topic Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box? in Mobile Network discussions

Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

stephen5000 — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 11:01:07 GMT

As many now know, EE are discontinuing the service of their excellent 3G Booster box, and after 7 fabulous years of 5 bar coverage use, I got 3 weeks notice of this. My phone does NOT have WiFi calling option, so I'm a bit snookered. I don't want to buy a new phone, current one is working perfectly, besides, think of all the poor dolphins in throwing perfectly good stuff in the bin unnecessarily!

Is anyone aware if there is a 4G 'booster box' available that will work for me, preferably supplied by EE? (or a generic one as an alternative)

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

XRaySpeX — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 11:19:59 GMT

No. @stephen5000. EE now relies on WiFi Calling to assist the mobile signal.

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

stephen5000 — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 12:31:24 GMT

@XRaySpeX wrote:
No. @stephen5000. EE now relies on WiFi Calling to assist the mobile signal.

Shame they just don't improve their network coverage to 'assist the mobile signal', rather than rely on WiFi calling which my phone (2 years old) does not have. Their network coverage map says I should have 4G indoors & out - I don't. But I suppose how would they sell new contracts if the map was actually accurate...

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

Chris_B — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 12:36:59 GMT

@stephen5000 read the legal but at the bottom of that page.

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

stephen5000 — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 12:46:51 GMT

@Chris_B wrote:
@stephen5000 read the legal but at the bottom of that page.

"These results are only a guide and not a guarantee of service availability in a particular location. "

Kinda like, the value of your investment may go up as well as down (but most likely down!) LOL Is it any wonder I don't trust large companies as their PRIMARY aim is to make money, nothing to do with serving customers 🤣

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

Chris_B — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 12:56:59 GMT

@stephen5000 EE don’t control the landscape where you live. Your home could be also blocking the signal from getting indoors.

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

stephen5000 — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 14:11:55 GMT

@Chris_B wrote:
@stephen5000 EE don’t control the landscape where you live. Your home could be also blocking the signal from getting indoors.

Without revealing my exact location, I have a farm to the back of me, no buildings surrounding me at all except a neighbours house 25m away. I'm afraid the reason for no signal is exactly the same as it was 7 years ago when EE gave me the booster box. They can't be bothered to provide a decent signal despite what their coverage map suggests! Maybe their IT team look at that map, think, oh that area is great, full 5 bar coverage, lets concentrate somewhere else! 😁

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

bristolian — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 16:37:29 GMT

Does the coverage map make any reference to "4G-calling devices" for your location?

If so, it's often an indication that "extended range" 800Mhz coverage is available, but this relies on having a VoLTE/4G-calling compatible phone.

If your phone doesn't support WiFi-calling, then you may well be ultimately better off changing to a newer phone which supports all the current network technologies. There certainly isn't any "can't be bothered" about EE's network rollout.

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

stephen5000 — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 17:02:53 GMT

@bristolian wrote:
If your phone doesn't support WiFi-calling, then you may well be ultimately better off changing to a newer phone which supports all the current network technologies.

Yep, suppose 2 years is ancient in phone terms these days. It's my first ever 'smartphone' and replaced a lovely 12 year old Nokia which I was unable to get repaired LOL

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

Mustrum — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 18:02:29 GMT

@stephen5000 although it may only be two years old to you, the model may well have been brought out a lot earlier. To start with in 2015 only the very top models had it.

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

nosignalbox — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 21:57:55 GMT

So; I have just lost the signal box service. I didn't have any notification that this was going to happen.

My phone is old without wifi calling and we have no mobile signal indoors or outdoors (the signal checker maps suggest some outdoor signal but this isn't the case).

So I cannot make any mobile calls and feel vulnerable and isolated.

I know I need to upgrade my phone but being a dinosaur I didn't really want to; and with cost of living crisis I don't want the cost either.

Can EE provide a free phone upgrade??

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

bristolian — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 22:18:15 GMT

If you want to discuss your specific account, you'll need to call EE CS on either 150 from your mobile or 0800 0798586 from any other phone.

You may also be able to browse your upgrade offers via your myEE online account.

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

nosignalbox — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 22:32:38 GMT

Except the upgrade options are not available through the app atm as they are updating the site!

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

James_B — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 06:34:09 GMT

Hi @nosignalbox,

Which phone are you currently using?

Are you able to view your upgrade options this morning?

James

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

nosignalbox — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 06:47:55 GMT

I have a OnePlus 3T running with a £1 per week SIM only plan (I am not a big phone user!).

Having looked further it does seem that my phone should support WiFi calling, but it isn't working even when toggled on in settings. I have read suggestions that I should ring EE to request activation on my account.

My biggest concern was that I suddenly lost use of the signal box last night with no prior notice. I only then discovered by googling that the service is being discontinued.

This has left me with no mobile coverage which does cause issues for both work and social reasons.

I would have expected notification by text and/or email so that I could have ensured that contingencies were in place.

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

nosignalbox — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 06:58:10 GMT

And yes, upgrade options are showing on the website today.

But I have no confidence in getting a new phone and transferring the data and apps etc over.

Also I can't afford at the moment.

I was happy with the signal box as it met my needs and allowed me to remain a dinosaur. (My sons are shocked by my attitude as they happily use wi-fi calling on their fancy new iPhones and don't miss the signal box at all).

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

stephen5000 — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 07:29:23 GMT

@nosignalbox wrote:

Also I can't afford at the moment.

I was happy with the signal box as it met my needs and allowed me to remain a dinosaur.
It's almost comforting to hear that others are in the same boat as me. There must be 1000s of folk who simply want a phone to work, with no interest in the tech, and are horrified at the culture of this planned obsolescence and constant 'upgrading'.

Like cars, my 17 year old jallopy starts on the 1st twist of the key in all conditions, and just takes me to where I want to go.

Society is taking a weird turn, professing to 'love' the planet, advocating less waste, and all I see around me is appalling waste. Yes, I'm a dinosaur too, and know I'm extinct, but it's just so sad that my autumn years will be spent without any consideration whatsoever to folk who just want the ability to make/receive calls with perfect working equipment we already own...

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

chistery — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 07:36:12 GMT

I think it's also worth looking around at other networks. Whilst EE does generally have great coverage, there's always going to be some places where it's just not as good as other networks. Ask visitors or neighbours how their signal is, and what network they are on.

If EE isn't working for you where you spend a lot of your time, see if there's a better solution.

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

James_B — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 07:40:18 GMT

Hi @nosignalbox,

You can test your WiFi calling service by enabling airplane mode, then turning on WiFi. After a short time you should see the WiFi calling indicator in your status bar.

James

Re: Is there a 4G successor to the discontinued 3G booster box?

nosignalbox — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 08:46:36 GMT

unfortunately no networks are good here (remote far west wales). EE is
probably the best of a poor bunch.

Neighbours also used signal boxes!! But they might have newer mobiles than
me.

My phone OnePlus 3T does have wifi calling, but EE saying they will only
support 6T upwards.