Vodafone has worse sound quality than the other networks

Satellite John · 28-12-2005, 10:35

I think it is really noticeable that Vodafone has worse sound quality than the other networks. I think must allocate less bandwidth per user or something?

DanielWhit · 28-12-2005, 11:00

I don't know, but I might be going over to Vodafone soon and I am interested in the result of this discussion.

qpw3141 · 28-12-2005, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satellite John

I think must allocate less bandwidth per user or something?

I didn't think the GSM spec allowed that.

Are you sure it isn't just the handsets you've experienced. They do seem to vary a lot.

Satellite John · 28-12-2005, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by qpw3141

I didn't think the GSM spec allowed that.

Are you sure it isn't just the handsets you've experienced. They do seem to vary a lot.

I have used the same handset (Nokia 1100) with sims from Vodafone, T-Mobile and Orange, and have used o2 in the past.

I would say Orange and T-Mobile have the best sound quality. Then o2, then Vodafone.

scooby1970 · 28-12-2005, 11:56

Having switched to Vodafone after being on Orange for the last 5 years (and also having brief spells on 02 and 3), I can honestly say that you must have very good ears to say you can hear any difference between any of the networks. Perhaps it's just the handsets being used?

The real benifit of Vodafone that I have noticed is that I do not loose connection and even in weak signal areas I can still hear the other person!

Mark

onephat · 28-12-2005, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satellite John

I think it is really noticeable that Vodafone has worse sound quality than the other networks. I think must allocate less bandwidth per user or something?

No chance ! ! !

Having been a Voda customer for about 4 months after spending the last few years on Orange and Tmobile I can say vodafone is just as good. Its prob a dodgy handset you have.

mattworld · 28-12-2005, 15:53

in theory Orange and T-Mobile should have a better call quality than Vodafone and O2 because of the frequency they operate at and different codecs they implement. In practise however it is quite dependant on other factors as well. I can sometimes notice a difference between Orange & O2, but not often. Voda always sounds good where I am.

Kariii · 29-12-2005, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Adams

Having switched to Vodafone after being on Orange for the last 5 years (and also having brief spells on 02 and 3), I can honestly say that you must have very good ears to say you can hear any difference between any of the networks. Perhaps it's just the handsets being used?

The real benifit of Vodafone that I have noticed is that I do not loose connection and even in weak signal areas I can still hear the other person!

Mark

I totally agree, Vodafone has always been fantastic for me, and exactly as you said, even when I only have 1 bar on signal strength my conversation never falters! I am also with Orange, and can't wait to leave - exactly the reverse.
I've been with Vodafone for about 3 years, I don't plan on leaving them, always a steady reception when the others tbh seem 'rocky' and this isn't just my home area either. Not sure if there's a reasonable explanation for this but even without, it does seem to be the case (thankfully)

DanielWhit · 29-12-2005, 13:24

Can someone say where Virgin Mobile stands in the quality rankings?

Dan 8t1 · 29-12-2005, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielWhit

Can someone say where Virgin Mobile stands in the quality rankings?

Virgin uses T-Mobile's network, so in theory Virgin's call quality should be about the same as Orange's, and (depending on other conditions) slightly better than Vodafone's and O2's.

Dan

lost boy · 29-12-2005, 16:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satellite John

I think it is really noticeable that Vodafone has worse sound quality than the other networks. I think must allocate less bandwidth per user or something?

I don't agree - while Vodafone's sound quality isn't the best (that honour goes to T-Mobile) O2's sound quality is far far worse, and consistently so - regardless of the handset in use.

BexTech · 29-12-2005, 17:25

As been said above.

T-Mobile and Orange, plus their virtuals will have the best quality and the difference is quite noticeable.

What must be remembered is to get the best sound quality you must be calling another 1800MHz Network (T-Mobile, Orange + their Virtuals) or a landline. If you are using a T-Mobile, Orange or their Virtual and you are calling an O2, Vodafone or their Virtuals your call quality will drop to their lower standard.

BexTech · 29-12-2005, 17:25

...duplicate...

dreamypuma · 29-12-2005, 18:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by BexTech

...duplicate...

Isn't vodaphone the only network that doesn't use the 1800 frequency?

o2 use both 900 and 1800. I thinkwhen people are talking about the sound quality in this thread they are discussing the richness of the sound, rather than interferance through lack of coverage.

