Mobile reception in ED

[genwilliams]

Wasn't sure if this should go in here or one of the other forums - if I've got it wrong, please do move it!

ED iPhone users, what networks are you on and how's the reception? I'm currently on Orange with a rather decrepit old HTC Touch phone. My iPod just died today and I'm thinking of just biting the bullet and getting the iPhone 4 I so shamelessly want. But I'm weighing up whether I'd be wise to fork out & stay with Orange (and it is bloody expensive), or what the reception's like on other networks, in SE22 and SE15 at least. I live and work here so it'd be a pain to end up with a phone I can barely use. If your network has really good or bad customer service it'd be helpful to know too!

I've only ever used Orange so I'm apprehensive about joining the wrong network and being stuck with a really poor signal. Any recommendations would be really helpful. I've heard poor things about Vodafone but don't know if this is true for this area?

[dubluke]

I have an iphone on 02 and always have good signal all through dulwich and very rarely lose signal anywhere in or out of london to be honest. their customer service is good as well

[LUVED]

Hi Genwilliams,

I'm with Vodafone and have been for yonks. I've got an iPhone and pretty much all the time have a full service. I'm near Sainsbury's and can see what looks like a mobile mast from my back garden so that probably helps with the good service.

I don't tend to have any problems with service in East Dulwich at all with the exception of the area near the Harvester when I'm lucky to even get one bar.

Love my iPhone but have nearly bankrupted myself with all the Apps on offer !

Hope that helps a little.

[kamila]

I have got HTC Touch phone on Orange and its just getting worse and worse! I think its this HTC that has a problem, also thinking of getting iPhone as soon as I can.

[genwilliams]

Interesting! Which model do you have? I have an HTC Touch HD (I think?), and the touchscreen is annoying, it's forever turning itself on in my bag, the software (Windows mobile - I know HTC are on Android now though) is dreadful and really glitchy, and the reception isn't great either.

One of the reasons I'm thinking of leaving HTC behind and finally getting an iPhone.

kamila Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I have got HTC Touch phone on Orange and its just

> getting worse and worse! I think its this HTC that

> has a problem, also thinking of getting iPhone as

> soon as I can.

[Townleygreen]

I have to say the HTC Desire is the bees knees as far as I'm concerned. I'm on Orange, no probs in ED with reception at all.

[Ellie78]

I'm on O2 with the iphone.

Always fine in ED.

Their customer service is good generally.

Generally, I've got no problems with them but, despite that, I'm thinking of moving back to Orange - apparently it's faster internet on the iphone with orange. And I want the cinema deal. I never use any of O2s 'offers'.

With the other networks I'd think more generally about where you want to use the phone - ie, outside of London/abroad/rural. Some networks are really rubbish when it comes to that. Orange and O2 (the big ones generally) outpace the others by far on those points but they're certainly not the cheapest (there's little between them on that point).

[matlow]

I also have an HTC Desire on T-Mobile, great reception, very fast internet. It's also Flash enabled so better than my partners iphone!

[doubledipper]

My O2 reception in ED is pretty bad; 3G coverage is intermittent, too. Mind you, I've found that O2 has heaps of black spots in London, whereas my girlfriend's Vodafone mobile always has coverage. Just for fun (!), if you have an O2 mobile, try using it in Shad Thames. No coverage. I worked in an office there, and we all got iPhones back when O2 was the only provider, and none of us could actually use them without a 5 minute walk! I'm not sure why I'm still with O2; it's been 8 years, maybe it's time for a change? I think I'm just lazy...

[Ant]

iPhone 3GS on Orange. Mobile coverage is dodgy and getting worse. 3G network is beyond bad, laughably rubbish. I suggest avoiding it at all costs. I've been with Orange for years and never had any trouble until they started offering iPhones, after which it all dropped off a cliff - I think their network just isn't up to it. Shall be moving elsewhere as soon as I'm out of contract.

