3 Mobile 'roaming' in the UK?

alanwsg

I have a 3 mobile PAYG 321 SIM, I'm quite often out in the countryside in poor signal spots.

I've noticed several times that I sometimes have a full signal (5 bars), but that the signal icon has an "R" next to it as if I was roaming. The network name is still shown as '3'.

When that happens, I can make/receive calls and texts, but I don't get any data access (Probably because I have data switched off while roaming so I don't get stung while abroad).

What's that all about then?

thetightone

When you are out of 3g coverage you go on to oranges 2g but you can only use voice and text, no data.

alanwsg

thetightone wrote: »

When you are out of 3g coverage you go on to oranges 2g but you can only use voice and text, no data.

Aha - thanks.

(But wouldn't it show 'Orange' as the network, rather than '3'?)

Would that still apply even if I enabled 'data-while-roaming' on my phone?

thetightone

alanwsg wrote: »

Aha - thanks.

(But wouldn't it show 'Orange' as the network, rather than '3'?)

Would that still apply even if I enabled 'data-while-roaming' on my phone?

I've only just joined, but as far as I understand no data for 3 customers ever while roaming on to the Orange network.
If I'd realised before I topped up I might not have bothered.

macman

The only places in the UK where you might be inadvertantly roaming onto a foreign network will be along the English Channel near the French coast (around Dover etc) or (more likely) along the Eire border in Northern Ireland.
I don't think you'd pick up Manx Telecom from the mainland?

alanwsg

macman wrote: »

The only places in the UK where you might be inadvertantly roaming onto a foreign network will be along the English Channel near the French coast (around Dover etc) or (more likely) along the Eire border in Northern Ireland.
I don't think you'd pick up Manx Telecom from the mainland?

Nowhere near, I was in deepest Surrey.
That's why I was surprised to the the 'R' next to the signal icon.