[pfgpowell]

Do O2 iPhone users use the same network as O2 mobile broadband useres when they connect to the net through 3g? I ask because very often, especially out west in the West Country the reception and coverage is very poor, and often I am connected (I use the word very loosely given the net speed I have to put up with) on GPRS. I would have thought that if you get an 02 iPhone contract promising both wifi and 3g connection, you should be entitled to expect at least 3g anyway.

Granted that buying a dongle and paying for a dollop of data doesn't necessarily entitle you to 3g, but if the 3g coverage is there for iPhone users, why can't we get it? Or do iPhone users sometimes have to put up with piss-poor GPRS?

[hansol2005]

I'm from south Yorkshire & some times my iPhone only gets Edge, which I thing is eGPRS. So don't get 3G all the time. I thing some times if it's a peak time this also affects my connection speed. Also I believe the iPhone is hsdpa compatible 3.5g but never had that speed

[prking]

If you are on an O2 iPhone tariff then you connect using a specific iPhone APN. This has the same coverage as the rest of the O2 network, but is profiled to give a better experience. (notwithstanding an iPhones radio circuitry)

[pfgpowell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by prking

If you are on an O2 iPhone tariff then you connect using a specific iPhone APN. This has the same coverage as the rest of the O2 network, but is profiled to give a better experience. (notwithstanding an iPhones radio circuitry)

Well, what ever it is 02 mobile broadband (you know, the dongle for the laptop bit) is pretty crap a lot of the time. I'd shift to another provider if I could be sure coverage and reception would be better. Would I be right in thinking Three is always 3g (given that is what they call themselves)?

[belleville1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfgpowell

Well, what ever it is 02 mobile broadband (you know, the dongle for the laptop bit) is pretty crap a lot of the time. I'd shift to another provider if I could be sure coverage and reception would be better. Would I be right in thinking Three is always 3g (given that is what they call themselves)?

I have an O2 phone and PAYG dongles from Vodafone and 3 (I was given the 3 one by someone leaving the country, I don't collect them!).

3's coverage for mobile broadband is vastly superior to either Voda or O2, although I use my Voda one when I can, because its tariff is better (no 30-day expiry). Generally, you can get a 3G signal from 3 in most places other than very remote country areas. For instance, they cover the length of most major motorways and roads, even in remote areas, and have coverage in a lot of places in the Scottish Highlands.

Meanwhile, O2's 3G is sparse even in fairly built-up areas. They don't bother to cover a lot of the M6 - their coverage map reveals that they have tiny micro-cells covering just the service stations!

[markrduk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfgpowell

Would I be right in thinking Three is always 3g (given that is what they call themselves)?

Yes.

[TheBigM]

In summary (simplified) about O2: the coverage (i.e. the signal you receive) is the same whatever device you're using, be it ordinary phone, iPhone, dongle etc. But the username/password that iPhone uses when it connects to the network gives it a higher priority on the data over other devices.

[mikey86uk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigM

But the username/password that iPhone uses when it connects to the network gives it a higher priority on the data over other devices.

Trust me, it dont!

at work my iPhone 4 gets around 3 bars 3G on O2 yet, my friends Samsung Wave gets full 3G Signal

i used to get full signal but not anymore

[Dragons_Heartbeat]

That's one of the reasons I decided to leave O2 the 3G coverage for the network is a joke in most areas even in built up areas like Cardiff it has issues.