Sure Signal Alternative

[David200]

I live in a remote area with limited phone reception and run my business from home. For years I have used a Sure Signal which worked fine but is now disconnected so I am forced to use  Wifi calling. I have a Samsung S20 5G phone.

For around half my calls the other person cannot hear me, if cuts in and out very quickly so they only get every other word although I can hear them clearly.  Consequently I have been forced to use Whatsapp calling or the old landline. 

Vodaphone have 'refreshed' the line 3 x but still the same problem persists. Is anyone else having the same the problem or know of a solution?

Thanks

[westo123]

I've ordered a free sim from each to test.

[cliff_g]

Interesting.  That article is December 2020 so with the speed things are changing it might be best to check (e.g. using a test PAYG SIM) for your chosen options.

One item in VF's defence, that article says their PAYG doesn't support WiFi calling.  That was true a while back but they activated it on my PAYG contract about 6 months ago

[Tonecontroller]

To anyone changing provider in hope of a better signal, good luck!

I have looked up the Ofcom official rating of coverage at my location, which is far more precise than the networks' own maps because you can enter your exact address.

By their assessment, voice services here from all four providers are either absent or "problematic", and data only available from two (EE and O2).
100 metres down the road, the voice signal strength is evidently acceptable for those two providers, but still not for VF or 3.

100 metres UP the road, O2 is good, the other three drop out.

This is simply ludicrous in 2021, and to suggest that WiFi is the answer is missing the point.

How many people have a wifi that is detectable outside their main house?

Why should my mobile be as limited as my cordless landline phone?

(actually, that's incorrect...my cordless signal reaches most of the way down my garden - about 40 metres from the base station. Ironically it isn't until that far from the house that the VF mobile signal picks up! I do not live on my back lawn, though.)

[Tonecontroller]

To pile on the irony, I got an email this morning telling me that my old mobile plan is ending and being replaced by a more expensive one!
True I get more data (I don't use mobile data unless desperate) and unlimited texts (I don't ever reach the 250pm limit I already have) so you can imagine that I am not exactly impressed.

[Judy2]

They really are rubbing it in. I was casually told I need to buy two new phones (like everyone can afford that), but they would have more features I could use. I'm too old to need new features. All I want is a signal to make calls and SMS. 

[Tonecontroller]

I use my phone for a lot of things unrelated to their use for communication, and it's an old flagship HTC that is really fast at getting GPS fixes for astronomy and navigation, has a 20MP camera, 4K video etc...
Unsupported for WiFi calling.
If I pay VF double my new contract, they will generously supply an inferior phone with WiFi calling, and after 12 months I will have spent 50% more in that additional contract price than the cost of buying the phone I already have.
I presume that this sounds like a good deal to them.

[windyoneuk]

I've tried to set up my phone for WiFi calling.  Can't get any info on the Galaxy Note 9, which was what I was given as a replacement for my destroyed Note 8 by my insurance,  as Vodafone unable to upgrade me to a phone I actually wanted. 

Now,  with no Sure Signal,  I can't get phone calls to and from the hospital,  while I have cancer, and often can't get up to answer the house phone if no one has brought me the handset before going out.  We weren't consulted or provided with a decent alternative. I was only with Vodafone because of the Sure signal, as I'm in a rural area with very little signal.  Hospital doesn't use WhatsApp calling to their landlines. I'm sick, sick of it  and missing treatments and appointments due to this.  

[cliff_g]

I feel for you!

I moved to Three for their wifi calling.  You could try a PAYG SIM to see if the wifi calling works on your phone.  I am pretty sure it is the phone company who control wifi calling.  When I inserted the Three SIM, it just turned WFC on during start-up.  Check if your phone is locked to VF (you'll need non-VF SIM for this, anyway), you can request unlock on their web pages.

Some info on the web page at https://vodafonesuresignal.wordpress.com/.  Good luck

[cybernat]

This video explains how to turn on Wifi calling on your Galaxy Note 9.

If the option for Wifi calling isn't available in the menu, dial * # * # 869434 # * # * and re-boot the phone.
The option should now be available in the settings menu.

[windyoneuk]

I turned it on, I tried it, just comes up with not registered on network. And trying to dial the number.character string says no mobile network.