Three and HSPA+

old bill2 · 19-10-2011, 20:18

I had to pop across town today. I had my SGS2 on Three with me. Whilst I was there I noticed that the logo on the screen was showing H+. It was a busy lunchtime but I thought I would run some speed tests to see if there was any difference in speed. WOW. Each speed test came back between 8-10 meg download and 1.8 upload speed. Three really is coming on leaps and bounds. I just wish they would upgrade the part of town I live in.

spendleb · 19-10-2011, 20:45

their website reckons the upgrade to HSPA+ will be completed by the end of this year.

Thine Wonk · 19-10-2011, 20:50

100% of the network will be HSPA+ upgraded by around the end of the year or very shortly after.

wavejockglw · 20-10-2011, 16:45

Packet data is one thing, holding onto a call using 3's circuit switched voice service is something else.

I'm experiencing a very substantial number of dropped calls and failed connections on 3 voice calls lately and with no 2G fallback now in my area it has reopened the issue of their viability as a primary means of mobile phone communiation.

I don't use 3 for data much as I get 6-8Mb/s from Vodafone using HSDPA and that is more than good enough for web browsing, audio streaming and viewing videos on my mobile.

wilt · 20-10-2011, 17:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

I'm experiencing a very substantial number of dropped calls and failed connections on 3 voice calls lately and with no 2G fallback now in my area it has reopened the issue of their viability as a primary means of mobile phone communiation.

I'm not experiencing anything like what you have described. If you truly are having problems and are not just having yet another dig at Three, you might want to try contacting @ThreeUKSupport on twitter to see if there are any problems in your area.

Since, however, you have said repeatedly said previously that you have been able to keep your Three SIM active without topping up or making calls for years, I am doubting the validity of your claim here.

Martin Phillp · 20-10-2011, 19:03

Has anyone tried HSPA+ in the London area, where it's more likely to make no difference because of congestion?

wavejockglw · 20-10-2011, 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilt

Since, however, you have said repeatedly said previously that you have been able to keep your Three SIM active without topping up or making calls for years, I am doubting the validity of your claim here.

I have made at least one call to keep my credit alive on the 3 USIM every 6 months and have £12 left out of £40 since 2008!

Previously I have been informed by 3 I had good coverage at my address but now they say I only have a guarantee of outdoor coverage so it's no great surprise voice call reliability is a big issue. Thankfully all the other networks have GSM as well as UMTS and all can guarantee reliable voice coverage at my Post Code. I have checked lately to see if the sharing arrangements have improved matters but not so far and since Orange roaming has ceased 3 has returned to the same unreliable voice service I had back in 2003/4. I have no need for their data at home as I have very good WiFi speed available.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Phillp

Has anyone tried HSPA+ in the London area, where it's more likely to make no difference because of congestion?

HSPA+ will help as it's speed should mean more data can be sent faster, so it should help congestion issues. 3's new CEO has issued his own warning about the network's ability to cope with data demand from 2012 so that should not be taken lightly by anyone entering into a new 24 month contract on a high tech smartphone.

wilt · 20-10-2011, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

I have made at least one call to keep my credit alive on the 3 USIM every 6 months and have £12 left out of £40 since 2008!

That isn't what you said here.

wavejockglw · 21-10-2011, 06:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilt

That isn't what you said here.

Checking the handset registers includes testing it to see if it can make and receive a call and that it is useable. No contradiction whatsoever and no credit need be used as calls don't need to be answered to confirm the connection still works.

Lately I have used some credit and the USIM has been updated in a different handset equipped with HSPA+ but as yet there has been no sign of any data speed improvements either at my home address or close to Glasgow city centre where I have also used Speedtest to measure it. Once again performance is area dependent so local enquiry would be best to get accurate information from 3 users before commiting to a long and quite possibibly very frustrating contract period.

wilt · 21-10-2011, 09:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

Checking the handset registers includes testing it to see if it can make and receive a call and that it is useable. No contradiction whatsoever and no credit need be used as calls don't need to be answered to confirm the connection still works.

Lately I have used some credit and the USIM has been updated in a different handset equipped with HSPA+ but as yet there has been no sign of any data speed improvements either at my home address or close to Glasgow city centre where I have also used Speedtest to measure it. Once again performance is area dependent so local enquiry would be best to get accurate information from 3 users before commiting to a long and quite possibibly very frustrating contract period.

But in this thread you said you made a call every six months, which most certainly does require the call to be answered. That is where the contradiction is.

Though I would agree, it is Best to check coverage locally with any network before you sign a contract.

