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Solutions to no mobile reception?

This is probably a very dumb question and I am sure I am appearing like a total luddite.

In our rather remote little village we cannot get mobile reception at all...we can pick it up a couple of miles outside, but not actually in the village itself. Apparently the nearest mast has been decommisioned.

My wife who is disabled and in an electric wheelchair likes to have a "stroll" round the village and the neighbouring paths, but seeing as she cannot use a mobile there any more, is a bit concerned in case she gets stranded.

Is there a solution to this? I have heard that things like Blackberries, Smartphones etc are good for this, but is this the case?

We are not interested in bells and whistles and lots of silly apps etc, we just want to be able to phone...can anyone suggest anything?
"None are more hopelessly enslaved, than those who falsely believe they are free." - Goethe

Comments

  • Have you tried all of the different networks (i.e., 3, O2, Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange)? It may be worth asking around to see if anyone else has a signal and see which network they are on.

    You can see where the masts are near you by checking the Sitefinder website:-

    http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/

    Put in your postcode and then zoom in to the blue triangles. Click on the triangle to see who the operator is.
  • I would echo the suggestions of Fitshase.

    Where my mother lives there is no signal for T-Mobile but BT/O2 and Orange both work fine.

    Trevor
  • Hammyman
    Hammyman Posts: 9,913 Forumite
    One of the networks, Orange I think, has equipment that allows you to set up a micro cell site. It uses your broadband connection to connect you to the mobile network.
  • robt_2
    robt_2 Posts: 3,401 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Hammyman wrote: »
    One of the networks, Orange I think, has equipment that allows you to set up a micro cell site. It uses your broadband connection to connect you to the mobile network.

    Vodafone have their SureSignal devices, but is no help if you are out and about in a village.

    OP, Blackberries and Smartphones will be of no use if they don't have a signal.
  • How about something like a CB radio? They work on 12v and if someone else in the area has one she can contact them with it/
  • Hammyman
    Hammyman Posts: 9,913 Forumite
    Have you been on CB any time in the last decade?
  • JasX
    JasX Posts: 3,996 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hammyman wrote: »
    Have you been on CB any time in the last decade?


    yes but if wife + OP both have a set and wife gets stranded/missing/overdue after getting stuck she'lll be much easier to find if OP goes looking with his counterpart CB set....

    ....mind you a good pair of walkie talkies would likely do just as well, or whatever band of radio has best range in the village terrain, the wife could be given a GPS too to be able to relay her position but for goodness sake make sure she knows how to use whatever you get her (ideally give it a 'dry run' / test emergency exercise early on).

    ....and have a good plan for keeeping them charged
  • One thing to consider if you decide to employ CB radio or Walkie-Talkies as a solution is to personally verify that they will actually work within the area concerned - i.e. there is not some geographical or other feature that makes transmission / reception impossible. Although there are often methods to circumvent such limitations these are hardly likely to be practical.

    However, from your description of the location and the range required, this is unlikely to be an issue.

    Hand held 'CB' tranceivers are fairly cheap to purchase and should have an adequate range.

    My wife and I used to use them to keep in contact when I was working at my garage (about 1/2 mile distant). Curiously, our local branch of Homebase used the same frequency, so I was often hearing requests for extra Cashiers and for someone to go to "Board-Cutting". I had to resist the rather strong urge to issue my own requests.

    Trevor
  • Can depend on the mobile network operator coverage in your area (Vodaphone, Orange etc) more than the phone itself.

    Best thing to do is ask neighbours/friends if they get a signal on their mobile phone and if they do which network are they on.
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