topic Re: No signal indoors in Tech Support

No signal indoors

JoSa — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 14:33:37 GMT

I suddenly lost a signal inside my house. I cannot make or receive any calls. O2 gives a different information about the signal issues in my area (GU10 4NN), one that there isn't any and another that there is an issue with the mast. The latter one has been on a website for at least ten days now, so I do not think is true. My phone works outside my house. Indoors, it does not even list O2 as an available network. It lists Vodafone and EE, and my foreign SIM cards connect to these with no problem. It might be a silly question, but I recently replaced windows in my house. They are thicker than the old ones, but nothing exceptional or bulletproof! Could it be a reason for the loss of signal? And if it is, what can I do about it, apart from switching to Vodafone or EE?

Re: No signal indoors

MI5 — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 14:43:12 GMT

@JoSa

Use wifi calling when indoors.

Some help guides for you:

https://www.o2.co.uk/connectivity/wifi-and-4g-calling

https://www.o2.co.uk/apps/my-network

Re: No signal indoors

Oxonian — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:38:18 GMT

@JoSa wrote:
It might be a silly question, but I recently replaced windows in my house. They are thicker than the old ones, but nothing exceptional or bulletproof! Could it be a reason for the loss of signal?

Have you @JoSa tried standing outside of your house - on the driveway, in the back garden etc - to establish whether or not you can then get a signal ? Or even standing inside the house with the window open ?

Re: No signal indoors

MI5 — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:43:30 GMT

My phone works outside my house.

Re: No signal indoors

JoSa — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:52:22 GMT

Yes, the phone seems to be working on my drive. Also, works, although badly, in the room where window has not been changed.

Re: No signal indoors

Oxonian — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:59:52 GMT

Thanks @JoSa, it was not clear whether you had tried it immediately outside of home or some distance away.

I wonder whether @japitts might have a view on this ? 👍

Re: No signal indoors

MI5 — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 17:10:42 GMT

Results of a simple Google.

No experts needed.

AI Overview

Yes, windows can affect mobile signal:

Glass
Glass is good at reflecting and scattering radio signals. The more panes of glass in a window, the more interference there is. Double- or triple-glazed windows can block signals more than single-glazed windows. Modern windows with low-emission (Low-E) coatings deflect even more signal.
Other materials
Other materials that can affect mobile signal include:
Metal: Metal can cause the most damage to call reception, with up to 50dB loss when getting through a metal barrier.

Wood: Plywood can cause losses of between -6dB and -9dB.

Stone, brick, and tiles: Can cause up to roughly -28dB of loss.

To improve your mobile reception, you can try opening a window or using a repeater. A repeater works best when there is a good outdoor signal that can be boosted indoors.

Re: No signal indoors

JoSa — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 17:27:06 GMT

Thanks, but is there a better solution than opening a window? I cannot keep my windows open, especially in winter, just in case someone might ring me!

Also, why is my wi-fi calling not working? It says check the network. Is this connected to my windows? I have no issue connecting to the internet via wi-fi in my house.

Re: No signal indoors

JoSa — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 17:29:18 GMT

Wi-fi calls do not work either. I get the message "check your network". Otherwise, I have no issues with connecting to wi-fi at home.

Re: No signal indoors

Enlli — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 17:43:33 GMT

@JoSa wrote:
Wi-fi calls do not work either. I get the message "check your network". Otherwise, I have no issues with connecting to wi-fi at home.

A question I should of asked.. are you PAYG as wifi calling is not available

If not PAYG, what make and model handset?

Re: No signal indoors

MI5 — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 17:52:41 GMT

Who is your ifi provider @JoSa ?

Re: No signal indoors

japitts — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 23:51:07 GMT

There's a reliable way of proving whether your windows and/or any in-building loss is the cause of your issues - use a suitable Android app to check the eNB/PCI-ID of the serving cell outdoors, and then repeat the checks indoors.

If the same eNB/PCI is evident in both cases, and the RX levels are below accepted levels indoors.. there's your answer.

Or open the window, hold the phone outside, then pull it inside and close the window. See what happens to the signal indicator. You can't 100% guarantee the same serving site throughout, but you'd be unlucky not to.

If VF & EE both work indoors, I would guess their serving site is closer to you than O2's. Quite often VF & O2 share the same sites via CTIL, but that doesn't necessarily extend to the same frequency deployment.

@MI5 wrote:
Results of a simple Google.
No experts needed.
To improve your mobile reception, you can try opening a window or using a repeater. A repeater works best when there is a good outdoor signal that can be boosted indoors.

There's a good reason to not use "simple" Google searches or other automated answers....