Cell Phones in Great Britain - T-Mobile reception?

Author

T-Mobile reception?

Ian R

2007-12-13, 10:33 am

Hi

I'm thinking of changing my current contract with Orange to a deal on
T-mobile but Ive been told to avoid T-Mobile as the signal reception is less
reliable than other mobile companies.

Do they really vary so much?

Is T-Mobile that bad?

Thanks for your feedback.

Ian

we are the robots

2007-12-13, 10:33 am

Ian R wrote:
<snip>
Who told you that, someone from Orange?
No complaints about T-Mobile here.
All networks have blackspots.
You can check coverage where you mostly intend to use your phone here:

> http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/...
eck_link

--
_ _ _/
/_|/ //_//_/
_/

ChrisM

2007-12-13, 10:33 am

In message Y4WdnbaUuIGyzfzanZ2d
nUVZ8vWdnZ2d@bt.com,
Ian R <sorry@nospamthanks.com> Proclaimed from the tallest tower:

> Hi
>
> I'm thinking of changing my current contract with Orange to a deal on
> T-mobile but Ive been told to avoid T-Mobile as the signal reception
> is less reliable than other mobile companies.
>
> Do they really vary so much?
>
> Is T-Mobile that bad?
>
> Thanks for your feedback.
>
> Ian

Like another post in this thread says, all networks have black-spots, and I
did read once that T-Mobile had slightly less coverage (not reliability)
than some of the other networks, but that was a couple of years ago, so
things have probably improved since then.
I'm with Virgin Mobile (who use the T-Mobile network) and I very rarely have
any problems with reception.

--
Regards,
Chris.
(Remove Elvis's shoes to email me)

David Hearn

2007-12-13, 12:33 pm

Ian R wrote:
> Hi
>
> I'm thinking of changing my current contract with Orange to a deal on
> T-mobile but Ive been told to avoid T-Mobile as the signal reception is less
> reliable than other mobile companies.
>
> Do they really vary so much?
>
> Is T-Mobile that bad?
>
> Thanks for your feedback.
>
> Ian

I get better reception on T-Mobile than I did on Orange, plus I've not
had a single case where I couldn't make a call because the cell was
busy, or a call gets dropped mid-call.

Plus I get 3G without having to purchase a 3G device from Orange, HSDPA
and 1GB data addon for £7.50pm...

D

PeeGee

2007-12-13, 12:33 pm

Ian R wrote:
> Hi
>
> I'm thinking of changing my current contract with Orange to a deal on
> T-mobile but Ive been told to avoid T-Mobile as the signal reception is less
> reliable than other mobile companies.
>
> Do they really vary so much?
>
> Is T-Mobile that bad?
>
> Thanks for your feedback.
>
> Ian
>
>

The only problem I have found is that the signal attenuates greatly when
I enter the house - max standing outside a window, 1 or 2 of 5 inside
the same window (and no signal next to this computer :-) ).

PeeGee
--
The reply address is a spam trap. All mail is reported as spam.
"Nothing should be able to load itself onto a computer without the
knowledge or consent of the computer user. Software should also be able
to be removed from a computer easily."
Peter Cullen, Microsoft Chief Privacy Strategist (Computing 18 Aug 05)

Barney

2007-12-13, 3:33 pm

> "Ian R" <sorry@nospamthanks.com> wrote:
> Hi
>
> I'm thinking of changing my current contract with Orange to a deal on
> T-mobile but Ive been told to avoid T-Mobile as the signal reception is
> less reliable than other mobile companies.
>
> Do they really vary so much?
>
> Is T-Mobile that bad?

In my experiance.... YES they are! Just got shot of them after 18 month
contract. Great prices etc but coverage was poor round here.

