[wonkotsane]

I need to change mobile networks and I have the choice of O2 or Vodafone.

T-Mobile hasn't worked here for a few years, Three decommissioned a mast a couple of weeks ago and now I can't get a signal at home and Orange decommissioned a mast a week and a half ago and even though signal isn't a problem, there's no capacity so calls and texts are failing. Neither Three or Orange have any plans to resolve this in the foreseeable future so they have both agreed to terminate contracts early (3 of them).

So which do I choose? O2 or Vodafone? O2's network is in meltdown, just like Orange and T-Mobile. I've not heard about any problems with Vodafone's network but they're rubbish for upgrades.

[Thine Wonk]

Vodafone out of the 2, definitely.

[wonkotsane]

Are there any known problems with Vodafone like there are with Orange/T-Mob/O2?

[Steven L Hunter]

Probably vodafone i'd say its got the best signal.

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonkotsane

Are there any known problems with Vodafone like there are with Orange/T-Mob/O2?

Not that I've heard of.

In my opinion Vodafone has fairly good customer service, good range of handsets, good coverage, fast 3G speeds and pretty reliable network.

The only down side is the data allowances seem to be getting smaller and smaller.

[wonkotsane]

How small? I've got 1gb at the moment. The thing that puts me off with Vodafone is that they're rubbish with upgrades. I used to work for an independent dealer and we avoided Voda where possible because they paid terrible commission - more often than not it wasn't enough to cover the wholesale cost of the cheapest phone available. I've got friends on Voda and they say the upgrades are still rubbish.

[psionic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonkotsane

I need to change mobile networks and I have the choice of O2 or Vodafone.

T-Mobile hasn't worked here for a few years, Three decommissioned a mast a couple of weeks ago and now I can't get a signal at home and Orange decommissioned a mast a week and a half ago and even though signal isn't a problem, there's no capacity so calls and texts are failing. Neither Three or Orange have any plans to resolve this in the foreseeable future so they have both agreed to terminate contracts early (3 of them).

So which do I choose? O2 or Vodafone? O2's network is in meltdown, just like Orange and T-Mobile. I've not heard about any problems with Vodafone's network but they're rubbish for upgrades.

Do you have mates with O2 or Voda and how do their phones work where you are?

[wonkotsane]

Got a couple of friends on Voda - one of them needs a Sure Signal at his house which isn't very reliable, the other doesn't use his phone much. I don't know anyone on O2 round here but my wife knows someone and they said they wish they'd never bothered because they're rubbish. Telford's a big place though.

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonkotsane

How small? I've got 1gb at the moment. The thing that puts me off with Vodafone is that they're rubbish with upgrades. I used to work for an independent dealer and we avoided Voda where possible because they paid terrible commission - more often than not it wasn't enough to cover the wholesale cost of the cheapest phone available. I've got friends on Voda and they say the upgrades are still rubbish.

See http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...light=vodafone

They're now based on tariff cost

£15/£20 = 250mb
£25/£30/£35 = 500mb
£40/£45 = 750mb + 5mb roaming
£60 = 1gb + 5mb roaming

[psionic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonkotsane

Got a couple of friends on Voda - one of them needs a Sure Signal at his house which isn't very reliable, the other doesn't use his phone much. I don't know anyone on O2 round here but my wife knows someone and they said they wish they'd never bothered because they're rubbish. Telford's a big place though.

Tried your postcode on their respective coverage checkers? Here and here.

[wonkotsane]

Hmm, that data allowance is a bit of a turn-off. If only Three still did picocells like the Vodafone Sure Signal, I could stay with them as I'm very happy with them.

[wonkotsane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by psionic

Tried your postcode on their respective coverage checkers? Here and here.

Yep. Neither of them worth writing home about but coverage is adequate. Nothing much between them really and besides, having a full signal is worth jack when the masts are joined up to each other with yoghurt pots and pieces of string. Orange, T-Mobile and Three all show strong signal for my street but you can't get Three at all, T-Mobile is patchy outdoor coverage and Orange is a full signal but there's just no capacity.

[Thine Wonk]

You can buy additional data add-ons I think, you need to price it up with them I guess.

I'm with 3 and I really like it, I'd be horrified if they closed down the mast I can see from my bedroom window!, I get a full bars signal everywhere in the house, I tried other networks like O2, but I don't even get 3G downstairs at home, so I'm pleased with 3.

