This topic

BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

Pedro38 — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 20:19:23 GMT

Five weeks ago, I u/g'd from Halo 2 (complete wi-fi) to Halo 3+ to get Hybrid Connect. which I successfully connected to the SH2. However, even with two antennas attached to the HC, I couldn't get a 4G signal. If I took the HC upstairs I sometimes got an intermittent half a bar but then the HC was too far from the SH2 for a wi-fi connection. This is in spite of BT/EE saying my area had a good mobile signal. BT couldn't help, even sending a second HC, but the result was the same and I have since returned both HCs.

We are, in general, in a very bad signal area but, just FYI, about 4 years ago, I bought (via EBay) and installed an EE mobile signal booster (also connected to a Smart Hub port) which was great and gave a 4 bar mobile signal, prior to the advent of wi-fi calling, which rendered it redundant. If the EE booster worked so well, why doesn't the Hybrid Connect (EE sim) - in exactly the same location?

It is very frustrating that BT doesn't first ensure good 4G reception for customers to whom it promotes Halo 3+ with Hybrid Connect.

I've read in other posts that the SH2 Firmware version might be an issue. My current version, at the time of trying the HCs, and now, is v0.26.04.04227-BT auto-updated to the SH2 24 April 2021.

Are there any users out there who have had their HC work successfully with this firmware version and if not, which firmware version have they found compatible with the HC to produce a 4G signal.

Any comments/suggestions appreciated.

Pedro38

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

imjolly — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 22:06:02 GMT

Did you not check the EE coverage in your area before ordering halo 3+?

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

Pedro38 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 06:29:47 GMT

Of course I did, via the EE website, which indicated I have a good signal in my area.

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

garybs29 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 07:19:33 GMT

@Pedro38 "It is very frustrating that BT doesn't first ensure good 4G reception for customers to whom it promotes Halo 3+ with Hybrid Connect."

I can assure you that is not correct, it physically won't allow it to be ordered if there's poor 4g coverage when checked

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

ctrlz — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 07:29:06 GMT

The booster you mention in simple terms just used a wifi connection to emit a 3g signal around your home. The idea of the hybrid connect is for it to naturally pick up a 4g signal to give you internet access that way, meaning if your wifi was down it would fall back to the 4g connection. Sounds like it may just be down to the 4g coverage around your home which would render the hybrid connect pretty useless for you IMO.

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

Pedro38 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 16:06:43 GMT

I don't accept what you say. I think, at best, BT only assumes I have a good 4G signal, from what it might see on the EE website regarding its 4G coverage. BT doesn't actually do a physical 4G check on my property. Hence, unquestioningly, it allowed me to upgrade to Halo 3+ with HC, and even sent a second HC, when the first didn't work, which similarly failed to get a signal. Trouble is that BT is so vast its l/h doesn't know what its r/h or its subsidiaries is/are doing.

Despite asking me to return the two HCs, which I have, and the failures I've had with HC, its website today, after 'checking your account', is still promoting Halo 3+ with HC as an upgrade option for me.

My experience clearly undermines your statement.

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

imjolly — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 16:15:11 GMT

Sorry but are you suggesting that someone from BT should visit your property to make sure you have sufficient 4g signal before selling you hybrid connect? BT did ensure that according to the mobile provider EE that your address had sufficient reception which you confirm was ok but surely it was up to you to ensure that you could actually receive a 4g reception before ordering

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

Pedro38 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 16:24:18 GMT

Thanks for explaining the difference between the booster (3G )and the HC (4G). The booster was presumably able to 'pull in' the exterior3G signal, before boosting it via wi-fi, whereas the HC is unable to this with 4G, at least where I live.

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

Pedro38 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 16:35:09 GMT

I did not confirm I had an EE 4G signal. How am I suppose to check it anyway when I don't have an EE contract, nor any EE related equipment until receiving the HC kit. I could only go on what EE's website indicated. This is rather 'cart before the horse'.

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

VeteranISPUser — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 16:51:20 GMT

@Pedro38wrote:
The booster was presumably able to 'pull in' the exterior3G signal, before boosting it via wi-fi.

Hi @Pedro38 I am not sure that is correct (happy to be completely wrong!). I used to have a Vodafone Sure Signal which works by connecting to the Vodafone 3G network via my broadband router and acting like a personal 3G transmitter for the home mobile numbers because the external 3g signal was so poor. It gave us 4 bars plus in the house.

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

ctrlz — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 17:24:02 GMT

Thats also how the BT ones work, just didn't want to correct as it doesn't make much difference to the query about his hybrid connect.

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

Pedro38 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 17:32:49 GMT

Hi VrteranISPuser. I am by no means a techie and probably my EE booster acted in a similar way to your explanation. we had lousy external 3G signal but with the booster we got four bars on our phones.

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

imjolly — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 17:33:50 GMT

You confirmed that you had checked EE coverage map which showed your area had a good signal which is the same as BT would do before providing hybrid connect. There is no way apart from visiting your home would anyone know that you had poor reception

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

dephead2004 — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 18:53:20 GMT

Yes I have that firmware and one bar -117dBm and it works well.

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

Pedro38 — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 19:03:35 GMT

Thx dephead. I think I have to accept that I can't get a 4G signal here in my location in mid-Sussex, so I can't use hybrid connect. A bummer isn't it in 2021 and all BT/EEs technology!

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

dephead2004 — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 19:05:31 GMT

Wow I'm in Mid Sx too. RH17. Any help?

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

Pedro38 — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 21:02:36 GMT

RH15 B/Hill. Why can't additional masts be erected or, more sensibly, existing ones shared. Rather frustrating really.

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

dephead2004 — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 04:19:44 GMT

Agreed. I ditched Voda when they ceased the sure signal femtocell service as we couldn't get voda signal here. EE/BT has proved a better bet. Sorry that's not the case for you. Agreed mast haring would benefit consumers but does not meet the competitive market of the ISPs

Re: BT Halo 3 + HybridConnect - no 4G signal

snakehollywood — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 01:52:59 GMT

if you had a booster that plugged into your router, then it is simply acting as a local 3g/4g antenna in your home, and then routing all the traffic over your broadband instead.
So it is completely reliant on your broadband connection.