topic Re: 3/4G Zone in Archived Posts

3/4G Zone

kirkland — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 13:52:37 GMT

This may be a dumb question but someone has to ask!

If I have 4GEE broadband with a EE Home router does the router create a 3/4G Zone so that I can make calls AND send texts from any mobile on any network within range of the router?

I know I can use WiFi calling but my question is specific to making & receiving 'normal' calls & sending normal texts.

Another reason for being very specific is that I did have a Vodafone Sure Signal that created a 3g Zone but I could only use mobiles that were on the Vodafone network & even then only mobiles that were registered to the Sure Signal box.
Thats not what I am hoping from the 4GEE system.

If the answer to my question is yes I can make calls AND send texts from any mobile on any network within range of the router then I could effectively do without my landline, fingers crossed.

Re: 3/4G Zone

Chris_B — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 14:03:07 GMT

@kirkland No it’s doesn’t it’s not a signal box it’s just a router.

Re: 3/4G Zone

bristolian — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 14:12:36 GMT

@kirkland wrote:

This may be a dumb question but someone has to ask!

[snip]

Another reason for being very specific is that I did have a Vodafone Sure Signal that created a 3g Zone but I could only use mobiles that were on the Vodafone network & even then only mobiles that were registered to the Sure Signal box.
Thats not what I am hoping from the 4GEE system.

The Vodafone Sure Signals were conceptually identical to the (now discontinued) Orange "Signal Box" that was essentially a 3G microcell specific to that network.

Whereas WiFi "hotspots" are open to all WiFi devices (with the correct password if appropriate) that are within range, radio sites that provide mobile network coverage are network-specific. In other words, EE masts only provide standard coverage for EE users.

Re: 3/4G Zone

kirkland — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 15:54:25 GMT

Does EE have a signal box that can plug into the router then?

Re: 3/4G Zone

kirkland — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 16:03:10 GMT

Ok, given the right cue words I seem to have answered my own questions as a google search shows me there is indeed a signal box available for EE that plugs into the router (like the Vodafone unit I previously described). So my ideal solution would seem to be 4GEE Broadband & a Signal box 8-))

Re: 3/4G Zone

bristolian — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 16:11:45 GMT

@kirkland wrote:

Does EE have a signal box that can plug into the router then?

They used to, but the signal box product was discontinued for new customers many years ago.

Re: 3/4G Zone

XRaySpeX — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 16:24:29 GMT

A mobile router is not a signal booster like the EE Signal Box or Voda Sure Signal but in all probability it can in itself send & receive texts (not calls). Most of them can!

Re: 3/4G Zone

Chris_B — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 18:43:32 GMT

@kirkland if you require a signal box you need to purchase one ( available to order at an EE store ) and the last time I checked these were around £100 mark and I believe these will work with other network devices, but if the other network devices have Wi-Fi calling then they can link to this router and use Wi-Fi calling.

Re: 3/4G Zone

bristolian — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 19:05:03 GMT

An EE signal box will provide 3G mobile coverage to EE users and those of EE MVNOs.

It won't provide signal to users of other mobile networks.

Re: 3/4G Zone

kirkland — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 19:54:27 GMT

Im confused you said they were discontinued?

Re: 3/4G Zone

kirkland — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 19:58:16 GMT

As I understand it WIFI calling is not a feature of the Signal box but simply by connecting to any wifi router with a WIFI calling compatible phone & only for phone calls NOT texting so the Signal box is an important device for my needs.

Re: 3/4G Zone

bristolian — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 20:07:49 GMT

EE Signal boxes are very much legacy technology and are no longer promoted, but @Chris_B has advised that you may be able to obtain one of these via an EE Retail Shop.

EE, indeed all network operators, now promote WiFi-calling instead of (outdated) solutions such as the Signal Box. There are numerous reasons for this.

EE's WiFi-calling service supports sending & receiving text messages as well as voice calls, but this is not the case for all networks.

Re: 3/4G Zone

kirkland — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 20:14:17 GMT

Thanks I was unaware that EE could do SMS Send & Receive & WIFI calling, I was on O2 previously & they certainly could not. I can see why they don't need the Signal Box any more.

Thankyou.