Bad mobile reception - Anything realistic to be done?
Discussion
Some Service providers used to provide so called booster boxes or something similar.
About the only network you haven't got is EE (as in EE or Virgin or some others)
. If you are thinking of switching you could maybe get a EE or Virgin or other that uses EE network PAYG sim and try that or see if a friend on an EE based network gets a signal
About the only network you haven't got is EE (as in EE or Virgin or some others)
. If you are thinking of switching you could maybe get a EE or Virgin or other that uses EE network PAYG sim and try that or see if a friend on an EE based network gets a signal
When you get your broadband/internet sorted out you can get a booster from Vodafone (SureSignal) or O2 (Boostbox) and the others will use WiFi calling if you have a phone that supports it but you won't get old fashioned txt messages via that method. The boosters give you full signal all around the house, been using them for years.
maccas99 said:
When you get your broadband/internet sorted out you can get a booster from Vodafone (SureSignal) or O2 (Boostbox) and the others will use WiFi calling if you have a phone that supports it but you won't get old fashioned txt messages via that method. The boosters give you full signal all around the house, been using them for years.
Iphones trust they support it?GT03ROB said:
Iphones trust they support it?
Yes - from a 5c onwards - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT203032GT03ROB said:
maccas99 said:
When you get your broadband/internet sorted out you can get a booster from Vodafone (SureSignal) or O2 (Boostbox) and the others will use WiFi calling if you have a phone that supports it but you won't get old fashioned txt messages via that method. The boosters give you full signal all around the house, been using them for years.
Iphones trust they support it?The booster boxes are a better solution in principle, they give WiFi calling to multiple devices, rather than just being another thing to setup and check on each device. Your guests will (subject to their network) also be able to use it without messing.
There's some weird stuff around how WiFi calling and 4G work with each other that may be problematic if you've got legacy settings on your account as they can conflict with the device settings and stop 4G calling working, which can then stop WiFi calling working. I've just had Vodafone delete a load of settings on my account to get my phone back able to make calls.
I had this problem, and trust me with this advice. If you can get three bars or more up on your chimney, get a signal booster. I got one from mobilesignalbooster and I have gone from no signal on three, and one bar on O2, to full signal on both.
I used a three at home femto (box that uses your broadband to create a localised phone network ). Outgoing calls were fine but incoming were a bit 50/50 with callers often getting a continuous beyond when trying to call me. No good for running a business.
The trick with signal boosters is having at least a half decent signal where you are going to put the antenna, and then making sure you have the indoor one at least 10-15 m apart.
Maybe other carriers femto boxes are better than three's (and I tried two).
Three have also ceased their WiFi calling app, and SIM free phones don't normally support magic WiFi calling.
I used a three at home femto (box that uses your broadband to create a localised phone network ). Outgoing calls were fine but incoming were a bit 50/50 with callers often getting a continuous beyond when trying to call me. No good for running a business.
The trick with signal boosters is having at least a half decent signal where you are going to put the antenna, and then making sure you have the indoor one at least 10-15 m apart.
Maybe other carriers femto boxes are better than three's (and I tried two).
Three have also ceased their WiFi calling app, and SIM free phones don't normally support magic WiFi calling.
RogerDodger said:
I had this problem, and trust me with this advice. If you can get three bars or more up on your chimney, get a signal booster. I got one from mobilesignalbooster and I have gone from no signal on three, and one bar on O2, to full signal on both.
I thought these signal boosters were using internet back-haul rather than messing around with a weak existing signal? Seems mad to try to use a rubbish signal when there's an internet connection there that's perfectly capable of routing the call to the network. For the user, but also for the network who are getting money for nothing if they can keep traffic off the expensive bit of the network.Is there such a thing as a "box" that will look at all the available sigals at a particular location and list the strenghts of each rather than having to get a series of sims to see which is best?
Edit to add that I did see one some time ago but it was £350 or thereabouts but was wondering if anyone knew of a more recent cheaper option.
Edit to add that I did see one some time ago but it was £350 or thereabouts but was wondering if anyone knew of a more recent cheaper option.
Edited by WyrleyD on Monday 10th June 12:26
RogerDodger said:
I had this problem, and trust me with this advice. If you can get three bars or more up on your chimney, get a signal booster. I got one from mobilesignalbooster and I have gone from no signal on three, and one bar on O2, to full signal on both.
I used a three at home femto (box that uses your broadband to create a localised phone network ). Outgoing calls were fine but incoming were a bit 50/50 with callers often getting a continuous beyond when trying to call me. No good for running a business.
