Dropped calls on EE

anyonefortennis · 17-10-2013, 18:36

Quote:

Ok, bit more testing. I tried a handover on my wife's iphone 5 from the signal box to the outside network. All fine.

I tried the same thing again on my iphone 5s and call failed.

Still doesnt make sense that I had issues with my iphone 5 for a week before getting the 5s.

Both phones are on 7.0.2

Is your wifes phone on iOS7?

paulker · 17-10-2013, 18:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

Is your wifes phone on iOS7?

Yeah, as I said both on 7.0.2

anyonefortennis · 17-10-2013, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulker

Yeah, as I said both on 7.0.2

I thought you meant both your phones. Is your 5 on iOS7 also?

paulker · 17-10-2013, 18:48

I dont have the 5 anymore, i gave it to my mum who is on holiday. Will be testing that when she comes back. Before I gave her it it was on ios 7 too.

paulker · 17-10-2013, 18:51

Im going to go a drive soon and try it moving around (hands free of course)

anyonefortennis · 17-10-2013, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulker

I dont have the 5 anymore, i gave it to my mum who is on holiday. Will be testing that when she comes back. Before I gave her it it was on ios 7 too.

Strange. There might be an App or device using wifi on your 5s that is interfering with your signal.

paulker · 17-10-2013, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

Strange. There might be an App or device using wifi on your 5s that is interfering with your signal.

It is strange but at work where I have been having so many issues I switch wifi off as 4g is much better than my crappy wifi.

While using the Nokia today I could hear clicks a lot which would suggest its changing masts all the time.

I seem to be able to make calls first thing in the morning before 9am without a problem but after 9 i have issues. Can I assume that when the cells get busier they make the handset chop and change more often?

anyonefortennis · 17-10-2013, 18:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulker

It is strange but at work where I have been having so many issues I switch wifi off as 4g is much better than my crappy wifi.

While using the Nokia today I could hear clicks a lot which would suggest its changing masts all the time.

I seem to be able to make calls first thing in the morning before 9am without a problem but after 9 i have issues. Can I assume that when the cells get busier they make the handset chop and change more often?

I think that's the problem. The 4G signal can't cope with transferring to 3G or 2G for calls. Have you tried it with the LTE turned off?

jchamier · 17-10-2013, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulker

Can I assume that when the cells get busier they make the handset chop and change more often?

At a guess it could be cell breathing. On an iPhone with any EE SIM you can't turn off 3G sadly, unlike Androids.

UK uses UMTS for 3G and UMTS does cell breathing which can cause cell site size (power output) to decrease under load.

(4G is only data, voice calls switch back to 3G or even 2G).

http://www.telecomabc.com/c/cell-breathing.html

paulker · 17-10-2013, 19:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

I think that's the problem. The 4G signal can't cope with transferring to 3G or 2G for calls. Have you tried it with the LTE turned off?

Nah, not the issue. My wifes phone is on 4g as well and that is fine.

anyonefortennis · 17-10-2013, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulker

Nah, not the issue. My wifes phone is on 4g as well and that is fine.

Try turning it off for a while to see if the signal improves.

paulker · 17-10-2013, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

Try turning it off for a while to see if the signal improves.

Did that too at work. Same, dropped calls

anyonefortennis · 17-10-2013, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulker

Did that too at work. Same, dropped calls

Let us know what Apple say.

reclusive46 · 17-10-2013, 19:24

Am I the only one who thinks that the EE network is a bit of a shambles right now, Calls dropping, poor quality calls, texts delayed, Data connections being unreliable.

anyonefortennis · 17-10-2013, 19:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by reclusive46

Am I the only one who thinks that the EE network is a bit of a shambles right now, Calls dropping, poor quality calls, texts delayed, Data connections being unreliable.

No you're not the only one.

paulker · 17-10-2013, 19:30

Ok, just been out a drive. THe phone handed over between cells without issue. Logic goes out the window.

