Connection to the Verizon network

It's amazing how Verizon boast about its 4G network and how we ALL need it to manage our lives, whether business or personal, yet they can't provide that service to its customers. Most of the time, I need to steal my neighbor's WiFi signal to even get a signal and then it's so low of a signal it's like dial up, and that's pathetic. I can't get 4G and I'm lucky getting 3G but live in the land of dial up for connection to the Verizon network. 

NOW here's the question, is there a work around to having a good signal strength? Like can I add an additional antenna to my phone thru the headset jack? I think my phone is getting tired of the S&M it gets from bouncing off the wall and tired of being part of the WWF when body slammed to the floor.   
Thanks