|
||||||||
Best mobile network? |
![]() |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 4
|
Best mobile network?
Hi
I am in the process of choosing a mobile network for a new contract (iphone 4S) and I am wondering which is the best to go with. It is such a big commitment to sign up to a 24 month contract so I am trying to do a bit of research to find out which networks are the best, mainly in terms of coverage and signal etc. I think I have narrowed it down to between O2 and Three, but I am open to any suggestions and advice. If anyone could offer their opinion I'd be very grateful ![]() Thanks! |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Bristol (BBC1 West)
Posts: 15,143
|
Quote:
Hi
I am in the process of choosing a mobile network for a new contract (iphone 4S) and I am wondering which is the best to go with. It is such a big commitment to sign up to a 24 month contract so I am trying to do a bit of research to find out which networks are the best, mainly in terms of coverage and signal etc. I think I have narrowed it down to between O2 and Three, but I am open to any suggestions and advice. If anyone could offer their opinion I'd be very grateful ![]() Thanks! You can get a free SIM from both O2 (http://freesim.o2.co.uk/) and Three (https://www.three.co.uk/Support/Free_SIM/Order) to help you see which network has the best coverage in the places you use your phone. |
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London, UK
Posts: 8,759
|
Go to your nearest Three store and ask them to use the system checker to check your postcode. If your town/area is covered in a mostly green/blue area then go for Three. They have more 3G coverage than o2 anyway.
If Three don't have good coverage in your area than check with o2. If they have good coverage in your area then go with then. In terms of price though, no one can beat three's one plan with the iPhone 4s. |
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Northampton
Posts: 1,014
|
Quote:
In terms of coverage, you can only ever tell whether a network is suitable for you by trying them.
You can get a free SIM from both O2 (http://freesim.o2.co.uk/) and Three (https://www.three.co.uk/Support/Free_SIM/Order) to help you see which network has the best coverage in the places you use your phone. I would also suggest travel to the places where you MUST get a signal and try o2 and 3 and see which one is the best and then and only then sign up for a new contract |
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Bristol (BBC1 West)
Posts: 15,143
|
Quote:
I cannot agree more with this statement definitely do as Daveoc64 has stated and for the sake of a tenner or so top up's its a lot cheaper to lose that than be tied in for a potential 24 months with no signal.
I would also suggest travel to the places where you MUST get a signal and try o2 and 3 and see which one is the best and then and only then sign up for a new contract |
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,737
|
Since you are getting an iPhone, its best to always have a 3G signal if you don't have wireless available. If you live in a city, it should be fine on both/all networks really(still check for yourself though).
However if you live in a more rural area, make sure you check O2 has 3G coverage, they have a reputation with their lack of 3G outside of urban areas... And an iPhone with only 2G when out and about aint that fun lol (I used to be on O2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: London
Posts: 15,938
|
Never had any problems with Vodafone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 587
|
Quote:
Since you are getting an iPhone, its best to always have a 3G signal if you don't have wireless available. If you live in a city, it should be fine on both/all networks really(still check for yourself though).
However if you live in a more rural area, make sure you check O2 has 3G coverage, they have a reputation with their lack of 3G outside of urban areas... And an iPhone with only 2G when out and about aint that fun lol (I used to be on O2) |
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Bristol (BBC1 West)
Posts: 15,143
|
Quote:
Better to have the 2G "fun" in rural areas than nothing at all which is what 3 have is some rural places now they no longer roam onto Orange..
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: moon
Posts: 12,983
|
Get the sims as suggest but DO topup and try using it. I find giffgaff (running on O2) to often have terrible data speeds even when I have full 3G or HSDPA signal. It's just network capacity or whatever, rarely do I get any decent speeds. Three on the other hand gave me good speeds outdoors but signal would collapse going into buildings etc.
24 months is a long time, make the investment in checking them out for sure. |
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Macclesfield
Posts: 77
|
Quote:
Three still has 2G roaming on Orange in areas where there isn't a 3G signal.
Check your signal in all places before you commit! Don't rely on the coverage checkers online - these maps generally quote 'outdoor' coverage. No point having a fantastic fast 3g network if you struggle for a signal inside ![]() Rob |
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kent
Posts: 8,954
|
Ultimately the best network all depends on where you live and where you intend on using it the most so 'Do Your Homework' first.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 224
|
I always find Its always best to negotiate a mobile phone and contract on the telephone, if you go into a high street shop you never seem to get that a good deal
|
|
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 49871
Posts: 14,023
|
I am with Three as they seem to offer the best value for money but there are times when I get "no service available". I would ask a few neighbours and work mates who live in your area to see what they have and how their signal is like.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#15 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London, UK
Posts: 8,759
|
Quote:
Not in my experience, they let me leave leave my contract 18 months early for that reason. Not having 3g was a pain but not been able to even receive texts on 2g made it pointless as a mobile phone.
