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How accurate is 3's coverage map?


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Old 29-11-2013, 00:39
xreyuk123
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Join Date: Sep 2013
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Just wondered how accurate 3's coverage map was.

I travel to North wales a lot, and it seems that most of North Wales is not covered by any signal at all. I can end up anywhere from right on the North coast, to a bit further down near Dolgellau.

Around the built up areas there seems to be signal, but anyone know what it's like a bit more up in the hills?
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Old 29-11-2013, 01:07
The Lord Lucan
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Not very.. Says blanket coverage where i am but no signal indoors and varible outside.
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Old 29-11-2013, 01:24
qasdfdsaq
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More accurate than they were ten years ago, but like all predictions, not perfect. It's pretty decent - taking into account buildings, trees, as well as elevation.

It depends what you're trying to do. In most cases if the map says there is signal there will be signal - but if you're driving at high speed and using your handset low down inside a vehicle it probably won't pick it up. But if you were to be on foot or had a roof-mounted antenna it'd work fine.

Remember most mobile phones have to cram antennae that support seven or more bands into a tiny little shell surrounded by metal parts and shielding - they are highly directional and highly inefficient. Networks account for this to some extent, but there's still some expectation of people using a decent device once in a while.

As far as the coverage map goes, basically that means if it says outdoor coverage you might have to point your phone in the right direction for it to work. From what I can tell nearly all main roads in Wales have at least this level of coverage.

Incidentally I measured the gain on my old Galaxy S3 under some conditions to be -17dB. Or in other words, the signal picked up by the phone antenna was about 100 times weaker than that you would get using a straightened paperclip.
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