B

Dave {Reply Address in.Sig}

2007-12-13, 10:33 pm

In message <fjrtfa$q38$1@aioe.org>, PeeGee wrote:

> Ian R wrote:
>
> The only problem I have found is that the signal attenuates greatly when
> I enter the house - max standing outside a window, 1 or 2 of 5 inside
> the same window (and no signal next to this computer :-) ).
>
I find that an advantage, it means that once I'm home, any calls from work
go unheard :-)
--
Dave
mail da ve@llondel.org (without the space)
http://www.llondel.org
So many gadgets, so little time

Neil

2007-12-13, 10:33 pm

"Barney" <barney.mcgrew@blue-pork-yonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:BFg8j.62444$c_1.35048@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...[color=darkred]

T-Mobile have never invested enough in their 2G network since acquiring it
from One to One many years ago. As their network started it's life within
the M25 and gradually expanded outwards in the mid nineties, they never
built enough cell sites in the early days in areas they wanted to
concentrate on outside of London.

Certain outlying places suffer in the North of England on T-Mobile and if
you want to visit the highlands of Scotland then forget it! For me
personally, the test of a phone network's coverage isn't stood in a street
in Leeds or driving down the M6 but in places more remote like the Lake
District and mid Wales, places by now you expect a phone to work!

I'd never go with T-Mob as I know reliability would suffer in outlying areas
I travel to, Orange is much better but was the reason I sacked off my Three
contract when they switched from O2 to Orange as the coverage degraded
somewhat!

Personally go for Vodafone or O2 if you want reliable good coverage,
otherwise if in a large city where you live and work then any of the
networks is a good option.

xpuser

2007-12-14, 7:33 am

"PeeGee" <triessuk@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:fjrtfa$q38$1@ai
oe.org...
> Ian R wrote:
>
> The only problem I have found is that the signal attenuates greatly when I
> enter the house - max standing outside a window, 1 or 2 of 5 inside the
> same window (and no signal next to this computer :-) ).
>
> PeeGee
> --
> The reply address is a spam trap. All mail is reported as spam.
> "Nothing should be able to load itself onto a computer without the
> knowledge or consent of the computer user. Software should also be able to
> be removed from a computer easily."
> Peter Cullen, Microsoft Chief Privacy Strategist (Computing 18 Aug 05)

The same thing happens to me. At the back of the house, 1 bar, or on
occassions no signal. Move to the front of the house, and get a full
signal. On occassions I can be sitting down, and get no signal...hold the
phone in the air for a few seconds, and get a full signal.

COntract finished at the end of Jan, will be moving to a different network,
probably Vodafone.

PeeGee

2007-12-14, 7:33 am

xpuser wrote:
>
> "PeeGee" <triessuk@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:fjrtfa$q38$1@ai
oe.org...
>
> The same thing happens to me. At the back of the house, 1 bar, or on
> occassions no signal. Move to the front of the house, and get a full
> signal. On occassions I can be sitting down, and get no signal...hold
> the phone in the air for a few seconds, and get a full signal.
>
> COntract finished at the end of Jan, will be moving to a different
> network, probably Vodafone.

I'm with Dave on this, especially with PAYG :-) I have a land line for
calls to/from home and tend to use the mobile for texts (inc. abroad)
and only "urgent" calls away from home. I often seem to spend more
keeping it alive than "proper" use :-(

PeeGee
--
The reply address is a spam trap. All mail is reported as spam.
"Nothing should be able to load itself onto a computer without the
knowledge or consent of the computer user. Software should also be able
to be removed from a computer easily."
Peter Cullen, Microsoft Chief Privacy Strategist (Computing 18 Aug 05)

John

2007-12-14, 10:33 am

"Neil" <nobody@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:4761c3e6$1_4@mk
-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
> "Barney" <barney.mcgrew@blue-pork-yonder.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:BFg8j.62444$c_1.35048@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
> T-Mobile have never invested enough in their 2G network since acquiring it
> from One to One many years ago. As their network started it's life within
> the M25 and gradually expanded outwards in the mid nineties, they never
> built enough cell sites in the early days in areas they wanted to
> concentrate on outside of London.
>
> Certain outlying places suffer in the North of England on T-Mobile and if
> you want to visit the highlands of Scotland then forget it! For me
> personally, the test of a phone network's coverage isn't stood in a street
> in Leeds or driving down the M6 but in places more remote like the Lake
> District and mid Wales, places by now you expect a phone to work!
>
> I'd never go with T-Mob as I know reliability would suffer in outlying
> areas I travel to, Orange is much better but was the reason I sacked off
> my Three contract when they switched from O2 to Orange as the coverage
> degraded somewhat!
>
> Personally go for Vodafone or O2 if you want reliable good coverage,
> otherwise if in a large city where you live and work then any of the
> networks is a good option.

