Seil Chat

jimcee wrote:If they were unwilling to address this subject, it would almost suggest that either they were uncomfortable with the subject, or considered purely local concerns unworthy of their notice

Oh for goodness' sake . . . it is a meeting to discuss the forthcoming referendum Jim. There are other more appropriate times and places to lobby for a phone signal, as you are well aware. You are arguing for the sake of arguing now, and should perhaps step away from the keyboard for a while.

I have said that if you want to progress this matter the next step should be for you - and as many people as possible - to email Alan Read or Mike Russell. Is that somehow beyond your competence?

I have no intention of taking the matter any further personally as I have other more pressing matters demanding my attention.

Fully agree with you Jim!

Sadly it appears that the quest of the YES vote has overtaken ......... !!!

The message I'm getting is that local issues are of no importance to the Yes campaigners

Snoman

Gavin Rae wrote:The message I'm getting is that local issues are of no importance to the Yes campaigners

What a thoughtless and somewhat offensive remark. What are YOU doing about the mobile phone signal ? Why aren't YOU contacting the relevant MP and MSP?

As for doing stuf for the local community . . . Well, I do my bit and will continue to do so. What exactly are you doing for the local community that gives you the right to be such a critic ? And why can't you do something about the mobile phone problem yourself if it is so important to you? My voice alone carries no more weight with the relevant people and bodies than any other signatory of the petition. I have indicated what I think the next step should be, so get typing.

Myself and one other Chat user put a lot of work into organising the original petition. The rest of you did nothing other than append your signatures. Now if you want anything further done it is time to get off your backsides and do it yourselves.

For info

The company who were awarded the original £150 k contract are ARQIVA

I continue to have regular dialogue with them - sadly I do not think Seil is even on their radar
for a feasibility study not at least in 2014 !!

Snoman

3 things I would like to see happen in the not too distant future:-

1 - A yes vote.

2 - A mobile signal for Seil

3 - The national speed limit sign straightened up.

All of which I have the luxury of having a say in.

Kevin,
Hope you are enjoying all those delightful recipes which are now at your fingertips.
Regarding your wish list and the influence you have on them - on number 1&2 just the same as any other punter.
But on No3 - if you have any chance of correcting things - apart from a bit of lobbying, could you make sure that the northbound left hand sign is either repositioned to make it visible or the surrounding foliage is trimmed back to make it visible to those who should be taking cognisance of it.
If you are, as you say, influential in these matters (practically), I can lend you a pair of loppers to assist you with this task ( I could throw in the use of a pair of step ladders, should this prove necessary).
Your devotion to the Seil life is to be commended and while we will have to differ on Clause1, I will go along with you all the way on 2 & 3

Jim / Kevin

Snoman Observations today ...... ! (On trip into Oban )

1. what a honk from the sewage station at 9.30 am

2. Certainly saw some activity on one of the 30 mph signs in Clachan this morning around 9.30

Don't know if that is the road sign you guys are talking about - A and B Van in situ!

3 . The YES banner has disappeared from Clachan Bridge ?

4 . What a glorious day on Seil today ... !!!

5. Met Office weather not so good for Wednesday PM and Thursday



Snoman

I have no influence, only a voice. I phoned the council about the signs after nearly getting belted with the Oban sightseeing bus doing about 55 in a 30.... Heed the baw of a driver...

Well Kevin - think you're call may have had the desired effect. !!

Lol - let's see if 'heed the baw ' pays more attention with his wing mirrors !!!

Snoman

.
A COMMISSION to improve connectivity for Scotland’s rural communities will be set up if there is a yes vote for independence, the Scottish Government said.

Scotsman article

Hopefully one will also be set up in the unfortunate event of a NO vote ?

.

This looks like a possible solution:

Vodaphone SureSignal plan for rural communities

It's not going to enable the whole island, but it could provide hotspots (Balvicar Shop would be ideal, and perhaps the Hall if there is 4mbs broadband speed available there)

Nick

You would be surprised how much coverage this provides

I have a colleague who lives in Kinlochard near Aberfoyle They have had an open sure signal for a while

It has 5 or 6 transmitters and covers not only the village but also the west end of the loch

Triple 9 calls can be made from any phone network but you have to have a vodafone network to take advantage

Snoman

.
So what are the Community Council going to do?

Are they setting up as 'village champion' and asking about sites?

Can any CC member reading this please bring it up at the next meeting?

In the meantime whilst waiting for a mast there are new solutions for indoor mobile coverage over wifi., EE is planing a service for this autumn which will allow you to recieve text and calls over wifi without an app.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/m ... -WiFi.html

And Three and O2 have already recently launched services which allow you to make and receive mobile calls and texts over wifi using a smartphone app called "three in touch" and "o2 tu go"

http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-BIN ... T(EM43577)

http://www.o2.co.uk/help/products-and-services/tu-go

Hi Alice

Yes you are right !

I have vodafone 'sure signal ' device in my house - this works very well and has a coverage which extends to the garden and about 30 m from the house - it provides a strong signal but at a price £85

I also operate a TU -GO app on my I pad - this is an O2 broadband connection - it normally works well but occasionally drops calls - OK though

Both are adequate but at the end of the day we really do need a 'community' signal that allows wider use outside and most importantly for emergency calls

Snoman

UK Government Consultation on mobile phones:

"Do you have poor mobile phone signal where you live, so have a limited choice of networks? Or do you know of areas where there is poor coverage on your network?

The government wants to tackle the problem of "partial not-spots", which it says affect 20% of the UK. These are areas where there may be a signal from one or two networks, but not all (ie O2, Vodafone, EE and Three).

It has issued a consultation (42 page PDF); main points summarised below.

The government is proposing four options to address these partial not-spots:
broadening coverage by encouraging the networks to share their infrastructure (eg masts), or if they do not agree to this then by obliging the networks to do so
encourage "mobile virtual network operators" (companies which offer their own service but use one of the main networks, eg TalkTalk Mobile and Virgin Mobile) to expand by having agreements with more than one main network, so their customers would get broader coverage by being able to access multiple networks
national roaming - if you do not have signal with your own network you would automatically access another network, like when you are abroad
do nothing

The key questions are (you don't have to answer them all):

Where do you experience poor signal and which network are you with? Which services can you access (calls, text, internet)? Do you know whether other networks have better coverage in this area, and which these are?

Do you agree that the government should try and extend mobile network coverage? What do you think of the solutions above? Which would you prefer to be implemented and why?"


Email your experiences and thoughts to partialnotspots@culture.gsi.gov.uk by Wed 26 November

Having just read the 'Christmas edition' OT I was disappointed to see that ARGYLL and BUTE still has 42% NO SPOTS

Let's hope that the Vodafone Sure Signal initiative brings some positive movements on the island or indeed this latest cash injection provides us with some kind of mobile phone reception in 2015

I would like to think that this could also be 'vote gainer' Nick !!

Lol A Pint of your 'favourite ' from The T@T is yours if this happens in 2015 ........ !!!

Snoman