Orange/T-Mobile Shared Network Coverage

YingYang · 13-11-2010, 22:43

I'm an Orange PAYG mobile phone customer. Today Orange sent me a text saying: "I can now sign-up to receive signals from both Orange & T-Mobile". In essence this theoretically means that my phone can now roam between the 2 service providers within the UK at no extra cost to me. So, supposedly, I should experience an enhanced network coverage overall. Is this what actually happens? Or is it largely hype and hence, a tatic used to get you to sign-up? Has anyone signed-up to this service yet? If you have, have you experienced any off putting problems already? I've read the help & support/FAQ sections of both companies but neither provides detailed troubleshooting information that's device-specific. Any advice, feedback &/or personal accounts of this service will be gratefully received! Thanks.

Orange info: https://kareena.orange.co.uk/share/

T-Mobile info: www.t-mobile.co.uk/share/

Lummo · 14-11-2010, 00:06

I have signed up for it and has come in handy in the few places I have no signal as it just swaps to T-Mobile with no extra charges at all or anything. Not had any problems with it myself.

YingYang · 14-11-2010, 00:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lummo

I have signed up for it and has come in handy in the few places I have no signal as it just swaps to T-Mobile with no extra charges at all or anything. Not had any problems with it myself.

Thanks for that. I can be a little over-cautious at times re: committing myself to new services. But I think I'll give it at try as it doesn't sound like I've got anything to lose.

DANCE OF DEATH · 14-11-2010, 01:08

I have signed up to it as it also helps me out when I don't have a signal in some places.

Resonance · 14-11-2010, 05:56

I signed up and it works well.

rj414i · 14-11-2010, 14:40

Yes I signed up, it works well. My phone has switched dozens of times in the last 2 weeks since.
No problems at all.
Next year i believe that you will have to opt out not in anyway, so might as well get the benifit sooner.

Resonance · 14-11-2010, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by rj414i

Yes I signed up, it works well. My phone has switched dozens of times in the last 2 weeks since.
No problems at all.
Next year i believe that you will have to opt out not in anyway, so might as well get the benifit sooner.

Next year the networks will be completely integrated, so you won't have a choice. At the moment you can't roam back to your home network mid-call. Next year you will be able to.

Russ_WWFC · 14-11-2010, 18:10

Hopefully this will solve my flaky reception at work. I am reluctant to turn on data roaming though, the bills would be horrendous if I took it abroard what with synching and emails!

hotmat3k · 14-11-2010, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ_WWFC

Hopefully this will solve my flaky reception at work. I am reluctant to turn on data roaming though, the bills would be horrendous if I took it abroard what with synching and emails!

Data roaming is fine in the UK. It just enables the phone to switch between the two networks without any hesitation (as each others networks are seen as alien to each other). Slowly the networks are being migrated and I think later this year (when it gets closer to becoming Everyone Everywhere), data services can be shared across the two. Watch O2s and Vodafones mobile signals look feeble very soon

.

ForestChav · 14-11-2010, 22:50

Data roaming only costs mega bucks when you're abroad.

jonmorris · 14-11-2010, 23:55

Yes, but it is worth remembering that because you've turned on data roaming for the UK (and without any charge), you are liable to be automatically ripped off when you step outside of the UK!

And even in the EU, charges for data are stupidly high.

ForestChav · 15-11-2010, 00:10

No you aren't.

Go abroad, turn off data roaming. simples.

radiosgalore · 15-11-2010, 10:55

i'm on t-mobile and it has worked a few times but usually when i'm in a bad signal area it's bad for both. Parts of Redditch where a number of my friends are have very well known blackspots for one. and strangely here in Birmingham my parents have a network rail tower nearby that tends to do a serious number on signals. I can only surmise the same general frequencies are used and the phone is getting front end overload or something to that effect

whackyracer · 15-11-2010, 16:59

I tried it and it was awful. Edge coverage in areas I had previously had 3G and no coverage in some areas at all. I opted out very quickly.

156418 · 15-11-2010, 19:03

I opted into this yesterday, and my phone roamed onto "T-Mobile Orange" (with Edge) a few times on the train where I'd normally get No Service, also surprised to see it had roamed when walking along the Embankment at lunchtime.

AIUI at the moment phones should only roam when there's no coverage on the home network, rather than goto whatever is the strongest,

jonmorris · 15-11-2010, 20:48

AFAIK your phone will only roam when it loses your home network - which is always a priority. Thus it won't just swap around at will (mine only goes to T-Mobile when I'm at home where Orange is rubbish).

It's also important to remember that the roaming is only on 2G, so you won't get the benefit of 3G/HSPA until next year. But, for receiving voice calls or texts, it's better than nothing.

You don't have to opt-in, but I think fairly few people wouldn't be better off.

Daveoc64 · 15-11-2010, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonmorris

AFAIK your phone will only roam when it loses your home network - which is always a priority. Thus it won't just swap around at will (mine only goes to T-Mobile when I'm at home where Orange is rubbish).

