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Network congestion affecting signal strength |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 35
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Network congestion affecting signal strength
Hello everyone,
I've been a long time lurker on here but there is a great wealth of information and I need some help. My mobile phone signal at home has recently dropped and when inside it is near impossible to get a signal yet alone make calls or texts. I logged this with the network and they initially said they couldn't see a fault before passing me up to second line who also couldn't find a fault. I've since complained about how my fault was dealt with but as soon as I’ve complained I've been told my mast suddenly has an issue. Now I'm dubious about this and challenged them with the network responding that it is mast congestion causing the issue. I don't believe it is and the complaint is more about the fact I believe I’m being lied to now rather than the actual fault. So the my question is before I go back to them, can congestion effect signal strength? I can see how it can effect speeds and phone calls etc but surely my phone should still show a signal. I also did a speed test at about 1745 and got a result of 12.87Mbps down, 5.68Mbps up and 35ms ping on 3g so the network doesn't appear to be congested. I'm happy to be proved wrong and if so will accept what the network has offered me. Anyone able to help me out. Cheers |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 1,259
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Which network would this be?
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,879
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Quote:
So the my question is before I go back to them, can congestion effect signal strength?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_b...ng_(telephony) |
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 904
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If its 3G your connecting too then yes, congestion can cause this issue.
A cell will 'breath' dependant on how busy it is. As there is limited bandwidth on the site, the larger the area it covers, the more people can potentially use the site. If all of them suddenly decide to use a lot of data, its too much for the backhaul and so the cell with shrink - this cuts the area it covers and thus the number of people able to use it. In an area where there is good coverage, those affected by the cell shrinking will handover to another cell that may expand its coverage to capture the hole left by the first dependant on its own usage. The issue you seem to have is that your either on the edge of coverage or right in between two congested cells that are busy at the same time and both shrink leaving you in a hole of no coverage at some times. Im not sure if this happens on 4g, although as a lot of the protocols are based on 3g then its probable. Some networks still have 3G on E1 (copper coax) links rather than ethernet GiGe. Some 3G sites STILL only have ONE E1 link...... which will give the coverage but the capacity is severly limited as not a lot of data can go down that E1 link. |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 35
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Well thanks everyone. There was me thinking I had a fairly good understanding of mobile networks but that's a whole area I didn't know about. In a sad way it's quite interesting reading about it. Looks like the network are right then and I'll have to take what I've been given. Quote:
Which network would this be?
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 14,645
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Since it's 3, try and see if they will give you a "home signal" - it is a femtocell that you plug into your home internet connection and gives you a good signal.
It is normally meant for people who can't get any signal at all, but they might be willing to offer you one if this issue is giving you a similar problem |
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,854
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Quote:
Since it's 3, try and see if they will give you a "home signal" - it is a femtocell that you plug into your home internet connection and gives you a good signal.
It is normally meant for people who can't get any signal at all, but they might be willing to offer you one if this issue is giving you a similar problem In the meantime, you can install the 3 in touch app as a stopgap, which is ok, but not as good as a home signal box. The 3in touch app is also useful, not only in home, but if you are in a pub or at a friend house say and can't get a signal, but you can get a wifi signal. Note: you still use you minutes etc over wifi. |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Midlands
Posts: 2,860
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Well 3 do have congestion in many areas, some places are just a nightmare. However MNLB could have switched off a site that you used to use and now your on one further away? Quite a few people are complaining about this where I live who are on EE.
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bedmond, United Kingdom
Posts: 400
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Quote:
Since it's 3, try and see if they will give you a "home signal" - it is a femtocell that you plug into your home internet connection and gives you a good signal.
It is normally meant for people who can't get any signal at all, but they might be willing to offer you one if this issue is giving you a similar problem I am on a 12 month Sim Only Contract with them (The £17 one) |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 35
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I'm only on a 30 day rolling contract so don't think they'll give me a home signal but I'll ask anyway.
Tempted to switch to EE as at least I'll have the 2g fallback and I do get a signal at home for that. |
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