[neo_wales]

Maps mean nothing, I camp a lot in places that should have no phone signal let alone 3g to let my dongle get me on line but it happens.

I got the good reception on my trip out of towns too. IF your phones OK could it be your car thats giving problems? Something not right your end by the looks of it.

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by neo_wales

Maps mean nothing, I camp a lot in places that should have no phone signal let alone let my dongle let me go on line but it happens.

I got the good reception on my trip out of towns too. IF your phones OK could it be your car thats giving problems? Something not right your end by the looks of it.

You know I'm talking about 3G not GRPS / EDGE right, I don't doubt you get online, but sloooowly.

So 2 phones that work perfectly well on Three, but have poor 3G coverage on O2 are faulty, you are claiming too that O2's own maps are wrong that that there is 3G coverage where they say there isn't. Now you're blaming my car !!!!

Sorry you've got to laugh.

[neo_wales]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

You know I'm talking about 3G not GRPS / EDGE right, I don't doubt you get online, but sloooowly.

So 2 phones that work perfectly well on Three, but have poor 3G coverage on O2 are faulty, you are claiming too that O2's own maps are wrong that that there is 3G coverage where they say there isn't. Now you're blaming my car !!!!

Sorry you've got to laugh.

Ah, 3g....uum.......yep, thats the one that works where the maps say it should not.

I only asked about the car to try and help out. Some people have a naturally strong electro magnetic field so perhaps this could explain your anomaly ?

I've no idea what else to suggest to help, perhaps you are just a tad 'jinxed' with phones; could be, stranger things have happened.

[wilt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by neo_wales

Ah, 3g....uum.......yep, thats the one that works where the maps say it should not.

I only asked about the car to try and help out. Some people have a naturally strong electro magnetic field so perhaps this could explain your anomaly ?

I've no idea what else to suggest to help, perhaps you are just a tad 'jinxed' with phones; could be, stranger things have happened.

Perhaps Thine Wonk has a medical condition where he emits radio interference on the precise frequencies o2 use for their 3G transmissions?

Seems logical, since it's apparently impossible that o2 simply has poor 3G coverage...

[neo_wales]

I'm not saying it the best, just that I have coverage where he does not. Well I'm at a loss as to what to suggest to him now; baffled to be honest.

[Haruhion]

My Giffgaff/o2 3G reception at home is not good. That could be because of structure I guess? Anywhere around my street, the internet is barely useable. I generally have to take the phone to bed or sit in a certain position. The map simply shows no 3G issues for me and I'm in a large spot of blue, but my experiences are unfortunately different.

[neo_wales]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haruhion

My Giffgaff/o2 3G reception at home is not good. That could be because of structure I guess? Anywhere around my street, the internet is barely useable. I generally have to take the phone to bed or sit in a certain position. The map simply shows no 3G issues for me and I'm in a large spot of blue, but my experiences are unfortunately different.

Exactly, don't put faith in maps as they are really little more than guess work. I stayed in London for the Royal wedding, good hotel WC2 and 3g was a joke although the wi fi in the Hotel worked very well.

Talk is now of 4G, dare I suggest they sort this lot out first.

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by neo_wales

Exactly, don't put faith in maps as they are really little more than guess work. I stayed in London for the Royal wedding, good hotel WC2 and 3g was a joke although the wi fi in the Hotel worked very well.

Talk is now of 4G, dare I suggest they sort this lot out first.

Whilst coverage maps may not be accurate to street level they are computed using base station locations, topography maps, known signal output in dBW from the mast and then computer generated. They also have cars that go out and measure signal along routes, the cars are enabled with multiple phones and a GPS unit which plots signal on the map.

A long way from 'guesswork' as you call it, and although not accurate to street level and other things like design of a house can effect signal, they do give you an idea of the signal in a general area.

As pointed out O2 show no 3G signal for large areas like 20 miles square in some rural areas as they just haven't put 3G masts in those areas at all, Ofcom's sitefinder (which plots base station locations) confirms this.

With respect you're starting to look a bit daft now.

[lost boy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

... As pointed out O2 show no 3G signal for large areas like 20 miles square in some rural areas as they just haven't put 3G masts in those areas at all, Ofcom's sitefinder (which plots base station locations) confirms this...

Indeed - the "enhanced" version of O2's own coverage checker shows this as well, just click on show masts and (if there are any to show) it will show them on the map.

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lost boy

Indeed - the "enhanced" version of O2's own coverage checker shows this as well, just click on show masts and (if there are any to show) it will show them on the map.

Yup, just put a postcode in the map and select 'mobile internet' it explains on the previous page they refer to 3G signals as mobile internet. quote "Try our 3G network, it's marked on the map as Mobile Internet"

http://www.o2.co.uk/coveragechecker


There is no 3G coverage in lots of more rural small towns, villiages, a roads, parts of motorway, railway lines etc. It seems you are ok if you are in a main town or city, but that's it.

