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O2's coverage map doesn't make any sense
reclusive46
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My company phone is on O2 and I was looking at the coverage map and it doesn't seem to make any sense.
For example if you type in NR7 on the coverage map. It says there is no 3G coverage right next to a 3G mast!!! (Or not very good) Has anyone else found things like on the map?
For example if you type in NR7 on the coverage map. It says there is no 3G coverage right next to a 3G mast!!! (Or not very good) Has anyone else found things like on the map?
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I noticed the same thing as I live near you. They've missed out the coverage of two different 3G masts. It would help if they updated their coverage checker weekly like Vodafone does.
Considering its meant to be a computer that works this out, you wonder how this happened. I guess the masts weren't inputted in as 3G.
The coverage map says it was updated the 30th of last month + Some of these masts have been up for a year or two (One of them proberly longer)
It's usually once a month now.
They need to at the moment. Coverage is changing quite a lot at the amount with 3G 900mhz roll out.
Yeah usually they use coverage prediction software, so it's odd if masts appear plotted on the map, but aren't showing as radiating a signal on the map that's odd. Maybe they aren't active or are being decommissioned or never got marked as live status on the system, who knows...
It's a shame, but it doesn't look as if you can click on a cell and then look if it's a 900Mhz or a 2100Mhz? I know you can see this on the Ofcom map, but not sure how up to date that is.
Coverage looks a bit better around me looks like the local 3G cell has been upgraded to 900Mhz which has given it a slightly wider radius.
When you say "type in NR7" do you mean literally typing in NR7 or typing in NR7 xxx (if you see what I mean)?
I ask because O2's coverage map has given different results for part postcode and full postcode for quite some time, as has the status checker. Either way, it's always best to have the "show masts" option on I've found, and to compare the 3G map with the 3G900 one.
Sitefinder's updated every three months or so; http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/sitefinder/about-sitefinder
It's voluntarily updated though, EE refuse and O2 isn't up to date for my area as there are 3 cells nearby with no 900Mhz UMTS showing yet O2's coverage map changes when I toggle 900.
Ofcom may update it every 3 months, but the operators aren't that good at submitting data to it, especially EE as they don't submit it due to some dispute with Ofcom over it.
Yes, as it says on the link, the operators (except Airwave and EE) update their information on a voluntary basis every 3 months or so.
That being said, it took about 6 months for O2's 3G900 masts here to show up on sitefinder, even though there'd been an update in the meantime, but the shared 2100Mhz mast with Vodafone popped up on the very next update, so it is erratic.
I know three,.EE & o2 do one
http://www.o2.co.uk/coveragechecker
Crucially, they now allow you to zoom out on the 3g map.
This is interesting: It allows you to see just how much progress they've made extending coverage via 3g 900, which, particularly in rural areas, seems to have made a real difference.
The other interesting thing to note is just how shockingly low 3g 2100 coverage is. Not a jot still over large swathes of the country. In particular, north of the central belt in Scotland.
The way it's progressing, EE's 4g offering may well look comparable to O2 3g within another 6 months or so... unless VF and O2 really get their fingers out with Cornerstone - quickly!
I speak as an o2 customer... I'd love to switch to EE - but as it stands, I need to make calls and texts for work - and nothing beats o2's 2g 900 in building coverage. I've tried EE network sims, and they just don't do the business indoors - and crucially, don't switch down from 3g to 2g as well as o2 does.
I'd *love* a decent 3g network - but *need* good indoor coverage... time for a dual sim phone?
They nolonger show you 3G without 2G, even if you click the 3G button as far as I can tell.
You click the 3G900 button you would think you are only seeing 3G, when in fact you are seeing 2G and 3G voice and text coverage, which is misleading. I can't see how you see 3G only.
How do you know it's a 3G mast?
http://oi47.tinypic.com/15umfo.jpg
It's very misleading that when you click 3G900 or 3G, it also shows you 2G and 3G. It's only if you put a postcode in and select mobile internet and then 3G900 and zoom out that you see the full horror.
http://i.imgur.com/ppurl.png
EE 3G
http://i.imgur.com/T7XIQ.png
For impartiality i would include Voda (they don't allow it zoomed out) and Three doesn't go far enough out either.
Oh my god! That's... really really bad.
I think they've made a mistake letting people zoom out to be honest. That's is shocking 10 years on from 3G launch, absolutely shocking.
Yes its truly shocking. Ive compared networks before and O2 really couldn't give a f**k about their 3G coverage :mad:
Ive said before the rule of thumb with O2 is go outside any major town or city and it GPRS all the way :mad:
Im just waiting on Wavejock coming in to their defence
Probably on the phone to O2/Giffgaff PR to see how they want it spun...