Mostly, "Yes". The same Faraday Cage Effect also attenuates radio signals somewhat, including cell phones. But if you ordinarily have a relatively strong signal at your home, you should still get reception when inside the shelter. Digital signals tend to do pretty well with variable signal strength so the reception would need to be pretty weak already to vanish completely inside the safe room.
New for 2017, we are including a special device so you are seen and heard for quick location. After we have installed your unit, we will demonstrate how this works, along with the door-removal tool.
As a secondary purpose, this safe room could be used to store valuables inside should you be away. You will receive with your unit, a special key for locking and unlocking from the outside.
No it is not!.
The New Day Tornado Shelter requires a quality slab under it, whether outside or covered. Typically, the best place is inside the garage. If your garage is attached to your house, perfect! To decide exactly where, first imagine your garage devoid of everything. Then imagine a circle just 3 1/2' across at a spot where you would have quick, day or night access from the house to the shelter, without climbing over stuff or moving the car. We are not at all concerned if it is near a window or on an outside wall. The main thing is that you are inside the shelter when you need to be! Do you see that place where you could imagine this shelter standing?