The sound quality on my mobile 'phone was so atrocious that it was
impossible to hold a normal conversation. I was continually requesting repeats and sometimes couldn't identify certain words even when the
person tried spelling them with the international phonetic alphabet.
The main problem was caused by the sound cutting in and out, so that
only parts of words were audible.
This occurred regardless of the location or the type of 'phone being
used by the other party, so it was apparent that the cause of the
problem was in my own 'phone.
The clue came when one caller lost his temper and shouted "Can you hear
me now!!!" ...which came through quite clearly. As soon as he dropped
his voice to a normal conversational level, the sound again degenerated
into occasional chopped up syllables and long silences.
It reminded me of faulty Class B bias in a push-pull audio output stage,
so I tried increasing the audio gain. This overcame the effect
sufficiently that most of the conversation got through without
noticeable 'chopping'. It was as if they had included a noise gate
*after* the volume control.
The 'phone has the facility for hands-free operation, which would need
some sort of complex noise-gating, but this was switched off. I can
only presume the programming is faulty and it was still in use - and at
the wrong point in the audio chain.
On 09/08/2026 14:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
The sound quality on my mobile 'phone was so atrocious that it was
impossible to hold a normal conversation.-a I was continually requesting
repeats and sometimes couldn't identify certain words even when the
person tried spelling them with the international phonetic alphabet.
The main problem was caused by the sound cutting in and out, so that
only parts of words were audible.
This occurred regardless of the location or the type of 'phone being
used by the other party, so it was apparent that the cause of the
problem was in my own 'phone.
How much mobile signal do you have? I'm guessing one bar or less.
This sort of breakup is common in rural areas with low to non-existent mobile signal. Only Vodafone works adequately in my neck of the woods.
If your phone is modern enough enable Wifi calling and then when you are home at least the thing will have enough backhaul to work correctly.
The clue came when one caller lost his temper and shouted "Can you hear
me now!!!"-a ...which came through quite clearly.-a As soon as he dropped
his voice to a normal conversational level, the sound again degenerated
into occasional chopped up syllables and long silences.
It can be asymmetric too so that you sound normal to them since your
phone will increase its transmit power to maximum to reach the base
station but the base station AFAIK doesn't beam steer to you. It does nothing for battery life if you are on the fringes of reception.
It reminded me of faulty Class B bias in a push-pull audio output stage,
so I tried increasing the audio gain.-a This overcame the effect
sufficiently that most of the conversation got through without
noticeable 'chopping'.-a It was as if they had included a noise gate
*after* the volume control.
The 'phone has the facility for hands-free operation, which would need
some sort of complex noise-gating, but this was switched off.-a I can
only presume the programming is faulty and it was still in use - and at
the wrong point in the audio chain.
That seems unlikely. What brand, model and age is the phone?
There may be a known problem in the odd one for which a firmware upgrade will have been issued. I have first hand experience of this problem
since I live in a non spot and have spent some time trying to sort out
other peoples problems with mobile phones in near impossible conditions.
One of the characteristics is that the support line annoying music
breaks up into WWI bombardments or dead silence for quiet bits whilst
you are waiting to talk to support staff. The algorithms are trying to
do their best to make use of what little bandwidth is available.
Everything has to be repeated and or spelt out phonetically. Lucky I
know the Nato standard alphabet codes.
On 09/08/2026 14:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
The sound quality on my mobile 'phone was so atrocious that it was impossible to hold a normal conversation. I was continually requesting repeats and sometimes couldn't identify certain words even when the
person tried spelling them with the international phonetic alphabet.
The main problem was caused by the sound cutting in and out, so that
only parts of words were audible.
This occurred regardless of the location or the type of 'phone being
used by the other party, so it was apparent that the cause of the
problem was in my own 'phone.
How much mobile signal do you have? I'm guessing one bar or less.
The 'phone has the facility for hands-free operation, which would need
some sort of complex noise-gating, but this was switched off. I can
only presume the programming is faulty and it was still in use - and at
the wrong point in the audio chain.
That seems unlikely. What brand, model and age is the phone?
Everything has to be repeated and or spelt out phonetically. Lucky I
know the Nato standard alphabet codes.
TCL Onetouch: Build 07-09-2025. Purchased just over a month ago.
On Sun, 9 Aug 2026 17:02:13 +0100, liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid
(Liz Tuddenham) wrote:
TCL Onetouch: Build 07-09-2025. Purchased just over a month ago.
Which model number?
Also, what type of service does your phone use? (LTE, GSM, HSPA or
something else)?
If it's a smartphone, with an LCD display...
