I totally agree with the previous post.

If Three works for you then great.
It is personal preference as much as anything else.



But not for me !

Thank you for all your replies, I appreciate your advice.
It seems that most contracts are 24 months these days (it is all Three offer for example), which is scary as it such a long period especially if things go wrong. I will see if I can order some free sim cards to have a look at the signals and see what the coverage is like where I live (although my phone is locked to my current network (Virgin)).
I was hesitant to use T-Mobile as I believe Virgin use their network and I've had a fair few problems with it where I go.
Thanks again and I look forward to hearing any other advice or info anyone else has too

If you listened to everyone's "bad network" stories then nobody would own a mobile phone!

Dont know the best,i know the worst crappy vodafone.

Thank you for that well researched post !!

It depends upon where you live. For me 3 is a total no no, very poor within about a ten mile radius but O2/Giffgaff are fine, for others it may be the opposite. O2 has solid 2G just about everywhere. What do your nearby friends and neighbors use?

I would agree with previous posts about getting a payg sim and live with it for a week or so. That's the only real way you can find out what coverage is like for you.

I'm with 3 and i tested them for a few weeks before i got a contract and there 3G coverage is great for me, the only place I haven't got coverage is the local sainsburys but everywhere else is fine. I live in a small village and I get better 3G speeds then I do with my home broadband.

Three are excellent IMHO. The people crying about customers service are usually retards who don't understand how to use a smartphone.

2G lol, i'd rather go without.

I agree with getting PAYG SIMs, definitely do that. I got PAYG SIMs with all networks and tested it, found Orange was the best and as I was already on Orange I just upgraded.

I did want to use Three but their indoor coverage isn't great in a lot of places and it was just not even an option where I live as there is just no signal at all, no 2G backup and like 1 bar of 3G when i'm upstairs if i'm lucky.

Again, that's just me, I like the idea of Three (Fast speeds, AYCE data, huge 3G network) but for me the signal is not very good in most places because it's 3G only, especially at home. Again don't think i'm bashing Three because I am saying they are very good in a lot of ways, Just not for me.

But definitely get loads of PAYG SIMs from all networks and test them out - you don't need to topup or anything for them to receive a signal.

Thanks again for all your replies and info.
As I have a phone locked to Virgin will I be able to try out the other network sims in it? (excuse my ignorance ) Testing them out seems like a good plan.

No you can't without unlocking it but you can test out T-Mobile and Orange coverage using Virgin both on 2G and 3G by manually selecting the network and enabling and disabling 3G if your handset supports it.

With newer Virgin SIMs "virgin" is Orange and "Virgin" is T-Mobile UK.

Speaking as a retard Three's customer service are total shite and if the member suggesting that wants to send me a private message we can continue the conversation off forum.
Otherwise shut the hell up

I refer to d3nium

As I am going offline now I wanted to get my threepence worth in.
I totally object to being called a retard,its offensive and unnecessary.

Members should come onto this forum to comment and constructively critisise relevant issues,not engage in insults which clearly show their own woefull level of accumen..

My comments were based on an eighteen month contract with Three which exposed their customer service as inept at best.

I suspect the member posted the link for effect rather than having thought it out.

Perhaps this is a difficult operation for him/her.

Now I m as bad !

Nobody called you a retard.

With respect you are not reading things properly!

I disagree.

Note in bold:

Bugger me you are correct!

Gets back into pram and issues an unreserved apology to all

Sorry

LOL. Careful guys, we got a badass here.

PS: Is 'Going to PM's' the internet equivalent of 'step outside'? Haha.

This is not Three bashing on my behalf. I got a PAYG SIM to give them a test drive with AYCE data. I was pleasantly surprised about the coverage in the North East, can't fault them on that. BUT, a big problem I saw is that during the day the speeds went down so low it wasn't possible to watch videos or stream radio. And sadly the same thing seems to be happening to T-Mobile (my contract SIM). All you can eat data comes at a price (and I don't mean the £15 on Three ).

Very interesting. I have never experienced that in the North West.

Not a badass but I do apologise.
If I had opened my eyes instead of my mouth that would have been better

Once again sorry !

That's because mobile network quality can vary dramatically just by moving a device a few centimetres (or inches if you're old school!).

The "North West" means virtually nothing.

unless you need to make a phone call as opposed to skyping someone!