I noticed EE 4G is getting worse

[GeorgeS8898]

I noticed EE 4G is getting worse as well. I transferred from Vodafone to EE two years ago and have been very happy with EE. Things changed around the 3G switching off.

If you Take the trains between Basingstoke to London Waterloo, it used to be good and does have any signal issue on EE, but it’s getting worse since 3G switching off and several areas have signal now. I used to have 2 bar signal on iPhone at home, but it changed to 1 bar now. Not sure if it’s 3G switching off, or other equipment replacement caused the same signal getting worse. It seems no difference compared with Vodafone now. Vodafone upgraded their 5G at my home area. If EE not going to change the poor signal. I will switch back to Vodafone.

[GeorgeS8898]

Does anyone notice the 4G signal getting worse in Basingstoke area? 

I switched to EE two years ago and see the big difference comparing with Vodafone. But things changed since the 3G switching off period. Not sure this is the reason or maybe other reason like equipment replacement but 4G signal in the same areas  is worse than before. I just checked coverage from EE site. It’s showing a 4 out of 5 bar signal but I only have 1. I’m using IPhone and it’s the same phone when I switched from Vodafone to EE. So, basically same phone at same places have dramatically difference signal over the 2 years. Any idea? 

I’m thinking of switch back to Vodafone as the signal in RG24 9 Area Vodafone got 5 bar of 5G! But we only have 1 bar of 4G! I don’t really mind 4G or 5G but it’s the same places with same phone but different signal performance compare with before which is not acceptable. 

[bristolian]

I could write chapter & verse on user-perceptions of the on-screen bars and how this makes a network "good" or "bad".

There were parameter changes to the various 4G-layers when 3G was switched off, but these have created an overall much improved network - it may have caused some localised "I've got less bar" situations, but these should only be a perception and not have caused any actual service issues. I do try to avoid finger pointing, but have a browse of VF's forum for a demonstration of how much better a place EE were in for 3G-switchoff, and are in post-sunset.

Equipment & vendor swapout activities often coincide with carrier &/or tech-additions, but quite often the latter can lead to alterations in perception because on-screen bars alter. Remember there is not one single "4G signal" but potentially 4 different layers of 4G service, all of which have their own behaviours... the on-screen bars are a basic guide.

All factors borne in, the question should always be the same - forget the onscreen bars, how is the performance of the voice & data service? A weak but usable high-band carrier ("only one bar") should always be preferable to a stronger low-band carrier ("plenty of bars but no data"). Carrier aggregation can also muddy the waters.

[Profile closed]

Agree, forget the bars, focus on what you can do or want to do, I'd suggest?

 You can have "no bars" and still have perfectly good service?

The highest capacity frequencies are usually the weakest and much better to be on these than full bars on lower capacity low band frequencies? (4G)

[bristolian]

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@Profile closed wrote:

The highest capacity frequencies are usually the weakest and much better to be on these than full bars on lower capacity low band frequencies? (4G)

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The broad thrust of your comment, I would generally agree with. With zero displayed bars, you can reasonably assume to be on the edge of usable service.

More importantly, 4G isn't a frequency but a radio access technology - just like 2G, 3G & 5G. Both 4G & 5G operate on low-band & high-band frequencies.

[GeorgeS8898]

thanks for your replay but I am not after how many bar but the terrible signal I actually noticed when checking email or watching YT. I’m not sure if it is the 3G switching off but it did happen as a fact of the signal getting worse and you can see that no signal ring rather than the contents you are after in YT, on the same route, same time train, same location….

[re48]

I totally agree that the speed and reliability of the signal and speed has deteriorated since 3G has been phased out. I have been an EE Customer for about 12+ years and remember when I was getting up to 190mbps over 4G in the 2012's. Now we are lucky to get 30mbps. With the 10/100/unlimited speed plans as well as the ridiculous 36 month contracts and because of this higher than ever prices.

As well as this, the last time I looked for a new contract the one I have been on for 2.5 years was better than any of the current deals on offer.

I think its time to start looking elsewhere...