topic Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me in Network

I can hear people but they cant hear me

BEN666 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 14:32:03 GMT

For more than 5 years i have had very poor signal but the map says 5G 4G signal is top tier as it should be as I'm right next to a busy town with amazing coverage well so the map says. The issue is i can hear people perfectly but when i call lets say my bank or internet provider or holiday agent or even 3 my voice is described as intermittent or non audioble my postcode is CLOSE to SG1 1TF. I Have been given £10 fob off per month off my bill, i had spoken to head 3 tech support: Have you tried to turn it on and off have you tried to put airplane mode on have you tried to reset network settings all this very weak troubleshooting steps that count for nothing, my phones Google pixel samsung Zfold5-6 sim card swap has done nothing 100% a 3 network issue not a customer "my issue" anyone would think im calling from a LED house, the internet is filled with issue 3 network issue for poor signal has anyone found a work around or a 3 agent who knows their job rather than script reading off a screen. Going back to my first comment i can hear people just fine but people cant hear me, now mobile to mobile works ok but its as explained anything else is unusable just to add wifi calling also does nothing to help. Thanks everyone!

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

jr0 — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 10:15:23 GMT

Do you have the same problems/symptoms when your signal is good? Have you installed any apps that show your signal strengh/coverage in more detail?

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

BEN666 — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 11:57:20 GMT

Thanks for the reply, yes signal can be on 4 bars or 3 switched to 4g and 5g on network settings bars are good strength, i have accepted it but there seems to be so logical reason to it, only truthful thing a agent from 3 said was "maybe it will never get better and it will always be like that" at last someone with truth, but my area is amazing for signal with all providers due to where I'm situated but with 3 myself making outbound calls to anyone that is NOT a mobile is shocking useless!

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

PeteG — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 18:08:08 GMT

Hello, Ben.

Could you try making a call that would normally sound intermittent, but do so with the phones Wifi turned off, ensuring you're not connected to a Wifi network when you make the call. Does the call sound any better?

Pete.

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

Samlamantha — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 10:13:23 GMT

I have exactly the same issue in SG4. I can't seem to make any important calls as it seems all calls to businesses they can't hear me, it's super frustrating!

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

PeteG — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 09:53:58 GMT

Hell there.

That's strange. Is it just calls to businesses you are having the issue with?

Pete.

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

BEN666 — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:11:49 GMT

Sorry for the late reply, Yes my wife also has this issue with three with i have Samsung z fold 5 she has iphone 14, as mentioned before this has been going on for over 5 years maybe longer mobile to mobile fine, trying to call my bank or the latest one which sent me over the edge to call 3 and moan yet again was trying to book my holidays of this year, i can hear people just fine but people say they hear 1 word in 6 until eventually its Hello Hello Hello? how frustrating is this when your in a que for 45 minutes then have calls like this, wifi on or off i have found has made no difference, when looking at the phone is says 4/3 bars no issues at all on signal, 3 agent was quick to compensate me which clearly shows i know something you dont? just for everyone's attention i work in IT enjoy tech and understand network and intermediate troubleshooting more than the 3 support script readers, i really appreciate the reply's its good to talk, i only came back to 3 because the of good handset deal was amazing! we all know country wide 3 network is one of the most worst for quality it might have alll the buzz words 5g coverage bells and whistles quality is shocking, maybe its my fault for walking into the same problem! But on the back end of my postcode and doing all the check 5g 4g according to three is extremely high and good signal where i am clearly not.

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

BEN666 — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:13:21 GMT

Oh its crazy Banks, or business, or internet provider, PayPal, or anything landline related mobile to mobile is ok!

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

BEN666 — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:20:13 GMT

Yes PeteG mobile to mobile fine, Paypal, or Virgin media, or my 2 banks, or my holiday agent ect ect its wifi on or off no difference.

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

BEN666 — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:21:03 GMT

Wifi on or off makes no difference nor does wifo calling.

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

PeteG — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 10:07:35 GMT

I'm not sure what would be causing that to happen. Having the issue while on Wifi calling rules out a signal issue though. Just to be sure your phone is actually making the call over Wifi during your testing, could you put the phone into airplane mode, then test a call to a landline to see if the issue persists?

Pete.