I wouldn't go for Vodafone, their coverage is far worse than O2. I'm on BT
Mobile (BT Fusion) and they use the Voda network and I often have a problem
with coverage that really pisses me off. It doesn't really seem to matter
where I am, ie, home (Preston, Lancashire), visiting Relly's in Carlisle, or
Birmingham - it happens wherever I happen to be.

I can be sat in a room and have a full 5 bars signal. All at once, the phone
bleeps to tell me I have a new text message. When I look it says I have a
new voicemail, please call 1571 - but when I do, I find that it's someone
who called me about 15 minutes earlier, "You must be out of range as it's
gone straight to voicemail, but it's me and I......"

I've been sat in the same position in the same room with maximum signal for
at least an hour but callers don't get me, they get my voicemail. I've had
three different handsets (2 Motorola A910s and a Nokia 6136) and all suffer
from this problem (maybe 3 out of 10 incoming calls do it) so it must be a
network problem, although the cinic in me thinks it's a con to get me to pay
more money every time I have to ring 1571 and then ring the caller back!!

John

James Lewis

2007-12-14, 12:33 pm

Here in south Wales the only truly reliable and solid network for use in
towns, valleys and mountainous/hilly regions is orange. They seem to have
made a big investment in Wales and as a result have many more customers than
the other networks out of main towns.

The major towns are much the same as coverage goes.

"John" <none@used.co> wrote in message
news:yMudnQWz3LRQGv_
anZ2dnUVZ8uudnZ2d@bt
.com...

"Neil" <nobody@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:4761c3e6$1_4@mk
-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
> "Barney" <barney.mcgrew@blue-pork-yonder.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:BFg8j.62444$c_1.35048@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
> T-Mobile have never invested enough in their 2G network since acquiring it
> from One to One many years ago. As their network started it's life within
> the M25 and gradually expanded outwards in the mid nineties, they never
> built enough cell sites in the early days in areas they wanted to
> concentrate on outside of London.
>
> Certain outlying places suffer in the North of England on T-Mobile and if
> you want to visit the highlands of Scotland then forget it! For me
> personally, the test of a phone network's coverage isn't stood in a street
> in Leeds or driving down the M6 but in places more remote like the Lake
> District and mid Wales, places by now you expect a phone to work!
>
> I'd never go with T-Mob as I know reliability would suffer in outlying
> areas I travel to, Orange is much better but was the reason I sacked off
> my Three contract when they switched from O2 to Orange as the coverage
> degraded somewhat!
>
> Personally go for Vodafone or O2 if you want reliable good coverage,
> otherwise if in a large city where you live and work then any of the
> networks is a good option.

I wouldn't go for Vodafone, their coverage is far worse than O2. I'm on BT
Mobile (BT Fusion) and they use the Voda network and I often have a problem
with coverage that really pisses me off. It doesn't really seem to matter
where I am, ie, home (Preston, Lancashire), visiting Relly's in Carlisle, or
Birmingham - it happens wherever I happen to be.

I can be sat in a room and have a full 5 bars signal. All at once, the phone
bleeps to tell me I have a new text message. When I look it says I have a
new voicemail, please call 1571 - but when I do, I find that it's someone
who called me about 15 minutes earlier, "You must be out of range as it's
gone straight to voicemail, but it's me and I......"

I've been sat in the same position in the same room with maximum signal for
at least an hour but callers don't get me, they get my voicemail. I've had
three different handsets (2 Motorola A910s and a Nokia 6136) and all suffer
from this problem (maybe 3 out of 10 incoming calls do it) so it must be a
network problem, although the cinic in me thinks it's a con to get me to pay
more money every time I have to ring 1571 and then ring the caller back!!