One of the characteristics is that the support line annoying music breaks up into WWI bombardments or dead silence for quiet bits whilst you are waiting to
talk to support staff. The algorithms are trying to do their best to make use
of what little bandwidth is available.
Everything has to be repeated and or spelt out phonetically. Lucky I know the
Nato standard alphabet codes.
On 8/9/2026 7:47 AM, Martin Brown wrote:
One of the characteristics is that the support line annoying music
breaks up into WWI bombardments or dead silence for quiet bits whilst
you are waiting to talk to support staff. The algorithms are trying to
do their best to make use of what little bandwidth is available.
I've found that the phone responds to the slightest LOCAL sound and uses
that to squelch the incoming sound.-a Similarly, the "leading edges" of sounds tend to get clipped as it is late to recognize content.
Everything has to be repeated and or spelt out phonetically. Lucky I
know the Nato standard alphabet codes.
I prefer to use more commonly encountered words -- how many people have
ever
heard of a "Zulu"?-a Contrast that with "Zebra".-a David vs Delta.-a Kathy/ Karen
vs Kilo.-a Edward vs Echo.-a Sally vs Sierra.
They're words that more "commonfolk" are familiar with and, thus, likely
to recognize (spoken and transcribed to text in their minds)
On 2026-08-09 22:04, Don Y wrote:
On 8/9/2026 7:47 AM, Martin Brown wrote:
One of the characteristics is that the support line annoying music breaks up
into WWI bombardments or dead silence for quiet bits whilst you are waiting
to talk to support staff. The algorithms are trying to do their best to make
use of what little bandwidth is available.
I've found that the phone responds to the slightest LOCAL sound and uses
that to squelch the incoming sound.-a Similarly, the "leading edges" of
sounds tend to get clipped as it is late to recognize content.
Everything has to be repeated and or spelt out phonetically. Lucky I know >>> the Nato standard alphabet codes.
I prefer to use more commonly encountered words -- how many people have ever >> heard of a "Zulu"?-a Contrast that with "Zebra".-a David vs Delta.-a Kathy/ Karen
vs Kilo.-a Edward vs Echo.-a Sally vs Sierra.
They're words that more "commonfolk" are familiar with and, thus, likely
to recognize (spoken and transcribed to text in their minds)
The aviation/HAM/whatever spelling code was selected so that it uses words with
no likelihood of mistaken spelling. Even for people with different first language than English.
Example: Is it Zebra or Cebra?
On 8/9/2026 1:49 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2026-08-09 22:04, Don Y wrote:
On 8/9/2026 7:47 AM, Martin Brown wrote:
One of the characteristics is that the support line annoying music
breaks up into WWI bombardments or dead silence for quiet bits
whilst you are waiting to talk to support staff. The algorithms are
trying to do their best to make use of what little bandwidth is
available.
I've found that the phone responds to the slightest LOCAL sound and uses >>> that to squelch the incoming sound.-a Similarly, the "leading edges" of
sounds tend to get clipped as it is late to recognize content.
Everything has to be repeated and or spelt out phonetically. Lucky I
know the Nato standard alphabet codes.
I prefer to use more commonly encountered words -- how many people
have ever
heard of a "Zulu"?-a Contrast that with "Zebra".-a David vs Delta.
Kathy/ Karen
vs Kilo.-a Edward vs Echo.-a Sally vs Sierra.
They're words that more "commonfolk" are familiar with and, thus, likely >>> to recognize (spoken and transcribed to text in their minds)
The aviation/HAM/whatever spelling code was selected so that it uses
words with no likelihood of mistaken spelling. Even for people with
different first language than English.
Example: Is it Zebra or Cebra?
Is it Phrank or Frank?
On 2026-08-09 22:55, Don Y wrote:[We used to always order pizza for "Phred -- with a P"]
On 8/9/2026 1:49 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2026-08-09 22:04, Don Y wrote:
On 8/9/2026 7:47 AM, Martin Brown wrote:
One of the characteristics is that the support line annoying music breaks
up into WWI bombardments or dead silence for quiet bits whilst you are >>>>> waiting to talk to support staff. The algorithms are trying to do their >>>>> best to make use of what little bandwidth is available.
I've found that the phone responds to the slightest LOCAL sound and uses >>>> that to squelch the incoming sound.-a Similarly, the "leading edges" of >>>> sounds tend to get clipped as it is late to recognize content.
Everything has to be repeated and or spelt out phonetically. Lucky I know
the Nato standard alphabet codes.
I prefer to use more commonly encountered words -- how many people have ever
heard of a "Zulu"?-a Contrast that with "Zebra".-a David vs Delta. Kathy/ Karen
vs Kilo.-a Edward vs Echo.-a Sally vs Sierra.
