Ian_Rob
Well-Known Member
What is the 3G coverage like in the Solent area and westwards across Christchurch Bay towards Poole? Also, does the signal deteriorate quickly as you go off-shore? What should I expect?
3G Coverage - Solent & Westwards.
- Thread starter Ian_Rob
- Start date
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
What do you draw? 
LionsDen
Well-Known Member
VicMallows
Well-Known Member
From the two responses so far perhaps there is some joke in the OPs question ..... but I can't see it 
3G coverage is just about perfect throughout the Solent and westwards down to Poole/Studland.
From Swanage westwards any mobile coverage at all can be poor or non existent close inshore under the high cliffs.
3G coverage is just about perfect throughout the Solent and westwards down to Poole/Studland.
From Swanage westwards any mobile coverage at all can be poor or non existent close inshore under the high cliffs.
LionsDen
Well-Known Member
From the two responses so far perhaps there is some joke in the OPs question ..... but I can't see it
3G coverage is just about perfect throughout the Solent and westwards down to Poole/Studland.
From Swanage westwards any mobile coverage at all can be poor or non existent close inshore under the high cliffs.
No not a joke as we should all be aware that a vhf solely should be used for communication whilst at sea so the operator can summon assistance from nearby vessels in the event off an emergency unlike when using a mobile phone which apart from the new Sony one are not waterproof.
As a responsible boat owner we only ever use a mobile to contact a marina if they do not pick up on the vhf
prv
Well-Known Member
Nonsense.
It's a good idea to have a VHF, but for routine communications (finding out whether your mate is going to meet you in the next port as planned, letting the missus know you've caught plenty of fish so don't buy something else for dinner, whatever) a mobile phone makes far more sense if you have signal.
Pete
VicMallows
Well-Known Member
The OP said NOTHING about what he wanted to use 3G for. Indeed the fact that he specifically asked about 3G coverage might imply that he wants a data connection.
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
I think you will also find that most of the electrical equipment on your boat isn't waterproof - they rely on you keeping the water on the outside of your boat. A mobile phone is appropriate for much communication on a boat, especially people on land who may not have a VHF and for general communication which isn't appropriate on VHF.No not a joke as we should all be aware that a vhf solely should be used for communication whilst at sea so the operator can summon assistance from nearby vessels in the event off an emergency unlike when using a mobile phone which apart from the new Sony one are not waterproof.
As a responsible boat owner we only ever use a mobile to contact a marina if they do not pick up on the vhf
Central Solent and the mainland side are usually ok but it is rubbish in Yarmouth.
Last edited:
Georgio
Well-Known Member
It is generally pretty good in the Solent and surrounding areas, however there are some spots where I struggle to get 3G such as Newtown, however I'm on Vodafone and seem to struggle for data com's were other people don't.
You don't say what network you are on?
You don't say what network you are on?
Playtime
Well-Known Member
http://www.compare3gmobilebroadband.co.uk/3g-coverage-uk.htm
These maps are produced by the network operators (I think) and therefore probably give an idealised picture of reception. However, they do give an indication where the worst deadspots are.
These maps are produced by the network operators (I think) and therefore probably give an idealised picture of reception. However, they do give an indication where the worst deadspots are.
Last edited:
VicMallows
Well-Known Member
True about network.....I always get an excellent signal in Newtown on THREE. (why did they choose such a confusing name for their network
)Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
If the OP wishes to download say the met office pressure charts, forecasts and weather buoy ( real time and past 24h) data via 3G , for example, coverage is fine from Solent to, and including Scilly. Can be a tad slow so worth knowing how to take screen pics of each on your mobile device, these are then available to you to peruse inshore under the cliffs or further offshore.
Ian_Rob
Well-Known Member
I have been sitting on a train watching these responses come in but unable to respond because of a very flakey 3G service. Thankfully it sounds as though the Solent/South Coast is rather rather better!
I should have been more specific. The question related solely to DATA. I've been playing around with various apps in the last few days including Weathertrak - which provides an updating forecast for a pre-set route - and I was wondering how it/they would work in practice. Crossing Lyme Bay last summer we were 20nm out. Would I have 3G that far out?
Ian_Rob
Well-Known Member
PS. Vodafone.
lw395
Well-Known Member
Maybe you would ?
Maybe you would not.
You shouldn't need it.
Maybe you would not.
You shouldn't need it.
Ex-SolentBoy
Well-Known Member
I sail from Yarmouth and use Vodafone. 3G signal is very good once afloat at Yarmouth. It's rubbish ashore though.
I regularly motor out to the Needles and get a good 3g signal all the way if mid channel. It's very week inshore on the island side.
Across the bay towards Studland the signal remains strong, I frequently lose 3G but still get a slower data signal.
I regularly motor out to the Needles and get a good 3g signal all the way if mid channel. It's very week inshore on the island side.
Across the bay towards Studland the signal remains strong, I frequently lose 3G but still get a slower data signal.
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
Try this - you need a large screen to enlarge it sufficiently to be of use:-
http://www.vodafone.co.uk/our-network-and-coverage/uk-coverage-map/index.htm?cid=rdr-11072-01
Ian_Rob
Well-Known Member
Thanks v much for this.
Ironically if the Vodafone 3G coverage had been better when travelling yesterday I might have found this for myself.
I need to look in greater detail but as a preliminary view, comparing the coverage maps of various networks, Virgin Media looks to have better offshore coverage than Orange and Orange better than Vodafone. As has been mentioned inshore coverage west of Studland seems weak to none existent.
VicMallows
Well-Known Member
Surely VIRGIN is carried on the T-Mobile/Orange network?!. Virgin is a virtual mobile operator and owns no infrastructure of its own
pappaecho
Well-Known Member
I live in Lee on Solent and the mobile phone reception is that 2 of 5 are OK and the other weak.....however in the middle of the Solent reception on all five networks are better.
I have a 3G backup to fixed line broadband here, connected to the Three network. Phone signal is zero. Put up and external aerial and get 5 bars, and a speedtest give 7-9 Mbits second, so as with most radio devices a decent aerial is much better. Sadly most phones do not have such external aerial socketsI used a dongle with aerial socket ona laptop
I have a 3G backup to fixed line broadband here, connected to the Three network. Phone signal is zero. Put up and external aerial and get 5 bars, and a speedtest give 7-9 Mbits second, so as with most radio devices a decent aerial is much better. Sadly most phones do not have such external aerial socketsI used a dongle with aerial socket ona laptop
