topic Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday in Tech Support

Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Butterhook — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 21:11:05 GMT

Aged iPhone 8 running IOS 15.6, soon to be replaced but I need it for a few weeks still!

I've had the phone for nearly 4 years with no previous issues.

iMessage still works fine - just conventional SMS. All but one of the 17 or so I've tried today have been a fail. Repeat send to the number which received one subsequently failed. It's failed both indoors/outdoors/WiFi/4G. Checked the service status for my area and it's fine.

Device is locked so I can't flick between networks to give it a jolt and am unsure as to what resetting network settings will do and if these revert to the standard O2 ones or if I will need to manually enter some stuff - I don't know what or where I would do this so don't want to make the situation worse.

I could do with not ringing O2 for obvious reasons, given the current state of the "help" on offer.

Thanks for any help/advice.

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Oxonian — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 21:23:30 GMT

A warm welcome to this O2 customer to customer community @Butterhook.

This is a starting point :-

Please let us know how you get on. 👍

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

MI5 — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 21:24:17 GMT

@Butterhook

Are you contract or PAYG?

Bundle still active or available credit etc?

Resetting network settings will default to your O2 settings but also wipe any saved wifi passwords.

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Butterhook — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 21:27:21 GMT

Thanks for the response there!

Contract until 26 Jan.

I think unlimited texts and calls, and 30GB of data of which I only ever use GB.

I'll give the reset network settings a go now I know it's not going to hobble me! Thanks for clearing that up!

Cheers

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Butterhook — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 21:31:50 GMT

Resetting network settings hasn't fixed, btw. 😔

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

MI5 — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 21:33:49 GMT

@Butterhook

Check here for issues and report but it may not be up to date considering the day.

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

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Butterhook — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 21:37:16 GMT

Yeah, cheers. Went on there earlier and reported it.

In the Text Message Tips there are Message Centre numbers. I don't really know where I check these in an iPhone!

In a minute, I'm going to give my SIM a dust off followed blow into its innards and then I'm all out!

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

jonsie — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 21:42:56 GMT

The network is always over-subscribed on Christmas Day and New Years Eve

You will probably find your texts will be ok tomorrow

It's possible your area has weak network coverage @Butterhook

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

MI5 — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 21:43:18 GMT

@Butterhook

The message centre number will be set from your sim automatically, so unless you are using a PAYG sim, it will be correct and no reason for it to change.

Giving your sim a wipe with a dry cloth may remove any static build up, if present.

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Butterhook — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 22:09:08 GMT

I'm sure you know your onions, Jonsie - and I'm not saying it's probably a more than likely answer... but it started at around 7pm last night (although at that point I thought it was only one person's number so didn't bother), and I've lived here the thick end of 20 years and all of that time on O2 and I've never experienced anything other than very good network coverage - although I'm admittedly not far from the ****-end of nowhere in relatively rural Cheshire. I'd be more than delighted if it does sort itself out tomorrow though 👍

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Butterhook — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 22:13:54 GMT

Officially tried everything now and nuffink. Oh well... Cheers for the assistance!

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Butterhook — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 09:00:39 GMT

Great. Lines are still closed. Vodafone here I come. Fair enough if it's deemed unreasonable to have people in over Christmas - I'm not working, myself - but at least have something that doesn't fall over, or *some* way of handling things. Deeply frustrating...

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Butterhook — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 09:15:10 GMT

Sales phone line is running smoothly, though - just thought I'd satisfy my curiosity... Nice to know. Ace.

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Oxonian — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:11:51 GMT

@Butterhook wrote:
I'm sure you know your onions, Jonsie - and I'm not saying it's probably a more than likely answer... but it started at around 7pm last night (although at that point I thought it was only one person's number so didn't bother), and I've lived here the thick end of 20 years and all of that time on O2 and I've never experienced anything other than very good network coverage - although I'm admittedly not far from the ****-end of nowhere in relatively rural Cheshire. I'd be more than delighted if it does sort itself out tomorrow though 👍

if you @Butterhook are in a very rural area, albeit with a very food signal, you might be reliant on one mast. Hence, if that develops a fault, gets vandalised or suchlike, you then experience issues.

You have already been referred to :-

My Network App - Find Out More About Your Network Coverage | Apps | O2

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

Understand your network coverage

With the My Network app you can keep an eye on your coverage, wherever you are. Download the app and

you’ll be able to:

- check the status of our network in your area – you don’t even need to enter your postcode

- test your network speeds

- report any issues with your service.

It’s simple to use and means that you can check the network without having to visit the main site or even enter a postcode.

Have you reported your issue using that app ?

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

MI5 — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:17:17 GMT

@Butterhook wrote:
Yeah, cheers. Went on there earlier and reported it.

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Oxonian — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:18:21 GMT

@Butterhook wrote:
Great. Lines are still closed. Vodafone here I come. Fair enough if it's deemed unreasonable to have people in over Christmas - I'm not working, myself - but at least have something that doesn't fall over, or *some* way of handling things. Deeply frustrating...

Why do you @Butterhook believe Vodafone will be any better ? Have you procured a PAYG SIM and actually checked ? Bear in mind that there are many mast-sharing arrangements between the mobile networks and O2 and Vodafone are frequently sharers, so you might find that Vodafone is similarly affected. 👍

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Oxonian — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:19:43 GMT

@Butterhook wrote:
Sales phone line is running smoothly, though - just thought I'd satisfy my curiosity... Nice to know. Ace.

Probably very busy @Butterhook dealing with calls from customers that ordered some time ago and have not yet received their goods ! 👍

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

MI5 — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:21:22 GMT

Mast sharing has absolutely zero bearing on signal, speed or quality of service received.

Each network uses their own backhaul which is what dictates service levels.

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

Oxonian — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:32:01 GMT

It might do @MI5 if the mast is vandalised, hit by a motor vehicle or struck by lightening, thereby putting it out of action. All I am saying is that it would be prudent to check using a PAYG SIM ! 👍

Re: Problem with sending SMS from iPhone 8 as of yesterday

MI5 — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:36:16 GMT

You will also need to unlock your phone @Butterhook