Terrible (Terrible) cell reception!

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CokemonZ

1051 posts

Uber Geek

#248458 27-Mar-2019 10:51

I live on the North Shore in Birkenhead, and where I am is basically a dead zone.

It looks like I have 2 - 3 bars on 4g, but the phone won't ring, and it goes straight to voicemail.

I do however get txts and slow data (4mbit down and .6 Mbit up according to speedtest) Data is a little unreliable.

Is there anything I can do to improve cell/call reception?

For comparisons sake - Skinny is worse, haven't tried native Spark and Vodafone was a little better, but work has decided 2 degrees.

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meow
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#2205534 27-Mar-2019 10:55

Is using WiFi Calling an option for you? What phone are you using?

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CokemonZ

1051 posts

Uber Geek

#2205536 27-Mar-2019 10:57

Mi Mix 2s

Wifi calling is supported on the phone (found it in dev settings) but I can't turn it on.

When I looked at 2deg website they only support a few phones with it.

I'm thinking about logging a ticket to see if they will just enable it on my SIM :)

CokemonZ

1051 posts

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#2205545 27-Mar-2019 11:23

And just in case - here is a screenshot from the phone menu

nathan

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#2205604 27-Mar-2019 12:40

If only enabling WiFi Calling is as easy as flicking a switch. But it's not.

Linux

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#2205608 27-Mar-2019 12:46

What handset do you have? It's not a SIM feature but handset and they will not enable the service for just one customer with a imported handset

tripper1000

1617 posts

Uber Geek

#2205685 27-Mar-2019 14:23

1) A work around I use for this problem is to set a "Divert when unreachable" in the call settings and divert to your land-line. Works 100% at our family batch were there is nil cell coverage. Guys at my work also use this feature where the work cell phones have no coverage at their house.

2) Voice is carried by 2G/3G so if receiving voice calls is most important to you, then when testing the various telco's, disable LTE/4G and look at their 2G/3G performance. Also when at home, try disabling 4G on your present telco because when you receive a call the phone switches down to 3G anyway and if this transition is struggling due to the poor coverage this is when your calls could be getting lost.

3) Also, be wary of using a phone from the wrong network/imported from another country - a miss-match between the bands available on your phone and those used by the telco in your area will cause/exacerbate coverage issues.

Edit: In this case you are typically only able to get 3G at 2100 Mhz which has very short range and might be missing out on a strong 900MHz signal in your area. A classic indicator of this issue is only being able to get a signal in urban area's and loosing coverage in rural area's. Have you noticed these symptoms?

CokemonZ

1051 posts

Uber Geek

#2205689 27-Mar-2019 14:30

Parallel imported phone - mi mix 2s. I understand that wifi calling is likely not an option with 2 degrees.

Before I purchased it 6 - 9 months ago I cross checked it with willmyphonework, and got a resounding - yes it will work.

I am really focused on is there anything I can do to improve reception at my house - a cell extender or something :)

Up until about a month ago I was on Vodafone (with the same handset) . Performance was sub par, but it worked.

2 Degrees does not, and work has a 2 degrees plan, and pays for it.

Thanks for the tip about trying disabling 4g. I've just tried that - no love either.

Edit: Just realised I didn't mention - no land line.

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Linux

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#2205703 27-Mar-2019 15:06

Buy a handset from 2degrees that supports Wi-Fi calling

tripper1000

1617 posts

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#2205727 27-Mar-2019 15:21

With regards to Cell extenders the generic ones are prohibited in NZ, and the approved ones are not cheap at $1500.

According to GISgeek on 2dm there appears to be more comprehensive 900MHz (3G) coverage in your area than 700 MHz (4G) coverage and they both beat 1800MHz (4G) for range so something isn't quite adding up.

Have you checked coverage with another handset to rule out a fault with the phone? (something as simple as dropping the phone can reduce the cellular performance). Is your phone the dual sim version? If yes, have you tried switching to the other SIM slot? Some phones can't use both slots for all functions & all bands but I'm not familiar with that model.

Batman

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#2205752 27-Mar-2019 16:23

Question: wat phone u got?

Well true story, at my kid's school, my iphone SE (same hardware as 6S - ie not exactly archaic) barely got any 3g and no 4g. Wife's iphone 8 full bar 4g (not sure about 3g didn't check). So I got myself a new phone. full bar 4g (it's a huawei)

But yes in that particular scenario the difference was mobile phone frequency bands. If it's a case of an actual black spot then a new phone won't help ....

Bluntj

556 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2205837 27-Mar-2019 19:16

Check other providers coverage maps and perhaps change. That is cheaper than a new handset.

CokemonZ

1051 posts

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#2205851 27-Mar-2019 19:37

tripper1000:

With regards to Cell extenders the generic ones are prohibited in NZ, and the approved ones are not cheap at $1500.

According to GISgeek on 2dm there appears to be more comprehensive 900MHz (3G) coverage in your area than 700 MHz (4G) coverage and they both beat 1800MHz (4G) for range so something isn't quite adding up.

Have you checked coverage with another handset to rule out a fault with the phone? (something as simple as dropping the phone can reduce the cellular performance). Is your phone the dual sim version? If yes, have you tried switching to the other SIM slot? Some phones can't use both slots for all functions & all bands but I'm not familiar with that model.

So the range question is super interesting.

If I prefer 3g I get no signal, If I prefer 4g I get 2 bars (but no voice).

So maybe it's my phone settings - I found this option. Is this right for 2 degrees?

coffeebaron

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#2205946 27-Mar-2019 22:34

Sounds like 2degrees have overshot their 3G coverage with 4G. Not the best way to deploy the network. I know Vodafone were always careful with this.
Either replace phone with Wi-Fi calling capable, or expensive Cel-Fi, or wait until 2degrees turn on VoLTE (though VoLTE might also require a specific handset too)
One other thing, check the handset does support 3G 900 band.

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SaltyNZ

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#2206029 28-Mar-2019 06:58

coffeebaron: Sounds like 2degrees have overshot their 3G coverage with 4G.

As a general rule the L700 power is turned down to match U900, but they are different radio technologies on different bands so they don't behave identically. For example, UMTS cells breathe whereas LTE cells do not. It isn't possible to make their footprint a 100% match.

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CokemonZ

1051 posts

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#2206060 28-Mar-2019 08:17

coffeebaron: Sounds like 2degrees have overshot their 3G coverage with 4G. Not the best way to deploy the network. I know Vodafone were always careful with this.
Either replace phone with Wi-Fi calling capable, or expensive Cel-Fi, or wait until 2degrees turn on VoLTE (though VoLTE might also require a specific handset too)
One other thing, check the handset does support 3G 900 band.

Yeah - I think I'm less committed to 2 deg than I am to my phone.

I've looked online and the specs state that it supports band 900 - 3rd party sites, it is hard to find out officially.

I am heading up to Albany today, so will try the 3g thing there and see how it goes.

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