Why is one of my phone shows orange network?

wazza

I am aware that a virgin mobile will use orange (and T-mobile?) when their own signal is weak.

I have two identical phones. Phone 1 is on a sim only monthly contract while phone 2 is on PAYG.

On phone 1 it says orange network, there is a G in a box symbol and a triangle next to it.

Phone 2 just has a G in a box. It is on virgin signal.

The phones are Lobster 700TV.

Could anyone explain why two phones are on different signal/network? Have turned off phone 1 but no difference. Just curious.

DUTR

wazza wrote: »

I am aware that a virgin mobile will use orange (and T-mobile?) when their own signal is weak.

I have two identical phones. Phone 1 is on a sim only monthly contract while phone 2 is on PAYG.

On phone 1 it says orange network, there is a G in a box symbol and a triangle next to it.

Phone 2 just has a G in a box. It is on virgin signal.

The phones are Lobster 700TV.

Could anyone explain why two phones are on different signal/network? Have turned off phone 1 but no difference. Just curious.

Virgin use Orange /T mobile and do not have their own network.
The triangle usually signifies roaming.

wazza

Thanks.

What is roaming and do i get charged for it?

It is not a smartphone

grumbler

Does using both networks not require roaming enabled in UK?
I guess it is enabled in one phone only.
You'll get charged for roaming only when you are abroad.

HappyMJ

wazza wrote: »

Thanks.

What is roaming and do i get charged for it?

It is not a smartphone

Doesn't it use the Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. It's a smartphone but not what we would really call a smartphone by todays standards.

wazza

HappyMJ wrote: »

Doesn't it use the Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. It's a smartphone but not what we would really call a smartphone by todays standards.

It was a smartphone in its days circ 2007. Nowadays it is a brick

but a robust one

Cash-Strapped.T32

I thought his question was more toward, why would 2 identical phones each "choose" a different network?
The underlying logic being that if the phones use identical hardware & software then they ought to behave identically under identical circumstances.

To try & answer the Q as I read it and assuming that Grumbs' suggestion that one phone simply has roaming turned off (more likely imo), my guess would probably be they're not 100% identical causing the difference in behaviour.
One of them probably has a minor software revision, or an updated driver somewhere.
Logic dictates there must be some feedback that goes from the larger cell-network to the phone, in order for it to decide to "switch" to a stronger signal.
Possibly revision (A) defaults to the home network unless the alternative signal is like 50% stronger, or 75% stronger, whereas revision (B) might switch if the signal is 1% stronger & will thus switch more often.

I dunno, that's all speculation but I would not be surprised if the answer was along those lines.

Buzby

National roaming is not the same as proper International Roaming. How the home network deals with it varies, but I should still work and connec if you disable roaming.

As to why, different phones connect to different networks, when there isn't much in service strength it is random.

grumbler

Buzby wrote: »

National roaming is not the same as proper International Roaming. How the home network deals with it varies, but I should still work and connec if you disable roaming.

http://help.orange.co.uk/orangeuk/support/personal/517845

Previously the only time your phone switched between networks to give you more coverage was when you were abroad. This is the first time it will happen in the UK too.
...
...make sure your phone’s set to ‘automatic network selection’
...

1. click on 'Data Roaming - connect to data services when roaming'
2. you will then see the following message - 'Allow data roaming? You may incur significant roaming charges!'
3. click on 'OK', and don’t worry, you won’t pay anything other than your normal charges whilst you’re in the UK

...

Buzby

As I said - it depends on how the NETWORK sets up its roaming. My phone will switch happily between TMob and Orange with Roaming turned OFF.

The fact they think it needs to be ON, is irrelevant unless you know for sure your firmware will not cope. Narional Roaming is a different ballgame....