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> Is it completely unreasonable to expect a decent Vodafone 3G signal in central Newbury?, .
Sherlock
post Oct 24 2012, 01:27 PM
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Last time I expressed my dissatisfaction with Vodafone here some joker replied (he wasn't actually joking) along the lines of 'just because Vodafone is based here it wasn't reasonable to expect a decent service from them'. 'They don't have a huge aerial on their HQ you know', the joker explained, perhaps not understanding that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.

But I'm still hacked off with them and can't wait until my current contract expires to move to another provider.

They dodge taxes on a huge scale and don't bother to provide a decent 3G service in the centre of one of the hubs of the UK's silicon valley. What's not to like?*

It's still like the Somme out there by the way.

*n.b. that's irony, not sarcasm.
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spartacus
post Oct 24 2012, 01:56 PM
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QUOTE (Sherlock @ Oct 24 2012, 02:27 PM) *
It's still like the Somme out there by the way.

In the Mud-o-Meter levels it's nearer Passchendeale

As for the VF signal I've always assumed that O2 and other service providers almost deliberately target places like Newbury (and their other competitors HQs) and use clever methods to interfere and drown out the Vodafone signal locally to give them a bad name in their 'home town'*

* - Not much longer before Newbury is no longer the home town for Vodafone I reckon...
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massifheed
post Oct 24 2012, 03:00 PM
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QUOTE (Sherlock @ Oct 24 2012, 02:27 PM) *
Last time I expressed my dissatisfaction with Vodafone here some joker replied (he wasn't actually joking) along the lines of 'just because Vodafone is based here it wasn't reasonable to expect a decent service from them'.


I would guess he was probably trying to make a point that, just because their HQ is here, doesn't mean that Newbury will have the best VF signal in the UK. And he'd be right! I think the number of masts in any location in the UK simply comes down to population and possibly one or two local limitations.

You can go here...

http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/search

...and see who has what masts in the area.

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Squelchy
post Oct 24 2012, 03:51 PM
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QUOTE (Sherlock @ Oct 24 2012, 02:27 PM) *
*n.b. that's irony,


No it's not.


And is not the correct phrase "sarcasm is the lowest form of humor but the highest form of wit" or something along those lines?
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JeffG
post Nov 6 2012, 10:49 AM
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Reviving this thread, because I have just discovered that the 'H' you see in the status bar instead of '3G' stands for HSPA which is in fact faster and better than 3G, and is sometimes nicknamed 3.5G.
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blackdog
post Nov 6 2012, 10:55 AM
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QUOTE (JeffG @ Nov 6 2012, 10:49 AM) *
Reviving this thread, because I have just discovered that the 'H' you see in the status bar instead of '3G' stands for HSPA which is in fact faster and better than 3G, and is sometimes nicknamed 3.5G.

Hadn't realised that - I will stop having that internal groan when I see the 3G replaced by an H.
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NWNREADER
post Nov 6 2012, 10:59 AM
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Exactly.........
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James_Trinder
post Nov 6 2012, 02:03 PM
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I lost patience with Vodafone a while back, which is why I have just switched from them to T-Mobile or EE as they are now known. Does anybody know what the "E" that sometimes replaces the "3G" means?
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massifheed
post Nov 6 2012, 02:21 PM
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QUOTE (James_Trinder @ Nov 6 2012, 02:03 PM) *
I lost patience with Vodafone a while back, which is why I have just switched from them to T-Mobile or EE as they are now known. Does anybody know what the "E" that sometimes replaces the "3G" means?


It means Edge, which is sometimes displayed as 2.5G and is an enhancement from standard 2G/GPRS.

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MoonPhoenix
post Nov 6 2012, 04:07 PM
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The E = 384kbps max circuit switched data.
Ie, what the average landline pulled in 2001.

HSPA Is essentially obsolete tech too, that manages a max of 8mbps. As most networks are currently half-way through upgrading to HSPA+ with a max of 21mbps.

I always got good results off Three within the town centre. Typically pulling the theoretical max of 8mbps at any time of day I've tried.
Three are upgrading their network within west berks to HSPA+ right this moment. Which is the result of the really spotty service and basically everything being randomly broken on and off over the last couple of weeks within the area. But having played on the test network. When there done it will be pretty sweat

HSPA+ is not 4g.... But the salesmen will tell you it is for the sake of their commision.
The LTE that EE just launched last week however is.

I find that the dongles you get given for free by the networks are all cheap barely there devices. much like the rubbish free usb modems that adsl providers used to give away. Your best just shoving it in a draw and buying your own connection hardware. It's not expensive, and results in infinitly better signal and performance.

I've had great results with the 40mbps HSPA+ duel diversity 3G dongles. Ok, none of the networks will run at that speed. But the vastly improved receive circuitry results in much clearer signals anywhere you take it. And if your not using an external antenna with your dongle. They dont cost much and make a massive improvement. And they work with any dongle provided you buy the correct pigtails, except the cheap things vodafone give away. because they left the physical connector off the device to save money.
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Penelope
post Nov 6 2012, 05:07 PM
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Yeah, what he said!
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JeffG
post Nov 6 2012, 07:45 PM
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I thought he was a she.
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MoonPhoenix
post Nov 6 2012, 10:56 PM
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So did I. That'll explain the strange looks. tongue.gif
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motormad
post Nov 7 2012, 01:45 PM
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QUOTE (JeffG @ Nov 6 2012, 07:45 PM) *
I thought he was a she.


And that their Great Auntie was the president of Kazakhstan as well.


--------------------
:p
Grammar: the difference between knowing your poop and knowing you're poop.
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Spider
post Nov 7 2012, 06:09 PM
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I have Vodafone but I noticed that when I go into some areas my signals goes. Which surprises me as their headquarters are in Newbury. Would I be any better off looking for another mobile phone? company?
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JeffG
post Nov 7 2012, 07:48 PM
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QUOTE (Spider @ Nov 7 2012, 06:09 PM) *
Which surprises me as their headquarters are in Newbury.

Well, the BBC's headquarters are in London (or maybe Salford), but I get a surprisingly good TV signal here.
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NWNREADER
post Nov 7 2012, 07:50 PM
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QUOTE (Spider @ Nov 7 2012, 06:09 PM) *
I have Vodafone but I noticed that when I go into some areas my signals goes. Which surprises me as their headquarters are in Newbury. Would I be any better off looking for another mobile phone? company?

Same mindset as asking why dealers in Birmingham didn't all have every derivative of Austin's range on the forecourt for immediate delivery all the time....
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Spider
post Nov 7 2012, 09:14 PM
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QUOTE (JeffG @ Nov 7 2012, 07:48 PM) *
Well, the BBC's headquarters are in London (or maybe Salford), but I get a surprisingly good TV signal here.


I would imagine their equipment is totally different.
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blackdog
post Nov 7 2012, 09:20 PM
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QUOTE (Spider @ Nov 7 2012, 06:09 PM) *
I have Vodafone but I noticed that when I go into some areas my signals goes. Which surprises me as their headquarters are in Newbury. Would I be any better off looking for another mobile phone? company?

I thought Vodafone moved their HQ to London after Chris Gent retired and his replacement had no interest in spending his time out in the sticks.
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JeffG
post Nov 7 2012, 09:35 PM
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QUOTE (Spider @ Nov 7 2012, 09:14 PM) *
I would imagine their equipment is totally different.

I don't see what that has to do with anything. The point is why should the location of a company's headquarters have any effect on your experience of their product?
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