900mhz frequency is, as far as i'm aware a lower quality, but has greater range.

EFR, which seem to appear on the one2one network first, and on Ericsson handsets enhanced the richness of the call further. Not sure if EFR is a PCN network only thing.

Correct me if i'm wrong.

crowfield99 · 29-12-2005, 18:58

Both 02 & Vodafone use the 900 & 1800 range.

BexTech · 29-12-2005, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by crowfield99

Both 02 & Vodafone use the 900 & 1800 range.

In limited busy areas.

crowfield99 · 29-12-2005, 19:10

Yep as you can guess 900 is used most of the time the 1800 as BexTech said.

dreamypuma · 29-12-2005, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by crowfield99

Yep as you can guess 900 is used most of the time the 1800 as BexTech said.

Does this then explain the poor sound quality on o2 and Voda? I pretty sure o2 are more reliant on 1800 than Voda.

I seem to remember a big thing by BT Cellnet, when dual band handsets came out. I remember buying the Nokia 6150 because of all the hype by BT, about seamless switching and greater capacity.

I have to say I've had lots of handsets in my time, Vodafone have always seemed to have had a lower call quality. One of the reasons I've never been on Vodafone for any legnth of time. (on my personal phone anyway. Work one has always been Voda or o2)

digitalwolf · 29-12-2005, 22:15

I can tell a difference in call quality between o2 and orange.

crowfield99 · 29-12-2005, 23:10

Yep, as everyone has said above the 1800 Networks such as Orange & T-Mobile should sound better.

While we are on freq. allocations. Vodafone & 02 run on both 900 & 1800 but Orange/T-Mobile are only allowed to run on the 1800 band. So why aint Orange & T-Mobile allowed to use the 900 band? Would it have mattered if they did run on this type of band?

28-12-2005, 10:35	#1
Satellite John Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: London Posts: 1,825	Vodafone has worse sound quality than the other networks I think it is really noticeable that Vodafone has worse sound quality than the other networks. I think must allocate less bandwidth per user or something?

28-12-2005, 11:00	#2
DanielWhit Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,128	I don't know, but I might be going over to Vodafone soon and I am interested in the result of this discussion.

28-12-2005, 11:40	#3
qpw3141 Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,238	Quote: Originally Posted by Satellite John I think must allocate less bandwidth per user or something? I didn't think the GSM spec allowed that. Are you sure it isn't just the handsets you've experienced. They do seem to vary a lot.

28-12-2005, 11:49	#4
Satellite John Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: London Posts: 1,825	Quote: Originally Posted by qpw3141 I didn't think the GSM spec allowed that. Are you sure it isn't just the handsets you've experienced. They do seem to vary a lot. I have used the same handset (Nokia 1100) with sims from Vodafone, T-Mobile and Orange, and have used o2 in the past. I would say Orange and T-Mobile have the best sound quality. Then o2, then Vodafone.

28-12-2005, 11:56	#5
scooby1970 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Neath Posts: 2,468	Having switched to Vodafone after being on Orange for the last 5 years (and also having brief spells on 02 and 3), I can honestly say that you must have very good ears to say you can hear any difference between any of the networks. Perhaps it's just the handsets being used? The real benifit of Vodafone that I have noticed is that I do not loose connection and even in weak signal areas I can still hear the other person! Mark

28-12-2005, 13:56	#6
onephat Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Leicester Posts: 825	Quote: Originally Posted by Satellite John I think it is really noticeable that Vodafone has worse sound quality than the other networks. I think must allocate less bandwidth per user or something? No chance ! ! ! Having been a Voda customer for about 4 months after spending the last few years on Orange and Tmobile I can say vodafone is just as good. Its prob a dodgy handset you have.

28-12-2005, 15:53	#7
mattworld Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 701	in theory Orange and T-Mobile should have a better call quality than Vodafone and O2 because of the frequency they operate at and different codecs they implement. In practise however it is quite dependant on other factors as well. I can sometimes notice a difference between Orange & O2, but not often. Voda always sounds good where I am.

