EE SIM for the West of Scotland

[JumbleDuck]

Last year I heard that, as EE have been putting up masts for their emergency services contract, they now offer the best broadband coverage on the west coast. However, getting it required a particular type of data SIM - a particular frequency, I think.

Can anyone shed light on this? I think my three-year old 3 data SIM allowance will now have expired, so before I buy another one I would like to investigate alternatives.

 

[Minchsailor]

I've found Plusnet (which uses the EE networ) as good as anything.

(Posted mid way between Herbert and Eillean Troday).

 

[awol]

I use Virgin which uses the EE network. I used to warn my wife as I left home that mobile comms were patchy and the absence of a call home was to be expected. Now I'm getting a signal (and emails and Whatsapps) in what used to be nice quiet spots. Is there nowhere safe any more?
CG channels 6# are reassuringly squelchy though.

 

[Sgeir]

I use the EE 4G mini-wifi. Good coverage, even in the Northern Isles.

There are various plans and you can run as many devices, phones, laptops, tablets etc, as you like on it.

https://shop.ee.co.uk/dongles/pay-monthly-mobile-broadband/4gee-wifi-mini-2018/details

 

[LadyInBed]

Now I'm getting a signal (and emails and Whatsapps) in what used to be nice quiet spots. Is there nowhere safe any more?

Power off or use one of the silent modes!

 

[awol]

Power off or use one of the silent modes!

What? And turn of the tracker?

 

[JumbleDuck]

I use the EE 4G mini-wifi. Good coverage, even in the Northern Isles.

There are various plans and you can run as many devices, phones, laptops, tablets etc, as you like on it.

Many thanks (everyone else too). I have a dongle, originally O2 but unlocked. It has an external antenna which significantly improves reception. I'm not averse to buying another (it's 3G) if I have to, but would rather avoid any sort of monthly contract, as I use this for one month and a couple of weekends per year.

Can any of the EE users shed light on the "Some SIMs only" business?

 

[ProDave]

EE are indeed installing lots of new masts. We now have a strong 4G signal from the new mast we can almost see, compared to the weak 2G signal we had before (vodaphone / O2)

Now what I am waiting for is EE to offer a decent unlimited data plan (like currently only three do) Then we can ditch the landline.

Either that, or now there is a new mast, for three to rent some space on this new most so we get a decent three signal.

 

[Kelpie]

Asda also use the EE network, and their bundles give similar value to a monthly contract but with no minimum term. Very handy if you only want data for a month whilst you are sailing.

 

[dutyhog]

I’ve bought an Asda £5 PAYG SIM and put it into an old Nokia phone to use where O2 and Vodafone don’t work, especially ta gap up the Sound of Jura that EE recently filled through their new emergency services mast near Danna. All I need to do to keep it active is to not go more than 6 months unused. It’s an expensive way to get data but I don’t expect to need it much during the season.

 

[KompetentKrew]

… getting it required a particular type of data SIM - a particular frequency, I think.

Can anyone shed light on this?

Looks like the terms you're looking for are "LTE-Advanced" or "Category 6 LTE or higher".

Looks like this may be branded as 4G+, 4.5G or 5G, depending on the carrier - the highest option in EE"s online store is "5G", which has only 5 compatible phones, so I bet that's it.

TP-Link's Wi-Fi M7650 boasts that it's "LTE-Advanced cat11" ("with up to 600 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload speeds"). So that would appear to do the trick, too - Very.co.uk have it for less than £150.

• https://kenstechtips.com/index.php/4gee-extra-double-speed
• https://www.google.co.uk/#q=LTE-Advanced
• https://www.tp-link.com/no/home-networking/mifi/m7650/

 

[lw395]

Another point is to make sure your phone or dongle actually works on every 4G frequency band which your airtime carrier has a licence for.
4G licences are dotted around the spectrum. Not all phones/modems do all bands. Beware of hardware optimised for other countries.
Is it possible to find out which bands are in use at specific cell sites?

Back in the day, we'd have been using a foreign SIM to roam to any UK network and flipping it between selected phones looking for a signal....

 

[rbmatthews]

Only places that we haven't been able to get EE 4G so far on the west coast of Scotland have been Loch Craigaig, Gometra and Canna and some bits of sea a long way between islands. Otherwise it has been pretty good.

 

[Shuggy]

I just bought an EE PAYG SIM on eBay and topped it up. It’s in my iPad but with that and my O2 phone we’re well covered on the west coast.

 

[Cardinal]

I am surprised to read here of such considerably improved coverage on EE.
I rely on EE via Plusnet and although there did seem to be some more coverage, I found during early June:
Loch Droma Buidhe. Nix
Canna. Nix
Loch Skiport. Nix
Ronay nix
Loch Finbay. Nix
South Rona. Nix
Plockton reasonable coverage.
Tobermory reasonable coverage
Is there a map showing where these new masts are?
Or does it make a difference that my sim is in an iPhone 6?

 

[JumbleDuck]

I just bought an EE PAYG SIM on eBay and topped it up. It’s in my iPad but with that and my O2 phone we’re well covered on the west coast.

Thanks. I have just found an card on Amazon with 6GB to be used within 90 days for £17 or so, which looks fine.

Now, next question ... does the EE network support 3G or do I have to buy a 4G mifi? I'm quite happy with the system I have, and would prefer to keep it if possible.

 

[Kelpie]

I am surprised to read here of such considerably improved coverage on EE.
I rely on EE via Plusnet and although there did seem to be some more coverage, I found during early June:
Loch Droma Buidhe. Nix
Canna. Nix
Loch Skiport. Nix
Ronay nix
Loch FineBay. Nix
South Rona. Nix
Plockton reasonable coverage.
Tobermory reasonable coverage
Is there a map showing where these new masts are?
Or does it make a difference that my sim is in an iPhone 6?

It's quite possibly because most of those anchorages are surrounded by hills. I find you usually have to go ashore and spend ten minutes going uphill before you find a signal. Fortunately I quite enjoy the excuse to get off the boat

 

[Cardinal]

It's quite possibly because most of those anchorages are surrounded by hills. I find you usually have to go ashore and spend ten minutes going uphill before you find a signal. Fortunately I quite enjoy the excuse to get off the boat

I was afraid that might be the case although I did try that on Harris without success.
I had been intending to get a vodaphone sim until this thread appeared. As I often have a crew with a foreign sim aboard, I know that there are other signals out there which are not EE, so I think there are plenty of places reachable by signal if EE sent one!

 

[dutyhog]

At Loch Droma Buidhe You have to get up the hill until you almost see Tobermory.

 

[Sgeir]

At Loch Droma Buidhe You have to get up the hill until you almost see Tobermory.

And then have a friend give you a full body search for ticks.........