Quote:

Originally Posted by 156418

AIUI at the moment phones should only roam when there's no coverage on the home network, rather than goto whatever is the strongest,

That depends on the way that the phone is designed.

jonmorris · 15-11-2010, 23:48

I did say that before, but I am pretty sure the GSM spec is still to seek your home network over anything else. Of course, usually when you're roaming the home network doesn't exist, so then it goes to the strongest network, or the highest priority PLMN.

Now, I seem to recall that Nokia handsets would re-order the priority by itself, based on a manual scan. Others would seek what was on the SIM card. Orange will and does reprogramme the SIM from time to time with PLMNs that are take priority, and the recent SIM update sent for this roaming no doubt placed T-Mobile (and Orange vice versa) as top.

But, all of my training is about GSM and not 3G. I am not sure if it is any different.

andy.saunders · 28-11-2010, 13:08

I'm on Orange and signed up, I have an X10, should the Network Operator should be set to Orange or Orange T Mobile?

Thanks,

Andy

Mike_1101 · 28-11-2010, 13:30

Is there any chance of Vodaphone & O2 doing something similar, if only to cut costs?

156418 · 28-11-2010, 13:42

They already are according to The Register, although its a Network Infrastructure Share rather than a merger

Mike_1101 · 28-11-2010, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by 156418

They already are according to The Register, although its a Network Infrastructure Share rather than a merger

That's good.

Appleseed · 28-11-2010, 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy.saunders

I'm on Orange and signed up, I have an X10, should the Network Operator should be set to Orange or Orange T Mobile?

Thanks,

Andy

It should be set to 'auto' in order to wander between the two networks.

jonmorris · 28-11-2010, 20:16

If you select Orange T-Mobile then you'll be locked to 2G only.

Waffles · 29-11-2010, 12:49

I signed up to this a few days ago and ever since, my iPhone 3GS has just said 'No Service'.

Have the network selection on Automatic but it makes no difference if I choose Orange, it still says 'No Service'...

What happened?!

13-11-2010, 22:43	#1
YingYang Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 814	Orange/T-Mobile Shared Network Coverage I'm an Orange PAYG mobile phone customer. Today Orange sent me a text saying: "I can now sign-up to receive signals from both Orange & T-Mobile". In essence this theoretically means that my phone can now roam between the 2 service providers within the UK at no extra cost to me. So, supposedly, I should experience an enhanced network coverage overall. Is this what actually happens? Or is it largely hype and hence, a tatic used to get you to sign-up? Has anyone signed-up to this service yet? If you have, have you experienced any off putting problems already? I've read the help & support/FAQ sections of both companies but neither provides detailed troubleshooting information that's device-specific. Any advice, feedback &/or personal accounts of this service will be gratefully received! Thanks. Orange info: https://kareena.orange.co.uk/share/ T-Mobile info: www.t-mobile.co.uk/share/

14-11-2010, 00:06	#2
Lummo Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 6,737	I have signed up for it and has come in handy in the few places I have no signal as it just swaps to T-Mobile with no extra charges at all or anything. Not had any problems with it myself.

14-11-2010, 00:30	#3
YingYang Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 814	Quote: Originally Posted by Lummo I have signed up for it and has come in handy in the few places I have no signal as it just swaps to T-Mobile with no extra charges at all or anything. Not had any problems with it myself. Thanks for that. I can be a little over-cautious at times re: committing myself to new services. But I think I'll give it at try as it doesn't sound like I've got anything to lose.

14-11-2010, 01:08	#4
DANCE OF DEATH Guest Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4,723	I have signed up to it as it also helps me out when I don't have a signal in some places.

14-11-2010, 05:56	#5
Resonance Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 9,212	I signed up and it works well.

14-11-2010, 14:40	#6
rj414i Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lydney,Gloucestershire Posts: 66	Yes I signed up, it works well. My phone has switched dozens of times in the last 2 weeks since. No problems at all. Next year i believe that you will have to opt out not in anyway, so might as well get the benifit sooner.

14-11-2010, 14:44	#7
Resonance Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 9,212	Quote: Originally Posted by rj414i Yes I signed up, it works well. My phone has switched dozens of times in the last 2 weeks since. No problems at all. Next year i believe that you will have to opt out not in anyway, so might as well get the benifit sooner. Next year the networks will be completely integrated, so you won't have a choice. At the moment you can't roam back to your home network mid-call. Next year you will be able to.

14-11-2010, 18:10	#8
Russ_WWFC Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,710	Hopefully this will solve my flaky reception at work. I am reluctant to turn on data roaming though, the bills would be horrendous if I took it abroard what with synching and emails!

14-11-2010, 22:41	#9
hotmat3k Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,367	Quote: Originally Posted by Russ_WWFC Hopefully this will solve my flaky reception at work. I am reluctant to turn on data roaming though, the bills would be horrendous if I took it abroard what with synching and emails! Data roaming is fine in the UK. It just enables the phone to switch between the two networks without any hesitation (as each others networks are seen as alien to each other). Slowly the networks are being migrated and I think later this year (when it gets closer to becoming Everyone Everywhere), data services can be shared across the two. Watch O2s and Vodafones mobile signals look feeble very soon .

