[georgi_prodanov]

Hello guys. I was wondering why before on GPRS I had full 5 bars on my Iphone and now the same house and area after upgraded mast to E/3G/4G I only get 1/2 bars E? Is there any difference on the signal strength?

[Gigabit]

I suspect the EDGE signal is coming from a different mast. EDGE signal strength would be the same as GPRS if it was from the same mast, as far as I am aware.

[Thine Wonk]

The signal bar really doesn't matter at all, as it's digital communication you don't hear hissing like you would with analogue. The masts are spaced and designed so that as you move from mast to mast you see the signal dip when you're some distance and then the signal starts to go back up as you get nearer to the next. The networks don't plan for all to get 5 bars, it is planned at the right spacing for people to get a usable signal.

They might have turned off an old Orange mast which means you're now getting a weaker but 3G/4G signal whereas before your phone was preferring the old Orange 2G only mast. The other possibility is the power has been reduced, but reduced power can be a good thing as it means less interference with other masts.

It's really nothing to worry about, unless you're one of the mobile nerds that needs 5 bars because they want to try and get the best speedtest.net result and screenshot it and post it on facebook or forums. The number of bars you get is luck of the draw really as to whether your provider puts a mast nearer your house or further away, it never impacts voice calls or texts and doesn't make a massive difference to data unless you're only getting 0 or 1 bars.

Lets face it from 5 bars of GPRS to 1 bar of 4G LTE would be a massive performance jump, probably 100 times better.

[John_Patrick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

The signal bar really doesn't matter at all, as it's digital communication you don't hear hissing like you would with analogue. The masts are spaced and designed so that as you move from mast to mast you see the signal dip when you're some distance and then the signal starts to go back up as you get nearer to the next. The networks don't plan for all to get 5 bars, it is planned at the right spacing for people to get a usable signal.

They might have turned off an old Orange mast which means you're now getting a weaker but 3G/4G signal whereas before your phone was preferring the old Orange 2G only mast. The other possibility is the power has been reduced, but reduced power can be a good thing as it means less interference with other masts.

It's really nothing to worry about, unless you're one of the mobile nerds that needs 5 bars because they want to try and get the best speedtest.net result and screenshot it and post it on facebook or forums. The number of bars you get is luck of the draw really as to whether your provider puts a mast nearer your house or further away, it never impacts voice calls or texts and doesn't make a massive difference to data unless you're only getting 0 or 1 bars.

Lets face it from 5 bars of GPRS to 1 bar of 4G LTE would be a massive performance jump, probably 100 times better.

Erm, the OP is on VF, not sure that an Orange mast been off will have any effect.... and hes gone from 5 bars GPRS to 1 or 2 of E (EDGE).

OP, it maybe that the mast has been upgraded but not fully complete - a lot of sites are started on the Beacon project but not always finished the same day - so quite possible on a mast thats further away.

Check with VF CS if the mast is now complete - as you would expect to get 5 bars of 2G again (if not 3G U900 or LTE)

[georgi_prodanov]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_Patrick

Erm, the OP is on VF, not sure that an Orange mast been off will have any effect.... and hes gone from 5 bars GPRS to 1 or 2 of E (EDGE).

OP, it maybe that the mast has been upgraded but not fully complete - a lot of sites are started on the Beacon project but not always finished the same day - so quite possible on a mast thats further away.

Check with VF CS if the mast is now complete - as you would expect to get 5 bars of 2G again (if not 3G U900 or LTE)

Yes it is not an Orange mast. I said it was Vodafone. Also the mast was upgraded a year ago and since then from full GPRS wend down to 1 or 2bars E. Also 3G900/4G800 1bar inside the house. What I wonder is why the same mast will drop to 1/2bars E after upgrade. Have spoken to CS and told mast is up and running. No issues. Mast is fully upgraded. I have read on Voda forum that other people experienced the same issue in the Woodcote village

[Aye Up]

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgi_prodanov

Hello guys. I was wondering why before on GPRS I had full 5 bars on my Iphone and now the same house and area after upgraded mast to E/3G/4G I only get 1/2 bars E? Is there any difference on the signal strength?

There are two ways signal is measured strength and quality.

Apple changed the algorithm in their handsets around 2010, they moved to a model which reflected the quality as opposed to strength. They argued (quite successfully) doing so offered a better user experience. Signal strength is important, just not as much as the quality.

