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Testing mobile black spot solutions

Posted on 30 Jul 2010 at 16:17

Readers write in to tell Paul Ockenden their experiences trying to overcome mobile deadspots

I don’t know whether I should read anything into this; perhaps the UMA service isn’t working particularly well, and Orange doesn’t want people reporting in-depth tests of it yet. Or maybe the PR department is just so tied up with journalists’ queries about the Orange/T-Mobile merger, and new handsets such as the HTC Desire, that stuff like UMA is low on its priority list. Some of the emails I’ve received from you suggest that my first hunch might be closer to the truth.

Either way, I will be testing this offering, either officially – if Orange’s PR team ever respond (as I hope it will) – or unofficially as I’ve been doing so far.

Sure Signal

You may remember that the third system I’m looking at is Vodafone’s Sure Signal, which was originally called Vodafone Access Gateway but was renamed after people started pronouncing VAG in a way that sounded like something that might be discussed on a late-night Channel 4 show.

My test device works well enough and I’ve been using it with an iPhone, a BlackBerry, an HTC Hero and some old Windows Mobile kit I had hanging around. It’s provided good clear calls and fast data access with all of them. I’ve had more emails about Sure Signal than any of the other solutions, and my post bag has been very mixed.

Bill Jourdain writes, “I’ve just spent a very frustrating couple of weeks trying to get my Vodafone Sure Signal to work; and if you check out Vodafone’s e-forum, I’m not the only one. Basically, the unit just will not connect to the internet via the router, or my friend’s router for that matter. Our IT guys at work can’t get it to work either, so this week it’s gone back. How Vodafone can sell the Sure Signal as plug-and-play is beyond me.”

In contrast, Alun David writes, “I bought a Vodafone Gateway in July 2009. How can I best describe it? ‘Marvellous’ comes to mind. You plug it in, tell the web page the phone numbers you want to work with it, and as long as they’re 3G and on Vodafone then inside about 30 minutes they will have a full signal and will have had a text message telling them about it. Prior to this, trying to get a signal – any signal – was a nightmare, and a good signal impossible.” As you can see, opinions are divided.

Alun goes on to make some further points: “1) People with bad mobile reception will often also have poor [wired] broadband speeds (especially if they live in out-of-the-way places), and the Vodafone box has to have at least 1Mbit/sec of bandwidth to work (I get about 1.5 if I’m lucky). 2) Occasionally the box will need rebooting and you only know if it does by your phone signal becoming lousy again. 3) The signal works for about 150 yards outside my house, so I’ve sat it next to my router in the corner of the office on the ground floor. There’s really no need to site it in a special high point location or anything – the signal is strong enough without that.”

eBay sales

You may also recall that I wrote about websites and eBay vendors selling illegal mobile phone repeaters. A few of you have taken the time to tell me that such vendors are either rubbishing my claim that the stuff they’re selling is illegal to use, or else they say the kit they’re selling isn’t affected because the amplifiers contain AGC (automatic gain control) circuits, designed to ensure that they don’t interfere with the main mobile network signals.

Sorry folks, despite what these sellers claim, there’s absolutely no doubt that it’s against the law to use these mobile phone boosters, and whether or not they use AGC makes no difference.

There’s absolutely no doubt that it’s against the law to use these mobile phone boosters

I make no apology for repeating what Ofcom has to say on this subject: “In the UK, the use of any radio transmitting device is required to be either licensed or specifically exempted from licensing under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (WT Act 2006)."

"For mobile telephones, the use of the spectrum by the network operators is licensed to cover the use of transmitters and repeaters, while user devices (i.e. handsets) are covered by a general exemption. Repeater devices transmit or re-transmit in the cellular frequency bands. Only the mobile network operators are licensed to use equipment that transmits in these bands. Installation or use of repeater devices by anyone without a licence is a criminal offence under Section 8 of the WT Act 2006. Any person found guilty of installing or using such devices without a licence would be liable on conviction to a fine of up to £5,000 and/or up to 51 weeks’ imprisonment.”

Not too much room for doubt there, don’t you think?

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