HTC HERO Service issue

[Dcrac23]

Ok about 2 weeks ago I got rid of my I phone and got this. I love the phone but at my house I get terrible reception supposed to get full bars of service which is 6 bars but i usually only get around 1-3 bars which is beyond me? Can anyone help me figure out what's going on. I haven't dropped the phone punched it no nothing. I took it to cellular south the techs didn't know what was going on, they told me I couldn't exchange it or get another phone since the phone is older than 2 weeks, and that I didn't have insurance on it. Prime example right here: I go to a buddy's house who has cellular south and no smart phone but he gets full reception at his house I get 1-2 bars WTF is going on?