Hello @Neckerromy
You wrote that you received a SIM card from the manufacturer. It looks like this one is from Salt.
Do you have 4G reception from Swisscom on your IPAD or phone on the heating control device?
If so, insert the Swisscom SIM card into the device again. And it selects the best network available. This means that the old 2G network may be a little stronger than the 4G network.
You may be able to tell the control device which network it should prefer to use.
This definitely works with my Android phone.
Greetings Lorenz
No, the SIM card is not from Salt. In order:
the first SIM card was from Swisscom (2G),
the second, with the new device, from Sunrise. However, this did not find 4G and was replaced by a third SIM card, which according to the device manufacturer was a provider-independent SIM card, to see which provider 4G reception was possible. Unfortunately she only finds Salt and after hours of searching she logs into Salt on 2G. If this SIM card is provider-independent, it should logically log in to Swisscom on 2G again, like before, right? 2G Swisscom has not yet been switched off. The device manufacturer says: wow, of course that doesn’t work, Salt switches off 2G before Swisscom!
The tablet works normally via the regional provider. When I log in with the tablet via WiFi, I see a list of, for example, 4G Sunrise under “Select network”. So there seem to be such networks nearby, but I don’t understand what the difference should be between this device Telebutler and a tablet? Both work with a corresponding SIM card! In addition: 50m from our holiday home there is a 2G radio mast that is to be replaced by a 5G one. However, the approval is pending.
I understand that there may be dead spots high in the mountains, but that can hardly be the issue. And: If Swisscom forces us to buy a new device because it wants to switch off something that still works, it should also be guaranteed that 4G reception is possible everywhere.
- Solutionselected by SamuelD
Check with the supplier which 4G/LTE cellular frequency bands this device supports. Everything else is “reading coffee grounds”.
The data sheet is extremely poor with information about the supported mobile frequency bands and technologies (3G?)! See for more information:
[/t5/Mobile/2G-Abschaltung-2020-neue-weisse-Flecken-no-Empfang/m-p/617747](https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/2G-Abschaltung-2020-neue-weisse -Stains-no-reception/m-p/617747)
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobilfunkfrequencies_in_der_Switzerland
For stable cell phone reception in buildings, the Swisscom cell phone antenna must emit a cell phone signal in a low-frequency cell phone frequency band (< 1000 MHz => Band 28 or Band 20 or Band 8). The lower the frequency of the cell phone signal, the better the cell phone signal penetrates the house walls.
For in-house M2M applications, such as this “Telebutler”, cellular modules should primarily be used that have LTE Cat. NB support:
https://www.stromerforum.ch/attachment.php?aid=487
[https://www.swisscom.ch/de/business/enterprise/angebot/iot/smart-metering.html](https://www.swisscom.ch/de/business/enterprise/angebot/iot/smart- metering.html)
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_to_Machine
LTE Cat. NB offers the best building penetration (=> largest value in the “Max. path losses” line). That’s why LTE Cat. NB best suited for in-house M2M applications.
Cell phone reception should be measured at the “Telebutler FHS” location using a “Network Monitor”. See:
[/t5/Mobile/Natel-Empfang-bricht-%C3%BCber-die-Staffelegg-immer-ab/td-p/525279](https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Natel-Empfang- breaks-%C3%BCber-die-Steffelleg-always-off/td-p/525279)
Use the Network Monitor to check whether the nearby mobile phone antenna is from Swisscom. If not, buy a SIM card from this mobile operator (=> Salt/Sunrise; alternative MVNO) for the Telebutler.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schweizer_Mobilfunkmarkt#Service_Provider
Many prepaid SIM cards from Swisscom must be activated for the 4G/LTE mobile network by calling the Swisscom hotline!
Salt already has its 2G/GSM mobile network throughout Switzerland? switched off.
[https://www.heise.de/news/GSM-Mobilfunk-Die-Schweiz-schaltung-ab-5000513.html](https://www.heise.de/news/GSM-Mobilfunk-Die-Schweiz- switches-off-5000513.html)
For information about Sunrise’s 2G/GSM mobile network, see post #10.
I expect all Swiss 3G/UMTS mobile networks to be switched off between 2025 and 2030.
For an official statement from Swisscom on the shutdown date of the 3G/UMTS mobile network (UMTS900 => 3G/UMTS on mobile frequency band 8 => 900 MHz), see:
https://www.swisscom.ch/de/about/netz/5g/abloesung-2g.html
\=> scroll down to the question “When will 3G be converted?”. => Expand the answer to this question.
