Weak/Non-Existent Signal

[Anonymous]

Having read many threads both here and elsewhere on the net I am now thoroughly confused.

I have 4 different phones on the network being iPhone 4, iPhone 3 a Galaxy S4 and a Galaxy S4 mini. All have roughly the same signal strength.

On the O2 site I should have good reception. I am in between two mast both less than a mile away. The problem is that my house is in a bit of a dip and there is a large copse trees between me and one of the masts.

As I sit at the moment in my house my signal strength on the iPhone 4S is at -107. This goes between around -95 and -111 usually if I move about the house.

If I go out to the street it goes between about -90 to -105.

As I understand it -40 is a "perfect" strength with -70 being very acceptable. Anything approaching -100 as being bad with calls etc liable to drop up to -120 which is basically no signal.

These signal strengths are basically causing all the phones to be very unreliable/virtually useless in the house.

I see two solutions to the problems

1. Get a signal booster set up
2. Get a femtocell
3. Use Tugo

There are problems with the solutions which I am getting confused with

Solution 1. The systems seem to be very expensive. Probably around £700 at least. Also there are many different opinions which ones are good/bad and whether they are indeed legal/illegal.

Solution 2. I am not a business user and only a personal user and it isn't available for me.

Solution 3. Seems really buggy and not worth toffee.

I appreciate this topic mat gave been asked to death but I can find no definite/up to date information.

[jonsie]

Unless you are tied into a contract I would be tempted to try other networks' P&G sims and go with the best coverage provider. You've obviously researched this on the forum and as you have the same problem with 4 different phones I'm not sure there is much else you can do. Have you actually tried TuGo? It's certainly worth a go.

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

Only one of the phones is in a contract and has a while to go.

I understand what you are saying but basically I was thinking that as I have masts that close, and there are no other companies that have masts closer, it is not really about what company would have the best signal, it is more about what company has the best solutions to my problem. I do actually suspect that O2 may have the best of the lot although I have not tested that.

One of the phones is an O2 contract and the other 3 are on giffgaff.

[adamtemp64]

Option 1 is ilegal so not an option

Option 2 even business users say there are issues with the boostbox

Option 3 it is being worked on all the time to improve it

The dip and trees and construction material of your house will be the issues as you say a stronger signal outdoors.

Remember that vodafone do do a suresignal box for all customers.

[Anonymous]

Hi TheFalcon259 and welcome to the Community Forum,

Option 4, Move home.

Option 5, Sneak out at night and cut the tree's down.

Seriously thou I hope you get some resolution especially with 02 continually improving the network with 4g roll out.

[Anonymous]

Thanks adamtemp64.

Solution 1. Whether it is legal/illegal is difficult to figure out so your answer has thankfully confirmed what it seemed to be. There are so many sites offering equipment that I am amazed that it not legal. I take it the penalties for using them are severe? Do whoever looks after the airwaves tend to prosecute a lot of people?

Solution 2. Yeah I saw that a few business users were having problems. I also have Sky Broadband (which is brilliant for me) and I think that their changing IP addresses causes the Boostbox problems.

Solution 3. Is there an Android version of the app? Could I use the app with the giffgaff phones.

I have seen the Vodaphone thing. Anybody had any chance to try them? I am loathed to leave O2 as I do like them but I suppose needs must.

[adamtemp64 · Accepted solution]

re option 1 here is ofcoms official stance http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2012/11/mobile-repeaters/

Re option 3 No they need to be on o2 and yes there is an android app

[Anonymous]

Thanks bandofbrothers,

Lol!!

Unfortunately option 4 is not a goer as just did!!!! Having spent 70k doing this one up think I may have to stay in it for a few years to enjoy/recoup my cash.

I had thought of option 5 but I would have to be a professional lumberjack as there are hundreds of trees!!!!

Unfortunately I would think 4G is a hell of a way off for out small seaside town.

[Anonymous]

Thanks adamtemp64.

Hadn't seen that. It is very simple really. Cheers.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Thanks bandofbrothers,

Lol!!

Unfortunately option 4 is not a goer as just did!!!! Having spent 70k doing this one up think I may have to stay in it for a few years to enjoy/recoup my cash.

I had thought of option 5 but I would have to be a professional lumberjack as there are hundreds of trees!!!!

Unfortunately I would think 4G is a hell of a way off for out small seaside town.

---

Hi,

Glad my suggestions were taken the way they were meant , tongue in cheek.

Occasionally a bit of humour in between the seriousness helps to relieve a little bit of the stress building up.

Hope whichever way you go this gets better for you.

All the best.