That predominantly will be the reason why you will see lower signal strength on your new device. Though to be fair the internals being different will be another factor as well.

[georgi_prodanov]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aye Up

There are two ways signal is measured strength and quality.

Apple changed the algorithm in their handsets around 2010, they moved to a model which reflected the quality as opposed to strength. They argued (quite successfully) doing so offered a better user experience. Signal strength is important, just not as much as the quality.

That predominantly will be the reason why you will see lower signal strength on your new device. Though to be fair the internals being different will be another factor as well.

Thanks you mean from Iphone to Iphone there is difference? Last year I was with 6 and now 6S but still the same 1/2bars E

[Aye Up]

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgi_prodanov

Thanks you mean from Iphone to Iphone there is difference? Last year I was with 6 and now 6S but still the same 1/2bars E

AAH! I did not realise you upgraded to newer model! Apple hasn't changed the way it measures the quality of signal, at least not since 2010. That said given the stuff inside the phone has changed substantially this may have had an affect. When Vodafone has upgraded a mast, all the technologies receive similar attention 2G/3G/4G, it might very well be the case that Vodafone has reduced signal strength for 2G (I'm speculating).

There is nothing wrong with your phone, Apple has a good record in that respect. Thats why I thought you had changed to another brand of smartphone.

Sorry for the confusion.

[Thine Wonk]

Sorry I was flicking between threads, thought the OP was on EE, same principle though.

[Gigabit]

It is incredibly unlikely that Vodafone has reduced the signal strength, I haven't heard of any cases of them doing that. If that was the case, they would have lots of unhappy customers complaining their signal had got worse, which wouldn't be good at all.

I'm not convinced that iPhones represent the signal any differently to any other phone. If I put an iPhone 6s next to a variety of Android phones, the signal is always the same, if not worse on the iPhone sometimes. The bars are nearly identical on both too.

[M1kos]

Does a phone select E over Gprs?? Could be the reason!

[georgi_prodanov]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigabit

It is incredibly unlikely that Vodafone has reduced the signal strength, I haven't heard of any cases of them doing that. If that was the case, they would have lots of unhappy customers complaining their signal had got worse, which wouldn't be good at all.

I'm not convinced that iPhones represent the signal any differently to any other phone. If I put an iPhone 6s next to a variety of Android phones, the signal is always the same, if not worse on the iPhone sometimes. The bars are nearly identical on both too.

Yes I agree on that but I have seen on Voda forum that someone else complained about the same case in Woodcote village. Full GPRS signal and then 1 2 bars or NO SERVICE which sometimes happens to me too. Very ODD

[John_Patrick]

There is a multitude of reasons I guess, 2 that spring to mind are

1. You were receiving 900 GSM and now the mast has been upgraded it has got 1800GSM which your phone is camping onto.
2. You were receiving 900 from a mast that has now been switched off as part of the beaconisation and now receiving 900 from what used to be a 3g only mast that has been upgraded - but is further away.

As others have said, as long as you can make a decent call and the voice doesnt drop off, its all good.

[Ashley_Bradbury]

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgi_prodanov

Hello guys. I was wondering why before on GPRS I had full 5 bars on my Iphone and now the same house and area after upgraded mast to E/3G/4G I only get 1/2 bars E? Is there any difference on the signal strength?

have a look on the o2 website, click show masts and see if the voda mast is the same or been decommissioned.

[mrgs12]

Had the same problem here since edge upgrade the signal is down when it was GPRS it was stronger -101dbm now use to be -90 even outdoor coverage walking the signai pattern has like changed some areas you lose completely. And it's only one mast on a Tv relay 2 miles away no other masts in the valley when it's switched off no other mast or overlap occurs.

[georgi_prodanov]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrgs12

Had the same problem here since edge upgrade the signal is down when it was GPRS it was stronger -101dbm now use to be -90 even outdoor coverage walking the signai pattern has like changed some areas you lose completely. And it's only one mast on a Tv relay 2 miles away no other masts in the valley when it's switched off no other mast or overlap occurs.

Yes that is what I am talking about. There is something wrong with the EDGE or Vodafone. Only they know what is wrong with it. Have same iphone, same mast and area. Mast has not been decommissioned. I have spoken to CS and told that the mast is fully upgraded and operating as normal