Can anyone throw light on the reason why Phone box is no longer a option in the UK. Still present on Czech and German configurator?

 

I believe Skoda pulled all phone box/ signal boosters from all vehicles a year or so ago due to some licensing issue in the UK. 

 

 

3 minutes ago, Kenny R said:

I believe Skoda pulled all phone box/ signal boosters from all vehicles a year or so ago due to some licensing issue in the UK. 

 

 

Interesting

I did a DIY job, as shown in this thread below. Works a treat and cost c£25.00.

 

 

43 minutes ago, BriskodaJeff said:

I did a DIY job, as shown in this thread below. Works a treat and cost c£25.00.

 

 

Yes I got all the kit to do this already as my "old" facelift didn't have this option, was a little surprised when I couldn't order it on my "new" facelift 😉 

1 minute ago, panmat said:

Yes I got all the kit to do this already as my "old" facelift didn't have this option, was a little surprised when I couldn't order it on my "new" facelift 😉 

Don't forget to swap it out when you get your third facelift!

The signal booster and wireless charging is to separate things. Signal boosting is illegal in Norway but we still have the phone box with wireless charging. 

Phone box with charging is available in Ireland..........not sure about the signal booster

I think the situation will change shortly and the signal boosters will be available again (and reconnected where they had been disabled ??).  Ofcom had a consultation that ended on 5 Sept "Notice of proposal to make the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Repeater) (Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 Technical changes for in-vehicle mobile phone repeaters".  Ofcom appear to support the changes and say: "This means that the earliest we anticipate that the amendments to IR 2120 may be implemented is October 2019"

 Quoting from the document (https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/155726/consultation-wireless-telegraphy-regulations.pdf ) "In October 2018, Ofcom was approached by an equipment supplier of low gain mobile phone repeaters used in the manufacture of European cars. They formally requested Ofcom to consider making changes to the technical conditions contained in IR 2102.2 and provided technical evidence supporting the request." 

Good to know, perhaps might get it then. 

Hopefully when Ofcom changes the rule we might be able to buy the signal booster, i havent been able to find one to buy anywhere (uk and abroad) to try retro fitting 😞

Just to throw a spanner in the works, what I can't understand is if using the sim card in the glovebox I nearly always shows 4 and 5 bars on the infotainment system. If however I use the same sim in my phone it very rarely goes above 2 to 3 bars and never 5.

Which leads me to think that the sim in the glovebox is somewhat amplified!

2 hours ago, panmat said:

Which leads me to think that the sim in the glovebox is somewhat amplified!

Or maybe the active antenna on the roof is a tiny bit more efficient than the ant-size antenna in your phone inside a metal box (car)?

This could also be true

11 hours ago, panmat said:

Just to throw a spanner in the works, what I can't understand is if using the sim card in the glovebox I nearly always shows 4 and 5 bars on the infotainment system. If however I use the same sim in my phone it very rarely goes above 2 to 3 bars and never 5.

Which leads me to think that the sim in the glovebox is somewhat amplified!

 

the sim card in the glovebox has its own antenna - it doesn't use the phone's antenna, let alone the phone (mobile), in any way.

 

with regards to the Phonebox - its being restricted here in Oz.

before the phonebox had two functions:-

1. wireless charging

2. phone signal amplification

 

however the phone signal amplication landed Skoda in hot water, including other countries, as it did not meet some sort of standard/regulation/compliance thingy.

so Skoda had to do a rectify the situation, as required.

 

so now, the Phonebox we get only has the wireless charging component.

no more signal amplification.

 

my Superb had both when i bought it, but when it went in for its 1st service last year, they took the oppourtunity to disable the signal amplification.

 

 

18 hours ago, JR RS said:

 

the sim card in the glovebox has its own antenna - it doesn't use the phone's antenna, let alone the phone (mobile), in any way.

 

 

As I stated I used the same sim, swapping it from my phone and putting it in the sim card slot in the glovebox.

 

Wish we could just get the wireless charging component in the UK.