Choosing a Network Operator and EE Home Signal Box

Disco_P · 12 Jan 2016 at 00:37

I need a new sim only contract. It's between EE and Vodafone (or a corresponding MVNO). I don't think 3 or O2 know that the lake district exists.

With Vodafone I get call and text signal in the house and then G signal outdoors with patches of E here and there. It's a bit pants.

With EE I don't get call and text signal in the house and E signal outdoors with a few patches of H+. It's fancy pants.

Furthermore EE has more 3G enabled towns around where I live and it has a signal in the 2 local villages whereas Vodafone just doesn't.

The choice would be super simple if I could get a signal box thing for my house. Does anyone have any experience in getting one?

Is there another option I haven't considered? Would dual sim be possible (EE for data and Vodafone for calls and texts)?

thebennyboy · 12 Jan 2016 at 00:46

What phone do you have at the moment? EE hands down if it was me.

Disco_P · 12 Jan 2016 at 00:51

Moto G 2013.

I am considering upgrading.

thebennyboy · 12 Jan 2016 at 00:52

Disco_P said:
Moto G 2013.

I am considering upgrading.

Any particular phone you were looking at upgrading to? Do you have a monthly budget?

Disco_P · 12 Jan 2016 at 01:13

I was looking at 2-4GB sim only contracts that cost around £10-12pm

I haven't found a phone I like but I haven't looked either. Z5 compact seems to tick a lot of boxes but also seems bloody expensive. My biggest concern about getting a new phone is how durable they are. I work at height so have frequently dropped my current phone from zip wires and tree tops and only had to wipe the mud off. I've also seen fancy iphones and samsungs fall out of pockets and crack the screen.

If it would help I can write exactly what I do and don't want from a new phone.

thebennyboy · 12 Jan 2016 at 01:22

I would stick with your current phone then.

http://www.mobilephonesdirect.co.uk...mited-12/free-delivery/cashback-by-redemption

£20.99 /month. You get £144 cashback with that, Ultd text, Ultd mins and 4GB data. You MUST remember to claim the cashback though.

The signal box costs £89 afaik so you could use part of the cashback to buy it.

This is what it says on their signal box page:

Signal Box is now available for purchase in our retail stores. Please click here to find your nearest store

Source: http://ee.co.uk/help/mobile-and-hom...nd-improving-your-network-coverage/signal-box

Disco_P · 12 Jan 2016 at 01:36

Looks like a good deal. Doing the maths shows that the 6GB pm contract is £10pm (£1 more than 4GB).

Do you know anything about the cashback process?

thebennyboy · 12 Jan 2016 at 02:18

Disco_P said:
Looks like a good deal. Doing the maths shows that the 6GB pm contract is £10pm (£1 more than 4GB).

Do you know anything about the cashback process?

The cashback is claimable by instalments in months 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 and instructions on how to claim will be provided with your order. Cashback will become void for customers who disconnect from the network prior to their payment being made.

Richy888 · 12 Jan 2016 at 06:52

Disco_P said:
I was looking at 2-4GB sim only contracts that cost around £10-12pm

I haven't found a phone I like but I haven't looked either. Z5 compact seems to tick a lot of boxes but also seems bloody expensive. My biggest concern about getting a new phone is how durable they are. I work at height so have frequently dropped my current phone from zip wires and tree tops and only had to wipe the mud off. I've also seen fancy iphones and samsungs fall out of pockets and crack the screen.

If it would help I can write exactly what I do and don't want from a new phone.

Moto X Force

Plenty of vids of clumsy people hurling it about and the display surviving. I imagine it could survive a fall from the top of a tree. Too expensive I think and hasn't a very bright display which is a consideration if you work outdoors.

Tunney · 12 Jan 2016 at 07:35

Vodafone support native WiFi calling on iPhone (and I believe some of Samsung's Android phones now). No need for a signal box or a special app on the device.

I assume this will be rolled out to other Android devices soon.

stuie · 12 Jan 2016 at 08:25

I have the ee signal box at home for the same reason.

Just as a word or warning it only does 3g and while that sounds fine it means if youve got a 4g phone and it get any intermittent 4g reception you will lose signal.

To get around this issue ive just set a profile up so that when my phone connects to my wifi it turns down to just 3g then reconnects on 4g when I leave.

lmfy2k · 12 Jan 2016 at 08:26

i have the MPD, EE sim only deal.

Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
6 GB Data
12 Month Contract

what phone do you have? this deal and the 4Gb one support wifi calling, but only works on handful of EE branded handsets but works on any iphone 5s, 6, 6s (just needs to be unlocked or on EE)

home signal box isnt all that tbh, the range is pants and once your on a call when connected to the home signal box and you walk out of range, there is no hand off to normal 2g/3g so the call will drop

wifi calling will go as far as your home wifi, works very well

wifi calling compatible phones from EE: http://shop.ee.co.uk/mobile-phones/...h=:best-sellers:standOutFeatures:WiFi Calling

Disco_P · 12 Jan 2016 at 13:40

Richy888 said:
Moto X Force Plenty of vids of clumsy people hurling it about and the display surviving. I imagine it could survive a fall from the top of a tree. Too expensive I think and hasn't a very bright display which is a consideration if you work outdoors.

Looks like a good bit of kit but I couldn't spend £500 on a phone.

Tunney said:
Vodafone support native WiFi calling on iPhone (and I believe some of Samsung's Android phones now). No need for a signal box or a special app on the device.

I assume this will be rolled out to other Android devices soon.

I don't need wifi calling on vodafone as I get strong call signal nearly everywhere.

stuie said:
I have the ee signal box at home for the same reason.

Just as a word or warning it only does 3g and while that sounds fine it means if youve got a 4g phone and it get any intermittent 4g reception you will lose signal.

To get around this issue ive just set a profile up so that when my phone connects to my wifi it turns down to just 3g then reconnects on 4g when I leave.

4G is not a concern for me. I don't have a 4G phone nor is there any 4G around here.

How is the range compared to a low end router?

lmfy2k said:
i have the MPD, EE sim only deal.

Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
6 GB Data
12 Month Contract

what phone do you have? this deal and the 4Gb one support wifi calling, but only works on handful of EE branded handsets but works on any iphone 5s, 6, 6s (just needs to be unlocked or on EE)

home signal box isnt all that tbh, the range is pants and once your on a call when connected to the home signal box and you walk out of range, there is no hand off to normal 2g/3g so the call will drop

wifi calling will go as far as your home wifi, works very well

wifi calling compatible phones from EE: http://shop.ee.co.uk/mobile-phones/...h=:best-sellers:standOutFeatures:WiFi Calling

I have a Moto G 2013. I really cannot justify the cost of buying a new phone - nothing is worth it to me.

-Mike- · 12 Jan 2016 at 14:20

Tunney said:
Vodafone support native WiFi calling on iPhone (and I believe some of Samsung's Android phones now). No need for a signal box or a special app on the device.

I assume this will be rolled out to other Android devices soon.

So do EE on the iPhone, Samsung and a few others they sell. Anything from a 5c will work too even if you' get the handset used.

Richie · 12 Jan 2016 at 18:23

My phone does WiFi calling on EE and its a great thing. Local pubs near me have NO signal. I just jump on their public WiFi and calls/SMS etc are all great... It also does it at my home and other places. It seems to jump on when you have 1 bar signal

Disco_P · 12 Jan 2016 at 18:34

I assume that there is no way for me to get wifi calling without buying a new phone.

I will visit the EE shop next week and see what they say. I find it much easier to get a positive outcome in person - especially if the alternative is that I leave without buying anything.

gizmoy2k · 12 Jan 2016 at 20:00

Well impressed with wifi calling on the Z5 with EE, its seamless transition between wifi and mobile

-Mike- · 12 Jan 2016 at 20:38

Disco_P said:
I assume that there is no way for me to get wifi calling without buying a new phone.

I will visit the EE shop next week and see what they say. I find it much easier to get a positive outcome in person - especially if the alternative is that I leave without buying anything.

From what I've read - any iphone from 5c up will work with a sim only deal through carrier settings.

Hxc · 12 Jan 2016 at 21:42

Vodafone signal box works great, no complaints.

Richy888 · 13 Jan 2016 at 06:45

Tunney said:
Vodafone support native WiFi calling on iPhone (and I believe some of Samsung's Android phones now). No need for a signal box or a special app on the device.

I assume this will be rolled out to other Android devices soon.

Does txting work when on wifi with Voda, I was led to believe it doesn't? Also do you have to get your phone from Voda for it to work?