Which sim free? (95% of time spent in C London)

jsdickinson · 17-07-2015, 11:37

Hi guys

Just looking for some advice on who I should get my next sim free deal from. Currently on o2 (got an excellent cashback deal last year) and have been impressed by their performance in London (spend almost all my time in zone 1 and 2 and then bits and pieces in Kent, Edinburgh and Brum). Plenty of 4G about, 3G quick enough and strong signal even in buildings (a massive improvement after a frustrating stint with 3). But pretty shocking outside of London and big city centres.

Found two good deals through Mobile Phones Direct for £15/m after cashback with Vodafone (20GB) and EE (10GB). Just wondered if anyone could offer recent experiences with both in Z1 and 2 in London. EE only get one bar in my office which is a concern.

Thanks guys,

James

swb1964 · 17-07-2015, 12:19

O2 do at least have decent rural 2g coverage which should avoid missing calls. And eventually you should be able to use 3s masts as well (dunno how long that will be though)

voodoofish · 19-07-2015, 10:29

I'm on Vodafone and find their 4G network increasingly congested in London. Last week data wouldn't work at all on 3G outside Kings Cross, when my phone finally switched to 4G I got less than 1Mbps. I live in zone 3 and even there I usually get between 1 and 3 Mbps on 4G! Some areas of London are faster but it seems they can't increase their capacity in line with demand.

clewsy · 19-07-2015, 11:08

I think you highlight an issue you see more and more on reading forums these days. It seems that people are complaining more and more about select areas where one network is rubbish - there isn't really one network that appears to please everyone ..but it appears more so now that opinion is split who is the best.

voodoofish · 19-07-2015, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by clewsy

I think you highlight an issue you see more and more on reading forums these days. It seems that people are complaining more and more about select areas where one network is rubbish - there isn't really one network that appears to please everyone ..but it appears more so now that opinion is split who is the best.

I own a SIM free pocket wifi anyway, so got a 100GB promo sim from EE for it - I got it to stream Netflix on long train journeys but it's small enough that I carry it round with me most of the time and so when Vodafone packs up I can use that instead. There are some spots right by where I live where EE weren't great, which is why I went with Voda (that and Voda's cheap roaming), but from the pocket Wifi EE seems to have improved. The impression I get is that EE are the safer bet, but of course nothing can beat testing the areas you go most with some PAYG sims.

17-07-2015, 11:37	#1
jsdickinson Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 8	Which sim free? (95% of time spent in C London) Hi guys Just looking for some advice on who I should get my next sim free deal from. Currently on o2 (got an excellent cashback deal last year) and have been impressed by their performance in London (spend almost all my time in zone 1 and 2 and then bits and pieces in Kent, Edinburgh and Brum). Plenty of 4G about, 3G quick enough and strong signal even in buildings (a massive improvement after a frustrating stint with 3). But pretty shocking outside of London and big city centres. Found two good deals through Mobile Phones Direct for £15/m after cashback with Vodafone (20GB) and EE (10GB). Just wondered if anyone could offer recent experiences with both in Z1 and 2 in London. EE only get one bar in my office which is a concern. Thanks guys, James

17-07-2015, 12:19	#2
swb1964 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 2,455	O2 do at least have decent rural 2g coverage which should avoid missing calls. And eventually you should be able to use 3s masts as well (dunno how long that will be though)

19-07-2015, 10:29	#3
voodoofish Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 95	I'm on Vodafone and find their 4G network increasingly congested in London. Last week data wouldn't work at all on 3G outside Kings Cross, when my phone finally switched to 4G I got less than 1Mbps. I live in zone 3 and even there I usually get between 1 and 3 Mbps on 4G! Some areas of London are faster but it seems they can't increase their capacity in line with demand.

19-07-2015, 11:08	#4
clewsy Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Midlands Posts: 2,860	I think you highlight an issue you see more and more on reading forums these days. It seems that people are complaining more and more about select areas where one network is rubbish - there isn't really one network that appears to please everyone ..but it appears more so now that opinion is split who is the best.

19-07-2015, 13:08	#5
voodoofish Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 95	Quote: Originally Posted by clewsy I think you highlight an issue you see more and more on reading forums these days. It seems that people are complaining more and more about select areas where one network is rubbish - there isn't really one network that appears to please everyone ..but it appears more so now that opinion is split who is the best. I own a SIM free pocket wifi anyway, so got a 100GB promo sim from EE for it - I got it to stream Netflix on long train journeys but it's small enough that I carry it round with me most of the time and so when Vodafone packs up I can use that instead. There are some spots right by where I live where EE weren't great, which is why I went with Voda (that and Voda's cheap roaming), but from the pocket Wifi EE seems to have improved. The impression I get is that EE are the safer bet, but of course nothing can beat testing the areas you go most with some PAYG sims.

DS Forums

Which sim free? (95% of time spent in C London)