Weird roaming messaged

[Peter274]

I keep getting texts from EE telling me that I am roaming in Jersey when I am at Nolton Haven in West Wales. The linear distance between these places is 350 miles, so can anyone explain how this happens? Has anyone else had a similar experience?

[bristolian]

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@Plymouthbloke1 wrote:

your phone wouldn’t register if the distance between phone and mast was over approx 35km, due to time-coding on the radio signal?

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You're thinking of TDD & FDD, and the timeout. If the OP received the "welcome to country" text, that's a strong indication that registration has happened.

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@Plymouthbloke1 wrote:

where the OP is points to a freak anomaly on the EE network most likely…

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The anomaly would be that an EE-radio-site is configured to identify as a foreign operator.

[KeithP73]

Peter strangely for the first time I also today received that very same welcome to Jersey roaming message while on the beach at Mwnt, just north of Cardigan where I live. Almost immediately followed by welcome back to the UK. Must be a world record for travelling West wales to Jersey and back. 

[bristolian]

Pretty unique weather conditions that a Jersey network was stronger than an Irish or Manx one, I'm not sure what the roaming selection criteria are when multiple MCC's are available.

[LandyLeafe]

Had the same issues, different location, relieved the welcome to Jersey message on 19th May and again today, 10th June whilst traveling over Honistor Pass  in the Lake District, 371 miles from Jersey.  My daughter got the same messages.

[PH66]

I had the same a few weeks ago.  I was in St David’s and the next minute my phone was welcoming me to Jersey!  I had a mild (financial) panic but a few hours later my phone welcomed me home again…..took me a while but I guessed the reason it had happened.  Disconcerting though! 

[iamadi]

Both my husband and I have had the same issue in the same place - very strange... and pretty amazing that the signal in Jersey is soooo strong!  Something weird is  definitely happening with the EE network around there, as this morning I had a call from my husband at Nolton Haven beach, but showing as a completely different phone number to his. I tried calling it back but just got a voice message explaining that the call had been routed through a company called wave mobile (https://wavemobile.net/) .

Main concern though... will I get charged roaming fees if I use my phone while 'in Jersey' if I am not actually in Jersey? Surely that would be EE's problem not mine?  I'll keep an eye on my bill!

[bristolian]

Using your phone when connected to foreign networks is classed as roaming, irrespective of where you are physically located. This is partly the reason for the "welcome to country" text messages.

[Peter274]

So tell me why I am connected to Jersey when in Nolton Haven, Pembrokeshire? How can masts 350 linear miles away connect to my phone. No one has yet provided an answer, but EE insists that I am roaming. Other people here have experienced the same issue, but EE fails to respond.

[bristolian]

If your phone has no coverage from its home network, it will seek roaming networks if available.

If your home network has coverage, it will be preferred.