John

Dennis Ferguson

2007-12-14, 3:33 pm

On 2007-12-14, John <none@used.co> wrote:
> I can be sat in a room and have a full 5 bars signal. All at once, the phone
> bleeps to tell me I have a new text message. When I look it says I have a
> new voicemail, please call 1571 - but when I do, I find that it's someone
> who called me about 15 minutes earlier, "You must be out of range as it's
> gone straight to voicemail, but it's me and I......"

I suspect this happens as a way to shed load from a cell tower which
is nearing capacity. When they're getting overloaded they need to do
something, and sending incoming calls to voicemail probably attracts
fewer complaints than blocking outgoing calls or dropping the calls
of travelers moving into the cell's area. For example, people might
blame it on their handset instead...

> I've been sat in the same position in the same room with maximum signal for
> at least an hour but callers don't get me, they get my voicemail. I've had
> three different handsets (2 Motorola A910s and a Nokia 6136) and all suffer
> from this problem (maybe 3 out of 10 incoming calls do it) so it must be a

See, it worked with you.

Dennis Ferguson

Jay ........

2007-12-14, 10:33 pm

Jay ........

2007-12-14, 10:33 pm

> it is a 1800Mhz only system and as such is RUBBISH!
>
>
why buy a 900Mhz and 1800Mhz phone and only use 1800Mhz...it is sully...go
for o2 or Vodaphone...proper cellphone providers.......

John

2007-12-15, 7:33 am

"Dennis Ferguson" <dcferguson@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:slrnfm5o53.4r.dcferguson@akit-ferguson.com...
> On 2007-12-14, John <none@used.co> wrote:
>
> I suspect this happens as a way to shed load from a cell tower which
> is nearing capacity. When they're getting overloaded they need to do
> something, and sending incoming calls to voicemail probably attracts
> fewer complaints than blocking outgoing calls or dropping the calls
> of travelers moving into the cell's area. For example, people might
> blame it on their handset instead...
>
>
> See, it worked with you.
>
> Dennis Ferguson

That's an interesting theory Dennis and could well be right.

John

Dave {Reply Address in.Sig}

2007-12-15, 7:33 am

In message <AIOdnfAXwv- XJv7anZ2dnUVZ8qGdnZ2
d@bt.com>, John wrote:

>
> "Dennis Ferguson" <dcferguson@pacbell.net> wrote in message
> news:slrnfm5o53.4r.dcferguson@akit-ferguson.com...
>
> That's an interesting theory Dennis and could well be right.
>
The other things that can happen if you've got a 3G-enabled phone is that
you're right on the edge of a 3G cell and you can end up with the phone
trying and failing to use 3G even though there's a full-strength GSM/GPRS
signal available. I used to get that regularly where I work (with the same
call issues) but after disabling the 3G it works perfectly on the GSM/GPRS
network. Even the internet functions are at an adequate speed, which
surprised me.

--
Dave
mail da ve@llondel.org (without the space)
http://www.llondel.org
So many gadgets, so little time

John

2007-12-15, 10:33 am

"Dave {Reply Address in.Sig}" <noone$$@llondel.org> wrote in message
news:1448315.q6OzcqydFG@robinton.llondel.org...
> In message <AIOdnfAXwv- XJv7anZ2dnUVZ8qGdnZ2
d@bt.com>, John wrote:
>
> The other things that can happen if you've got a 3G-enabled phone is that
> you're right on the edge of a 3G cell and you can end up with the phone
> trying and failing to use 3G even though there's a full-strength GSM/GPRS
> signal available. I used to get that regularly where I work (with the same
> call issues) but after disabling the 3G it works perfectly on the GSM/GPRS
> network. Even the internet functions are at an adequate speed, which
> surprised me.