19-10-2011, 20:18	#1
old bill2 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 621	Three and HSPA+ I had to pop across town today. I had my SGS2 on Three with me. Whilst I was there I noticed that the logo on the screen was showing H+. It was a busy lunchtime but I thought I would run some speed tests to see if there was any difference in speed. WOW. Each speed test came back between 8-10 meg download and 1.8 upload speed. Three really is coming on leaps and bounds. I just wish they would upgrade the part of town I live in.

19-10-2011, 20:45	#2
spendleb Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 3,899	their website reckons the upgrade to HSPA+ will be completed by the end of this year.

19-10-2011, 20:50	#3
Thine Wonk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 14,577	100% of the network will be HSPA+ upgraded by around the end of the year or very shortly after.

20-10-2011, 16:45	#4
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	Packet data is one thing, holding onto a call using 3's circuit switched voice service is something else. I'm experiencing a very substantial number of dropped calls and failed connections on 3 voice calls lately and with no 2G fallback now in my area it has reopened the issue of their viability as a primary means of mobile phone communiation. I don't use 3 for data much as I get 6-8Mb/s from Vodafone using HSDPA and that is more than good enough for web browsing, audio streaming and viewing videos on my mobile.

20-10-2011, 17:34	#5
wilt Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Potterspury Posts: 930	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw I'm experiencing a very substantial number of dropped calls and failed connections on 3 voice calls lately and with no 2G fallback now in my area it has reopened the issue of their viability as a primary means of mobile phone communiation. I'm not experiencing anything like what you have described. If you truly are having problems and are not just having yet another dig at Three, you might want to try contacting @ThreeUKSupport on twitter to see if there are any problems in your area. Since, however, you have said repeatedly said previously that you have been able to keep your Three SIM active without topping up or making calls for years, I am doubting the validity of your claim here.

20-10-2011, 19:03	#6
Martin Phillp Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London Posts: 20,282	Has anyone tried HSPA+ in the London area, where it's more likely to make no difference because of congestion?

20-10-2011, 21:24	#7
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	Quote: Originally Posted by wilt Since, however, you have said repeatedly said previously that you have been able to keep your Three SIM active without topping up or making calls for years, I am doubting the validity of your claim here. I have made at least one call to keep my credit alive on the 3 USIM every 6 months and have £12 left out of £40 since 2008! Previously I have been informed by 3 I had good coverage at my address but now they say I only have a guarantee of outdoor coverage so it's no great surprise voice call reliability is a big issue. Thankfully all the other networks have GSM as well as UMTS and all can guarantee reliable voice coverage at my Post Code. I have checked lately to see if the sharing arrangements have improved matters but not so far and since Orange roaming has ceased 3 has returned to the same unreliable voice service I had back in 2003/4. I have no need for their data at home as I have very good WiFi speed available. Quote: Originally Posted by Martin Phillp Has anyone tried HSPA+ in the London area, where it's more likely to make no difference because of congestion? HSPA+ will help as it's speed should mean more data can be sent faster, so it should help congestion issues. 3's new CEO has issued his own warning about the network's ability to cope with data demand from 2012 so that should not be taken lightly by anyone entering into a new 24 month contract on a high tech smartphone.

20-10-2011, 22:14	#8
wilt Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Potterspury Posts: 930	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw I have made at least one call to keep my credit alive on the 3 USIM every 6 months and have £12 left out of £40 since 2008! That isn't what you said here.

21-10-2011, 06:39	#9
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	Quote: Originally Posted by wilt That isn't what you said here. Checking the handset registers includes testing it to see if it can make and receive a call and that it is useable. No contradiction whatsoever and no credit need be used as calls don't need to be answered to confirm the connection still works. Lately I have used some credit and the USIM has been updated in a different handset equipped with HSPA+ but as yet there has been no sign of any data speed improvements either at my home address or close to Glasgow city centre where I have also used Speedtest to measure it. Once again performance is area dependent so local enquiry would be best to get accurate information from 3 users before commiting to a long and quite possibibly very frustrating contract period.

21-10-2011, 09:16	#10
wilt Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Potterspury Posts: 930	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw Checking the handset registers includes testing it to see if it can make and receive a call and that it is useable. No contradiction whatsoever and no credit need be used as calls don't need to be answered to confirm the connection still works. Lately I have used some credit and the USIM has been updated in a different handset equipped with HSPA+ but as yet there has been no sign of any data speed improvements either at my home address or close to Glasgow city centre where I have also used Speedtest to measure it. Once again performance is area dependent so local enquiry would be best to get accurate information from 3 users before commiting to a long and quite possibibly very frustrating contract period. But in this thread you said you made a call every six months, which most certainly does require the call to be answered. That is where the contradiction is. Though I would agree, it is Best to check coverage locally with any network before you sign a contract.

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Three and HSPA+