The trick with signal boosters is having at least a half decent signal where you are going to put the antenna, and then making sure you have the indoor one at least 10-15 m apart.
Maybe other carriers femto boxes are better than three's (and I tried two).
Three have also ceased their WiFi calling app, and SIM free phones don't normally support magic WiFi calling.
You used to need a license for these things and I didn't realise the situation had changed - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/featur...I used a three at home femto (box that uses your broadband to create a localised phone network ). Outgoing calls were fine but incoming were a bit 50/50 with callers often getting a continuous beyond when trying to call me. No good for running a business.
The trick with signal boosters is having at least a half decent signal where you are going to put the antenna, and then making sure you have the indoor one at least 10-15 m apart.
Maybe other carriers femto boxes are better than three's (and I tried two).
Three have also ceased their WiFi calling app, and SIM free phones don't normally support magic WiFi calling.
It's a damn sight easier to just use a booster that uses your internet connection which is effectively creating a VOIP system.
maccas99 said:
RogerDodger said:
I had this problem, and trust me with this advice. If you can get three bars or more up on your chimney, get a signal booster. I got one from mobilesignalbooster and I have gone from no signal on three, and one bar on O2, to full signal on both.
I used a three at home femto (box that uses your broadband to create a localised phone network ). Outgoing calls were fine but incoming were a bit 50/50 with callers often getting a continuous beyond when trying to call me. No good for running a business.
The trick with signal boosters is having at least a half decent signal where you are going to put the antenna, and then making sure you have the indoor one at least 10-15 m apart.
Maybe other carriers femto boxes are better than three's (and I tried two).
Three have also ceased their WiFi calling app, and SIM free phones don't normally support magic WiFi calling.
You used to need a license for these things and I didn't realise the situation had changed - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/featur...I used a three at home femto (box that uses your broadband to create a localised phone network ). Outgoing calls were fine but incoming were a bit 50/50 with callers often getting a continuous beyond when trying to call me. No good for running a business.
The trick with signal boosters is having at least a half decent signal where you are going to put the antenna, and then making sure you have the indoor one at least 10-15 m apart.
Maybe other carriers femto boxes are better than three's (and I tried two).
Three have also ceased their WiFi calling app, and SIM free phones don't normally support magic WiFi calling.
It's a damn sight easier to just use a booster that uses your internet connection which is effectively creating a VOIP system.
As for phone support for native WiFi calling , it isn't just a case of calling your carrier. Most can't/won't enable it unless they supplied the phone. Certainly Three won't.
maccas99 said:
Vowifi etc... but you won't get old fashioned txt messages via that method.
You will on EE however not sure about other networks. I would presume however that an IPSMGW would be delivered as part of any enhanced vendor SMS solution so I'd be interested to hear your first hand experience.paulrockliffe said:
I thought these signal boosters were using internet back-haul rather than messing around with a weak existing signal? Seems mad to try to use a rubbish signal when there's an internet connection there that's perfectly capable of routing the call to the network. For the user, but also for the network who are getting money for nothing if they can keep traffic off the expensive bit of the network.
No, the boosters I'm referring to receive, and amplify , specific phone frequencies. I use a two frequency booster, 900 & 2100mhz. They don't "mess around" with phone signals. They simply amplify them, the same as a TV aerial booster.900mhz for O2 /gift gaff 2g (voice) and 2100mhz for Three uk 3g (data and voice). I tried a 900/1800 booster which boost Three's 4g network, but it's data only , I found, and as said, my phone won't do voice over 4g as it is a phone I bought myself.
You can buy boosters that work with one, two,three, or all frequencies (networks). The price goes up as you do. Mine was £269 with two frequencies.
Believe me when I say I tried the easy options. I've struggled with the reliability of femto boxes for three years, then used three's WiFi calling app,but that got discontinued last month. In the end I bit the bullet and went with a proper signal booster and now have perfect signal that is not dependent on my internet, not a box supplied by my phone provider .
Buy a triple frequency booster and you'll cover all phone networks and never need to worry about signal again. You can also buy extra internal antennas if you want to distribute the signal in farther parts of your house. It is a proper, flexible solution.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 11th June 00:38
maccas99 said:
GT03ROB said:
Just tried my 2 Iphones & 1 shows the wi-fi calling option the other doesn't!
As per my earlier link, all iPhones have the capability post the 5c. Sometimes you need to make a call to your carrier to get it enabled as an option.Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff