[Master Ozzy]

I'm really hating them at the moment. I live in North London, but the signal on my iPhone is terrible. My contract was up in January, and I'm tempted to switch the the iPhone 5. Been with 02 for about 8 years though so don't really want to have to do it, but think I'm going to have to make the switch to maybe Orange or 3.

[The Lord Lucan]

Don't hate them but from my experience they have poor 3G coverage unless very much in an inner city area and the 3G they do have has poor speeds, mostly at peak times. They do however have excellent customer service and 2G coverage.

[paulker]

Originally Posted by The Lord Lucan

Don't hate them but from my experience they have poor 3G coverage unless very much in an inner city area and the 3G they do have has poor speeds, mostly at peak times. They do however have excellent customer service and 2G coverage.

They may have good 2g voice coverage but the voice quality is the worst I have ever heard. They must use a really poor quality codec.

[tfl]

Vodafone are just as bad if not worse

[Stiggles]

Originally Posted by paulker

They may have good 2g voice coverage but the voice quality is the worst I have ever heard. They must use a really poor quality codec.

Have to agree on this. The quality is absolutely terrible. I thought it was just me till i switched to a 3 sim and the quality was so much better.

[paulker]

Originally Posted by Stiggles

Have to agree on this. The quality is absolutely terrible. I thought it was just me till i switched to a 3 sim and the quality was so much better.

On the odd occassion HD voice works for me it is amazing. EE voice quality is fine normally but HD voice is in a different league.

[paulker]

Originally Posted by Stiggles

Have to agree on this. The quality is absolutely terrible. I thought it was just me till i switched to a 3 sim and the quality was so much better.

It seems to be the transmission which is the main culprit so the person you are calling gets the raw end of the deal. When I answer the phone at work I can often tell the customer has an o2 phone.

[The Lord Lucan]

Been awhile since I've actually made a call on O2 ( usually only data ) but Christ I see what you mean. O2 to O2 is even worse... Sounds like both are using hands free loudspeaker to chat.

HD voice is great, just a shame it doesn't improve call quality to landline numbers.

[in_focus]

The company I work for has recently swapped to o2 because of cheaper data but the coverage is abysmal. The coverage map is a joke as the areas I know where the signal is iffy is shown as "Good indoors and outdoors"

When ringing the office for my service calls its not unusual to be on hold for 10 or more minutes, doing this while driving (hands free) is just a waste of time as there are so many dead spots you have to constantly redial and of course you are at the back of the queue.

At my home no 3G signal just GPRS and every day even this will disappear for several minutes.

Totally agree with the audio quality, full of glitching and dropouts even in high signal areas. The companies infrastructure is a joke. Avoid like the plague if it's your own money.

[wrexham103.4]

Originally Posted by in_focus

The company I work for has recently swapped to o2 because of cheaper data but the coverage is abysmal. The coverage map is a joke as the areas I know where the signal is iffy is shown as "Good indoors and outdoors"

When ringing the office for my service calls its not unusual to be on hold for 10 or more minutes, doing this while driving (hands free) is just a waste of time as there are so many dead spots you have to constantly redial and of course you are at the back of the queue.

At my home no 3G signal just GPRS and every day even this will disappear for several minutes.

Totally agree with the audio quality, full of glitching and dropouts even in high signal areas. The companies infrastructure is a joke. Avoid like the plague if it's your own money.

(o2 customer for 10 years) the orange bit on the map that say 'outdoors' meant that there was NO coverage, this is true in so many location around here, and not just on my phone, there is at least a 10 mile stretch of road on the A5 with outdoors only - with no coverage!

[paulker]

Originally Posted by The Lord Lucan

Been awhile since I've actually made a call on O2 ( usually only data ) but Christ I see what you mean. O2 to O2 is even worse... Sounds like both are using hands free loudspeaker to chat.

HD voice is great, just a shame it doesn't improve call quality to landline numbers.

If you want a laugh try bluetooth car kit to bluetooth car kit on o2 driving at 70mph. If I am 100% fair about it the call quality is sometimes acceptable when my dear uncle on o2 calls me but I suppose it depends on how congested the network is at the time.

With regard to HD voice both my wife and me have iphone 5's which are HD voice phones. Both of us are on EE and even if we both have 3g HD voice rarely kicks in. I have experienced it on several calls to various people. I just wish it was more consistent.

[Creamtea]

o2 reception does tend to be pretty bad apart from in central London

[stephen122333]

I have no problems with o2. I find the price I pay for my mobile phone service combined with my discounted broadband service with the quality of service to be excellent.
Ok sometimes, I get "call failed" sometimes texts take awhile to be delivered, sometimes I have to resend the text, but nothing enought for me to get mad.

[Thine Wonk]

You have to wonder why they are the most popular single network in the UK if users are reporting poor 3G, poor 2G call quality, poor data etc.

Why do so many choose and stay with O2 then? Unless of course this forum isn't representative and is more technology wise than the general population.

[DevonBloke]

Originally Posted by paulker

If you want a laugh try bluetooth car kit to bluetooth car kit on o2 driving at 70mph. If I am 100% fair about it the call quality is sometimes acceptable when my dear uncle on o2 calls me but I suppose it depends on how congested the network is at the time.

With regard to HD voice both my wife and me have iphone 5's which are HD voice phones. Both of us are on EE and even if we both have 3g HD voice rarely kicks in. I have experienced it on several calls to various people. I just wish it was more consistent.

Is HD supposed to be on the whole network now or Just Orange masts? Ive never experienced it either but a friend now has an iphone 5 on Orange so maybe it'll work. Does it work across the brands, like Orange to EE4G for example?

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

You have to wonder why they are the most popular single network in the UK if users are reporting poor 3G, poor 2G call quality, poor data etc.

Why do so many choose and stay with O2 then? Unless of course this forum isn't representative and is more technology wise than the general population.

I think it's about general coverage (2G) rather than quality. What's better than no signal? A crap quality signal!
Also as Lucan says the CS is good.
My first iPhone was a 3Gs bought from eBay. It was locked to O2. I had to put an O2 PAYG sim in it and go on their site, enter the details and wait for it to be unlocked.
I had several issues along the way so had to call them and even though I wasn't a proper customer (and was trying to unlock a handset) they were extremely helpful and got it sorted! I did find that very good.
Having said that, I'm now with EE Business (to get a signal box) and I have to say the CS is exemplary so far.

[The Lord Lucan]

Devon HD Voice works between EE & Orange, Orange to Orange and So I assume Orange/EE & T-Mobile too.

[Tomo1971]

The 2g kit that o2 use can have 'half rate' enabled. It would turn a 1 carrier site that could handle 6 calls into a site that could handle 12 at any one time (assuming no GPRS). It would decrease the call quality though.

Im told that they used to do this in the Highlands or more remote sites... maybe those that had little traffic during the week but a increase at weekends... tourism etc. Pointless paying for an extra carrier to not be used 5 days a week?

Nothing stopping them using this everywhere is there? Maybe thats what they are doing and hence why the poorer call quality on 2g.

[paulker]

Originally Posted by Tomo1971

The 2g kit that o2 use can have 'half rate' enabled. It would turn a 1 carrier site that could handle 6 calls into a site that could handle 12 at any one time (assuming no GPRS). It would decrease the call quality though.

Im told that they used to do this in the Highlands or more remote sites... maybe those that had little traffic during the week but a increase at weekends... tourism etc. Pointless paying for an extra carrier to not be used 5 days a week?

Nothing stopping them using this everywhere is there? Maybe thats what they are doing and hence why the poorer call quality on 2g.

3g voice is poor too but yes I think 2g is worse.

[KieranDS]

Originally Posted by tfl

Vodafone are just as bad if not worse

I find Vodafone better tbh.

[paulker]

Originally Posted by KieranDS

I find Vodafone better tbh.

Agree, vodafone voice quality is far superior to o2 but not as good as EE or 3

[wavejockglw]

What a good idea..... a thread for O2 haters!

Hopefully they can populate this with their venom rather than infecting other threads with it continually!

Well done to the OP for a worthwhile addition!

[moox]

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

What a good idea..... a thread for O2 haters!

Hopefully they can populate this with their venom rather than infecting other threads with it continually!

Well done to the OP for a worthwhile addition!

Quite. How dare O2's customers criticise O2's shoddy service and support.

We should only speak of the most revered network in ways that suit wavejockglw.

[The Lord Lucan]

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

What a good idea..... a thread for O2 haters!

Hopefully they can populate this with their venom rather than infecting other threads with it continually!

Well done to the OP for a worthwhile addition!

All this ^ from someone who uses Three because his local O2 is crap..

..And all that from the person who continually bashes Three/EE...

[Thine Wonk]

Originally Posted by The Lord Lucan

All this ^ from someone who uses Three because his local O2 is crap..

..And all that from the person who continually bashes Three/EE...

Quite, how dare people post an opinion against that of Wavejock. The phrase venom is very over used now.

At least some here can appreciate that a company can be good in some ways and not in others, or do good things and things that are perceived as bad.

[SupernovaNebula]

I'm on O2 and it's a terrible for internet connection. I can barely use my phone at work as the reception is poor. It's pretty useless much of the time.