Telus cellphone problems...anyone else?

[Sainters7]

So I was under Bell for the past three years, and just two weeks ago I switched to Telus, because I wanted the Chocolate, which Bell didnt offer. And since Ive gotten it, Ive had absolutely terrible reception. Havent had any calls drop yet, but people are constantly complaining that I am always cutting out, and I have the same problems with them too. Does anyone else with Telus have this problem? Im trying to figure out if its my phone or the network itself. Initially I assumed it was the phone, but Ive talked to people recently who say theyve had lots of problems like that with Telus(too bad Im stuck with em for three years). So now Im not so sure. Any info would be great...especially anyone with a Chocolate, Im curious if theyre having similar problems. Id be interested to hear from anyone with a Chocolate through Fido, as that would probably give me a better indication of if its my phone or the network. I may have to be making a return trip to Telus for an exchange...

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

So I was under Bell for the past three years, and just two weeks ago I switched to Telus, because I wanted the Chocolate, which Bell didnt offer. And since Ive gotten it, Ive had absolutely terrible reception. Havent had any calls drop yet, but people are constantly complaining that I am always cutting out, and I have the same problems with them too. Does anyone else with Telus have this problem? Im trying to figure out if its my phone or the network itself. Initially I assumed it was the phone, but Ive talked to people recently who say theyve had lots of problems like that with Telus(too bad Im stuck with em for three years). So now Im not so sure. Any info would be great...especially anyone with a Chocolate, Im curious if theyre having similar problems. Id be interested to hear from anyone with a Chocolate through Fido, as that would probably give me a better indication of if its my phone or the network. I may have to be making a return trip to Telus for an exchange...

I've had no problems, but I don't have a chocolate. I don't know if we've had network issues, but I'd call us in the morning and ask. It's free to call us, just do it. The quicker begun, the sooner done.

[wooohooo]

Well, I rarely had a problem in Calgary... but once I moved to Edmonton, I have absolutely no reception at places even in my own house. It'll show 4/5 bars occasionally then the next second it says 2 bars then when I try to talk to someone I can barely hear what they say and I then resort to text msging. So I'm not sure if the problem is in Edmonton or just recently... I'm about to switch to rogers pretty soon. Having no reception in your own house is ridiculoous and I live real close to whyte and the University.

[BlackArcher101]

Should have went with Rogers for the chocolate
I get amazing reception with Rogers wherever I go.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I've got the Chocolate and I am on Telus and I have had no issue with reception whatsoever. A lot better than the old phone I used to have. The only issue I had was with the Bluetooth headset, but Telus called me and told they have sent a replacement set. I love the Chocolate phone, the touch sensitive pad is awesome and the look of it is great.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Well, I rarely had a problem in Calgary... but once I moved to Edmonton, I have absolutely no reception at places even in my own house. It'll show 4/5 bars occasionally then the next second it says 2 bars then when I try to talk to someone I can barely hear what they say and I then resort to text msging. So I'm not sure if the problem is in Edmonton or just recently... I'm about to switch to rogers pretty soon. Having no reception in your own house is ridiculoous and I live real close to whyte and the University.

Try a PRL upgrade... When did you move? Bell and Rogers both upgraded their towers so in some cases, all you need is a roaming list upgrade to correct the issue. Dial *22803 from your phone, hit send, it'll prompt you to press 1 for english or 2 for french, then 1 to program or two for an upgrade. You want to press 2 for an upgrade. Then wait to see if it's successful or not. If unsuccessful, CALL US! If you're having troubles, stewing over them isn't going to help.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Try a PRL upgrade... When did you move? Bell and Rogers both upgraded their towers so in some cases, all you need is a roaming list upgrade to correct the issue. Dial *22803 from your phone, hit send, it'll prompt you to press 1 for english or 2 for french, then 1 to program or two for an upgrade. You want to press 2 for an upgrade. Then wait to see if it's successful or not. If unsuccessful, CALL US! If you're having troubles, stewing over them isn't going to help.

I really should try that... thanks =) It may be time for me to get a new phone. I've had this phone for 8 years now, the biggest clunker you will ever find! Just don't want to spend 400+ bucks on a new phone tha's all. But thanks firefly!

[I_H8_Crawford]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Try a PRL upgrade... When did you move? Bell and Rogers both upgraded their towers so in some cases, all you need is a roaming list upgrade to correct the issue. Dial *22803 from your phone, hit send, it'll prompt you to press 1 for english or 2 for french, then 1 to program or two for an upgrade. You want to press 2 for an upgrade. Then wait to see if it's successful or not. If unsuccessful, CALL US! If you're having troubles, stewing over them isn't going to help.

What is the latest Telus PRL?

[ken0042]

My 2 month old phone shows 11055

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I've got the Chocolate and I am on Telus and I have had no issue with reception whatsoever. A lot better than the old phone I used to have. The only issue I had was with the Bluetooth headset, but Telus called me and told they have sent a replacement set. I love the Chocolate phone, the touch sensitive pad is awesome and the look of it is great.

Yeah I agree, I love the touch reception and hte look of it too, it sort of looks like a black movie iPod. Thats why Im so disappointed about the absolutely awful reception. But Ill take the Telus guy's advice in this thread and give em a ring, maybe its just my individual phone.But I found it interesting about what that one guy who lives in Edmonton said. Because I live in Edmonton too, and I have awful reception, even in my own house as well. It seems the only time it ever works is when Im outside. But how useful is that in the middle of winter? Im gonna get Telus on the horn, hopefully it can be worked out.

