How do I know if I get network coverage?

researcher

I've just come to the end of my Orange contact, and they don't seem to be prepared to offer me anything better than a free phone and standard offers.

I've used them for the last 3 years as I get good reception in my home. I know both Vodafone and Virgin's (O2?) reception is poor, so it's not worth considering them, but how do I find out if anyone elses is as good as Oranges?

andy88_2

You can get your phone to do a network search (on the phone menu somewhere - look for setting network selection to manual). Your present network is always placed at the top however, so you will need to do the same with a different SIM (ask a friend?), then work the order out from the two results.

pricefighter

Virgin runs over T Mobile,as do Easymobile.so you can forget about them three.Voda is no good according to you..So you are only really left with 3 or o2.why not ask around your neighbours,friends,local businesses to see what works best for them.

mike_paterson

Three have a coverage checker on their website.
I posted a thread on Friday about a great deal I got on 3 through onestopphoneshop. Basically Nokia 6630 on 3 with 500 xnet mins & 100 txts per month with 11 months free - also get £10 extra cashback by signing up online.

andy88_2

Mike, all the networks have coverage maps, but they do not necessarily show individual street or house details.

mike_paterson

andy88 wrote:

Mike, all the networks have coverage maps, but they do not necessarily show individual street or house details.

I wouldn't have thought any phone company has the resources to survey every house in the country in case thay might want a mobile phone from them ! The maps are however useful as a guide to see if you will not get good coverage. ie if they say you will only get poor or no coverage, then you can assume that they won't be worth bothering with.

researcher

Thanks everyone, I've checked everyone but 3 and not a flicker of network coverage - so as I live in a rural area I'm not even going to risk 3's notoriously dodgy coverage.

Looks like orange are the only one, so I'll just have to try and negotiate a better deal.

:beer:

vansboy

Can you check with a few friends & try their fones, in your home?

Here, my O2 is poor, unless you go upstairs - girl in house opposite gets NO signal at all!!

Mrs V on Voda is perfect.

Friends on T & Orange is pretty good, too.

Not tried 3, or Virgin.

& we live 100mtrs from office block with Orange mast on top!!


Trying it this way is best!!

VB

Ivor_Headache

Reasearcher, hi,

Orange won't offer you anything without a fight, and it all depends on how far you are prepared to push.

Phone them and speak to an an advisor and tell them you want a 'port code'. You will then probably be put through to a 'retention' customer service advisor who has more flexibility to offer you a better deal, but as I say you do have to be prepared to push it. Even if they give you the port code, I don't think your contract with them is actually terminated until your 'new' phone company uses the port code. So effectively,you can push it to the end and so long as you don't give the port number to anyone, it just lapses.

Ivor Headache