Mobile Phone Coverage

[JimC]

I'm changing my phone and may go to a new network, I'm currently with Orange. I'm looking for advice as to which network gives the best coverage of UK coastal areas, especially the less populous regions.

 

[scottie]

Vodafone usually best for west coast of Scotland.

 

[VicS]

Re Orange ... you are aware that your Orange phone can be programmed to automatically use T-mobile signals where they are stronger ( and vice versa)

 

[prv]

Not a systematic survey by any means, but I've always understood vodafone to be more diligent about covering outlying areas.

(Obviously there will be places that only have O2, or only Orange, or whatever)

Pete

 

[JimC]

Re Orange ... you are aware that your Orange phone can be programmed to automatically use T-mobile signals where they are stronger ( and vice versa)

Yes I've done that but even so I found coverage can be patchy.

 

[Vento]

O2 has a very good network and Vodafone are in the process of renewing thier network in the South. These 2 are the only one's to really consider. There are several published "real" coverage maps that are produced; I'd recommend looking at these, I suggest you Google to find these and you can see the areas you are most interested in.

If you sail the south coast you may well end up roaming onto a French network - there's a quiet war waged across the channel with the respective operators trying to "catch" out-of-country users so they get "roaming" revenues. I was walking the Costal path in Dorset and roamed on to SFR's network in France! So beware - if its coverage at any cost then that's fine, just watch the operator logo before you dial or it will cost you more than you expect. You can of course turn roaming off on your phone if this is a real issue for you.

 

[pvb]

When I was in Fowey last, the only network which had coverage was Orange. Sadly, I was on O2 at the time.

The answer is it's all very variable, especially in coastal areas. On balance, O2 and Vodafone (and the associated virtual networks) are the best bet.

 

[Scillypete]

When I was in Fowey last, the only network which had coverage was Orange. Sadly, I was on O2 at the time.

The answer is it's all very variable, especially in coastal areas. On balance, O2 and Vodafone (and the associated virtual networks) are the best bet.

No problem with vodafone in Fowey earlier this year, so Orange not the only one available there.

Vodafone does it for me, never had much of a problem with coverage

 

[agurney]

Vodafone usually best in the west of Scotland. I use Vodafone on an unlocked phone and keep a T-mobile SIM as a backup for those times when Vodafone is unavailable ... like last week when a mast blew down in Argyll.

 

[maxi77]

When I waslooking at broadband coverage 3 seemed best for coastal waters in England and did fine for me.

 

[PhillM]

I used to travel around a LOT (mainly by car). Vodafone by far the best. Once tried T-Mobile - worse than useless anywhere out of M25 and Orange still doesnt cover Hampshire properly. Although, friends tell me Orange is great in Wales.

I would also check out the marina WiFi offers and either use an iphone or Netbook with Skype for calls. That way you can get all the latest weather etc (and stay on the forum of course) and can make and recieve calls over the internet, when mobile coverage is not working as you want it.

 

[rib]

i have orange and vodafone been around a few times and nearly have allways had a signal from one or the other

 

[Long John Silver]

I use Orange. Mainly Solent area and south coast. Works pretty well for me if I turn it on

 

[PhillM]

I use Orange. Mainly Solent area and south coast. Works pretty well for me if I turn it on

.


Sounds like it works better at sea than it does in Eastleigh.

 

[Evadne]

T mobile gets much better coverage now it's Orange as well, and possibly vice-versa. Vodaphone was always the best offshore in Scotland, not so much to choose between them, O2 and Orange elsewhere. The 3 coveraqge map looked decidedly lacy when I was looking for a new nwork.

Quality of handset makes a difference, sometimes more than choice of network. My 20 quid semi disposable LG has more trouble finding a network than more expensive phones, even on the same network. Also, annoyingly, cheaper phones such as SWMBO's £5 Orange Nokia phone.

 

[apogee]

Vodafone