Android Oreo 8.1 Roaming. EE SIM cant connect to 2G: only 3G and 4G available.

[adabar]

I have just changes smarthphone and it has updated to Android 8.1. It is a dual SIM phone as I roam a lot. Since the upgrade I only get a choice of 3G or 4G for my EE SIM. I used to be able to select 2g only. I need this as I am working in an area with very poor 3G and 4G coverage. The other SIM gets a choice of 2G, 3G, 2G/3G auto and 2G/3G/4G auto. My EE SIM used to get this but not with Android 8.1. I have tried the EE SIM in both slots and it's the same. I am currently in Spain. The other SIM is Movistar and gets the full choice in either slot. My EE SIM picks up Orange but drops connection very easily. I have tried forcing it to used Movistar (forbidden) but it wont connect. Same for Vodafone.

This is really annoying as I need to be able to force 2G only depending on where I am. Any suggestions? Many thanks.

[Northerner]

Hi @adabar

Have you tried factory resetting your device? 

Not much can be done if you cannot choose 2G only when roaming in EE. 

Thanks

[Jon_K]

Good Morning @adabar.

Have you managed to follow @Northerner's advice?

Have you been to this part of Spain before and used 2G only on EE?

Jon

[adabar]

Hi Jon,

I haven't tried a factory reset yet (lack of time) but this was also
recommended by the phone's manufacturer.

I have regulary used 2G only in the same loaction using the same EE SIM.
This was on older phone with earlier versions of Android.

My wife also has an EE SIM in a non smartphone mobile and her coverage
(which wont be 4G and proably not 3G either) is always good in this
location.

I will try the reset - although I'm not sure how this will fix the problem
- and report back.

[Jon_K]

Thanks @adabar.

Let us know how you get on 🙂

Jon

[adabar]

I have done the factory reset and it's just the same: No "2G only" or "3G
only" for the EE SIM.

I'm stuck.

[Leanne_T]

Hello there @adabar

I am sorry this has not worked for you.

Are you able to try the SIM in a different phone and see if this works for you?

Leanne.

[adabar]

The SIM worked fine in my old phone up until this week. In the new phone
which has Android 8.1 it doesn't get the same options. The other phone was
still Android 5.

The problem appears to be with the new Android level and the EE SIM.

[Leanne_T]

Hi @adabar

Thanks for coming back to me.

Have you contacted the manufacturer of the phone to see if this has been reported?

Thanks, Leanne.