[genwilliams]

Is your girlfriend's Vodafone mobile an iPhone/3G smartphone too?

doubledipper Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My O2 reception in ED is pretty bad; 3G coverage

> is intermittent, too. Mind you, I've found that

> O2 has heaps of black spots in London, whereas my

> girlfriend's Vodafone mobile always has coverage.

> Just for fun (!), if you have an O2 mobile, try

> using it in Shad Thames. No coverage. I worked in

> an office there, and we all got iPhones back when

> O2 was the only provider, and none of us could

> actually use them without a 5 minute walk! I'm not

> sure why I'm still with O2; it's been 8 years,

> maybe it's time for a change? I think I'm just

> lazy...

[AcedOut]

gaffgaff.com -- uses the o2 network. And unlimited data.

[Gussy]

I'm with O2 and get awful reception in my house (I'm in SE15), which is annoying as that's where I use it most, but it seems to be ok when I'm out and about.

[SCSB79]

Ant Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> iPhone 3GS on Orange. Mobile coverage is dodgy and

> getting worse. 3G network is beyond bad, laughably

> rubbish. I suggest avoiding it at all costs. I've

> been with Orange for years and never had any

> trouble until they started offering iPhones, after

> which it all dropped off a cliff - I think their

> network just isn't up to it. Shall be moving

> elsewhere as soon as I'm out of contract.

What Ant said.

I'm with Orange and love the service (customer) I get, but the 3G reception is rubbish. Unfortunately I am not yet into the second year of a 2 year contract so got a long way to go.

I've had bad experiences with Vodafone in the past and would never go back to them, so would maybe give O2 a shot seeing as they seem to have good 3G coverage.

[James Barber]

Mobile reception might be helped by the new mast being deployed beside the railway line next to Greendale - just easy of the raileay bridge..

The associated cabinet is so big it must surely be for regular mobile services.

Clever. Being on railway land it can side step planning permissions and the public process involved.

[igline1]

Do not get an iPhone on the orange network. The network is simply not able to deal with the demands of the iPhone. Apparently the iPhone uses 4 cells compared with other phones that only use one cell. Upshot is that iPhone users regularly get bumped to another mast or lose coverage altogether. Orange are also in the process of completing their merger with t-mobile but this won't be finished until next year. Also visual voicemail does not work on orange.

[Ant]

  Quote

Also visual voicemail does not work on orange.

Yes! They keep very quiet about that when they're trying to sell you an iPhone (unsurprisingly of course) but it's a fairly big feature to just miss out entirely. According to a guy who used to work for them it's because their network's just incapable of handling it, so it's pretty unlikely ever to be available on Orange.

[Digby]

Hi,

in Dulwich Village Vodafone just barely functions.. no 3G signal, only edge or gprs, and many times nothing at all

[Marcus]

I have an HTC Desire. Orange reception is really quite bad... terrible at home, in ED, and Fulham (?!).

[Libby]

I am on 3 and live near the library, reception has always been sporadic but has been almost non-existent over the past month or so, not sure why.

[Sue]

igline1 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Orange are also in the process of

> completing their merger with t-mobile but this

> won't be finished until next year.

xxxxxxx

That's strange because I had a text from Orange last week saying that I could now use the signal from both Orange and T-Mobile.

[genwilliams]

You can use Orange/T-Mobile's 2G signal but can't yet use 3G across both networks - that is due next year.

[untamedstylist]

I have an I phone 4 on three, I'd recommend them, for ?40 a month I get unlimited three to three, unlimited skype, 5000 minutes cross network , 5000 texts, 2gig internet and never have a problem in Ed anywhere... And. Travel around Ed alot doing business which I'm forever using my GPRS on the phone... Customer service is very good although it's in India and sometimes they speak over u Wich can be annoying but just put them in there place if they do so and soon listen... Very Helpfull and quick to sort things.. Only downside is the battery is not great if u use the net or apps but not too bad

[AD]

I have an HTC with Orange too and the reception is ridiculous, I hardly ever get a recption in my flat and I live in ED. What a load of rubbish !

[twinmummy]

I'm on orange with an iPhone 3 - totally rubbish reception in ED. Pain in the bum as I work from home a lot.