German Vodafone works, UK doesn't

Alec

I travel between Germany and the UK, and have Vodafone contracts for both countries. Germany works just fine but in the UK there's no LTE and no data with the UK SIM card. Just spent a frustrating hour in a Vodafone shop - new contract, new card, still no LTE and no data. The new SIM card is fine and works in other phones. My wife's EE SIM card has the same problem in my Plus E.

I've gone into engineering mode and the bands seem to be OK. Particularly frustrating is that my German card does work - in the UK.

Any ideas?

Alec

Charon

Band 20 doesn't work with EE & 3 in the UK, network won't use android settings. Other bands work fine. Sorry, not got a Scooby re Vodafone's bands, but the EE & 3 problems are to do with VoLTE, so not even a data connection on 800mhz. And no carrier aggregation that involves them.

Not a fault for UMI, it's the networks.

Alec

Mebbe. But why does my German card work in the UK on the Vodafone network then? The same bands are active in both. I agree EE gives a VoLTE display but it's not used by Vodafone DE (or Vodafone UK AFAIK).

Charon

Could be a roaming agreement??

Charon

Sorry Alex, at work and it was pissing down....

My experience is only with EE & 3, as although I have a voda sim, they are only 2g for gazillions of miles around here.

My understanding of the 4g LTE VoLTE thing, is that as part of the spectrum auction, the networks had to agree that LTE would only be connect able to if there was a phone call connection as well. In areas with 4g only, this means VoLTE has to work or you are not allowed to connect even for data.

Plenty of info probably in Digital Spy forum, and maybe put your question here https://forums.digitalspy.com/di ... ience-thread#latest

*A roaming agreement with the German sim, may get around the restrictions....

Alec

Thanks. just wasted more time in the Vodafone call center "by the end of this call we'll have sorted out your problem Alexander". She did ask one sensible question: is roaming switched on when I get data with the German card? Ah, yes, so Vodafone must use a different protocol stack when johnny foreigner logs in. Which would explain why my German card works. So VoLTE seems the only plausible explanation.

But is there an engineering setting I can change? After all, folks are using them in the UK - admittedly not very happily, judging by the forums.

Charon

\n\nUnsure if there is a ROM to flash to, those forums like XDA etc might have stuff on ones but I doubt it.

I live in the sticks and 800mhz might be my only hope of non 2g internet, but the Umi won't work for that. Not Umis fault tho, most phones full stop won't work in that scenario unless <spit> a recent iPhone, Sony, LG or a couple of others that the networks can get to work <or currently sell>.

I know there is big probs with Honor latest high end ones for example with EE, with regards to VoLTE and their software.

I just pine for dc-hspda+ 3g which would be faster anyways....

Your situation may change as more masts are enabled, and different parts of the spectrum are used. Its a fast paced game at the moment.



Do think it worth posting on Digital Spy for the more knowledgeable folk to have their say.

Eta.... I have had both my Plus E & Super work on LTE here, but I know it won't if only B20 that is there ....

karanut

I'm using a UK Vodafone with no problems so I would think its your settings..