Ah, now that's something I hadn't thought of. I'll disable the 3G side of
things and see if that improves the situation. Cheers mate,

John

PeterW

2007-12-15, 10:33 am

"Jay ........" <jim.gm4dhj@ntlworld.com> wrote in
news:TMC8j.15928$yZ4.13856@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net:
[color=darkred]
>

Both Orange and T-mobile are 1800MHz only systems. Orange coverage is
probably slightly better of the two. However in some areas you will get T-
mobile but not Orange (eg in parts of the Surrey I have found this)

O2 & Vodafone are primarily 900MHz systems with some 1800MHz coverage also.
900MHz has generally better coverage within buildings. O2 seem to do
something awful to their audio processing which makes it sound like you are
in a drain.

Peter

Jim GM4DHJ circa 1974 ......

2007-12-15, 12:33 pm

"PeterW" <pw1@removethis.whisker.adsl24.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Xns9A07A7E71FEF
CPeterWpublic@192.168.1.250...
> "Jay ........" <jim.gm4dhj@ntlworld.com> wrote in
> news:TMC8j.15928$yZ4.13856@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net:
>
>
> Both Orange and T-mobile are 1800MHz only systems. Orange coverage is
> probably slightly better of the two. However in some areas you will get T-
> mobile but not Orange (eg in parts of the Surrey I have found this)
>
> O2 & Vodafone are primarily 900MHz systems with some 1800MHz coverage
> also.
> 900MHz has generally better coverage within buildings. O2 seem to do
> something awful to their audio processing which makes it sound like you
> are
> in a drain.
>
> Peter

all very true .....

Neil

2007-12-16, 10:33 pm

>>>> I suspect this happens as a way to shed load from a cell tower which[color=darkred]

I'm with Vodafone and can't say this has happened very often, if ever, at
all.
[color=darkred]

Are you in a tall building or is it on high ground? It could be interference
on the BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel) of the local BTS from that of
distant BTS's due to being high up.
[color=darkred]

If the network has all it's 3G and 2G site neighbours correctly databased in
each 'cell' the phone and RAN should both make sensible decisions at when to
handover from 3G to 2G. I notice all the time with mine that when the 3G
signal gets down to about -110dBm (2 'bars'), the phone hands over to a 2G
BTS, I rarely, if ever, miss calls through this. The only time the phone
will totally loose 3G and hunt for a 2G BCCH is when I'm high up and the
phone's attached to a distant 3G Node B which has no local neighbours on 2G.
Sadly this is one of the drawbacks of GSM and 3GSM on high ground,
especially when overlooking a major city (case example, driving over the
Pennines in to Manchester).

John

2007-12-17, 10:33 am

"Neil" <nobody@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:4765c956$1_1@mk
-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
>
> I'm with Vodafone and can't say this has happened very often, if ever, at
> all.
>
>
> Are you in a tall building or is it on high ground? It could be
> interference on the BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel) of the local BTS from
> that of distant BTS's due to being high up.
>
>
> If the network has all it's 3G and 2G site neighbours correctly databased
> in each 'cell' the phone and RAN should both make sensible decisions at
> when to handover from 3G to 2G. I notice all the time with mine that when
> the 3G signal gets down to about -110dBm (2 'bars'), the phone hands over
> to a 2G BTS, I rarely, if ever, miss calls through this. The only time the
> phone will totally loose 3G and hunt for a 2G BCCH is when I'm high up and
> the phone's attached to a distant 3G Node B which has no local neighbours
> on 2G. Sadly this is one of the drawbacks of GSM and 3GSM on high ground,
> especially when overlooking a major city (case example, driving over the
> Pennines in to Manchester).

Good explanation but no, I've never been in a tall building when it's
happened, just ordinary houses at various locations around the country.

John

Jon Pitts

2007-12-19, 7:33 am

"Neil" <nobody@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:4761c3e6$1_4@mk
-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...

>
> Certain outlying places suffer in the North of England on T-Mobile and if
> you want to visit the highlands of Scotland then forget it! For me
> personally, the test of a phone network's coverage isn't stood in a street
> in Leeds or driving down the M6 but in places more remote like the Lake
> District and mid Wales, places by now you expect a phone to work!

