Her comment about phone reception doesn't really prove anything IMO. Brands and models of phones can vary when it comes to reception, even with the same service provider. Also, it's been my experience that cell reception in rural isolated areas can vary from day to day as well. My parents live in an area like that and some days I can get decent reception, or maybe just for an hour or two, or if I hold it up to a window, or step outside on the porch...
And, up until today, I hadn't considered that Dylan could have stepped outside to get better reception, yet I do that all the time when I'm at my parents' house.
jmo