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Vodafone and 02 set for best wales / west country 4g coverage
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RAN Man
07-08-2015
Originally Posted by RAN Man:
“Nobody knows the future, but if EE stood still, Voda would not catch up in the SW and Wales, IMHO.

I have set myself a reminder to find this thread in 6 months, when we will all know how accurate the statement is.”

Well, 6 months on and I still haven't won the lottery, and EE still has a pretty substantial coverage lead in the SW and Wales.

EE Coverage http://imgur.com/W1mMAsz
Vodafone Coverage http://imgur.com/NMnVxK7
preecey
08-08-2015
Originally Posted by RAN Man:
“Well, 6 months on and I still haven't won the lottery, and EE still has a pretty substantial coverage lead in the SW and Wales.

EE Coverage http://imgur.com/W1mMAsz
Vodafone Coverage http://imgur.com/NMnVxK7”

Definitely. Here in South Wales (Swansea), EE is by far the way to go for mobile data.
O2/Vodafone recently activated a 4G mast around 1 mile away from me, but contrary to my expectations I still only get 2G from O2 in my house, but 5 bars of EE 4G.

One thing I've found is that in areas where Cornerstone has activated 4G, the signal covers a far smaller area compared to the area an EE 4G enabled mast can cover. The EE 4G mast I'm receiving my reception from is not that much closer to my house than the Cornerstone mast is. Call me paranoid, but it seems as if O2/Vodafone don't want you to use their data network to save on costs.
jaffboy151
08-08-2015
I don't think it's because they don't want people to use it, though given there approach to providing data in the past I can see why people will think that, Vodafone do seem to be running 800mhz on reduced power as it sits somewhere between 2100mhz 3g and well below 900mhz 3g. For me the biggest thing Vodafone need to address is the minimum reception levels they have in place before you drop down to the next tech level, it's way too high!
You get dumped into 2g too easily and while you might have good usability 4g available you will still drop down to a often overload 900mhz 3g.
With regards to EE, not sure if others will agree but I know they've put massive resources and money into rolling out 4g, but out of all the operators haven't they got the easiest job? Alot of the masts I see around my part of the world have just had the additional cabinets installed, not many have much signs of backhaul upgrades (although this might not always be visible) or any changes to the masts, three seem to be changing the masts around these parts to masts theyve added 4g to and cornerstone are having to change everything..
moox
08-08-2015
Originally Posted by RAN Man:
“Well, 6 months on and I still haven't won the lottery, and EE still has a pretty substantial coverage lead in the SW and Wales.

EE Coverage http://imgur.com/W1mMAsz
Vodafone Coverage http://imgur.com/NMnVxK7”

Vodafone is still giving me a belting sub-1Mbps on the recently upgraded 3G 900 site local to me in Cornwall. Even O2 does better from a much older site.

In both cases you'll still very quickly be back on GPRS or EDGE once you move around a bit though.

EE and 3 remain unbeatable (and indeed EE alone for 4G, though 3 has recently fired up a random 4G site in the middle of nowhere near me)
Pedro_C
08-08-2015
"I can see why people will think that, Vodafone do seem to be running 800mhz on reduced power as it sits somewhere between 2100mhz 3g and well below 900mhz 3g."

On the inner town monopoles I've tested, the 4G is only about 3dBm below the 2G and therefore can't be much more lower than the 3G 900, whereas at the rural sites it tends to be 10-20dBm below the 3G900.

Was in a garden centre where Vodafone just went straight from 4G to GPRS. Forced phone to 4G and had a consistent 30mbps. So sad.
jaffboy151
08-08-2015
It is sad.. The levels they choose to employ to me show they still see data as a distant second in priority vs voice calls. The two seem much more balanced on EE.
M1kos
08-08-2015
No problems with levels where I am 4G is wacking out much strong than ee
lightspeed2398
08-08-2015
What's surprising (to me at least) is that Vodafone haven't launched in Plymouth yet. They seem to be doing stuff rapidly on their 3g network down there if you look at 3g predicted coverage though, wonder if they're upgrading cabinets but can't get backhaul?
Gareth_Beer
08-08-2015
Wow, in West Wales today, EE making strides with 4G, Llanelli came on with a few sites few weeks ago (catching up with Voda there) now St Clears, down A40 big chunks of 4g deep into West Wales all the way to Cardigan it would seem. Voda's barely 2G there, O2 a joke of delusional optimism (with their coverage maps).
Lots of Edge fallback as well - always a good sign I believe.
EE have owned 3G in West Wales for a longtime too.
jaffboy151
08-08-2015
All that extra 3g and no 4g must something to do with backhaul I reckon..
Does anyone know how much Vodafone and EE are planning to rely on microwave to backhaul sites, I get the feeling EE seem to be avoiding it in most cases they can but I get they've microwaved some of those 2g/4g only sites,
Do Vodafone plan to fibre most there sites or will they rely heavily on microwave links?
For some reason I always think the worsed of them so have got it in my head to microwave many from key sites
Stereo Steve
08-08-2015
VOD not doing Plymouth and Exeter 4G is odd. very odd. I don't live in either place but they are both major SW cities. Doesn't bother me but it should be done by now. It really should.

I think the whole 800 / VoLTE thing is screwing all the networks to some extent. While Cornerstone and 3 seem to be waiting, waiting, waiting on this tech to work, EE are rolling out 1800 4G like their pants are on fire. You want 4G today? EE, no brainer in 90% of the UK. Late 2016 if VoLTE has bedded in, maybe a more complicated story.

