No Electricity / No Reception

spark_tank

I'm with GoMo and as per the title, when the electricity goes down in my area my phone reception drops to a very poor, basically unusable level. It's all but impossible to use the internet on my phone during these periods and this has been the case for years. It's the same for friends on GoMo who live close by.

My partner is with Vodafone and no issues at all. Her /reception/internet seems to be just as good as ever during a power outage. I hotspot from her phone (when possible) without issues.

What's the difference between providers? What's causing this issue with GoMo?

L1011

They use different masts (or the same mast but different equipment), and your local Eir (the network GoMo use) kit hasn't got battery backup; but the Vodafone one does.

You then fall over to the next nearest Eir one.

spark_tank

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123024749#Comment_123024749

Thank you. Makes sense.

I'm with GoMo years but considering switching to Sky because of this.

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123024776#Comment_123024776

Which network does Sky mobile use?

spark_tank

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123024822#Comment_123024822

Vodafone, afaik.

GIMP

In my area when we have power cuts which a common enough, Vodafone and 3 drop data coverage, calls are usually ok

PixelCrafter

It's also a bit pot luck. You could be in one area and Eir might have backup, another and Vodafone might and eir doesn't, or 3 might and one or both of the others might not.

Unless ComReg mandates better backup at smaller sites, it's not going to be resolved.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123024831#Comment_123024831

In that case I would advise against moving from Gomo. If you move to Sky which is using a Vodafone backhaul and there is a problem with the Vodafone network, then your wife will lose your coverage and you will lose yours.

If you stay with GoMo, and that happens you can hotspot for her.

Or downgrade your GoMo, but keep it around, and switch to Sky for every day use.

spark_tank

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123027831#Comment_123027831

If a network goes down we'll have the broadband to connect to.

The issue is only when the power goes.

babelfish1990

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123027976#Comment_123027976

If you are in an area that is prone to power cuts, you should install a small battery-backed UPS (uninterruptible power-supply) to maintain power to your broadband router and Fibre ONT during the power cuts. You can get an adequate unit for less than €100. This will ensure that you have WiFi during the power cuts, and your phones can use WiFi calling for voice calls and WiFi for data. The fibre network is much less dependent on local power than mobile base-stations, and the fibre tends to be powered directly at the eir exchange in the local town, with plenty of backup. By comparison, mobile base-stations tend to be much more remote, and prone to power cuts, as they are fed by overhead power. Even if they have backup batteries, they may not last until the power is restored.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123027976#Comment_123027976

Who is your broadband with?

Also, Plus 1 on having a UPS for your wifi Router.

spark_tank

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123028120#Comment_123028120

Had never heard of a UPS. Definitely an option, cheers!

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123028120#Comment_123028120

That's what I've done. I have a UPS to power the ONT, router and Wi-Fi gear. So once your network supports Wi-Fi calling, you'll at least have service in the house during a power cut.