14-11-2010, 22:50	#10
ForestChav Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nottingham -You lost the game! Posts: 31,738	Data roaming only costs mega bucks when you're abroad.

14-11-2010, 23:55	#11
jonmorris Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: a land filled with trolls Posts: 12,018	Yes, but it is worth remembering that because you've turned on data roaming for the UK (and without any charge), you are liable to be automatically ripped off when you step outside of the UK! And even in the EU, charges for data are stupidly high.

15-11-2010, 00:10	#12
ForestChav Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nottingham -You lost the game! Posts: 31,738	No you aren't. Go abroad, turn off data roaming. simples.

15-11-2010, 10:55	#13
radiosgalore Guest Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 5,116	i'm on t-mobile and it has worked a few times but usually when i'm in a bad signal area it's bad for both. Parts of Redditch where a number of my friends are have very well known blackspots for one. and strangely here in Birmingham my parents have a network rail tower nearby that tends to do a serious number on signals. I can only surmise the same general frequencies are used and the phone is getting front end overload or something to that effect

15-11-2010, 16:59	#14
whackyracer Guest Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 13,792	I tried it and it was awful. Edge coverage in areas I had previously had 3G and no coverage in some areas at all. I opted out very quickly.

15-11-2010, 19:03	#15
156418 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,467	I opted into this yesterday, and my phone roamed onto "T-Mobile Orange" (with Edge) a few times on the train where I'd normally get No Service, also surprised to see it had roamed when walking along the Embankment at lunchtime. AIUI at the moment phones should only roam when there's no coverage on the home network, rather than goto whatever is the strongest,

15-11-2010, 20:48	#16
jonmorris Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: a land filled with trolls Posts: 12,018	AFAIK your phone will only roam when it loses your home network - which is always a priority. Thus it won't just swap around at will (mine only goes to T-Mobile when I'm at home where Orange is rubbish). It's also important to remember that the roaming is only on 2G, so you won't get the benefit of 3G/HSPA until next year. But, for receiving voice calls or texts, it's better than nothing. You don't have to opt-in, but I think fairly few people wouldn't be better off.

15-11-2010, 22:16	#17
Daveoc64 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bristol (BBC1 West) Posts: 15,143	Quote: Originally Posted by jonmorris AFAIK your phone will only roam when it loses your home network - which is always a priority. Thus it won't just swap around at will (mine only goes to T-Mobile when I'm at home where Orange is rubbish). Quote: Originally Posted by 156418 AIUI at the moment phones should only roam when there's no coverage on the home network, rather than goto whatever is the strongest, That depends on the way that the phone is designed.

15-11-2010, 23:48	#18
jonmorris Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: a land filled with trolls Posts: 12,018	I did say that before, but I am pretty sure the GSM spec is still to seek your home network over anything else. Of course, usually when you're roaming the home network doesn't exist, so then it goes to the strongest network, or the highest priority PLMN. Now, I seem to recall that Nokia handsets would re-order the priority by itself, based on a manual scan. Others would seek what was on the SIM card. Orange will and does reprogramme the SIM from time to time with PLMNs that are take priority, and the recent SIM update sent for this roaming no doubt placed T-Mobile (and Orange vice versa) as top. But, all of my training is about GSM and not 3G. I am not sure if it is any different.

28-11-2010, 13:08	#19
andy.saunders Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mellow Moments Presenter Posts: 827	I'm on Orange and signed up, I have an X10, should the Network Operator should be set to Orange or Orange T Mobile? Thanks, Andy

28-11-2010, 13:30	#20
Mike_1101 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lancs Posts: 7,928	Is there any chance of Vodaphone & O2 doing something similar, if only to cut costs?

28-11-2010, 13:42	#21
156418 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,467	They already are according to The Register, although its a Network Infrastructure Share rather than a merger

DS Forums

Orange/T-Mobile Shared Network Coverage

28-11-2010, 13:46	#22
Mike_1101 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lancs Posts: 7,928	Quote: Originally Posted by 156418 They already are according to The Register, although its a Network Infrastructure Share rather than a merger That's good.

28-11-2010, 18:00	#23
Appleseed Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3,673	Quote: Originally Posted by andy.saunders I'm on Orange and signed up, I have an X10, should the Network Operator should be set to Orange or Orange T Mobile? Thanks, Andy It should be set to 'auto' in order to wander between the two networks.

28-11-2010, 20:16	#24
jonmorris Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: a land filled with trolls Posts: 12,018	If you select Orange T-Mobile then you'll be locked to 2G only.

29-11-2010, 12:49	#25
Waffles Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4,385	I signed up to this a few days ago and ever since, my iPhone 3GS has just said 'No Service'. Have the network selection on Automatic but it makes no difference if I choose Orange, it still says 'No Service'... What happened?!