3 or Vodafone?

simples23

What network is better?

I live in Belfast, NI and in the past 3 weeks Three's signal's become awful. I mean when it connects to 3G its great, but increasingly it's flatlining to no signal at all.

I use an iPhone 4 btw and my mum uses a Nokia and its happening to us both.

I am considering moving to Vodafone as they appear to be the only network rivalling 3 for 3G coverage.

I'm looking at sim only and not too worried about who has the best helpline/customer support etc.

Any experience/advice would be great thanks!

medical

Definately Voda
medical

dazzadub

id say 3 network

3 have deals with orange, 02 and t-mobile to use there network when theres loses signal. research it.

they are becoming a great network and you get alot more for your money

simples23

I thought that too but apparently alot of the 2g roaming masts are being turned off and tbh, signals got really bad the past few weeks.

How good is voda's 3G?

Apart from 3, what network really has the best 3G coverage?

sutton111

simples23 wrote: »

I thought that too but apparently alot of the 2g roaming masts are being turned off and tbh, signals got really bad the past few weeks.

How good is voda's 3G?

Apart from 3, what network really has the best 3G coverage?

Not o2, i'm with them and apart from the place I live, the surrounding area is rubbish. The 3G side of o2 is always breaking down too.

simples23

o2's 3G coverage is definitely ropey at best, thats why i'm looking a good alternative to 3.

Only one I see that comes close is Vodafone so thats why i'm looking people's opinions.

Thanks everyone so far!

Inner_Zone

dazzadub wrote: »

3 have deals with orange, 02 and t-mobile to use there network when theres loses signal.

Wrong. When 3 first launched you could roam onto O2 if you were not in a 3 area.

About two and a half years ago, 3 dropped O2 and went to Orange, so stopped 3 customers roaming onto O2 though there was short handover period.

Orange and T-Mobile customers can register and roam between these two networks. 3 are not currently a part of this agreement so 3 customers can only roam onto Orange, but it might change next year.

However as posted above 3 are stopping roaming onto Orange where they claim to have improved their own coverage, but as many have found what 3 think or say is not the same in reality.

Finally 3's customer service is dire, been there got the tee shirts!

Having spent the best part of six months working in Belfast City at end of last year and earlier this year, I would suggest Vodafone or T-Mobile.

simples23

Thanks Inner Zone, it's your type of insight and experience that I'm after!

You hit the nail on the head about doing away with the 2g roaming etc and defo right about 3's C/S.

Did you find voda's 3G coverage reliable when you were here?

Thanks

tazdevil01985

Inner_Zone wrote: »

Wrong. When 3 first launched you could roam onto O2 if you were not in a 3 area.

About two and a half years ago, 3 dropped O2 and went to Orange, so stopped 3 customers roaming onto O2 though there was short handover period.

Orange and T-Mobile customers can register and roam between these two networks. 3 are not currently a part of this agreement so 3 customers can only roam onto Orange, but it might change next year.

However as posted above 3 are stopping roaming onto Orange where they claim to have improved their own coverage, but as many have found what 3 think or say is not the same in reality.

Finally 3's customer service is dire, been there got the tee shirts!

Having spent the best part of six months working in Belfast City at end of last year and earlier this year, I would suggest Vodafone or T-Mobile.

3 have a RAN (Radio Access Network) share with T Mobile to combine their 3G Networks ! Orange and T Mobile are now one Company - EE H3G will continue to use Orange 2G coverage where needed and will have a share of the 3G RAN so I would say H3G over Voda (Never thought I would say that !)

josephwhibley

3 out of principle, 6 bn of avoided taxes says vodafone should be subject to boycott imho.

dodger148

I am with Vodafone in what they consider to be a good 3G area but I am not impressed with it or the 3GS iPhone, which they have looked at replaced sim &etc I have reset which is the only thing they seem to suggest. 3g to 2g switching does appear to work but now I just leave the phone in 2g - it uses less power that way.

I was previously with 3 and found them helpfull, but nationally lacked the 3g coverage I wanted. If the change from 3g to 2g worked where there was no 3g signal I would have stayed with them.

Addionally, I have a payphone (N95) with T Mobile have no problems with 3g coverage and holding 3g, They originally said they couldnt guarrantee 3g in my area so lost out through being "honest" I will move the contract phone back to them at the end of the Voda contract