Kierankay · 17-10-2013, 19:36

I think EE should have used the millions of pounds they spent on advertising, to actually fix the networks problems. Or have even atleast waited till the network was stable after the merge before they started advertising.

paulker · 17-10-2013, 19:39

Just tried the signal box/macro network handover and it worked fine this time. I dont have an explanation now.

jchamier · 17-10-2013, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulker

Ok, just been out a drive. THe phone handed over between cells without issue. Logic goes out the window.

So I guess its something between the local cells and your specific 5s handset with iOS 7.0.2 that is causing the drops. Maybe your handset doesn't like the smart-signal-share between the two legacy brands - which the other handsets don't mind.

Is it possible your drive only kept you in range of a single former brand's cells?

Around here (work and home) is pretty much full signal by T-Mobile, the old Orange signal was always less good.

paulker · 17-10-2013, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchamier

So I guess its something between the local cells and your specific 5s handset with iOS 7.0.2 that is causing the drops. Maybe your handset doesn't like the smart-signal-share between the two legacy brands - which the other handsets don't mind.

Is it possible your drive only kept you in range of a single former brand's cells?

Around here (work and home) is pretty much full signal by T-Mobile, the old Orange signal was always less good.

Crossed my mine too but at work there are only T-Mobile sites in the ind est. On my route tonight there was a mix of Orange and T-Mobile. Go figure.

Minardi · 17-10-2013, 23:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by lost boy

I tried desperately not to kick off at that, simply asking them why they were having problems while Three worked like a charm. Their less than diplomatically given response; you're connected to a T-Mobile 3G mast so if you're having problems with us you'll have problems with Three. That I was ringing them from a Three phone at that moment (because EE wasn't working) and that I dared them to ring my Orange number (and I'd answer if it rang at my end) if it was working as well as they insisted really didn't go down well. That in mind, no shock I ended up with my PAC not long after.

I had almost an identical conversation. I was put on hold, at which point I had to go and deal with a machine so I ended the call (I'd been on the line 20 odd minutes). They didn't have the 3 number I called from (I withheld it) so they tried to call my Orange phone and couldn't get through at all. Then they called my office, and were told in no uncertain terms that this was exactly why we were leaving. I think the woman finally understood then. I called back the next day and was given my PAC almost immediately.

RAN Man · 17-10-2013, 23:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulker

Nah, not the issue. My wifes phone is on 4g as well and that is fine.

From your posts I'd hazard a guess that your phone is a bit of a deaf one in radio terms. If you can, you should try swapping your SIM into your wife's phone which seems to be better? If the issues go away or reduce that's a likely contribution. It would at least rule it in/out.

If the issues follow your SIM, it may be the carrier settings or core network config. With the mix of Orange/TMobile sites, if it's not setup correctly you can end up being served from a distant site, which will give you the poor experience.

All phones are manufactured to a tolerance and there are performance differences between them. It's usually greatest between vendors/models, but can also happen within a range.

The Lord Lucan · 18-10-2013, 00:15

Having only just read this.. I would largely agree with above. Have you done a full reset or done a swap of the sims?

I know there are a few issues in your area but this doesn't explain the handover issue.

paulker · 18-10-2013, 08:20

Ok, swapped my sim into my good lady's iphone 5 and am now at work. Lets see how it goes today. Poor wifey has no phone today now.

paulker · 18-10-2013, 11:51

Well, i might be speaking too soon as its not even midday but with the exception of a ropey call to a company that has VOIP lines things have been fine using my wife's i5. See how the rest of the day pans out. I hope we are getting to the bottom of my workplace EE issues.

My home postcode has issue regardless of phones. I'll just need to be patient and hope EE get of their arses and upgrade the Orange mast that is struggling.

17-10-2013, 18:36	#101
anyonefortennis Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: 🇬🇧 Posts: 60,865	Quote: Originally Posted by paulker Ok, bit more testing. I tried a handover on my wife's iphone 5 from the signal box to the outside network. All fine. I tried the same thing again on my iphone 5s and call failed. Still doesnt make sense that I had issues with my iphone 5 for a week before getting the 5s. Both phones are on 7.0.2 Is your wifes phone on iOS7?

