topic Re: Signal Boxes in Discussions & Feedback

Signal Boxes

Curr946 — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 11:19:39 GMT

So my mate out in the sticks struggle to get any signal with any of the networks, but O2 was the best, I use that term in jest. He was always dropping calls etc so went looking for a signal box, as the tugo app didn't work in pay and go, is he would be ok but his wife and son wasn't.

He is just off the phone with EE and they have signed him up on a 12 month sim only and posting him out a signal box. He is also being second two pay and go sims for his wife and son.

that's three lines O2 has lost because they don't do a signal box. I mean they aren't exactly expensive and he said he would have paid to get one.

any reason why o2 don't just move with the times and offer these?

Re: Signal Boxes

PhoneDoc — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 13:01:11 GMT

There's always been rumours about them being in development, but realistically I can't see them ever being rolled out unfortunately.
With coverage improving year on year, and Tu working just as well for the majority of people, the business argument for introducing booster boxes just isn't as sound as it would have been 5 or 10 years ago

Re: Signal Boxes

jonsie — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 14:02:00 GMT

Signal and booster boxes have always been for business customers only. Tell me the difference whether you are a consumer or business customer and you have no signal. Never a rumour, you are a business customer you can get a booster box. If you are a customer then stuff you...........

Re: Signal Boxes

PhoneDoc — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 15:32:31 GMT

I was referring to development and roll out for consumer use @jonsie , which I can't see happening at this stage, because a better alternative has come to the market.
It could be argued booster boxes could have been offered to consumers in the past, but now Tu Go is offered to everyone and it works exactly the same way - pumping calls and texts through home broadband. It's also available instantly (no postage), it can be used anywhere, it's free for the customers, and it's a lot cheaper for the network to manage. Hopefully in due time it will become available for PAYG too.

Incidentally, the business boosters start from £150. It's not as if they're being held back just because you're not a business customer - these are professional devices designed to sustain a business with dozens of users, and would not be appropriate for consumers - no one would be willing to pay for them for casual use.

Re: Signal Boxes

MI5 — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:34:59 GMT

O2 will allow a boostbox to be sold to a non business customer if they can demonstrate a good reason for having one - that's not to say PAYG customers would be included in this though.

Re: Signal Boxes

gmarkj — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 08:38:22 GMT

just to throw my tuppence worth in...
we have a signal box at work (big warehouse and offices).
it piggy bags off a nearby mast to provide signal (not sure how - I think there is a cable to it)
great when it works, but if the mast is undergoing any work then the box also loses signal.
also the boxes do not work 100% of the time - we have had a number of occasions where the signal is non existant inside the building but if you step outside you immediately get signal...

Re: Signal Boxes

jonsie — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 09:24:48 GMT

TU works off wifi so is not doing the same job as a booster which works entirely different. My point is that consumers who have issues at home or a number of employees in a work place should have been able to buy a booster box. Many of these places have no wifi available so TU isn't the solution for them, hence customers are forced to change network.

Re: Signal Boxes

Curr946 — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 11:26:41 GMT

I still think that if a customer is willing to pay for one, and they exist, they should be available for purchase.

Re: Signal Boxes

Cleoriff — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 11:41:35 GMT

I also see no reason for such exclusivity. Apparently (or so I have been told) they are illegal to install without permission...although freely available to buy? I am sure @MI5 or @jonsie told me this...(Unless I am going senile)

Re: Signal Boxes

Curr946 — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 11:44:38 GMT

Really? Illegal... There must be lots of criminals about.

Re: Signal Boxes

Cleoriff — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 11:46:16 GMT

Mmmmm...I may have the wrong end of the stick...Hope @MI5 will clarify....

Re: Signal Boxes

MI5 — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 11:51:16 GMT

Yeah, the boostboxes you can buy on ebay/amazon etc (usually made in China) are illegal, but not the Official O2 Boostbox (to give it the correct name).
They also come up for sale on ebay etc but they need O2 to enable your line to use them, so no point in buying one unless you get permission off O2 first either.

Re: Signal Boxes

Beenherebefore — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 11:51:35 GMT

It's the unlicensed items that are illegal

http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/phone/mobile-phones/coverage/mobile-repeaters/

Re: Signal Boxes

Curr946 — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 11:52:28 GMT

Re: Signal Boxes

Cleoriff — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 11:56:23 GMT

Oh well I was half right....

I do remember a thread where someone had bought one from Ebay registered to O2 ... and they were told they could not use it without permission.....Thanks for clarifying.....(again) As I said I claim senility....

Re: Signal Boxes

Cleoriff — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 12:03:13 GMT

Of course confusion was added to when Adam posted this yesterday.

"Illegal signal booster to blame for village's mobile reception problems'

http://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-england-36413617?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=57618a73e4b06c65bdc369b9%26Illegal%20signal%20booster%20to%20blame%20for%20village%27s%20mobile%20reception%20problems%26&ns_fee=0#post_57618a73e4b06c65bdc369b9

Re: Signal Boxes

jonsie — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:21:45 GMT

@Curr946 wrote:
I still think that if a customer is willing to pay for one, and they exist, they should be available for purchase.

I couldn't agree more, especially in rural areas.

Re: Signal Boxes

Toby — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:34:12 GMT

@Curr946 wrote:
I still think that if a customer is willing to pay for one, and they exist, they should be available for purchase.

Hi @Curr946,

An interesting idea for sure. Have you seen a version of purchasable boostbox anywhere else? How much would you pay for one? I can feed all of this back. We often see questions relating to boostbox availability.

Re: Signal Boxes

jonsie — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:40:35 GMT

Available to business customers for £150 I believe and I've seen genuine ones on eBay for around the same price.

Re: Signal Boxes

MI5 — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:45:24 GMT

Can't see an average consumer paying £150.
£50 maybe which I think is what Voda charged for their Femtocel.