Here here, although I'll extend the "more remote" suggestion to the
Highlands & Islands of Scotland. As you say, any old network can give you
coverage on the motorways (although some perform better than others), but to
have equally good coverage driving along a remote single-track B-road in
north-west Scotland is something T-Mobile simply haven't got the hang of.

>
> I'd never go with T-Mob as I know reliability would suffer in outlying
> areas I travel to, Orange is much better but was the reason I sacked off
> my Three contract when they switched from O2 to Orange as the coverage
> degraded somewhat!
>
> Personally go for Vodafone or O2 if you want reliable good coverage,
> otherwise if in a large city where you live and work then any of the
> networks is a good option.
>

Interesting theory. Nationally I'd rate Orange & Voda as the two "best"
networks overall (obviously with local exceptions). Once I head north of the
border and into the Highlands, Islands & Grampians, I'd swap a Voda for O2
anyday. There seem many places where Voda doesn't work and at least one out
of O2 or Orange does, but rare to find Voda by themselves. Orange or O2 by
themselves? More common.

Regards

Jon.
--
Jon Pitts
Email: jon@pitts50.co.uk Attachments: files@pitts50.co.uk

Jon Pitts

2007-12-19, 7:33 am

"PeterW" <pw1@removethis.whisker.adsl24.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Xns9A07A7E71FEF
CPeterWpublic@192.168.1.250...
> "Jay ........" <jim.gm4dhj@ntlworld.com> wrote in
> news:TMC8j.15928$yZ4.13856@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net:
>
>
> Both Orange and T-mobile are 1800MHz only systems. Orange coverage is
> probably slightly better of the two. However in some areas you will get T-
> mobile but not Orange (eg in parts of the Surrey I have found this)
>
> O2 & Vodafone are primarily 900MHz systems with some 1800MHz coverage
> also.
> 900MHz has generally better coverage within buildings.

....but has worse performance through some types of window frames. No, I've
no idea what types - apparently thin ones? Seriously.

Regards

Jon.
--
Jon Pitts
Email: jon@pitts50.co.uk Attachments: files@pitts50.co.uk

Paul Clarke

2007-12-19, 10:33 pm

"Ian R" <sorry@nospamthanks.com> wrote in message
news:Y4WdnbaUuIGyzfz
anZ2dnUVZ8vWdnZ2d@bt
.com...
> Hi
>
> I'm thinking of changing my current contract with Orange to a deal on
> T-mobile but Ive been told to avoid T-Mobile as the signal reception is
> less reliable than other mobile companies.
>
> Do they really vary so much?
>
> Is T-Mobile that bad?
>
> Thanks for your feedback.
>
> Ian

T-mobile generally seems to have less extensive 3G coverage than the other
main networks (where I live I can get 3G on Vodafone, 02 and Orange but not
T-Mobile and have found this to be the case in other locations). Also has
poor coverage in the Lake District, which I visit regularly. For example, in
Eskdale there's Orange 3G but no T-mobile at all. In Coniston, a major
tourist centre, there's not a sign of T-mobile but good Orange, Vodafone and
o2 signals. I complained to T-mobile about this and they gave me a £5 per
month loyalty bonus as compensation for their poor coverage (though they
didn't actually admit that and went on about all networks having good and
less good areas - to which I'd respond that t-mobile has more less-good
areas than most). Seems OK in the big centres of population however.

Recent announcement that T-mobile and 3 UK are to merge their 3G networks -
surprised this hasn't yet been discussed in the group. However, this won't
be much help in the more rural areas.

Paul

alexd

2007-12-23, 10:33 pm

On Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:35:35 +0000, Paul Clarke wrote:

> Recent announcement that T-mobile and 3 UK are to merge their 3G
> networks - surprised this hasn't yet been discussed in the group.
> However, this won't be much help in the more rural areas.

Au contraire, if they're not wasting money on duplicated 3G coverage,
perhaps they can spend what they save on extending coverage to other
areas? Then again, maybe they'll just pocket the difference.

--
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