Forum Discussion
Poor signal after port
EE and SMARTY use different mobile network infrastructure, so having a good signal with EE in one location doesn't guarantee SMARTY will also have a good signal.
Your number being transferred doesn't affect the SMARTY Mobile signal you get at any given location.
SMARTY Mobile might have a network fault or other service issues at your location HenryKe_2017578.
Use your postcode to check at https://www.three.co.uk/support/network_and_coverage/network_support.
Ever since first activating my SIM I struggle with loading even basic text websites. Streaming music, one of my main uses, is impossible. I can buffer about 30s of a song before the internet bugs out or fails.
Over half the time I have no internet connection whatsoever. All I see in the signal indicator is 4G with high signal but with an exclamation mark indicating no internet.
I have tried multiple phones as well as inputting the APN settings manually. The automatic ones matched perfectly with those on the website but I thought I'd cover all bases. Nothing had worked to improve internet speed, availability, or reliability.
What is the point of having unlimited data if I can hardly use data at all?
I have tested the SIM in multiple devices running Android 9, 12 and 13. I set them to 4G/LTE, and 3G/HSDPA modes to see if the different network type would help or hinder things, neither helped.
This issue is not limited to my home cell, it happens everywhere. I have done motorway journeys that would definitely use multiple masts and the internet cuts out. Likewise going out for a run I cannot listen to music as there is never any interest, just a "!" Next to my high signal strength.
I'm seriously considering just leaving Smarty because Hutchinson 3G's network infrastructure is seemingly absolutely terrible. Other than the network, the only other thing that could be involved is the SIM. I'm unsure if that can cause these types of issues.
Anything anyone could suggest to fix things would be greatly appreciated. Although at this rate I'll probably just go to a non-MVNO provider or one that actually provides a service.
Support have been unhelpful so far, just reading from a script telling me "you device isn't supported for data". It is a GSM phone on a GSM network using the supported GSM bands, of course it should work! That is like saying an iPhone 12 is supported but an iPhone 12 Pro Max isn't (or vice versa) they have the same basic radio hardware.
I JOINED OVER A WEEK AGO AND I HAVE THE EXCAT SAME ISSUES AS YOU ITS DRIVING ME CRAZY THE BUFFERING IS STRANGE
Did you (and others replying in this thread) check the coverage of Three, Smarty’s parent company / network before buying your Smarty SIM card, or did you just “buy blind”, not checking the three coverage where you live, work and socialise ?
It’s pointless just buying a SIM card from any network without first checking its coverage in the places you need that coverage the most.
The good thing of course is that with Smarty, you are not tied into a long term contract, so can quickly switch to another network that offers you better coverage.I am flabbergasted that we appear to have people posting in this thread who seem to lack the capacity and understanding that just because they get good coverage on another network, then they automatically think Smarty will offer good overage too !
It may well be that other network besides three / smarty will offer better coverage for you.
JJP2ridesagain do you work for Smarty? I’ve seen you all over the comment threads about poor signal defending the company, and disparaging the idea that people might have used their brains for five seconds. I’ve just switched from Three to Smarty, having been with Three for 18 years, and had full 4G at my house. Everywhere I have been to use my new Smarty sim since the switchover, none of them being new places to me - have had either no signal at all, or 4 bars of 4G signal on the same phone and no data functionality. It’s been shocking and replicates the experiences of countless others across the website. A real shame. Disappointed to see that others’ research suggests Smarty customers receive inferior service and an inability to use the standard 4G masts.
Please stop posting that same message everywhere and pretending there is no issue.
No, I dont work for Smarty ! (Change of User ID by the way !)
You know, people like you, with your brains firmly stuck in neutral, have one major problem - You think, well I know the word "think" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there, that because Smarty may be a bad network for you personally, that it simply must be bad for evey other person in the UK, and you get upset when others wont confirm your hoped for confirmation bias !
Smarty works perfectly well for me and many others, but idiots like you cant or wont accept that, again, just because you dont like Smarty, you expect everyone to hate it too, you numbskull !
The good thing about Smarty, even for people such as yourself, is that they offer 30 day SIM only contracts, so you can always take your custom elsewhere, so you abd others like you csn take your turgid boring crap elsewhere...And probably moan about the next network, and the one after that, etc !
Have you tried Fisher Price ?
With utter drivel like your comments, one could be forgiven for thinking you work for GiffGaff or some other network !
Again no, I dont work for Smarty, otherwise I would have to tiptoe around your bovine excretia, you clown !
He said he checked it first, i travel all over the country and have the same issues wherever i am. Calls just cutting off constantly, no gps signal for Maps is a huge issue. The signal never goes above 3 bars wherever i am and this is a brand new S24 i'm using. My original provider never had these issues with the old or new phone. I'm ending my 'contract' with Smarty today.
TonyWhi_2673565 Why did you change providers if your original one suited you well? I certainly do not find calls cutting off constantly on an iPhone.
It seems to be the case that some people do not get good coverage with certain networks and that is indeed unfortunate.