I get the feeling that 3 and VOD are staking a lot on this thing working where EE are going for raw coverage with 800 infill later.

Quite intriguing.
jaffboy151
08-08-2015
So what do people think are the chances of three launching there 800mhz & volte in September?
Any news or rumors on when Vodafone could launch there volte?
M1kos
09-08-2015
VO2 Will begin Plymouth rollout shortly trial digs have been carried out on five sites in the city also in Exeter and Penzance and Truro some in the middle of nowhere sites will also go live in next month or two in Cornwall
preecey
01-10-2015
Several more sites have been activated or are to be activated shortly around the greater Swansea area, including:

Ammanford (Live)
Clydach (Testing)
Pontardawe (Testing)

The above three sites have been served by legacy O2 2G for years and have received very poor or no O2 3G signal (but decent Vodafone 3G). Was in Ammanford earlier today, an area which has never had O2 3G reception, but now the area benefits from 50Mbps+ 4G from both O2 and Vodafone.

EE have served these areas with 4G for an awful long time now, it's very satisfying to see that O2/VF are finally catching up.
moox
01-10-2015
Originally Posted by M1kos:
“VO2 Will begin Plymouth rollout shortly trial digs have been carried out on five sites in the city also in Exeter and Penzance and Truro some in the middle of nowhere sites will also go live in next month or two in Cornwall”

I saw someone at a Vodafone monopole in Truro, near Sainsburys, so I'm guessing it was related to that. Vodafone's coverage checker claims that 4G is coming soon to where I live, but as always I seem to be on the edge of coverage for some reason

Hopefully they are getting a move on now.
pfgpowell
01-10-2015
Originally Posted by DevonBloke:
“Where are you seeing the Westcountry planned sites?
Their checker doesn't show them does it?”

I was very surprised to find my Three phone showing a 4G signal in Bodmin, Cornwall, the other day. I thought we were in the back of beyond and you only got 4G in and near big cities. Not that I'm complaining.
corf
01-10-2015
Originally Posted by ard100:
“To me I tink by the end of this summer voda/02 4g will overtake EE in these places”

End of summer has arrived.

4g has arrived in Mid Wales courtesy of EE

Vodafone has updated their coverage map to say 3g is available. It isn't - only 2g available from both o2 and vodafone, the gap is widening in this rural area.
DevonBloke
01-10-2015
Originally Posted by moox:
“I saw someone at a Vodafone monopole in Truro, near Sainsburys, so I'm guessing it was related to that. Vodafone's coverage checker claims that 4G is coming soon to where I live, but as always I seem to be on the edge of coverage for some reason

Hopefully they are getting a move on now.”

I think they all have it in for you and me.
Mine they are leaving till the very last minute. Probably be the last out of the 18000 to go live!
Down there they are doing all the ones around you so you are just slightly out of range.
They're probably scanning these forums....
"Two belddy moanin buggers down there.... do them last" said the chief engineer in the style of Jethro!
Hahahahaha
preecey
01-10-2015
Forgot to also mention:

Tycroes (near Ammanford) - Live

Five shiny black bars of 4G goodness, finally. Never had even 3G from O2 there before and now they've got excellent 4G.
M1kos
01-10-2015
Mip 4G mast now officially live from Seaton Cornwall and Exeter now showing on voda 4G map
DevonBloke
01-10-2015
They're still thinking about the MIP mast here.
Been thinking about it for a year now.
The entire community is behind it with tons and tons of supporting pleading letters.
One guy doesn't want it because he will have to look at it, idiot! (I wish I could see it out of my window).
Oh and English heritage don't want it because "it's next to an ancient church".
Er, yeah, so? Is the church going to vaporise or somehow crumble to the ground or something?
Humans really can be quite pointless sometimes!
Government will force them all through anyway so I don't know why they didn't just put the bloody things up!
Stereo Steve
01-10-2015
VOD's map really is a joke. Exeter (parts of) has gone from not even planned to covered while the middle of the South Hams goes from planned to unplanned and back again for 3G and all the time, nothing happens.
The Lord Lucan
01-10-2015
Originally Posted by jaffboy151:
“All that extra 3g and no 4g must something to do with backhaul I reckon..
Does anyone know how much Vodafone and EE are planning to rely on microwave to backhaul sites, I get the feeling EE seem to be avoiding it in most cases they can but I get they've microwaved some of those 2g/4g only sites,
Do Vodafone plan to fibre most there sites or will they rely heavily on microwave links?
For some reason I always think the worsed of them so have got it in my head to microwave many from key sites”

In rural areas for EE is quite high as the roll out continues, but they are trying to fibre nearly all of them eventually, about 15% won't be able to be.
DevonBloke
01-10-2015
VO2 don't give a stuff about people in rural areas.
No 3G after 15 years when others are thinking about 5G is shocking.
preecey
01-10-2015
Originally Posted by Stereo Steve:
“VOD's map really is a joke. Exeter (parts of) has gone from not even planned to covered while the middle of the South Hams goes from planned to unplanned and back again for 3G and all the time, nothing happens.”

I agree; in the areas I mentioned in my last posts where 4G has already been enabled, the maps still show no 4G (and no future plans for it either) - when I know first hand that some sites in those areas have been done.

Well, I guess the Vodafone coverage maps are still leaps and bounds better than O2's... Vodafone update their maps every Thursday but O2 update theirs once every month-and-a-half!
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