Mobile 'Phones

[boomer]

Mobile \'Phones

We are lucky enough to be able to live on the boat for most of the Summer in the UK and visit a number of different coastal locations. Mobile 'phone reception varies tremendously, from the very good to the almost impossible. Is there a plug-in booster we could use, or any other means of improving performance? Or is the only answer a satellite 'phone? Use is only for normal voice calls - not datacomms.
Any views please

 

[rogerroger]

what network are you on ?

I don't think there was anywhere on a month's cruise between Chichester and Salcombe last summer where I didn't get a signal with Cellnet...

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[colin_jones]

Re: Mobile \'Phones

Have a look at the Vtronix catalogue of Communications Aerials, they have a tripleband mobile phone masthead aerial which does gret things for reception at avery sensible price.

Catalogue is probably lurking on the net somewhere

 

[VMALLOWS]

Re: Mobile \'Phones

You really must try all (the 4) networks because coverage varies greatly. Get into the menu and ask your phone to 'search available networks' or something similar. Your phone will tell you which network(s) it has found. Unfortunately if you are a UK subscriber in the UK, it will not allow you to logon to anything other than your own company, but at least you know who is the best provider in that area. Overseas the system will often find the best system by itself, but you can still manually switch it to a different service provider which sometimes may even be cheaper.

 

[Andy]

Re: Mobile \'Phones

www.communicationaerials.com

 

[Guest]

Re: Mobile \'Phones

One downside to roaming and keeping automatic selection of network active is that not all airtime suppliers will have roaming agreements/servers to handle both voice and data calls.

If you use your mobile to access the net/email you may find you have to try your connection a couple of times before you find a live one.

The other option is to call BT, Voda whoever telll them where you hope to be and they should give you the list of networks you will be able to use

Tim Eades
http://www.btinternet.com/~tim.eades/

 

[Bergman]

Re: Mobile \'Phones

A proper external aerial fixed fairly high will probably improve things, but beware too long a length of feeder as there is a lot of loss at GSM frequencies.

As for roaming none of the UK networks can offer roaming within the UK.

Your best bet if based here for any length of time would be to try Manx Telecom who can supply fones that will roam over UK networks.

You need to consider costs of this as it may prove a little expensive, perhaps worth keeping existing fone as back-up.

 

[Guest]

Re: Mobile \'Phones

Hvaing used Cellnet & Vodafone for years and been disappointed by the apparent lack of continued investment, e.g. dead areas (in good terrain) where no signal has been available for years) we changed our phones to Orange eighteen months ago. We have been very pleased with the improvement in signal relaibility, particularly in the West Country, and whilst dead areas still exist they seem fewer and further between. Just as importantly our phone bills have dropped significantly. I couldn't promise that orange will be good everywhere but we are certainly sticking with it.

 

[Robin]

Re: Mobile \'Phones

we use Cellnet and have found it very good from Poole to West Country and offshore. We have 2 mobiles on board though and one was significantly better than the other on same system, strangely it was the newer small Motorola Microtac that was poor. We upgraded both recently to new Motorola Timeport sets which seem much better in poor locations as well as inside buildings etc, so maybe if your phone is old an upgrade might be in order.

 

[boomer]

Re: Mobile \'Phones

Many thanks for the advice, guys. Several lines I will follow up