Checking coverage with EE, mobile not recognised

twopenny

Thank you Macman.

Interesting to know that 4g may be still around but I'm fed up with renewing gadgets. It's difficult round here and the number of shops closed in the local towns doesn't make it easier.

I've had a quick look again and online but with so much other paperwork/renewal/changes flooded in I'm at the end of my rope and hanging on.

macman

You don't need to go to a shop, I haven't bought a mobile in a physical shop for more than a decade. 
You'll pay far more in a shop than online.
4G is not going away for years.

twopenny

I don't even use the internet on my phone, it's just for calls and texts.

But yes I prefer to buy locally at least so I can review them and handle them. For instance the second I bought for the radio and music to carry round the house. It has a plastic back that comes off easily so wouldn't want that again.

I'm much better with what I can see and easy to return if there's a problem.

But I appreciate your reassuarance.

 

macman

Then just buy a cheap feature phone, plenty from £15 upwards. But make sure it has 4G. Something like:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9483051?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=piptqtmai&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157|acid:804-627-9544|cid:16587510428|agid:134082819109|tid:pla-890027229963|crid:587944422370|nw:u|rnd:12228706382489580817|dvc:c|adp:|mt:|loc:1006886&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=16587510428&utm_term=9483051&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=134082819109&utm_custom2=804-627-9544&GPDP=true&gclid=Cj0KCQjw08aYBhDlARIsAA_gb0dOk2albmZKkcvYt0p0c18bzEwc4GcHozrg0BW0gHfVCc1QyAABoWUaAv1UEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Though I'm wondering why you bought an S2 way back and never used it as a smartphone, because it was one of the earliest ones to run Android.

sully1311

twopenny said:

I don't even use the internet on my phone, it's just for calls and texts.

But yes I prefer to buy locally at least so I can review them and handle them. For instance the second I bought for the radio and music to carry round the house. It has a plastic back that comes off easily so wouldn't want that again.

I'm much better with what I can see and easy to return if there's a problem.

But I appreciate your reassuarance.

 

If you're not planning to use data on your phone, EE will have 2G until around 2033, so no need to worry. 

400ixl

sully1311 said:

 

If you're not planning to use data on your phone, EE will have 2G until around 2033, so no need to worry. 

No they won't. 2033 is the date set for when they have to shut it down at the very latest. They haven't announced a date yet as to when they will do it, but it will be well before then as they will not want the cost of maintaining networks that have next to no use anymore. It is likely to be in the next few years and nowhere near 11 years.

sully1311

400ixl said:

sully1311 said:

 

If you're not planning to use data on your phone, EE will have 2G until around 2033, so no need to worry. 

No they won't. 2033 is the date set for when they have to shut it down at the very latest. They haven't announced a date yet as to when they will do it, but it will be well before then as they will not want the cost of maintaining networks that have next to no use anymore. It is likely to be in the next few years and nowhere near 11 years.

Except many IOT devices use 2G and will do for a while, plus the base stations that run EE's 4G and 5G can run 2G as well meaning maintenance costs will be low, compared to 3G, which has completely different equipment. I can't see EE turning off 2G in this decade.

However, I wouldn't recommend having 2G phone anyway. I'd grab a VoLTE enabled 4G phone as this will get the best coverage EE currently offers. 

400ixl

They have already set a soft target date of 2026-2029, just yet to make it official. They are aiming for the shorter time frame if they can.

sully1311

400ixl said:

They have already set a soft target date of 2026-2029, just yet to make it official. They are aiming for the shorter time frame if they can.

You must have some insider knowledge then! 

400ixl

Maybe, but it is also in the public domain, just not firm date yet.