Phone SIMs and network availability.

[mangocrazy]

I've got a couple of old flip phones and am trying to use them at the house in France. Reception is always very marginal here, I often have to leave the house to get signal, but noticed that Phone A was getting signal in the house when Phone B was saying 'No Service' . This was mildly annoying, as most friends have the number for Phone B as my contact number and I've been missing calls, Both phones are on giffgaff, by the way.

So I decided to switch SIMs to allow phone B to use my preferred number.

Blow me if Phone B suddenly started getting signal, whereas Phone A was no saying 'No Service'. Does this mean that different SIMs have different reception capability, as the 'good' signal seems to have followed the SIM rather than following the phone. What gives? The SIM that has good signal is quite a few years newer than the poor one.

[.....]

Possibly not got roaming/ continental use switched on for one of the sims?
In poor connection areas we've used small battery powered mifi router high up in the property and WiFi calling/ WhatsApp

[mangocrazy]

Possibly not got roaming/ continental use switched on for one of the sims?
In poor connection areas we've used small battery powered mifi router high up in the property and WiFi calling/ WhatsApp

I can use both SIMs to make calls back to UK and in France, so I guess roaming must be switched on. For Internet/wifi use I have a Huawei mobile hotspot wotsit, fed by a roof-mounted aerial that transforms the signal quality. Before that I was struggling to get a connection now it's 4/5 bars except in the worst weather conditions.