Vodafone Sure Signal

[pcumberlidge]

We have just moved our office mobiles (7 users) to Vodafone, but given that we are located in the sticks the use of a VSS was crucial to our move. We had a box on test and it all seemed okay. We're into day 2 proper and we are having issues. We have Blackberrys and iPhone 4S's. The Blackberrys seem to do as expected, then generally just connect when a call is made/received. However the iPhone 4S's appear permanently connected to the VSS (assumably as an internet connection although internet not actively being used on the phones). The result is that this is permamently using 2 or 3 channels on the VSS so miniising/blocking its use by others. Is there anyway to stop the iPhone's connecting to what appears to be automatically to the VSS (hopefully without having to going into Settings and turning functions off/on evertime we arrive/leave the office)?

Also we appear to be getting bad reception (dalek sound) so we need to do some tests but I assume that the iPhone blocking channels will not help.

So far not impressed and a real worry as we have just moved to Vodafone to get a better service and signal!

Look forward to some help & advice. 

[SynthFG]

Sounds like it's an issue with the iPhones rather than the sure signal,

and yes if the iPhones are constantly sending data they could affect the up/down bandwidth available for the other handsets, affecting call quality.

If you are in an office then I'd look at getting a wi-fi router for your internet connection and setting the iPhones (and other handsets) to connect to that preferentialy for an internet connection which would free up the SS just for calls

otherwise your trawling through the app store, or looking at the settings on your apps, turning off things like push email,

[pcumberlidge]

Thanks for your advice. We are already on a wifi router and the iPhone appear to be connecting to this okay. I can't see how to configure them just to connect to the wifi and not via the SS box. I would have thought that they would try and default to the wifi automatically anyway. I've done a reconfig of the SS box and it seems to have improved call quality but at the moment I'm getting it in the neck from having pulled everyone across from O2 on the basis of a better vodafone signal via a SS box. The network coverage is not as strong as O2 and that was not particualrly impressive. I'm just hoping its not going to be a flaky fix going forward

Will see how we go but any further ideas always appreciated.

[James]

Hi pcumberlidge,

SynthFG is spot on here, basically we would normally see this type of behaviour when the Sure Signal is being used for data connections as well as calls from other users.

Can I ask you to test the issue to see if it still happens when the iPhones have the data option turned off?

Also can I ask for you to do a speed test so we can see what bandwidth you are using?

Also, even if the iPhones are using the WIFI connection for data connectivity, if the speed of the internet is not brilliant then it can cause the call quality issues when using the Sure Signal for call on other mobiles.

If you can let me know the above then I would be able to advise you further.

James