Mobile Signal strength - generally in UK

AdrianPB
AdrianPB Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited September 2016 in General Chat #1

Mobile signal strength question - We have decided to rely on our phone's 3/4G signal and hotspot to tablets. But which operator to use?

I am with EE - but I wish to get either Three, O2 or  Vodaphone for my wife so we have 2 choices. I have heard the Three uses EE masts and that worries me in our objectives. 

Comments? Thanks!

as a PS - we find CC and that other club's wifi unreliable - either the Club sites we chose just happen to be no or the low grade wifi, or high use affects practicality. Hence decision to pay to get a reasonable amount of monthly data via phones. We tend
(like most I suspect) use rural located sites.

Comments

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #2

    I use Three with my i-pad and get a good(ish) signal whereever we have been ,Dartmoor,yorkshire moors etc

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,139 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #3

    I don't believe there's a definitive answer as networks differ across the country. In some rural areas you'll be struggling to get even a basic phone signal and many caravan sites are, of course, in rural areas. 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #4

    I've used EE for years, my children have it too, I've never noticed a problem in any area I've been in, Lakes, Scotland, North East, Southwards. On most club sites I have been able to use it, the only one is Troutbeck Head as its in a deep hollow, so have to walk to the main road. Apart from that I've never not been able to get a signal, (apart from obivous places) why do you say you don't want to use EE masts?

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited September 2016 #5

    We previously used Vodafone and found the signal to be very poor (including at home). We changed to Three and have found it to be massively better in most areas of the country.

    Can't comment on the other providers.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2016 #6

    OH is on EE which is iffy in most rural areas ,I am on Vodaphone and find i have a signal in most areas,if iffy signal on my phone good chance worse than iffy on other networks,

  • Spriddler
    Spriddler Forum Participant Posts: 646
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    edited September 2016 #7

    I'm on EE and two weeks ago at a (very good) East Dorset Group rally at Bucklers Hard (Hants) I had either no signal at all or a signal restricted to 'SOS calls only' at Smedmore CC site (Kimmeridge) and Hunters Moon (Wareham). Plus many other off-site areas in Dorset and Hampshire.

    Didn't have that problem before it changed to EE from Orange.

    Works o.k. in most of Sussex.

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
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    edited September 2016 #8

    Over the years we have has Vodafone, O2 and now EE.. of the three EE is the most reliable in our experience, but even that drops off in some rural areas.... Peak district, Yorkshire Dales and the like.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #9

    I think most of the networks are a bit variable in rural areas but we are sticking with 3.  Reception is as good as any, in fact, we get signal for the most part, and we have the advantage of using the 'Feel at Home' service when we're in Europe.  I can
    also tether the laptop to it for free.  I am allowed so many gb a month for this and have never used it up.  Also 3 network is the only network that offers unlimited data use.

    David 

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #10

    I don't believe there's a definitive answer as networks differ across the country. In some rural areas you'll be struggling to get even a basic phone signal and many caravan sites are, of course, in rural areas. 

    I agree TW and it is not only rural areas where there is no signal.

    peedee

  • tigerfish
    tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
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    edited September 2016 #11

    My wife and I both have iphone 5s's. I am on O2 and she is on EE. In our opinion there is no comparison O2 is streets ahead of EE and we can hardly wait for her phone to come off contract for her to change to O2 as well.

    Why?  Coverage on O2 is much better and the efficiency and friendliness of O2 staff in our local shops is much better than in the EE shops.

    The only problem that I had with my O2 phone was that it badly interfered with the TV picture in our caravan. But I bought a 4G filter for £9.99 in B&Q and its fine now.

    TF

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