Check your signal in all places before you commit! Don't rely on the coverage checkers online - these maps generally quote 'outdoor' coverage. No point having a fantastic fast 3g network if you struggle for a signal inside ![]() Rob |
|
|
|
|
|
#16 |
|
Guest
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,517
|
If it was me recommending I would go for T-Mobile as you get unlimited mins, texts and internet plus free voicemail, decent fast 3G coverage and they have a deal with that on for £41 per month 24 month contract all you need to do is pay £29 for the iPhone 4S or if you want it free it is £46 per month
|
|
|
|
|
|
#17 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 224
|
Quote:
If it was me recommending I would go for T-Mobile as you get unlimited mins, texts and internet plus free voicemail, decent fast 3G coverage and they have a deal with that on for £41 per month 24 month contract all you need to do is pay £29 for the iPhone 4S or if you want it free it is £46 per month
|
|
|
|
|
|
#18 |
|
Guest
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,517
|
Quote:
Go to Three and look at the "Ultimate internet 500" you get All-you-can-eat data, 500 minutes, 5,000 texts on a 24 month contract @ £36.00 PM and £29.00 up front cost. If you not bothered about the 500 mins of anytime/network mins. Thats a saving of £5.00 PM or £120 total!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#19 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,921
|
It does not matter how good the deal is if it their is no signal. I have sims from all the networks. I would suggest doing this and seeing wht the signal is like at home/work etc.
Get yourself a shorter contract than 24 months as well. That is just to long. |
|
|
|
|
|
#20 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London, UK
Posts: 8,759
|
Quote:
That is a good deal is that for the iPhone 4S 16GB?
2000 Minutes 5000 texts 5000 3-3 mins All you Can Eat Data + Tethering (no fair use policy) £36pm £69 upfront T-Mobile do an unlimited minutes deal (but there is a fair usage policy) with unlimited texts(fair use policy of 3000) & unlimited data for £46pm o2, do Unlimited minutes(fair use), unlimited texts (fair use: 2990) and 1GB data for £67pm. So overall three is the best for price, just make sure you have good signal with them. Best thing to do like i said is check on the system checker in store, its more accurate than any online checker. |
|
|
|
|
|
#21 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 224
|
Quote:
That is a good deal is that for the iPhone 4S 16GB?
http://store.three.co.uk/view/produc...catdevice/2326 |
|
|
|
|
|
#22 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: West Norfolk
Posts: 141
|
Please avoid Three like the plague.
There has been a thread regarding them recently. Read it and decide. Price and coverage are NOT the be all and end all ! |
|
|
|
|
#23 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Neath
Posts: 2,468
|
Quote:
Please avoid Three like the plague.
There has been a thread regarding them recently. Read it and decide. Price and coverage are NOT the be all and end all ! As a business, it has made sense for us to switch to Three and have our work collegues more productive, more often. And just to note, a lot of our work takes place in very rural areas where thankfully Three seems to out perform other networks. Go for Three if you get a signal, if not go for somthing else, but please don't listen to people who have probably never even used the network, or used it in its early days. Mark
|
|
|
|
|
#24 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: West Norfolk
Posts: 141
|
May I correct one or two things.
I do not involve myself in Three bashing. My comments are based on my experience of both an eighteen month contract and my wifes two years on Three pay and its successors. We found the network to be poor in terms of signal dropping and all the things alluded to on other threads. I am glad the previous forum member is happy with Three and to a degree its somewhat a personal choice. But for ME,speaking ONLY from personal experience with no axe to grind except for the aformentioned,I would describe my eighteen months with them taking into account their abismal customer service as shite. Any suggestion made by the previous member is incorrect and offensive. I repeat with Three bring your own barge pole. |
|
|
|
|
#25 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: London & Essex
Posts: 987
|
Quote:
May I correct one or two things.
I do not involve myself in Three bashing. My comments are based on my experience of both an eighteen month contract and my wifes two years on Three pay and its successors. We found the network to be poor in terms of signal dropping and all the things alluded to on other threads. I am glad the previous forum member is happy with Three and to a degree its somewhat a personal choice. But for ME,speaking ONLY from personal experience with no axe to grind except for the aformentioned,I would describe my eighteen months with them taking into account their abismal customer service as shite. Any suggestion made by the previous member is incorrect and offensive. I repeat with Three bring your own barge pole. However that's just me, everyone is different. However Three does also have many positives like a huge 3G network, great value and awesome speeds. Just wasn't right for me personally so stuck with Orange
|
|
|
|
![]() |
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 11:11.





lol (I used to be on O2)