Hi there - I have had four phones on 02 in the past few years. All of them where pretty old and second hand phones at the time the current one I have is a Nokia 1208.

Now I have noticed that all the phones I have have never got good signal at all, infact not usually even a bar.

Now I was wondering would buying a more expensive phone (Iphone, HTC ect) be more likely to get signal or is there a way I can test this before I purchase one

Thanks.

Seeing as all of the phones show low signal - this suggests that it is almost definitely a fault with the O2 signal where you are. A newer more sophisticated smart phone will not make any difference to that - it will get no signal just like the other phones.

If this has only been happening as of recent, I'd phone O2 as it could be that a mast is down in your area, they should be able to tell you if there is a problem and if it's going to be fixed or not.

If the problem has been long term, it could just be that O2 coverage is not very good in your area, if you've got friends or family on other networks, get them to see what their signal's like where you are to advise you on the best network to go with in future!

It's always been like this but I have noticed something.

For example if I put the Nokia phone on the windowsill i will get full bars ( a bit impractical obviously)
One of the other 02 phones if i put that on the windowsill I will only get 2

In the middle of the room one of the phones gets 2 bars but the others get none

that's what made me think it weas dependant on the phone :S

last few weeks my O2 signal hasnt been as good.

in areas where i used to get full 3G signal, im lucky to get 4 now. i seem to get around 3 bars

O2 reception is borderline at my house, but newer phones have had better reception. For example my old SE P990 was almost zero bars but for select spots upstairs. My HTC Desire is usually fine for text with maybe 2 bars through-out the house.

My SE Elm only gets 2 bars out of the 5 around the house on 3g/HSDPA and I can mostly text fine with it in the house.
I have never seen a 3g sign on my SE Elm just and H sign and once in a while when in town an E sign.
The area I stay in the 3g/HSDPA signal can be 4 bar out of 5 or 1/2 bars out of the 5 with 02.
When I had the SE w302 I used to get 3/4 bars out of the 5 most of the time for signal on gprs and even seen the E(Edge) sign now and again.
I think 02 need to think about making minor improvents to there 3g/HSPDA coverage as more and more newer phones are now 3g/HSDPA.

Darren

I think they need to get some mobile-at-home boxes out so I can use my broadband instead. Luckily most services I want at home are fine on wifi.