[FlameCity]

I have endless reception problems with Telus too. My sister's phone that is probably 4 years old (still has a green screen ) works great . . . works all over our house, in the basement too, actually it works everywhere she never has reception problems (she's with Fido). My phone however gets reception when it feels like it . . . works on the main level of the house only . . . drops calls everywhere (don't even try it in the basement, depends on what office tower I'm in dt). Figured it was my phone so I took it in (still under warranty) and they kept it for 7 weeks . . . got it back reception is no better and they broke a couple things on the phone so now they have my phone again . . .

[Kaon]

I've always had horrible reception with Telus. I have an LG, not sure of the model number. My contract ends in April though, so I'll be making the switch to Roger's and will hope that solves my reception issues. I hate the hassle of switching, but there's no way in hell that I want to sign a new 3 year contract to find out that it was Telus and not my phone that caused the problems. (A trial period would be nice, but would never happen I'm sure)

The most help I've gotten from Telus in regards to this issue actually came from Firefly. When I upgraded the roaming list it allowed my phone to ring on an incoming call in areas where I previously could not get service. (ie. Girlfriend's house, 3rd Ave downtown between 1st and 2nd street, my office, some places in my condo, stretch on deerfoot near peigan etc etc) In most cases I can't actually talk without a disconnect in the same places now, but I'm at least able to see who is calling me and can then call them back on a landline or borrowed cellphone.

[FireFly]

A question for people who have reception issues... how often do you turn your phone off and back on again? Have you ever pulled the battery out of the back? The reason I ask these things is two fold. First, if you never turn your phone off and it freezes on the network somewhere, you're not going to get good service if you're way far away from the place you got frozen. Sometimes it takes a while for you to 'unfreeze'. Second, while powercycling your phone will tell the network "I'm over here now!" pulling the battery right off the phone will do a hard reboot. The example I like to give is turning off your tv vs. unplugging it. If you turn it off and back on again, it's still on channel 27. If you unplug it, it should go back to channel 3 or 4 or whatever. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't, but it never hurts your phone to turn it off and back on again!

[FlameCity]

Originally Posted by FireFly

A question for people who have reception issues... how often do you turn your phone off and back on again? Have you ever pulled the battery out of the back?

I tried that . . . often. The first thing I did was go to the location where I got the phone and they gave me the same advise . . . it didn't help. So I've been living with an old phone from my office as a replacement (this phone is a thousand times better than the temp they tried to give me) . . . one week down . . . hopefully they don't take another seven weeks!

[CFENT]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

I! Just don't want to spend 400+ bucks on a new phone tha's all. !

Some New and Refurbished phones for under $100
http://telusmobility.com/ab/talkaway...talkaway.shtml
http://telusmobility.com/ab/talkaway...talkaway.shtml
http://store.telusmobility.com/ab/di.../nprelg125.htm
http://store.telusmobility.com/ab/di.../nprelg200.htm
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...gon=&langid=EN
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...gon=&langid=EN
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...gon=&langid=EN
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...gon=&langid=EN
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...gon=&langid=EN

Here is a brand new LG 8500 Chocolate for $229.99
http://www.telusmobility.com/ab/paya..._lg_8500.shtml

I could find many more cheap phone but I don't have time right now. BTW you can swap your own phone online for $10 at mytelusmobility.com rather than paying $25 in a store.

[CFENT]

Originally Posted by FlameCity

I tried that . . . often. The first thing I did was go to the location where I got the phone and they gave me the same advise . . . it didn't help. So I've been living with an old phone from my office as a replacement (this phone is a thousand times better than the temp they tried to give me) . . . one week down . . . hopefully they don't take another seven weeks!

What model is your phone??

[ken0042]

For those of you with reception issues, something to try is one of those cell phone antenna boosters. You can get them on eBay for ~$4 with shipping if you look.

When I was having reception issues I tried one; and paid $20 for it at the time. Back then Telus was having me do stuff like cycle the power, go into analog mode, all sorts of stuff. Out of desperation I tried the booster. All of a sudden did I no longer experience dropped/missed calls, but now I was able to use my cell phone in elevators and in C-train tunnels.

I'm sure that a well placed piece of tin foil would probably do the exact same job, but this is easier and has no exposed metal that could cause a short.

I still look at them and say "there's no way it can work", but since getting mine I've had friends try them as well (I bought a bunch of them once) and I've had them come and ask me where they can get more.

[CFENT]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

So I was under Bell for the past three years, and just two weeks ago I switched to Telus, because I wanted the Chocolate, which Bell didnt offer. And since Ive gotten it, Ive had absolutely terrible reception. Havent had any calls drop yet, but people are constantly complaining that I am always cutting out, and I have the same problems with them too. Does anyone else with Telus have this problem? Im trying to figure out if its my phone or the network itself. Initially I assumed it was the phone, but Ive talked to people recently who say theyve had lots of problems like that with Telus(too bad Im stuck with em for three years). So now Im not so sure. Any info would be great...especially anyone with a Chocolate, Im curious if theyre having similar problems. Id be interested to hear from anyone with a Chocolate through Fido, as that would probably give me a better indication of if its my phone or the network. I may have to be making a return trip to Telus for an exchange...

Dealers generally have a 14 day period where you can switch your phone for a different phone if you are not satisfied. There is also generally a 30day period where you can swap the phone for the same model if your phone is defective. Looking into one of those options may be your best bet right now.

BTW
A Rogers or Fido Chocolate = GSM
A Telus Chocolate = CDMA
So they look the same but the simularities end there.

[FlameCity]

Originally Posted by CFENT

What model is your phone??

Motorola V710

[Bill Bumface]

Telus reception downtown blows. Its common knowledge. People on Telus often can't even use their phone at their desk in my building, where as those on rogers get full signal.