Network coverage in my area recently gone downhill

GustyGardenGalaxy

I have a couple of mobile phones, both using an Orange/EE SIM. Over the past few weeks the coverage has been very spotty (outdoors in my area) when previously it was fine. Orange have been of no help so what can I do to find the cause of the problem?

Is there a reliable online checker? I've tried a few websites that check coverage but none have been of any use regarding Orange status. I also cannot find one that gives any kind of up to date status on the Orange network for a specific area.

macman

The online checkers are postcode driven and give only a general guide-if a block of flats goes up between you and the mast, then the signal will degrade or vanish.
If the mast is down or at reduced power then EE should be able to tell you. If it persists and they can offer no remedy, where once it was fine, ask them to release you from any contract without penalty, assuming that other networks are available.

GustyGardenGalaxy

Thanks. I use Pay As You Go SIM cards as both phones are for "emergency use only", hence the reason why I need to be certain that I can get a signal when required. I've contacted EE again and this time they said they'll look into it.

Even though I use PAYG SIMs I would assume that EE are still obliged to try and resolve the issue - after all, I can't get tthe service that I've paid for (by topping up the card) and up until a few weeks ago this wasn't a problem.

pd52

https://maps.ee.co.uk/ee/networkstatuschecker.html

diamonds

Call them and ask for signal issues on your local cells, Orange and EE sims
have different access codes but can roam between codes.

First do manual network searches and note results on usage experience then call, if you do leg work rather than just call you might get further than the 2 min call time allocated where they just want you off the call and say no all is well, go in armed with info on experience.

I get almost nil 2G or more on the old Orange code, and meant to be 4G on the old T-Mobile code at home, which I get 1 bar and 3G max 6MB speeds, on 3/4G its the same on either sim or handset combo, less than a km away in a straight line in the city centre I got 78MB download and 23 upload on a EE payg sim. My Orange is contract.


I really dont think 4G is avail on my local base stations but the city centre is, ie 1 bar of weak coming and going 4G from city centre, EE say all are 4G - I think they are full of !!!!!! because my whole area I cant get 4G, and the rest my city is like that unless you are within say 400 metres of the city centre, where by chance both EE shops have a 4G signal, dont think that is any co-incidence at all.

GustyGardenGalaxy

Thanks for the advice, will do that and use that info when they get back to me (if they can't find a fault). When i called them again yesterday they did at least acknowledge that there was a problem so that's something.

pd52

diamonds wrote: »

Call them and ask for signal issues on your local cells, Orange and EE sims
have different access codes but can roam between codes.

First do manual network searches and note results on usage experience then call, if you do leg work rather than just call you might get further than the 2 min call time allocated where they just want you off the call and say no all is well, go in armed with info on experience.

I get almost nil 2G or more on the old Orange code, and meant to be 4G on the old T-Mobile code at home, which I get 1 bar and 3G max 6MB speeds, on 3/4G its the same on either sim or handset combo, less than a km away in a straight line in the city centre I got 78MB download and 23 upload on a EE payg sim. My Orange is contract.


I really dont think 4G is avail on my local base stations but the city centre is, ie 1 bar of weak coming and going 4G from city centre, EE say all are 4G - I think they are full of !!!!!! because my whole area I cant get 4G, and the rest my city is like that unless you are within say 400 metres of the city centre, where by chance both EE shops have a 4G signal, dont think that is any co-incidence at all.

Same in Wrexham , EE have 4G'd a mast and state the town has 'excellent ' coverage on their coverage checker. However the 4G signal is so weak it often drops to 3G which is congested and slow, as for indoor 4G coverage-forget about it !

diamonds

EE recycled 2G spectrum to provide 4G with Ofcom approval, them hogh speeds make other customers suffer. When you have done the weekly shop and the fridge is stuffed full sometimes you have to leave out a few things, in this scenario you are the litre bottle of fluid trying to keep cool in a dark cupboard instead of the box of air conditioning thus known as fridge.