To see for yourself click the link, put a postcode in, select mobile internet and then zoom out, you can zoom out a few levels and still see masts and coverage. Have a scroll around and you'll see there are NO MASTS in more rural areas outside of main towns and cities.

Seeing as 3G at 1800Mhz has a coverage of just a few miles, and at 900Mhz maybe 4-5 miles it show you that what Neo is claiming is not possible.

Without a mast you can't have 3G signal, even O2 says they don't have 3G or any masts in those areas. Neo is the only one saying there is 3G coverage, I've tested it with 2 phones, others are saying the same, the maps say it, the fact there are no masts say it!

He's mistaken, it must have been edge he was getting or just luck that he was in the right areas.

[neo_wales]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

Whilst coverage maps may not be accurate to street level they are computed using base station locations, topography maps, known signal output in dBW from the mast and then computer generated. They also have cars that go out and measure signal along routes, the cars are enabled with multiple phones and a GPS unit which plots signal on the map.

A long way from 'guesswork' as you call it, and although not accurate to street level and other things like design of a house can effect signal, they do give you an idea of the signal in a general area.

As pointed out O2 show no 3G signal for large areas like 20 miles square in some rural areas as they just haven't put 3G masts in those areas at all, Ofcom's sitefinder (which plots base station locations) confirms this.

With respect you're starting to look a bit daft now.

But, I get coverage where the map says its zero, nada, nothing, nowt et al.

While they give an idea of reception the variables involved make an absolute difference to individual reception..

I have a Vodafone mast within 700m of my home at the local golf club (according to an online map), coverage is nothing, at best poor for a telephone signal in my home.

The only true way to test a signal is to rely on experience and not some map knocked out by a service provider.

Perhaps I'm old fashioned, while I have top end GPS I still look first at a map and check with a compass when camping/hill walking.

[Thine Wonk]

Ignoring maps, o2 has no 3G masts in a lot of rural areas, the areas we were talking and listed earlier.

It's impossible for you to get 3G if you are more than about 5 miles from a mast as your phone has to transmit the signal back and mobile phones only transmit a weak signal.

Ignoring the colours on the map, if there aren't masts for 5 or 6 miles it's impossible. There's areas I can point you to where there is more than a 25 mile radius with no 3G on O2 in Gloucestershire / Oxfordshire, wales, devon, cornwall and many other more rural counties.

[call100]

According to their info they don't provide 3G coverage in most of Norfolk. Including at the site of masts....Are these masts non 3G or is the information incorrect? I've never noticed it when travelling there as I'm not interested in the phone except the odd phone call when enjoying the area.
Good job I don't need it though...I doubt they have many customers in Norfolk.

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by call100

According to their info they don't provide 3G coverage in most of Norfolk. Including at the site of masts....Are these masts non 3G or is the information incorrect? I've never noticed it when travelling there as I'm not interested in the phone except the odd phone call when enjoying the area.
Good job I don't need it though...I doubt they have many customers in Norfolk.

Their 2G coverage is incredibly good, the masts will be 2G. It's just 3G they lack on coverage and speeds.

The information is very up to date, they launched that site only a few months ago as a new coverage site.

To confirm it's 2G just go to the ofcom sitefinder than lists masts and you will see them on there. The ofcom site though is voluntarily updated by the network operators, it should be right for O2, but won't be right for Orange / T-mobile / Three as there was a dispute and Orange refused to update it anymore, and hence T-mobile as they are now owned by the same company, and hence Three as it relies on T-mobile masts as part of the 3G share.

[lost boy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by call100

According to their info they don't provide 3G coverage in most of Norfolk. Including at the site of masts....Are these masts non 3G or is the information incorrect? I've never noticed it when travelling there as I'm not interested in the phone except the odd phone call when enjoying the area.
Good job I don't need it though...I doubt they have many customers in Norfolk.

I live in Norfolk and the information for "mobile internet" 'coverage' on O2's coverage checker is quite correct; O2 refuse to provide 3G for much of the county, although they do have more or less blanket 2G coverage (some of which is outdoor only).

As for customer count, it depends what they're after - calls and texts will be fine. Data is another matter - across much of Norfolk if you want 3G your only option will be Three. A side by side of O2's and Three's respective 3G provisions countywide would show up O2's for the frankly pathetic effort it is.

[neo_wales]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

I

Ignoring the colours on the map, if there aren't masts for 5 or 6 miles it's impossible. There's areas I can point you to where there is more than a 25 mile radius with no 3G on O2 in Gloucestershire / Oxfordshire, wales, devon, cornwall and many other more rural counties.

Where in Wales? If I've been there or am going there I'll update things.

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by neo_wales

Where in Wales? If I've been there or am going there I'll update things.

3/4 of wales doesn't have o2 3G coverage! Try the map mate, you'll see.

[neo_wales]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

3/4 of wales doesn't have o2 3G coverage! Try the map mate, you'll see.

I don't bother with maps I bother with what my phone tells me, keep up and pay attention