29-12-2005, 00:55	#8
Kariii Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 115	Quote: Originally Posted by Mark Adams Having switched to Vodafone after being on Orange for the last 5 years (and also having brief spells on 02 and 3), I can honestly say that you must have very good ears to say you can hear any difference between any of the networks. Perhaps it's just the handsets being used? The real benifit of Vodafone that I have noticed is that I do not loose connection and even in weak signal areas I can still hear the other person! Mark I totally agree, Vodafone has always been fantastic for me, and exactly as you said, even when I only have 1 bar on signal strength my conversation never falters! I am also with Orange, and can't wait to leave - exactly the reverse. I've been with Vodafone for about 3 years, I don't plan on leaving them, always a steady reception when the others tbh seem 'rocky' and this isn't just my home area either. Not sure if there's a reasonable explanation for this but even without, it does seem to be the case (thankfully)

29-12-2005, 13:24	#9
DanielWhit Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,128	Can someone say where Virgin Mobile stands in the quality rankings?

29-12-2005, 15:09	#10
Dan 8t1 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Leicester Posts: 897	Quote: Originally Posted by DanielWhit Can someone say where Virgin Mobile stands in the quality rankings? Virgin uses T-Mobile's network, so in theory Virgin's call quality should be about the same as Orange's, and (depending on other conditions) slightly better than Vodafone's and O2's. Dan

29-12-2005, 16:28	#11
lost boy Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Norfolkland Posts: 1,787	Quote: Originally Posted by Satellite John I think it is really noticeable that Vodafone has worse sound quality than the other networks. I think must allocate less bandwidth per user or something? I don't agree - while Vodafone's sound quality isn't the best (that honour goes to T-Mobile) O2's sound quality is far far worse, and consistently so - regardless of the handset in use.

29-12-2005, 17:25	#12
BexTech Banned User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Back where I belong. Posts: 12,574	As been said above. T-Mobile and Orange, plus their virtuals will have the best quality and the difference is quite noticeable. What must be remembered is to get the best sound quality you must be calling another 1800MHz Network (T-Mobile, Orange + their Virtuals) or a landline. If you are using a T-Mobile, Orange or their Virtual and you are calling an O2, Vodafone or their Virtuals your call quality will drop to their lower standard.

29-12-2005, 18:28	#14
dreamypuma Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,129	Quote: Originally Posted by BexTech ...duplicate... Isn't vodaphone the only network that doesn't use the 1800 frequency? o2 use both 900 and 1800. I thinkwhen people are talking about the sound quality in this thread they are discussing the richness of the sound, rather than interferance through lack of coverage. 900mhz frequency is, as far as i'm aware a lower quality, but has greater range. EFR, which seem to appear on the one2one network first, and on Ericsson handsets enhanced the richness of the call further. Not sure if EFR is a PCN network only thing. Correct me if i'm wrong.

29-12-2005, 18:58	#15
crowfield99 Forum Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Walsall, UK Posts: 520	Both 02 & Vodafone use the 900 & 1800 range.

29-12-2005, 19:09	#16
BexTech Banned User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Back where I belong. Posts: 12,574	Quote: Originally Posted by crowfield99 Both 02 & Vodafone use the 900 & 1800 range. In limited busy areas.

29-12-2005, 19:10	#17
crowfield99 Forum Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Walsall, UK Posts: 520	Yep as you can guess 900 is used most of the time the 1800 as BexTech said.

29-12-2005, 19:19	#18
dreamypuma Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,129	Quote: Originally Posted by crowfield99 Yep as you can guess 900 is used most of the time the 1800 as BexTech said. Does this then explain the poor sound quality on o2 and Voda? I pretty sure o2 are more reliant on 1800 than Voda. I seem to remember a big thing by BT Cellnet, when dual band handsets came out. I remember buying the Nokia 6150 because of all the hype by BT, about seamless switching and greater capacity. I have to say I've had lots of handsets in my time, Vodafone have always seemed to have had a lower call quality. One of the reasons I've never been on Vodafone for any legnth of time. (on my personal phone anyway. Work one has always been Voda or o2)

29-12-2005, 22:15	#19
digitalwolf Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: West Midlands Posts: 1,439	I can tell a difference in call quality between o2 and orange.

29-12-2005, 23:10	#20
crowfield99 Forum Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Walsall, UK Posts: 520	Yep, as everyone has said above the 1800 Networks such as Orange & T-Mobile should sound better. While we are on freq. allocations. Vodafone & 02 run on both 900 & 1800 but Orange/T-Mobile are only allowed to run on the 1800 band. So why aint Orange & T-Mobile allowed to use the 900 band? Would it have mattered if they did run on this type of band?

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Vodafone has worse sound quality than the other networks