"EE, UK's Fastest Network " Really??

[Technik21]

I have been with EE now for about 3 or 4 years, and I have to say that EE's 4G network coverage has declined in my opinion. 

This is generally all over the place for me. I have a brand new 5G Samsung S22 , and previously a Samsung S10, and using either mobile quite often suffers with low to zero signal coverage. The amount of times my signal strength disappears is so frustrating.

I have experienced this wherever I travel to in the UK most of the time.  It's not with every call, but it can be a daily occurrence  

This applies to data and calls. Calls will drop out, or the other party can't hear me at all.

I replaced my Sim card, but to no avail.

EE's network coverage checker shows good to excellent 4G signals in areas that I have problems with. (Indoor and outdoor)

Not sure if anyone else has issues with poor signal coverage generally?

[Northerner]

Hi @Technik21 

EE 4G network is way better than their 5G network, which is in my view terrible. I have turned off 5G on my S22 Ultra and it performs much better with great 4G+ speeds which allows me to stream all the way to London for example (I also travel around the UK). My Works iPhone XR is 4G on EE and again works great.

Just my view btw. 

Thanks 

[bristolian]

A 5G phone will prefer a perceivably-weaker 5G coverage layer over a stronger 4G one, provided the RX is sufficient to provide quality of service. This is exactly the same as 3G used to be preferred to 2G.

Do you lose coverage when audio drops out on calls? I have experienced audio dropout myself recently, but this is not caused by a coverage problem.

[Technik21]

@Northerner , thanks for your reply.

Yes, I do the same by only selecting the 3g/4g network within the mobile network settings. 

I've even had to select 2g to try and make a call if the signal is weak. This does help actually.

Ironically we live nearby to a huge network mast on a hill which also had a smaller one adjacent to it (just under a mile atc flies) both in line of sight.

Maybe I have a phone issue, but on both mobiles? 🤔 

[Technik21]

@bristolian thanks. 

When the audio drops out, the signal is very weak.

In fact as I mentioned before,  I live within a mile of a huge network mast, which is in complete line of sight, and my signal bars range from 1 to 3. 

Looking on "Mast Data" website,  it shows as EE being the strongest signal from this mast.

Not sure if faulty sim cards can affect the signal, but I have changed this in the past. 

Thanks again. 🙂 

[James_B]

Hi @Technik21,

Welcome to the EE Community. 

Does the network status checker report any problems in your area?

James

[bristolian]

The Mast Data site is a pretty poor tool for diagnosing this sort of issue - it takes no account of the different frequency bands that 4G & 5G services operate on. It's those that have a much greater impact on your quality of service.

The signal bars on your phone's screen are only a rough guide, but if they're varying that would suggest that high & low-band services are in use, and your device is choosing between them.

In any area where 4G800 or 5G700 services are in use, they will have a greater coverage footprint than 2G.

[Northerner]

Hi @Technik21 

Unlikely to be both phones. It could be your building or local interference. 

As @bristolian mentions it could also be the frequencies you are receiving as your local mast might still be using older equipment. 

I'm 100% with on quality overall as there is nothing more frustrating than no/weak mobile signals. This is why WiFi calling is so important. 

[bristolian]

Older equipment isn't necessarily the issue, but a couple of other factors could be.

EE are switching 3G off starting next year, and this may be causing some local issues. More relevant would be the vendor-swap programme, causing a mixture of equipment as local clusters are swapped out.

If you're in an area served by a mixture of Huawei/Ericsson/Nokia equipment, then interworking issues can result.

The side effects of these programmes will improve as they progress.