Best Sim-only Deals guide Discussion

d123

robatwork said:

Just so you know there are differences between the MVNOs (like 1p mobile) and an EE sim. I live in a signal blackspot, and tested several sim cards in the same phone. Vanilla EE was better than 1p. I did some research and EE do use part of the spectrum that they don't release to their MVNOs. If you're interested I can look for more details. 

It would be good if you did publish those details because as someone who has worked for EE in a technical role I have no idea what you could be talking about, (leaving aside other MVNO’s that have been restricted from some access eg band 20) EE direct and 1p have always had exactly the same spectrum access as each other.

robatwork

d123 said:

robatwork said:

Just so you know there are differences between the MVNOs (like 1p mobile) and an EE sim. I live in a signal blackspot, and tested several sim cards in the same phone. Vanilla EE was better than 1p. I did some research and EE do use part of the spectrum that they don't release to their MVNOs. If you're interested I can look for more details. 

It would be good if you did publish those details because as someone who has worked for EE in a technical role I have no idea what you could be talking about, (leaving aside other MVNO’s that have been restricted from some access eg band 20) EE direct and 1p have always had exactly the same spectrum access as each other.

Here you go:

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Mobile-Network-discussions/Plusnet-EE-different-network-strength/m-p/1262320

This also suggests "Carrier aggregation" which while too technical for my knowledge of mobile networks, certainly suggests differences 

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Archived-Posts/Re-Signal-Priority-of-PAYG-vs-PAYM-vs-MVNO/m-p/1033959

d123

robatwork said:

d123 said:

robatwork said:

Just so you know there are differences between the MVNOs (like 1p mobile) and an EE sim. I live in a signal blackspot, and tested several sim cards in the same phone. Vanilla EE was better than 1p. I did some research and EE do use part of the spectrum that they don't release to their MVNOs. If you're interested I can look for more details. 

It would be good if you did publish those details because as someone who has worked for EE in a technical role I have no idea what you could be talking about, (leaving aside other MVNO’s that have been restricted from some access eg band 20) EE direct and 1p have always had exactly the same spectrum access as each other.

Here you go:

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Mobile-Network-discussions/Plusnet-EE-different-network-strength/m-p/1262320

This also suggests "Carrier aggregation" which while too technical for my knowledge of mobile networks, certainly suggests differences 

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Archived-Posts/Re-Signal-Priority-of-PAYG-vs-PAYM-vs-MVNO/m-p/1033959

Neither link is about 1p Mobile, Plusnet (showing how old your links are, as it doesn’t exist as an MVNO anymore) didnt have access to 800MHz. There are still MVNO’s that don’t, but 1p isn’t one of them.

Carrier Aggregation has nothing to do with signal, it’s a feature that allows multiple carriers to band together for higher data speeds, but again, 1p has the same CA capability as EE direct.

robatwork

OK it was plusnet - it was a couple of years ago I looked into this. But my assertion was that EE did differentiate between its own offering and what it allowed MVNOs. And that was certainly true. You're saying that it's not the case any more and that MVNOs on EE get exactly the same signal strength, bandwidth and everything else relevant as the mother network, and I have no reason to doubt you. 

You did say "has worked for EE" so is your info bang up to date?

d123

robatwork said:

OK it was plusnet - it was a couple of years ago I looked into this. But my assertion was that EE did differentiate between its own offering and what it allowed MVNOs. And that was certainly true. You're saying that it's not the case any more and that MVNOs on EE get exactly the same signal strength, bandwidth and everything else relevant as the mother network, and I have no reason to doubt you. 

You did say "has worked for EE" so is your info bang up to date?

EE have differing levels of features provided (as I said in my original reply to you).

This mainly relates to Band 20 800MHz access and VoLTE (4G Calling) and VoWiFi (WiFi Calling). This still happens on some MVNOs, for example Now, RWG, Talkhome. 

However there are also MVNOs who offer full EE service, like 1p. The service is pretty much exactly as a EE contract customers get. There are a few exceptions, for example the newly implemented 5G standalone and 5G slicing, but these aren’t even offered to the bulk of EE customers either. You need to be on a qualifying price plan for it.

The major point that was being refuted was your statement that you’d tested EE and 1p and found such big differences in performance, that is a false statement and not true, something I’m sure you agree with now?

VoucherMan

Hopefully an easy question for many. After a sim card failure, I'm thinking of upgrading my very occasional use phone from 2G to 4G. I've not yet found any decent PAYG sims, or networks though. Do they still exist for 4G, where you only pay when you actually use the phone?

My existing O2 network sim has been going for years, with just the occasional top-up. According to the guide on here though, it's £5 a month just to have an emergency phone sat on the shelf with 4G! Or am I looking at the wrong guide?

stevoh

I recently signed up for a SIM only deal with ID mobile after years using EE

it seemed my area was well covered on their maps so I thought it would be a no brainer.

since I’ve switched I’ve found the coverage to be really intermittent. Even when I have several bars I struggle to use apps and the web sometimes.

thinking of switching back to EE now 

flaneurs_lobster

VoucherMan said:

Hopefully an easy question for many. After a sim card failure, I'm thinking of upgrading my very occasional use phone from 2G to 4G. I've not yet found any decent PAYG sims, or networks though. Do they still exist for 4G, where you only pay when you actually use the phone?

My existing O2 network sim has been going for years, with just the occasional top-up. According to the guide on here though, it's £5 a month just to have an emergency phone sat on the shelf with 4G! Or am I looking at the wrong guide?

Are you happy to change networks? If Vodafone coverage is OK then you could get yourself an Asda Mobile SIM (free from their website), top-up for a fiver - acts as a standard PAYG as long as you make a call/text at least every six months.

A Giffgaff SIM will work too, is on the O2 network, minimum top-up is £10.

stevoh

stevoh said:

I recently signed up for a SIM only deal with ID mobile after years using EE

it seemed my area was well covered on their maps so I thought it would be a no brainer.

since I’ve switched I’ve found the coverage to be really intermittent. Even when I have several bars I struggle to use apps and the web sometimes.

thinking of switching back to EE now 

Quite annoying as I’m sat using the ID network now and it’s hyper fast. Based on some of the comments above I decided to go for a 1p contract. My understanding is that it’s as good as EE (which has served me well in my location over the years), but it’s cheaper I get free eu roaming and it’s a month by month contract.

Am I definitely correct in understanding that it’s as good as EE in terms of availability/ performance? Also anyone else had negative experiences with ID mobile?

I don’t really need to stream videos on the move, I just want to be able to use apps, check my mail WhatsApp etc, but have no limitations. 

ginger_chocolate

Just a heads up for anyone who is tempted by the super cheap ID Mobile/Smarty etc Sim only deals - make sure that your phone handset is actually supported by your chosen company before you sign up. I made this mistake recently - my "older" phone (three years old - sure - basically an antique!) was not a supported model and I was left unable to make or receive phone calls after completing the switch. I was able to cancel within the cooling off period for no extra charge, but wasted hours and hours of my life trying to resolve the issue with woeful customer support  and have been left for over a week with a phone I can't use. In all honesty I would have been better off sticking with my "overpriced" deal with my original provider - slightly more money, far less stress.