O2 Signal Strength

DTWD · 15 Aug 2011 at 11:20

I have called O2 about this and they just say "you can't get 3G where you are, but everything else should be fine".

Which doesn't actually answer my question. I have a 3GS and with it sat perfectly still on my desk it can go from 3 or 4 bars to "No Signal", if I pick it up and move around nothing happens, but if I leave it long enough it will eventually get it's signal back.

I have had a new sim and checked for debris in the slot and (best I can) on the contacts. It's the same for everyone down this end of the building. But I don't understand how something can go from 3/5ths signal to 0 and back again in the space of a few seconds?

Surely it has to be something significant to make it loose that much signal?

Myshra · 15 Aug 2011 at 14:24

On base-station training courses the usual story to show much your surroundings affect signal is this:

A lady in a house complains that the signal she receives varies across all time slots . Teams are dispatched to the local BTS who confirm the antenna points in the right direction and goto her house but every time they visit they get full signal and don't know what's going on. Visits last a few times and then it clicks - the engineers were visiting during the day. During work hours a local company across the street were keeping a 7 ton truck and whenever it was parked there it would reflect the signal into the house - whenever it was gone there would be no reflection and signal would drop.

That story, true or not, is really based around 2G signal but it's always told to empathize how much your surroundings can affect the outcome in mobiles. The usual causes are seasonal (trees and their leaves) or stuff blocking line of sight. 3G masts suffer another problem called breathing ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_breathing_(telephony) ). In short, there are many things that could be affecting the reason why but they are usually pretty hard to treat and unlikely something you can fix.

For what it's worth you SIM card has nothing to do with your signal. It's just there to let you on the network.

DTWD · 15 Aug 2011 at 15:05

I would assume the same as regards the sim card, but it seems to be the default roll out excuse from O2.

So basically, it's a bit tough.

Does anyone know where I can find a transmiter map? I want to see what's in between me and the tower.

Myshra · 15 Aug 2011 at 15:25

http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/search - be thankful this is now using google maps, the old system was beyond awful.

I don't really want to talk bad about an operator but O2 are not being very honest. Your SIM is there to tell the network a special encrypted number when it's asked for it so the network knows to route calls aimed at <your number> to the handset. It either works or doesn't - there's no variable scale of working on a SIM.

DTWD · 15 Aug 2011 at 15:28

Thanks, I just found it actually.

There is a working pit (with all the workings) in between me and the tower. If your story is true, I think I found my culprit!

Wicksta · 15 Aug 2011 at 16:05

Myshra said:
For what it's worth you SIM card has nothing to do with your signal. It's just there to let you on the network.

I have seen many cases where dodgy SIM cards produce this kind of behaviour though, it's not always a case of them either working or not.

GhostMjr · 15 Aug 2011 at 16:11

I am in the same situation.

Since around nov/dec last year had the same issues with my 16gb 3gs.

New sim, new phone still no joy.

Decided to write to the ceo no real response yet just constant we are looking into it replies.

Anyway decided I am probably going to leave o2 after only getting a months money back for such poor service its pretty appalling.

Myshra · 15 Aug 2011 at 16:26

Wicksta said:
I have seen many cases where dodgy SIM cards produce this kind of behaviour though, it's not always a case of them either working or not.

Network authentication using SIMs do not affect signal quality. They have nothing to do with the radio or the receiver as a whole and are there to provide a layer of authentication higher up the stack. SIMs have a very limited purpose and can not influence signal let alone making it variable between 1 and 3 bars. A bad SIM may fail intermittently but this would be exceptionally obvious as you'd be flicking on/off the network.