Improving Wi-Fi & phone signal with foil insulation present?

[Mr Gus]

We live in the phone signal boon-dykes regardless of what "maps" say.

Our ongoing dilemma made me think, with modern insulation apparent in modern estate builds is the area of home signal simply ignored (don't ask) or are they now taking steps to take into consideration a technology that has been very much the norm for 20+ years now?

Or are they relying on mere windows breaking the signal blockade?

IF so & you "improve" insulation by adding more / where it wasn't before how much simple remedial booster work can we now lay our hands on? (eg home office clad in foil celotex on all sides) ..& what works.

Not necessarily "whole of house" remedy but more home office (small zonal improvements) bearing in mind less phones these days have expandable antennae for an FM radio / mic socket let alone anything else.

[Stinsy]

If you’re at home your phone will be connected to wifi. You can use the wifi rather than 4G for calls, Internet access, and whatever else.

[Mr Gus]

We can be in the best room for reception in the house & still drop calls due to them being so weak, it still affects phone signal radically, so is not working stinsy.

Wife will be moving into the new office space soon (I hope) & so phone signal likely to get worse due to foil insulation in walls & ceiling.

[Bugtownboy]

Do all mobile providers switch to wi-fi calls in the absence of mobile signal ? Thought it was just a BT - EE thing.

[Stinsy]

Do all mobile providers switch to wi-fi calls in the absence of mobile signal ? Thought it was just a BT - EE thing.

Mine does (Vodafone) and has done for 10 years at least. I’m sure they all do by now.

[nowty]

Do all mobile providers switch to wi-fi calls in the absence of mobile signal ? Thought it was just a BT - EE thing.

Mine does (Vodafone) and has done for 10 years at least. I’m sure they all do by now.

Mine did with Vodafone, then I changed to a cheaper tariff (with Vodafone) and lost that function so you don't always get it.

[Hermit]

My phone signal in the house as always been non existent and I've tried all networks. Wi-Fi calling has never really worked but was told this was cos my broadband comes via a wireless link. As it was impossible to use the phone in the house and BT wouldn't give me a landline I bought a fixed mobile phone with external antenna just for home. It was a different network but seemed to work most of the time. However, lately I noticed people getting incoming calls on their own phones in my house via the Wi-Fi. I changed my mobile phone to a different make ( Huawei to Samsung) and it now works seamlessly. Switching from 3G to Wi-Fi as soon as I step in the very well insulated house.

Cheers, Paul

[Mr Gus]

Which antennae did you get Hermit (or did reading comparisons make no odds)?

I'm thinking this is how we'll have to go.

[Stinsy]

Do all mobile providers switch to wi-fi calls in the absence of mobile signal ? Thought it was just a BT - EE thing.

Mine does (Vodafone) and has done for 10 years at least. I’m sure they all do by now.

Mine did with Vodafone, then I changed to a cheaper tariff (with Vodafone) and lost that function so you don't always get it.

That seems very mean of them! Maybe wifi calling only applies to unlimited minutes tariffs, Vodafone might feel that they’re losing money if all your calls are over wifi on a limited tariff.

[Burble61]

Many moons ago I worked on the comms fit out of the Olympic Park in east london.

The athletes accommodation was a nightmare - although the initial insulation wasn't foil backed, I think they ran out of stock and had to buy in the foil backed stuff. First we knew of it was when wifi performance was pants, just like the comments here. Ended up having to install 4 times as many wifi points as originally designed.

I think its also the reason behind the change in mobile coverage stats - last time i looked it was "coverage to the door" whereas previously it was "coverage indoors".

Having the wifi calling switchover appears to be the best/easiest way to go - not sure what the carrier would want to limit that - ok it might provide more revenue limiting it to more expensive tariffs but also leads to repeated customer service interactions.