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

BEN666 — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 12:27:08 GMT

That is one thing i havent tried i will give it ago! as mentioned before this is an issue that has been going on for over 5 years possibly much longer, makes sense because if people call me from a business its fine its when im out bounding my calls. just have accepted it for what it is clearly a three issue as we have tried 4 different phones over the years different OS sims makes no difference, very frustrating speaking to foreign call centres who are reading of a script tech support is " have you tried to turn it off" have you reset network settings oh well thats my tech support done have £10 off

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

BEN666 — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 10:41:15 GMT

I thought i would update this post with not resolved i placed a call to Virgin media weekend just gone, same old, Ben your voice is crackling Ben your un audioable Ben let me call you back, once i was called back perfection! call went on for 45 minutes no issues, hence very fast giving me £10 off someone at 3 knows exactly what the issues are or is.

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

JonUK — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 21:14:10 GMT

Bump, exact same issue as described.

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

BEN666 — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 08:50:45 GMT

Hi Jon, since Vodaphone has merged with 3 I'm seeing MASS improvement, i have called my travel agent along with NEXT customer service centre had no issues. Im now hoping this has resolved the issue needless to say its LUCK that's solved it nothing technical, IMO 3 has one of the worst signals but deals on handsets direct or 3rd party are always very good, i will keep a eye on things and monitor but as mentioned before, over 7 years maybe 10 this has been an issue, Vodaphone merge comes in and it stops?

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

3plusVoIPEqBad — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:21:40 GMT

Exactly the same thing for me.

Mobile to mobile, no problem.

Me calling businesses = Agent saying: "I can't make you out / your voice keeps cutting out".
I can always hear them without any issues, crystal clear. Though sometimes there is a delay.

If they call back then usually the issue is resolved. But a lot of call centres won't call you back.

SUPER frustrating if you've been on hold for 1 hour. Agent usually will just hang up on you.

SW London area. issues with two different iPhones on two different THREE SIM cards. iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 10.

My guess is that there is some sort of bitrate/audio incompatibility between Three and most major IP Phone services/hardware

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

3plusVoIPEqBad — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:22:03 GMT

Exactly the same thing for me.

Mobile to mobile, no problem.

Me calling businesses = Agent saying: "I can't make you out / your voice keeps cutting out".
I can always hear them without any issues, crystal clear. Though sometimes there is a delay.

If they call back then usually the issue is resolved. But a lot of call centres won't call you back.

SUPER frustrating if you've been on hold for 1 hour. Agent usually will just hang up on you.

SW London area. issues with two different iPhones on two different THREE SIM cards. iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 10.

My guess is that there is some sort of bitrate/audio incompatibility between Three and most major IP Phone services/hardware.

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

3plusVoIPEqBad — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:53:58 GMT

I would like to add that finally I gave up and moved to EE. Now no problems at all.

Here below is an outline of what I think the issue is:

"If you’re on Three and call centres can’t hear you properly (especially numbers or postcodes), but everything works when they call you back, it’s usually a VoLTE uplink codec issue rather than a problem with your phone. When you make an outbound call, your voice is compressed using codecs like AMR or AMR-WB, and Three’s network can sometimes apply aggressive compression or negotiate poorly with VoIP systems used by call centres (e.g. SIP platforms). This mainly affects your outgoing audio, making it sound distorted or unclear to them, while incoming audio remains fine.

EE generally doesn’t have this issue because it tends to use higher bitrate profiles and more consistent codec handling, with better interoperability between mobile and VoIP networks. In short, EE preserves voice quality more reliably, whereas Three can degrade it under certain routing conditions."

I am wondering why this is not more widespread but it seems the issue takes in a lot of variables and some people are more effected, it could even be the tone/depth of your particular vocal range. Maybe those with deeper voices get more issues, i don't know.

Re: I can hear people but they cant hear me

3plusVoIPEqBad — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:56:35 GMT

I ended up swapping over to EE, no issues as of yet.

here is an explanation I found that makes sense:

"If you’re on Three and call centres can’t hear you properly (especially numbers or postcodes), but everything works when they call you back, it’s usually a VoLTE uplink codec issue rather than a problem with your phone. When you make an outbound call, your voice is compressed using codecs like AMR or AMR-WB, and Three’s network can sometimes apply aggressive compression or negotiate poorly with VoIP systems used by call centres (e.g. SIP platforms). This mainly affects your outgoing audio, making it sound distorted or unclear to them, while incoming audio remains fine.

EE generally doesn’t have this issue because it tends to use higher bitrate profiles and more consistent codec handling, with better interoperability between mobile and VoIP networks. In short, EE preserves voice quality more reliably, whereas Three can degrade it under certain routing conditions."

It seems some people are more effected because of many variables, even could be your vocal range and other variables.

Will update if having any issues with EE.