Weird Apple iPhone Receiving Calls Issue

[Neuk_]

We have one of those cellular based gate intercom systems, which I hate and plan to replace at some stage but can't for the foreseeable future., shared by us and the neighbours behind us as we share the street gate and part of a driveway. I have asked our neighbours if they are experiencing issues but have yet to hear back, for some reason the iPhone we use which has a Vodacom SIM in it does not ring and goes straight to voicemail when the intercom 'calls' it. I can call the iPhone from my personal phone and it rings just fine, I have rebooted the intercom system, rebooted the gate iPhone, removed any and all blocked numbers and anything else I can think of but the issue persists.

Anything else I need to look in to?

 

[PhireSide]

You're holding it wrong /s

On a serious note, that is weird. Can you replace the SIM in the gate with another number, then have it dial from there to your phone and see if that works? Not sure if that entails extra configuration or what though.

Or if you put the 'gate' iPhone SIM into another handset and try see if it goes through then, to work out where the issue could be.

 

[Rickster]

Vodacom always have weird kak going on, how easy is it to change the sim in the iphone to MTN/telkom and test.

 

[Neuk_]

Thanks for the suggestion @PhireSide and @Rickster. I am trying to see what I can do before I involve the neighbours and the gent that installed/maintains the intercom. If it was just our intercom and the neighbours didn't rely on it as well, I'd be in there like swimwear...

 

[stassenjaco]

Had a similar issue with our in-office call forwarding...
On the iPhone go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers (if it's on iOS 26 or later) and check that this is set to 'Never'.
If it's in a 'Focus' mode, check that the 'Allow calls from' also has 'Everybody' selected.

 

[creeper]

Also add the gate number to your contacts and check if focus mode is t activated. First prevents the unknown caller issue and 2) allows for normal calls to come through

 

[Neuk_]

Thanks @stassenjaco and @creeper. Silence Unknown Callers was on but I added the intercom cell number as a contact in the phone a long, long, long time ago. No Focus mode activated or even setup at the moment but I added the intercom number as an Emergency contact anyway. I'll test and see what happens...

Does anyone know if there is any blocking at the cellular provider level?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Stick SIM in different phone and check?

Not running Truecaller?

Possible number has changed without you knowing?

 

[Neuk_]

Thanks @SauRoNZA. I'll try the sim in a different phone, have a few old ones lying around, none as old as his though which is a 7 from what I remember. There is bugger all installed on the phone, it is left in a drawer after we inherited from the previous owners of the house. I doubt the number has changed as the phone gets the 'You missed a call from xxxx' messages and voicemails...

 

[Neuk_]

Tried the sim in another iPhone and it worked. Swopped the sim back and noticed WiFi calling was on so switched it off. And it worked, I don't think WiFi calling would have an impact so hopefully it stays working as I have too many niggling issues to sort out at our house at the moment.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Lekker.

By the way it’s pretty easy to create a Siri Shortcut to automatically call that number when you get home so the gate opens itself.

“Smart” home.

 

[Neuk_]

Lekker.

By the way it’s pretty easy to create a Siri Shortcut to automatically call that number when you get home so the gate opens itself.

“Smart” home.

How would that work? We need to press a number on the phone after it accepts the call to open the gate...

P.S. My plan is to fit something like a Sonoff SV so I can remotely open the gate.

 

[SauRoNZA]

How would that work? We need to press a number on the phone after it accepts the call to open the gate...

P.S. My plan is to fit something like a Sonoff SV so I can remotely open the gate.

Aah okay, that’s different.

Many of these it’s a case of just needing to call that number and when it receives the call from a configured number it opens.

Shelly1 is a little less painful no soldering required and already boxed.

 

[Neuk_]

Aah okay, that’s different.

Many of these it’s a case of just needing to call that number and when it receives the call from a configured number it opens.

Shelly1 is a little less painful no soldering required and already boxed.

I think my thinking is wrong, I was thinking of the number that gets called, not the number that makes the call, maybe there is a way to do it.

Which Shelly1? I used a Sonoff SV preconfigured as a gate/garage motor opener in our last place and it was dead simple to setup and get working. I have a Sonoff SV in the cupboard though but open to other options as we have two gates and a garage that I want to make smart eventually.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I think my thinking is wrong, I was thinking of the number that gets called, not the number that makes the call, maybe there is a way to do it.

Which Shelly1? I used a Sonoff SV preconfigured as a gate/garage motor opener in our last place and it was dead simple to setup and get working. I have a Sonoff SV in the cupboard though but open to other options as we have two gates and a garage that I want to make smart eventually.

The actual 1.

Shelly 1 Gen3 - Shelly SA

Shelly 1 Gen3 Wi-Fi-operated smart switch. Allows control remotely a wide range of home appliances and office equipment (lights, powerlines, […]

shellysa.co.za

Usually the SV needs soldering and being boxes where the Shelly just works out the box.

Also doesn’t need any fancy firmware etc to make it work, just the standard stuff and integrates in HA cleanly.

Use them with my gate and garage.

And runs on AC or DC.

 

[Neuk_]

The actual 1.

Shelly 1 Gen3 - Shelly SA

Shelly 1 Gen3 Wi-Fi-operated smart switch. Allows control remotely a wide range of home appliances and office equipment (lights, powerlines, […]

shellysa.co.za

Usually the SV needs soldering and being boxes where the Shelly just works out the box.

Also doesn’t need any fancy firmware etc to make it work, just the standard stuff and integrates in HA cleanly.

Use them with my gate and garage.

And runs on AC or DC.

Thanks, I'll take a look.