In case you were wondering why your phone signal has suddenly got worse…

[spark plug]

Same.

We are using the landline again, more and more...

And they are doing there best to make that as unreliable as possible:

How will the landline phone switch work and what do you need to do?

The old copper phone network will be switched off in 2025 and phones will instead use the internet to make calls. That doesn't mean you have to only use a mobile phone - but there are some changes coming. Here's what you need to know.

news.sky.com

 

[ladycrofter]

So explain this. Me (UK android) and brother (US iPhone) in Glasgow on 5g. Batteries both running down like mad, every day. Then back up here in Highland 4g, batteries both last days. WTF?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

So explain this. Me (UK android) and brother (US iPhone) in Glasgow on 5g. Batteries both running down like mad, every day. Then back up here in Highland 4g, batteries both last days. WTF?

Constantly jumping from mast to mast trying to get the best signal

 

[Agri-WMH]

£40 a month is surely a contract paying off a fancy new phone in finance over 2 years?
The £6 a month referred to is only going to be a SIM only deal. Comparing apples and pears?

No, when the phone was new it was around £60 a month, stupidly I went to a 3 year business contract and it actually ended up being a stupid idea on my behalf.

I’ve had this contract for nearly 2 years now and counting down the days until I can shift it back to a personal one

 

[steveR]

No, when the phone was new it was around £60 a month, stupidly I went to a 3 year business contract and it actually ended up being a stupid idea on my behalf.

I’ve had this contract for nearly 2 years now and counting down the days until I can shift it back to a personal one

I can't remember when I last had a contract phone, but it's a damned long time...

 

[Samcowman]

And they are doing there best to make that as unreliable as possible:

How will the landline phone switch work and what do you need to do?

The old copper phone network will be switched off in 2025 and phones will instead use the internet to make calls. That doesn't mean you have to only use a mobile phone - but there are some changes coming. Here's what you need to know.

news.sky.com

Good luck with that here. No internet over the phone line we have on a SIM card in our router luckily vodaphone is good here with the router wedged up against a window.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Same.

We are using the landline again, more and more...

Yep, anything important, head to the house to use the phone.
Simple stuff it’s often easier to send a text

 

[bobk]

Phones used to work better 30 years ago when we first started getting them

Yes , there's too much crap going on now

 

[BrianV]

Yes , there's too much crap going on now

Much like DAB radio if you live in the country, only works half the time.

 

[Pistonbroke]

Ee is all we can get here but it has been good in all fairness. It's gone a bit more temperamental lately. Son has gone to Swansea Uni and his phone will cut off every thirty seconds even though he has three bars of signal

 

[steveR]

Yep, anything important, head to the house to use the phone.
Simple stuff it’s often easier to send a text

Texts?

Now these really do seem to be making a comeback in the past 18months or so. I have seen a noticeable increase in the messages received here.

 

[Dry Rot]

The public need more dog awareness training. "Dogs behaving (vary) badly" is good for what it is. But dog runs off? Chase after dog? NO! Call dog and run in the opposite direction. The pack instinct should be strongest and often the dog will follow you. I must have done this hundreds of times. Often the worst thing you can do is chase after the dog shouting!

 

[PI Stsker]

I changed my contract the other day, and requested a new SIM. I can now get 5g in one place despite being in the sticks. Can't say I've noticed any issues with signal recently (EE) but no improvement either. For those of you having issues, may be worth getting a new SIM to see if that helps

I had the same advise 12 months ago when I brought my phone from Apple, they said that my sim might not support my new 5g ready phone, Vodafone being two doors down I went in got a new sim; much to the amusement of the girl on the till who said that sim is from around 2011… either way hasn’t made any difference to the fact I don’t get 5g.

 

[Courier]

It’s sometimes easier now to call via WhatsApp using 4G

We often use WattsApp to call folk with USA numbers working in the UK

 

[Kevtherev]

We often use WattsApp to call folk with USA numbers working in the UK

I use it a lot with customers it’s quick and easy to send info or a picture

 

[PSQ]

Well ... folk expect good service for sick squid a month , get real

Pay them more if you're daft enough, but Vodafone is already making €14.3 billion annual profit.

Do you think any extra would go towards improving network infrastructure, or increasing their vast profits?

 

[Andrew1983]

This might sound stupid but would the cost of running the masts on electric have gone up so much they have turned the output down to cut costs?

We are pretty lucky where we are in north of Scotland, mobile and dab radio signal reasonably decent but I have noticed when driving south down through England into south wales that there are vast areas with very poor or no signal, areas that I guess have a much higher population density than here. But maybe that’s also part of the problem, can the system be over loaded?

 

[steveR]

This might sound stupid but would the cost of running the masts on electric have gone up so much they have turned the output down to cut costs?

We are pretty lucky where we are in north of Scotland, mobile and dab radio signal reasonably decent but I have noticed when driving south down through England into south wales that there are vast areas with very poor or no signal, areas that I guess have a much higher population density than here. But maybe that’s also part of the problem, can the system be over loaded?

Undoubtedly. Overloaded is a real issue as anyone who tries to use a 4G service for Internet connectivity,

And 5G is going to need 2-3 times the number of masts as the range is so poor I believe, so that is going to add more pressure on the Telecom companies and then watch even more 3/4G masts going.

 

[Netherfield]

The public need more dog awareness training. "Dogs behaving (vary) badly" is good for what it is. But dog runs off? Chase after dog? NO! Call dog and run in the opposite direction. The pack instinct should be strongest and often the dog will follow you. I must have done this hundreds of times. Often the worst thing you can do is chase after the dog shouting!

Are you trying to tell us the mobile phone system has gone to the dogs

 

[bobk]

Pay them more if you're daft enough, but Vodafone is already making €14.3 billion annual profit.

Do you think any extra would go towards improving network infrastructure, or increasing their vast profits?

Pay naff all get naff all