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Poor mobile phone signal at home (iPhone 5)


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Old 26-01-2013, 08:42
Mattehhhftw
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Hi all, I recently got myself an iPhone 5 on 02 but I gave it them back when the signal was poor and 3G was poor too so I went with orange (EE) instead. They did a signal test before I bought the phone and said I should get 3-4 bars of signal where I live... but I don't. I get two bars at a push but signal comes and goes. When I look at my phone and I see I have two bars I type a text but by the time I click send the signal goes again! and it takes ages for a text to send when it actually stays and even longer for me to receive a text... URGH.

BUT...

I have great signal and 3G EVERYWHERE else I've been too with the phone ATM, which I like it and don't want to get rid of it.I just sucks where I live the signal is poor. I've connected to my wifi to 'boost' the signal but it doesn't seem to work. The saving grace is, I'm moving into my mums boyfriend house (where I have signal) some time this year so I won't have to put up with it forever but is it worth to put up with it for now? Say 6 months max? And any tips of being able to get better signal?

Thanks it advance
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Old 26-01-2013, 08:58
The Lord Lucan
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You could beg Orange to send you a signal box which is a tiny 3G mast in your house that will bump up your signal to full bars. They are not free however.
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Old 26-01-2013, 08:58
Lidtop2013
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Yes keep the iPhone 5 it's a great phone, plus it doesn't matter what phone you have as to whether or not you'll get a signal, it's down to location. You can get signal booster boxes from Three and I think other networks too? Ring them and ask?

EDIT beat to it there!
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Old 26-01-2013, 09:00
Mattehhhftw
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You could beg Orange to send you a signal box which is a tiny 3G mast in your house that will bump up your signal to full bars. They are not free however.
How much do they cost roughly, do you know?
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Old 26-01-2013, 12:21
Mattehhhftw
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Anyone?
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Old 26-01-2013, 12:31
bobbycharlton1
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i have a similar problem. I switched from O2 to THREE. I get 3G everywhere, but inside my house, I get ZERO. not even one bar, so I am uncontactable in my house. If I step outside, it goes up. I could do with some sort of house booster too
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Old 26-01-2013, 12:58
DevonBloke
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Read this thread right through for info on the EE Signal box.
At the moment you can only easily get one if you are on TM or EE4G business. Orange in particular are making it difficult to get one now. This will change soon and they will be readily available to all, it says so on the Orange website. Your only hope is if Orange have removed a mast in your area as part of the on-going upgrades. They will then send you out one for free! Call them and ask. Call several times if you have to as different CS staff have different levels of knowledge and some may be more helpful then others.
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1769995

For Three you can get the Three Homesignal box (same thing as the EE Signalbox, a Femto cell that you plug into your router and gives you a full 3G signal at home)
Three unfortunately have the same policy as Orange and don't give them out easily. If you are coming to the end of your contract and threaten to leave you will almost certainly get one. I had a customer who was still in his Three 7 day cancellation period on a new contract. i told him to call Three and say he would cancel if he couldn't have a box. After 3 calls they sent him one for free!
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Old 26-01-2013, 13:18
John_Patrick
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Depending on how long you have had the phone, call them up and say that you were told that you should have good coverage in your house but you havnt, and say you want to cancel the contract. Some networks allow 7 or 14 days for you to do this. Hint that you thought you were mis-sold blah blah blah and then try and blag a signal box for free
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Old 26-01-2013, 17:22
Everything Goes
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Yes keep the iPhone 5 it's a great phone, plus it doesn't matter what phone you have as to whether or not you'll get a signal, it's down to location. You can get signal booster boxes from Three and I think other networks too? Ring them and ask?

EDIT beat to it there!
It does matter what phone you have actually. I know someone who has had an iPhone 3GS and Iphone 5 and they cant get a signal in my house where as my Cheap £40 Alcatel phone can

iPhones are notoriously bad for not being able to get a signal when coverage starts to drop off. Still on the bright side who needs a signal when you have an iPhone. Image matters more than being able to use the thing
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Old 26-01-2013, 18:38
Mattehhhftw
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Read this thread right through for info on the EE Signal box.
At the moment you can only easily get one if you are on TM or EE4G business. Orange in particular are making it difficult to get one now. This will change soon and they will be readily available to all, it says so on the Orange website. Your only hope is if Orange have removed a mast in your area as part of the on-going upgrades. They will then send you out one for free! Call them and ask. Call several times if you have to as different CS staff have different levels of knowledge and some may be more helpful then others.
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1769995

For Three you can get the Three Homesignal box (same thing as the EE Signalbox, a Femto cell that you plug into your router and gives you a full 3G signal at home)
Three unfortunately have the same policy as Orange and don't give them out easily. If you are coming to the end of your contract and threaten to leave you will almost certainly get one. I had a customer who was still in his Three 7 day cancellation period on a new contract. i told him to call Three and say he would cancel if he couldn't have a box. After 3 calls they sent him one for free!
Thank you very much, I will defiantly consider purchasing this when I know more about my move.
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Old 26-01-2013, 21:10
DevonBloke
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Thank you very much, I will defiantly consider purchasing this when I know more about my move.
No problem. Here's the Orange page stating the box will be widely available later.
http://help.orange.co.uk/orangeuk/su...ersonal/725973
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Old 26-01-2013, 21:24
bobbycharlton1
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Does anyone know what 'eligable' means from THREE?

they say

Home Signal can help enhance your indoor signal. You may be eligible to get a Home Signal box if you have trouble connecting to the network indoors, you live in a rural area or if your house has thick walls that block your signal.

on their page

http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-...,Case=obj(5440)

now, in my house I get ZERO bars, never mind 3G

does eligable mean a FREE box, or will i have to pay?
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Old 26-01-2013, 22:47
Everything Goes
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Does anyone know what 'eligable' means from THREE?

they say

Home Signal can help enhance your indoor signal. You may be eligible to get a Home Signal box if you have trouble connecting to the network indoors, you live in a rural area or if your house has thick walls that block your signal.

on their page

http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-...,Case=obj(5440)

now, in my house I get ZERO bars, never mind 3G

does eligable mean a FREE box, or will i have to pay?
Three aren't too keen on giving them out. Usually if they do its free but they may want to charge you. Its definitely worth giving them a call. They will check you coverage and look for network faults before referring your request up the ladder. See this thread:

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1632978
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