EE and now Three phone networks - coverage and service experience?

[DDtB]

I'm about to leave 3.

Coverage is fine if you're in a city, in my experience. But travelling between Glasgow and Edinburgh (on the motherwell route) I get zero signal on 3. Travelling from Edinburgh to Newcastle on the train... virtually no signal again.

Similarly, in the office and hotel on the outskirts of Newcastle I'm lucky if I get one bar on a good day. Colleagues on all the other networks get 4G and can also use theirs on the train home, unlike me.

I had a 4G signal on 3 the other day in Milngavie, then went a mile down the road and had zero signal again. It's patchy to say the least.

So I'm now looking at EE and GiffGaff. Glad I went on a 30 day rolling contract with 3 and not a 12 month one. It's borderline unusable a lot of the time. Great value, but that's irrelevant if you can't use it. A friend who works at 3 tells me they are going to improve the network and are aware it's a bit crap, but I'm not sure when.

[campbell]

I could say the same about O2 coverage, interestingly! I think the iPhone may play a part, actually.

Let us know how you get on with EE?

My new phone has allegedly been dispatched. Looks like the credit search measured up then...Deep breath for yet another bloody migration.

[j2 lot]

j2 just sold his 4S for £60, but I was not after one then.

tut

Buyer got a bargain

Other half struggles with constantly dropping 3 signal in rural South Lanarkshire, but I'm not sure any providers have good coverage there.

[tenkfeet]

Off topic: If anyone has a new O2 contract I I have a discount code for 30% of airtime part of the bill. Has to be within 28 days of start date and can give to four people.

PM me if you want.

[scott_e]

Not read the thread other than the heading but a few links here maybe helpful:

http://www.o2.co.uk/coveragechecker
http://m.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/welcome/ ... /index.htm
http://ee.co.uk/ee-and-me/network/4gee/coverage-checker
http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/mobile-services/

Also with merging of Orange and Tmobile to form EE , EE are addressing overlapping cells. This result is orange masts are being pulled down as they tend to be older and GPRS coverage is suffering.

[Corranga]

A bit off-topic, but I've been with Vodaphone for a bit over 2 years (just renewed via their retentions dept. for a better deal and phone) and have found that in my experience they have the best coverage and customer services of the bunch.
I admit, I haven't used 3 since they were the laughing stock though!

[Shug]

I could say the same about O2 coverage, interestingly! I think the iPhone may play a part, actually.

A pretty valid point IME - not iPhone, but I'm on a Sony Z1 and Elaine on a Samsung S5 and I consistently get signal when she's getting localised issues. Avoiding drop-out in shops and bars and the like. Handset can definitely play a role in our experience.

[DDtB]

Agree that coverage varies by area regardless of network.

I think EE beats 3 hands down though for overall coverage though, having gone from EE to 3 a few months back. 3 is fine in towns but as soon as you go outside those areas it seems to disappear unfortunately.

A straw pole of the three iphones on my team confirms that Vodafone and EE are kicking 3's ass just now in the offices I work in and the hotel too. I just can't get a signal but the other guys get 4G. Very irritating.

So 3 can be great if you're likely to spend most of your time in one of their good coverage areas, but if you travel around then I'd suggest sticking with EE or similar is safer. 3 just doesn't have the coverage area yet, regardless of what their coverage maps suggest.

[campbell]

Woody says 3 is great so I'll hold him solely responsible if not

[mckeann]

I've moved from O2 to vodafone to 3 in the past 2 years. Best deal and best coverage by far has been with 3.

[DJ]

I guess phone provider choice for coverage is always going to be variable and best suited to where you live and where it is going to be used most. I have been through Vodafone, O2 and EE over last 4 years. Where I live Vodafone was hopeless. I found if I stood on a single slab behind my garage I could get one bar, otherwise nothing. O2 was intermittent between 1-2 bars and nothing. EE works best out here in the sticks in East Lothian.

Hope new business is going well Campbell. Don't know anything about 3 but one point to note with EE for anyone working in Canary Wharf, EE seems really patchy between the large buildings. An area I would have thought all providers would have a strong presence.

cheers

[woody]

Woody says 3 is great so I'll hold him solely responsible if not

No problem. The clincher for me was streaming a GP live as I was driven from Leith to the West end of Glasgow with only a few seconds interruption.

Vodafone were a total joke in terms of coverage.

[campbell]

Streaming a GP? Sold

[campbell]

Hope new business is going well Campbell.

Thanks - delighted with progress to date but no room for complacency. 2 year anniversary is less than 4 weeks away - unbelievable!

[DDtB]

Streaming a GP? Sold

For balance... I did that on EE too but can't do it on 3 .

Seems 3 have got coverage between glasgow and edinburgh if you're on the roads but not the rails.

Must be Mac's fault.