However, the 3G technology itself will be available in the Swisscom network for a longer period of time: We will offer the usual coverage with 3G until at least the end of 2024. We will inform our customers in good time (at least 3 years in advance) about a shutdown.
@Neckerromy wrote:
At the beginning of the year, Swisscom informed us that our device, which controls the heating in our holiday home via 2G, would be switched off at the end of the year. The device is/was only 3 years old. We just replaced our ‘Telebutler’ and reconnected it. Unfortunately, the device cannot access any frequency other than 2G.
Now the device manufacturer has provided us with a special SIM card that searches for other frequencies nearby - unfortunately the Telebutler continues to log in on 2G, with the difference now being with Salt instead of with Swisscom as before. When we log in with the iPad, there are apparently 4G channels nearby. What should be done now?? How do we get through the winter like before?
Can someone help us?
Unfortunately, devices are still being sold today that only “can” use 2G without the manufacturers or suppliers specifying this.
But you can still use a SUNRISE prepaid SIM for at least the end of 2022, because Sunrise guarantees 2G for that long.
Yes, Sunrise wants to continue operating its 2G/GSM mobile network until at least the end of 2022. See:
[https://www.sunrise.ch/de/business/produkte-und-loesungen/connectivity/2G-weiterhin-nutzen-sunrise.html](https://www.sunrise.ch/de/business/produkte- und-loesungen/connectivity/2G-weiterhin-nutzen-sunrise.html)
Before buying a Sunrise SIM card, check whether there is 2G/GSM mobile reception with Sunrise!
\=> Mobile phone settings => SIM card => Network selection => Manual
Swisscom’s 2G/GSM mobile network is still running… Actual shutdown date?
Yes, still running.
I’ve been getting text messages for weeks saying it will be turned off “within a few weeks” (probably in certain areas) from January 1st, 2021.
Yesterday I received an SMS saying that it would be turned off on January 12th, 2021 and that I could get a 4G cell phone in the Swisscom shop with the discount code, with a discount or even for free…
The 15 MHz allocated to Swisscom in Band 8 (900 MHz) will likely be used as follows after the 2G/GSM shutdown:
- 5 MHz throughout Switzerland for 3G/UMTS. => As before.
- 10 MHz throughout Switzerland for 4G/LTE or 5G. => new
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobilfunkfrequencies_in_der_Switzerland
In order to achieve rapid, Switzerland-wide 5G network coverage, Swisscom could use band 8 to broadcast a 10 MHz wide 5G mobile signal.
The advantage of using Band 8 (900 MHz) for 5G is that existing sector antennas can continue to be used.
[http://www.ralf-woelfle.de/elektrosmog/redir.htm?http://www.ralf-woelfle.de/elektrosmog/technik/antennen\_3.htm](http://www.ralf- woelfle.de/elektrosmog/redir.htm? http://www.ralf-woelfle.de/elektrosmog/technik/antennen_3.htm )
However, “THE” mobile frequency band for 5G mobile phone coverage worldwide will be Band 28 (700 MHz). Sooner or later Swisscom will stop broadcasting a 4G/LTE mobile signal in band 28 and will only broadcast a 5G mobile signal in band 28 (n28).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia-Pacific_Telecommunity_band_plan_in_the_700_MHz_band
When buying a 5G-capable mobile phone, you should make sure that it supports 5G in the n28 band. See also:
[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/2G-Abschaltung-2020-neue-weisse-Flecken-kein-Empfang/m-p/618372#M7449] (https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/2G-Abschaltung-2020-neue-weisse-Flecken-kein-Empfang/m-p/618372#M7449)
Today, only a few mobile phone antennas in Switzerland can broadcast a mobile phone signal in band 28. In order for a Swiss mobile phone antenna to be able to broadcast a mobile phone signal in band 28, the sector antennas must be replaced with new, “Band 28” capable sector antennas. That’s why in 2021 you’ll see mechanics who aren’t afraid of heights working at high altitudes on mobile phone antennas more often.
Due to low spectral efficiency, Swiss public mobile phone providers will not broadcast a 5 MHz wide LTE/4G or 5G mobile signal. 4G/LTE and 5G mobile signals can only be broadcast efficiently with a bandwidth of 10 MHz.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectral_efficiency
For the exact switch-off date of Swisscom’s 2G/GSM mobile network, see:
[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Wie-lange-noch-2G/td-p/649082](https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Wie-lange-noch- 2G/td-p/649082)