17-10-2013, 18:39	#102
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	Quote: Originally Posted by anyonefortennis Is your wifes phone on iOS7? Yeah, as I said both on 7.0.2

17-10-2013, 18:46	#103
anyonefortennis Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: 🇬🇧 Posts: 60,865	Quote: Originally Posted by paulker Yeah, as I said both on 7.0.2 I thought you meant both your phones. Is your 5 on iOS7 also?

17-10-2013, 18:48	#104
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	I dont have the 5 anymore, i gave it to my mum who is on holiday. Will be testing that when she comes back. Before I gave her it it was on ios 7 too.

17-10-2013, 18:51	#105
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	Im going to go a drive soon and try it moving around (hands free of course)

17-10-2013, 18:52	#106
anyonefortennis Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: 🇬🇧 Posts: 60,865	Quote: Originally Posted by paulker I dont have the 5 anymore, i gave it to my mum who is on holiday. Will be testing that when she comes back. Before I gave her it it was on ios 7 too. Strange. There might be an App or device using wifi on your 5s that is interfering with your signal.

17-10-2013, 18:56	#107
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	Quote: Originally Posted by anyonefortennis Strange. There might be an App or device using wifi on your 5s that is interfering with your signal. It is strange but at work where I have been having so many issues I switch wifi off as 4g is much better than my crappy wifi. While using the Nokia today I could hear clicks a lot which would suggest its changing masts all the time. I seem to be able to make calls first thing in the morning before 9am without a problem but after 9 i have issues. Can I assume that when the cells get busier they make the handset chop and change more often?

17-10-2013, 18:59	#108
anyonefortennis Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: 🇬🇧 Posts: 60,865	Quote: Originally Posted by paulker It is strange but at work where I have been having so many issues I switch wifi off as 4g is much better than my crappy wifi. While using the Nokia today I could hear clicks a lot which would suggest its changing masts all the time. I seem to be able to make calls first thing in the morning before 9am without a problem but after 9 i have issues. Can I assume that when the cells get busier they make the handset chop and change more often? I think that's the problem. The 4G signal can't cope with transferring to 3G or 2G for calls. Have you tried it with the LTE turned off?

17-10-2013, 19:00	#109
jchamier Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: This forum Posts: 3,392	Quote: Originally Posted by paulker Can I assume that when the cells get busier they make the handset chop and change more often? At a guess it could be cell breathing. On an iPhone with any EE SIM you can't turn off 3G sadly, unlike Androids. UK uses UMTS for 3G and UMTS does cell breathing which can cause cell site size (power output) to decrease under load. (4G is only data, voice calls switch back to 3G or even 2G). http://www.telecomabc.com/c/cell-breathing.html

17-10-2013, 19:05	#110
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	Quote: Originally Posted by anyonefortennis I think that's the problem. The 4G signal can't cope with transferring to 3G or 2G for calls. Have you tried it with the LTE turned off? Nah, not the issue. My wifes phone is on 4g as well and that is fine.

17-10-2013, 19:07	#111
anyonefortennis Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: 🇬🇧 Posts: 60,865	Quote: Originally Posted by paulker Nah, not the issue. My wifes phone is on 4g as well and that is fine. Try turning it off for a while to see if the signal improves.

17-10-2013, 19:09	#112
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	Quote: Originally Posted by anyonefortennis Try turning it off for a while to see if the signal improves. Did that too at work. Same, dropped calls

17-10-2013, 19:19	#113
anyonefortennis Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: 🇬🇧 Posts: 60,865	Quote: Originally Posted by paulker Did that too at work. Same, dropped calls Let us know what Apple say.

17-10-2013, 19:24	#114
reclusive46 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Norwich Posts: 570	Am I the only one who thinks that the EE network is a bit of a shambles right now, Calls dropping, poor quality calls, texts delayed, Data connections being unreliable.

17-10-2013, 19:27	#115
anyonefortennis Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: 🇬🇧 Posts: 60,865	Quote: Originally Posted by reclusive46 Am I the only one who thinks that the EE network is a bit of a shambles right now, Calls dropping, poor quality calls, texts delayed, Data connections being unreliable. No you're not the only one.

