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Tomahawk66

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#240594 15-Sep-2018 19:18
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I've been given a Vodafone VF685 cell phone. I already know I'm in a dead zone reception wise. My previous spark phone could receive and send text messages.... just! I've gone into the settings of this free phone and have discovered, after walking around my entire house and back and front gardens that the best signal is -104 dBm 11asu. In most of my house and garden it is -120 dBm ! I don't want to buy a sim card and pre pay package thing for this new phone to find the phone won't even send a text message from my home. And yes, I know there are other things I can buy to boost the signal but I don't want to do that at this point. Does anyone think with that dBm level the phone will work? Thanks.


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sbiddle
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  #2091227 15-Sep-2018 19:25
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-104dBm is a weak signal for 3G but will still work fine.

 

With 4G you could still easily get 50Mbps with -110dBm signal strength.

 

 




Linux
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  #2091231 15-Sep-2018 19:30
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You don't need to buy a package to test just need a Vodafone SIM you can test by sending SMS to free short codes

300 to check if mobile number is on-net or off-net
521 send the word ' number ' to get your mobile number back via SMS
777 send Bal

John

Tomahawk66

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  #2091233 15-Sep-2018 19:33
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sbiddle:

 

-104dBm is a weak signal for 3G but will still work fine.

 

With 4G you could still easily get 50Mbps with -110dBm signal strength.

 

 

I think it is a 4G phone as there is a SD ?? card in the back of it that says 128K, 4G Voice and Data USIM ?  I am totally unfamiliar with smart phones, have never used one before....




Linux
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  #2091234 15-Sep-2018 19:34
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It's not a SD card it's a sim card and all sim cards have that printed on it does not make the phone 4G if it does not support 4G

John

Tomahawk66

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  #2091235 15-Sep-2018 19:35
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Linux: You don't need to buy a package to test just need a Vodafone SIM you can test by sending SMS to free short codes

300 to check if mobile number is on-net or off-net
521 send the word ' number ' to get your mobile number back via SMS
777 send Bal

John

 

Thanks John, I haven't got a Vodafone sim card though.


Tomahawk66

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  #2091236 15-Sep-2018 19:37
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Linux: It's not a SD card it's a sim card and all sim cards have that printed on it does not make the phone 4G if it does not support 4G

John

 

There are two slots in the phone for two different cards, one slot is empty. The phone says there is no sim card in it as does the little icon it has up the top.


Linux
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  #2091237 15-Sep-2018 19:38
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You described a SIM card above 128k with 4G printed on it

John

 
 
 

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Linux
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  #2091238 15-Sep-2018 19:40
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That Vodafone handset does not support 4G

The sim card you have must not be active

John

Tomahawk66

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  #2091240 15-Sep-2018 19:45
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Linux: You described a SIM card above 128k with 4G printed on it

John

 

Yes that is what is left in the phone, but there is another smaller slot as well that has nothing in it.... what would that be ?


Linux
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  #2091241 15-Sep-2018 19:46
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Micro SD slot I suspect

I suggest you Google search that model of Vodafone handset and read about it

John

Tomahawk66

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  #2091242 15-Sep-2018 19:52
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Linux: Micro SD slot I suspect

I suggest you Google search that model of Vodafone handset and read about it

John

 

 

 

LOL  I have ;-)  and watched some youtube videos and came the conclusion the card in there was the SD one and the previous owner took out her sim card.


Linux
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  #2091243 15-Sep-2018 19:54
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But the card you have has the Vodafone logo on it!

John

Tomahawk66

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  #2091247 15-Sep-2018 20:10
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Here it is


Linux
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  #2091248 15-Sep-2018 20:14
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It even has the word USIM printed on it

I looked after everything SIM card related for 8 years in Vodafone NZ so well aware what they look like LOL

John

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  #2091250 15-Sep-2018 20:17
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Oh and yes the other slot is Micro SD

John

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