Confused over phone signal?

Candy53

Hi,

I'm with Vodafone, and their signal in our area has always been great.

I had a small old phone and always had a full 5 bars. I've now got a touch screen phone, and I can hardly keep an even reasonable signal going? I never reach full bars, infact it rarely stays on 3. It's usually just on 2 and keeps going down to 1.

Can this happen with a bigger phone? It's quite slow, and I don't understand why the signal isn't as strong as my small phone. Could there be something wrong with it?


Thanks,
Candy

Silk

Could it be because the old phone was 2g and the new one is 3g ?


You could try turning off 3g and see what happens

grumbler

Bars are pretty arbitrary. With my Desire I can make calls with one bar without any problems.

T_T_2

As above, the number of bars is only a very rough guide. Phone A with two bars might be getting a similar or stronger signal than Phone B with 4 bars.

Are you actually experiencing any connection issues in terms of dropped calls, inability to make/receive calls? What do you mean when you say it is quite slow?

JethroUK

Stephen Fry (QI) also say bars mean nowt

or "Nobody Knows" even the makers

Buzby

The makers certainly know, as the number of bars relates to the strength of the base station carrier (in -dBm). That said, each phone will have different sensitivities (to pass QA they have to be within a set range). So two, identical handsets will/may show different strengths.

It's a rough guide a best, the only meaningful status is 'No Service' !

Silk

Silk wrote: »

Could it be because the old phone was 2g and the new one is 3g ?


You could try turning off 3g and see what happens

Looks like it was a signal issue

Candy53 wrote: »

I was going to buy a 3 sim card to get 3G because Vodafone only do 2G in my area.

Candy53

Thanks for all your replies.

Yeah, my son explained to me that the signal has nothing to do with the slowness. It's to do with the 2G/3G thing, so he's suggested I try 3 as we do get the 3G here with them.

Now you've all explained about the bars, I'm ok with that now. I don't have any disconnections, and can call and text ok. So if 3 don't work out, I'll go back to Vodafone.


Candy

Silk

Candy53 wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies.

Yeah, my son explained to me that the signal has nothing to do with the slowness. It's to do with the 2G/3G thing, so he's suggested I try 3 as we do get the 3G here with them.

You could try the Sure Signal option
http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/shop/mobile-accessories/vodafone-sure-signal

We know you want to do more on your mobile phone or 3G device, so we've made Vodafone Sure Signal even better. It gives you a great mobile signal in every corner of your home or office. And Sure Signal even works in basement flats or buildings with thick walls.

Candy53

Yeah I have read up on the Sure Signal on the Vodafone site. It is an option, but it costs £50.


Candy