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Original poster

sick of incredibly poor mobile reception

41 replies

StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2016 15:51

At home. Up until earlier this year a small amount of signal went in and out, enough that you'd get or send texts within ten mins or so of the button being pressed.
Now to send or received a text I have to restart my phone and stand it up against the kitchen window. Fine to send them but annoying when you don't receive texts people sent hours ago.
If I want to make a call I have to go into the next village, a 15 min walk away.
We've asked visitors and no one's reception seems much better.
Are there any companies that specialise in poor signal areas? It causd a load of hassle today as the school were trying to get in touch with me and I am working from home.

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2016 15:54

We do of course have a landlines but the school default to mobile. So I usually do my 'stand against the window thing' only to find I've got a missed all from the school and then have to drive into the next village in a panic.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 26/09/2016 15:57

Who are you with? Have you checked network coverage for all the providers in your area?

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2016 15:59

We're with ee and apparently bt will be identical.
family are with Vodafone and it's equally bad.
are there any others I don't know about? I can't keep up with all the name changing tbh.

OP posts:
bananafish81 · 26/09/2016 15:59

If you're with Vodafone you can get a Sure Signal FemtoCell box that will let you use your mobile over WiFi, good if you have crap signal at home

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2016 16:01

That sounds brilliant thabks, I've often cursed that calls and texts can't just go through our now excellent broadband signal!
Do you know how much they are roughly? And if we get one can both dh and I run phones through it?

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 26/09/2016 16:01

If you're with Vodafone or Three they have signal boosters. Vodafone's is the Sure Signal, I'm not sure what Three's is called. O2 have an app called Tu which you can use with WiFi and the calls are taken out of your bundle.

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2016 16:02

I would love to know what changed and made it worse. It was a day a family member died, I was texting bil assuming they were coming and going as notmal only to find two hours later they were still 'sending'. Aaargh.

OP posts:
timeforabrewnow · 26/09/2016 16:02

Give the school your landline. Problem solved.

Our area is also v. poor signal - it is possible to get a signal booster device to put on the roof as some people have them.

I connect my mobile via the wifi/broadband and can receive texts and calls like that.

TheWoollybacksWife · 26/09/2016 16:03

I had this when I was with Tesco mobile (O2). I couldn't make or receive calls or texts at home despite repeatedly being told that I was in a strong signal area.

I'm now with Vodafone as they do a signal booster called a sure signal which has improved reception tremendously.

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2016 16:04

They have it time but the vast majority of days I'm either travelling r in the office. I have said if you don't get through on one try the oher but they just seem to leave a message which I then get that evening.

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2016 16:14

Do ee have any equivalent to these clever things that let you use the wifi?

OP posts:
bananafish81 · 26/09/2016 16:16

Vodafone originally were the only network that had the licence to use FemtoCell technology which they sell as Sure Signal

Other networks may have similar

But Vodafone have the original licence and have been providing these boxes for years so it's quite well established

dementedpixie · 26/09/2016 16:18

ee.co.uk/why-ee/network/wifi-calling

AntiHop · 26/09/2016 16:19

I'm pretty sure you can use WiFi for calls and texts with ee if you have the right kind of phone.

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2016 16:20

Excellent thank you, will investigate. See I knew mn would help :)

OP posts:
fannyfanackapan · 26/09/2016 16:28

If you have an older phone, that can impact connectivity over time. Phones capable of wi-fi calling can actually experience a better call connectivity than 3G/4G.

EE do a signal box for home use that connects to your broadband, as do the other providers.

Any network operator will run a network report on your device if you call them.

bigbluebus · 26/09/2016 16:28

You may wish to read this link before you buy anything to boost your signal OP. Signal boosters are illegal in the UK. I had the same problem with Tesco mobile (O2) so looked into this. In the end I switched to BT (EE) as a provider which has solved my problem
www.alphr.com/realworld/357955/the-legal-ways-to-boost-your-mobile-phone-reception-0

AndNowItsSeven · 26/09/2016 16:30

Yes I have ee wifi calls you just activate it in settings.

AndNowItsSeven · 26/09/2016 16:31

Settings- phone - wifi calling on/off

AndNowItsSeven · 26/09/2016 16:33

See

sick of incredibly poor mobile reception
Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2016 16:36

I have a Samsung. Don't seem to have settings - phone

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 26/09/2016 16:38

My symbol looks like this when wifi calling is on (not pink though!):

sick of incredibly poor mobile reception
dementedpixie · 26/09/2016 16:39

Mine is Samsung Galaxy s7

dementedpixie · 26/09/2016 16:40

You got to settings, then applications, and then phone and scroll down to find wifi calling

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/09/2016 16:41

Mine was in wifi networks and was a tick box somethig about stabilising connection.
hope its worked. Might try sending a text

OP posts:
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