17-10-2013, 19:30	#116
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	Ok, just been out a drive. THe phone handed over between cells without issue. Logic goes out the window.

17-10-2013, 19:36	#117
Kierankay Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Glasgow, United Kingdom Posts: 414	I think EE should have used the millions of pounds they spent on advertising, to actually fix the networks problems. Or have even atleast waited till the network was stable after the merge before they started advertising.

17-10-2013, 19:39	#118
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	Just tried the signal box/macro network handover and it worked fine this time. I dont have an explanation now.

17-10-2013, 19:41	#119
jchamier Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: This forum Posts: 3,392	Quote: Originally Posted by paulker Ok, just been out a drive. THe phone handed over between cells without issue. Logic goes out the window. So I guess its something between the local cells and your specific 5s handset with iOS 7.0.2 that is causing the drops. Maybe your handset doesn't like the smart-signal-share between the two legacy brands - which the other handsets don't mind. Is it possible your drive only kept you in range of a single former brand's cells? Around here (work and home) is pretty much full signal by T-Mobile, the old Orange signal was always less good.

17-10-2013, 19:45	#120
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	Quote: Originally Posted by jchamier So I guess its something between the local cells and your specific 5s handset with iOS 7.0.2 that is causing the drops. Maybe your handset doesn't like the smart-signal-share between the two legacy brands - which the other handsets don't mind. Is it possible your drive only kept you in range of a single former brand's cells? Around here (work and home) is pretty much full signal by T-Mobile, the old Orange signal was always less good. Crossed my mine too but at work there are only T-Mobile sites in the ind est. On my route tonight there was a mix of Orange and T-Mobile. Go figure.

17-10-2013, 23:06	#121
Minardi Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Midlands Posts: 502	Quote: Originally Posted by lost boy I tried desperately not to kick off at that, simply asking them why they were having problems while Three worked like a charm. Their less than diplomatically given response; you're connected to a T-Mobile 3G mast so if you're having problems with us you'll have problems with Three. That I was ringing them from a Three phone at that moment (because EE wasn't working) and that I dared them to ring my Orange number (and I'd answer if it rang at my end) if it was working as well as they insisted really didn't go down well. That in mind, no shock I ended up with my PAC not long after. I had almost an identical conversation. I was put on hold, at which point I had to go and deal with a machine so I ended the call (I'd been on the line 20 odd minutes). They didn't have the 3 number I called from (I withheld it) so they tried to call my Orange phone and couldn't get through at all. Then they called my office, and were told in no uncertain terms that this was exactly why we were leaving. I think the woman finally understood then. I called back the next day and was given my PAC almost immediately.

DS Forums

Dropped calls on EE

17-10-2013, 23:33	#122
RAN Man Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 249	Quote: Originally Posted by paulker Nah, not the issue. My wifes phone is on 4g as well and that is fine. From your posts I'd hazard a guess that your phone is a bit of a deaf one in radio terms. If you can, you should try swapping your SIM into your wife's phone which seems to be better? If the issues go away or reduce that's a likely contribution. It would at least rule it in/out. If the issues follow your SIM, it may be the carrier settings or core network config. With the mix of Orange/TMobile sites, if it's not setup correctly you can end up being served from a distant site, which will give you the poor experience. All phones are manufactured to a tolerance and there are performance differences between them. It's usually greatest between vendors/models, but can also happen within a range.

18-10-2013, 00:15	#123
The Lord Lucan Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,966	Having only just read this.. I would largely agree with above. Have you done a full reset or done a swap of the sims? I know there are a few issues in your area but this doesn't explain the handover issue.

18-10-2013, 08:20	#124
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	Ok, swapped my sim into my good lady's iphone 5 and am now at work. Lets see how it goes today. Poor wifey has no phone today now.

18-10-2013, 11:51	#125
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	Well, i might be speaking too soon as its not even midday but with the exception of a ropey call to a company that has VOIP lines things have been fine using my wife's i5. See how the rest of the day pans out. I hope we are getting to the bottom of my workplace EE issues. My home postcode has issue regardless of phones. I'll just need to be patient and hope EE get of their arses and upgrade the Orange mast that is struggling.