They're words that more "commonfolk" are familiar with and, thus, likely >>>> to recognize (spoken and transcribed to text in their minds)
The aviation/HAM/whatever spelling code was selected so that it uses words >>> with no likelihood of mistaken spelling. Even for people with different >>> first language than English.
Example: Is it Zebra or Cebra?
Is it Phrank or Frank?
:-)
I've never heard of "Phrank", though.
On 8/9/2026 1:49 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2026-08-09 22:04, Don Y wrote:
On 8/9/2026 7:47 AM, Martin Brown wrote:
One of the characteristics is that the support line annoying music breaks up
into WWI bombardments or dead silence for quiet bits whilst you are waiting
to talk to support staff. The algorithms are trying to do their best to make
use of what little bandwidth is available.
I've found that the phone responds to the slightest LOCAL sound and uses >>> that to squelch the incoming sound.a Similarly, the "leading edges" of
sounds tend to get clipped as it is late to recognize content.
Everything has to be repeated and or spelt out phonetically. Lucky I know >>>> the Nato standard alphabet codes.
I prefer to use more commonly encountered words -- how many people have ever
heard of a "Zulu"?a Contrast that with "Zebra".a David vs Delta.a Kathy/ Karen
vs Kilo.a Edward vs Echo.a Sally vs Sierra.
They're words that more "commonfolk" are familiar with and, thus, likely >>> to recognize (spoken and transcribed to text in their minds)
The aviation/HAM/whatever spelling code was selected so that it uses words with
no likelihood of mistaken spelling. Even for people with different first
language than English.
Example: Is it Zebra or Cebra?
Is it Phrank or Frank?
On 8/9/2026 2:15 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2026-08-09 22:55, Don Y wrote:[We used to always order pizza for "Phred -- with a P"]
On 8/9/2026 1:49 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2026-08-09 22:04, Don Y wrote:
On 8/9/2026 7:47 AM, Martin Brown wrote:
One of the characteristics is that the support line annoying music >>>>>> breaks up into WWI bombardments or dead silence for quiet bits
whilst you are waiting to talk to support staff. The algorithms
are trying to do their best to make use of what little bandwidth
is available.
I've found that the phone responds to the slightest LOCAL
sound and uses that to squelch the incoming sound.
Similarly, the "leading edges" of sounds tend to get clipped
as it is late to recognize content.
Everything has to be repeated and or spelt out
phonetically. Lucky I know the Nato standard alphabet
codes.
I prefer to use more commonly encountered words -- how many
people have ever heard of a "Zulu"? Contrast that with
"Zebra". David vs Delta. Kathy/ Karen vs Kilo. Edward vs
Echo. Sally vs Sierra.
They're words that more "commonfolk" are familiar with and,
thus, likely to recognize (spoken and transcribed to text in
their minds)
The aviation/HAM/whatever spelling code was selected so that it uses
words with no likelihood of mistaken spelling. Even for people with
different first language than English.
Example: Is it Zebra or Cebra?
Is it Phrank or Frank?
:-)
I've never heard of "Phrank", though.
You have to gear your vocabulary to your audience.
The folks using the "phonetic alphabet" likely are accustomed to hearing those names.-a But, folks who are NOT accustomed to it, hear them as unfamiliar words; my grandmother would likely say (in a thick accent):
"Who sooloo?" because "Zulu" wouldn't have been anything she'd ever heard prior.
On Sun, 9 Aug 2026 13:55:31 -0700, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid>
wrote:
On 8/9/2026 1:49 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2026-08-09 22:04, Don Y wrote:
On 8/9/2026 7:47 AM, Martin Brown wrote:
One of the characteristics is that the support line annoying music breaks up
into WWI bombardments or dead silence for quiet bits whilst you are waiting
to talk to support staff. The algorithms are trying to do their best to make
use of what little bandwidth is available.
I've found that the phone responds to the slightest LOCAL sound and uses >>>> that to squelch the incoming sound.-a Similarly, the "leading edges" of >>>> sounds tend to get clipped as it is late to recognize content.
Everything has to be repeated and or spelt out phonetically. Lucky I know >>>>> the Nato standard alphabet codes.
I prefer to use more commonly encountered words -- how many people have ever
heard of a "Zulu"?-a Contrast that with "Zebra".-a David vs Delta.-a Kathy/ Karen
vs Kilo.-a Edward vs Echo.-a Sally vs Sierra.
They're words that more "commonfolk" are familiar with and, thus, likely >>>> to recognize (spoken and transcribed to text in their minds)
The aviation/HAM/whatever spelling code was selected so that it uses words with
no likelihood of mistaken spelling. Even for people with different first >>> language than English.
