Vodafone or o2 mobile broadband

5rannoch

I am tempted by the cashback offers to take out a mobile broadband contract. However, I am not sure which one to go for. Is it worth paying the extra for Vodafone i.e. does it have noticeable advantages in terms of speed and network coverage?

I have looked at the technical info but do not really understand it and I am not sure what I shall be taking into account.

jojo2004

Hi - not a techie person, but signed up today for the Vodafone 3Gb 12 month contract for mobile BB, with a free dongle/modem thingy.

AFAIK O2 is slower - max speed is 3.6 Mbps in HDSPA areas (ie. areas with good coverage - they have a map on the o2 mobile bb website), vodafone offer up to 7.2 Mbps.
Also, the £15 a month contract is £10 a month for the first 4 months, then £15 for 20 further months - an average of £14.17 per month. Factor in Cashback (£45) from Quidco, and it's £12.29 a month.

Vodafone offer the 12 month 3GB limit package (same as the o2 one, but without the unlimited wi-fi access at The Cloud hotspots), which with the £90 cashback, works out at £7.50 per month.

HTH and it's not too late in replying! I'll let you know how the Vodafone one goes if you like - PM me.

Cheers
Jo

p.s. you know that your speed depends on the coverage in your area right - not trying to teach any elderly relatives to suck eggs, just pointing out the obvious in case it hadn't occurred - I checked for my area before deciding who was fastest.

flossy_splodge

not trying to teach any elderly relatives to suck eggs

Specifically 'elderly' relatives or would you include younger friends???:rotfl:

jojo2004

Have now received the modem, and have tried it out a few times - in central-ish London (Clapham) it's really zippy and great coverage.

Tried it also in Liverpool, pretty decent.

Hope that helps,
Cheers,
Jo

diamonds

Voda 7.2 is very limited outside London & airports

jojo2004

Yes, I've heard that - since I'll be using it primarily in London Zones 1-4, I decided to go for it on that basis.

One other thing I should mention is that since having the modem, I've not been able to get Internet Explorer working - can get online other ways, but not through the browser direct...

Will keep OP updated, if you're still interested?

flossy_splodge

jojo, try posting on techie thread - if you can bear to - and see if there's any known prob with IE.
Are you on IE 7 by any chance?

Are you prepared to change to something like Firefox if recommended?
:A

5rannoch

jojo2004 wrote: »

Will keep OP updated, if you're still interested?

I would appreciate it if you could keep me updated. I went for the O2 offer, but my daughter is still undecided, so would like to know how Vodafone compares. She lives in Hackney.

jojo2004

Well, I've now downloaded Mozilla Firefox to use as a browser, which has sorted the problem - so it's still a good deal IMHO.

I did mention the cashback through Quidco, didn't I? £7.50 a month for a 3GB usage limit is cheaper than any other deal I've seen.

Will keep you posted on areas of good and bad coverage.

Cheers,
jj

flossy_splodge

And just as a little reassurance to anyone who sees the word 'Quidco' and worries. If you've read on these threads that there seems to be a problem with their payouts and/or speed of, I asked them about a pay out that seems to be taking for ever.
I mentioned they are getting bad press about the speed of their payouts compared with other cashback sites and got back a very full and clear and satisfactory answer.

I've only ever had probs with Topcashback, not Quidco so hope that might help.:T

scooby32

had exactly the same dilema Vodaphone or O2. I posted on here for advice and got none that helped.

I went with Vodaphone since it was only a twelve month contract and it does just what it says on the tin. The speeds are good, bad coverage outside of London and airports is rubbish. These are the places where 7.2mb is possible the rest of the UK is fine for normal vodaphone signal and I travel the whole of the UK so this has been well tested.

The only slight prob was when it reset at the end of the month the cut off reset to 50mb so it switched off. A quick call to the vodaphone shop and it was reset and working.

I would highly recommend Vodaphone , again after quidco its not a long contract and you can re evaluate the market then