And I have a nice 1GB allowance which I nearly use every month, some months I get the FUP text, which gets sent at 900MB! I also like the fact that there is no chance of you being charged for excess data usage, the worst that can happen is you lose the data connection until your bill cycle date.

[wonkotsane]

I've only been on Three for 2 and a half months and they decommissioned the mast half a mile away 3 weeks ago. I left Orange because they can't cope with demand and have found myself on Orange at home but paying the bills to Three! A week after Three decommissioned their mast, Orange did the same with the mast over the road and they're even less able to cope with demand than they were before. T-Mobile used to be ok until a few years ago when they built a new mast nearby which bizarrely knocked out the T-Mobile signal.

[TX-UK]

Which area of Telford will you be using it in?, I've been on all the networks and my former job had me travelling around the area all the time so I know what works where and the blackspots in coverage for the Telford area.

Also which 3 & Orange masts have been decomissioned brecause the signal on my 3 phone has decreased in places where it was once full bars

[Steven L Hunter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

You can buy additional data add-ons I think, you need to price it up with them I guess.

I'm with 3 and I really like it, I'd be horrified if they closed down the mast I can see from my bedroom window!, I get a full bars signal everywhere in the house, I tried other networks like O2, but I don't even get 3G downstairs at home, so I'm pleased with 3.

And I have a nice 1GB allowance which I nearly use every month, some months I get the FUP text, which gets sent at 900MB! I also like the fact that there is no chance of you being charged for excess data usage, the worst that can happen is you lose the data connection until your bill cycle date.

Do you not get charged something like £1 per mb when you go over your allowance?

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven L Hunter

Do you not get charged something like £1 per mb when you go over your allowance?

No, not with the contract bolt ons, they just stop working / run out, at least on the one I'm on.

This is different if you get data free with your contract or are on PAYG I think although not sure about those as I've never had one.

[RED_]

I'd go with 02, they are the best in the country although their coverage is poor. Unless you live in London or close to a major city then 02 may not be the best bet. They do offer good upgrades though and all this priority blueroom ticket stuff is a bonus. All the extra features make it 02 for me if you can get the coverage.

[musicman099]

Vodafone.

[ney]

I would go with 02 if I was you. I have been with them for a good few years now and have been 98% happy with them.
The 02 3g/HSDPA signal could do with being improved a little though in some parts of the country.
I know someone thats on T-Mobile and they say in parts of town they sometimes get a weak signal.
I have seen my 02 signal sometimes drop from 5 bars to 3 bars for singal depending what part of town im in.
I have never been to keen on Vodafone but it seemsd to be a little better than T-Mobile.
Dose T-Mobile now share part of there service with the Orange network.

Darren

[Steven L Hunter]

Why do people call it zero two its O2?

[Prodigy71]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RED_

I'd go with 02, they are the best in the country although their coverage is poor. Unless you live in London or close to a major city then 02 may not be the best bet. They do offer good upgrades though and all this priority blueroom ticket stuff is a bonus. All the extra features make it 02 for me if you can get the coverage.

RED! Please help, The opening sentance is a little confusing ' I'd go with 02, they are the best in the country although their coverage is poor '.

So you'd go with the BEST network in the country which has a bad reception but the extra features are a bonus? Mmmm?

[foxla]

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman099

Vodafone.

Avoid Vodafone if you have a smartphone and intend to use it as a smartphone! you are limited to 500MB per month, which for something like an Iphone or Desire, it a waste of time, if you go over 500, you will be hit with another £5 for 501MB to 1GB, then another fiver over that and so on.

[Steven L Hunter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxla

Avoid Vodafone if you have a smartphone and intend to use it as a smartphone! you are limited to 500MB per month, which for something like an Iphone or Desire, it a waste of time, if you go over 500, you will be hit with another £5 for 501MB to 1GB, then another fiver over that and so on.

They never used to charge if you went over is this a new thing? To be honest all the networks give you poor allowance it should be something like 20GB especially if you have the iPhone and want to watch BBC iPlayer its about 400Mb odds per viewing.

[heskethbang]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven L Hunter

Why do people call it zero two its O2?

Because it has zero 3g coverage, zero reliability perhaps?