Example: Is it Zebra or Cebra?
Is it Phrank or Frank?
Neither. F = Foxtrot and P = Papa
The phonetic alphabet was designed so the "pronunciation" is unique or
at least audibly different. Spelling is not a major concern: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_phonetic_alphabet>
Note that in ham radio, there are several variations and mutations
intended to accommodate foreign language DX users: <https://www.hamradioschool.com/articles/phonetic-alphabets.html>
For my ham call sign (AE6KS), I sometimes use "Alpha Echo Six Kant
Spell". The correct response is usually a short delay followed by a
groan. Without creativity, there is little progress.
Martin Brown <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote:
On 09/08/2026 14:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
The sound quality on my mobile 'phone was so atrocious that it was
impossible to hold a normal conversation. I was continually requesting
repeats and sometimes couldn't identify certain words even when the
person tried spelling them with the international phonetic alphabet.
The main problem was caused by the sound cutting in and out, so that
only parts of words were audible.
This occurred regardless of the location or the type of 'phone being
used by the other party, so it was apparent that the cause of the
problem was in my own 'phone.
How much mobile signal do you have? I'm guessing one bar or less.
No, it was happening to every call, no matter where I was located. The
tests with louder volume settings were done from exactly the same
location.
[...]
The 'phone has the facility for hands-free operation, which would need
some sort of complex noise-gating, but this was switched off. I can
only presume the programming is faulty and it was still in use - and at
the wrong point in the audio chain.
That seems unlikely. What brand, model and age is the phone?
TCL Onetouch: Build 07-09-2025. Purchased just over a month ago.
Martin Brown <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote:
On 09/08/2026 14:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
The sound quality on my mobile 'phone was so atrocious that it was
impossible to hold a normal conversation. I was continually requesting
repeats and sometimes couldn't identify certain words even when the
person tried spelling them with the international phonetic alphabet.
The main problem was caused by the sound cutting in and out, so that
only parts of words were audible.
This occurred regardless of the location or the type of 'phone being
used by the other party, so it was apparent that the cause of the
problem was in my own 'phone.
How much mobile signal do you have? I'm guessing one bar or less.
No, it was happening to every call, no matter where I was located. The
tests with louder volume settings were done from exactly the same
location.
I've never heard of "Phrank", though.[We used to always order pizza for "Phred -- with a P"]
You have to gear your vocabulary to your audience.
The folks using the "phonetic alphabet" likely are accustomed to hearing
those names.-a But, folks who are NOT accustomed to it, hear them as
unfamiliar words; my grandmother would likely say (in a thick accent):
"Who sooloo?" because "Zulu" wouldn't have been anything she'd ever heard
prior.
That's true, we learned it.
Curio: being Spanish, I do not know the word for '|#'. I just asked ChatGPT, who
says there is not an official one. It suggests rCL|a de |aurCY.
On 09/08/2026 17:02, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
Martin Brown <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote:
On 09/08/2026 14:42, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
The sound quality on my mobile 'phone was so atrocious that it was
impossible to hold a normal conversation.-a I was continually requesting >>>> repeats and sometimes couldn't identify certain words even when the
person tried spelling them with the international phonetic alphabet.
The main problem was caused by the sound cutting in and out, so that
only parts of words were audible.
This occurred regardless of the location or the type of 'phone being
used by the other party, so it was apparent that the cause of the
problem was in my own 'phone.
How much mobile signal do you have? I'm guessing one bar or less.
No, it was happening to every call, no matter where I was located.-a The
tests with louder volume settings were done from exactly the same
location.
[...]
The 'phone has the facility for hands-free operation, which would need >>>> some sort of complex noise-gating, but this was switched off.-a I can
only presume the programming is faulty and it was still in use - and at >>>> the wrong point in the audio chain.
That seems unlikely. What brand, model and age is the phone?
TCL Onetouch: Build 07-09-2025.-a Purchased just over a month ago.
Test it under good signal conditions just to be certain it is at fault
and if it still misbehaves reject it as defective goods.
A decent mobile phone should be crystal clear if it is working correctly
and there is enough backhaul to support it.
Curio: being Spanish, I do not know the word for '+'. I just asked
ChatGPT, who says there is not an official one. It suggests o- de -uo.
On Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:33:55 +0200, "Carlos E.R."
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Curio: being Spanish, I do not know the word for '|#'. I just asked
ChatGPT, who says there is not an official one. It suggests rCL|a de |aurCY.
You're right. No '|#' in the IPA (International phonetic alphabet). <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Spanish>
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