Frequently get a poor signal when other phones work fine. I am in outskirts of croydon and so woudl have thought I should be able to get good signal

Good chance that either the switch itself is bad and only making connection when it feels like it. I'd also check the power supply to the switch and make sure any of the connectors aren't corroded.
Brake and signal lights are on their own circuit....that's why they still work. Personally, I'm betting on the switch.

Hi,
You may have : - Poor network signal ( Is your area has good signal?) - Broken SIM card ( Is your SIM crashed?) - Damaged Phone ( it could be some parts inside phone that not work properly)
Please investigate all above items.

First of all,put the SIM card into another phone which you can be sure that there are no faults with it and check whether you're getting a good enough signal strength than your nokia 5230 phone.
If you're not,then its not a fault with your nokia 5230.
If your area has a poor signal strength from your current service provider,move into another service provider who has more signal strength within your area if you can.

Restrictions -34 Is No signal Went outside my house works fine.Found that I had Poor signal in my house

I have the same problem, and so far the only solution is patience. If you are in a cutting, or between tall buildings, and the satellites are low down on the horizon, then it seems reasonable that reception will be between poor and zero. But in wide open spaces mine too sometimes loses the signal. Hang in there, and contact is restored.
LocoTorque

u must get it normally serviced

Need more information.
You said that it was working good a year ago.
this could be several things if the phone has been dropped then the connections n the back could have came lose or your network around your area has been infected by another mast which makes it lose signal other one is wear and tear and get a new phone. sorry to say

please clean your motherboard with accitone
and give a little bit of heat on motherboard
hope it works

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thanks

Open phone then with camera lens facing you squeeze area between camera

lens and vol up/down buttons.  This reseats the ribbon cable located under

the cover.  It becomes loose with all the opening and closing of the phone. 

Well. i think there is some problem with the mobile phone.i have the same phone and it's working fine one of my member in the house has samsung he has the signal problem in the house only all member of the house own nokia brand mobile phone and they never had any signal problem and even the people says that all i can say is that get your mobile checked with some one professional