to experience issues, please refer to the “How to Contact Customer Support” article to get in touch—we’re happy to help!