My mobile contract with 3 ends soon. Debating switching to O2.
1 year, 2 months ago.
18 comments so far
Currently do Voice + Text + Xseries Data on N95. Wondering if using O2 to do Voice + Text + 10GB Data add-on on N95 would be the way to go or Voice + Text on N95 and O2 USB Broadband + Cradlepoint
Whatever you do try and get a business contract (if you're able). Consumer support sucks.
I can't wait to get off three. They still think my name is Alex Quinn, and Donn Maguire is Alex Leonard. Also, they wouldn't give us a business contract. We should have just said fuck that and gone with someone else.
@topgold has an interesting post here: http://www.insideview.ie/irisheyes/2008/09/a-false-milesto.html which I'm going to have think about. May look at O2: Voice + text + 1GB data on N95 and O2 USB Broadband on cradlepoint portable hotspot to provide wifi for both iPod Touch and N95.
That is a good read. We're screwed for 3g out here. Well, we're screwed for any sort of mobile connection. Really ropey, so I guess I rarely think about 3g. Once i've got wi-fi i'm happy. It's funny though, I keep thinking mobile plans are going to improve drastically, but they still seem overly expensive to me.
I am really close to installing a 3G repeater on my house to see if that gets me three-bar strength for HSDPA service. That would be mobile broadband strong enough for multiple tabs upstreaming diverse data flows and that's the only flavour of broadband.
I'm leaning towards leaving my phone on 3 for the time being and looking into a mobile hotspot running O2 mobile broadband while I see if they're any good for me
Hadn't thought about that. As a transmitter in the UK of course they need a permit and I would need a license (?). So what options are there for boosting a mobile signal in the UK - other than moving?
O2 are an abysmal network. Don't do it. I regularly get disconnected /during/ phone calls with a 'network busy' message, I regularly can't get a data connection despite living and working in central London, and they don't even support SMS delivery notifications. Go anywhere except O2 - Vodafone, even Orange, but personally I hear 3 are best for data at present. Why are you leaving them?
@dennymeta The problem here in Ireland is that data on 3 is a bit hit and miss in terms of the quality of your connection and coverage. O2 on the other hand seem to have better coverage and people (particularly @topgold) are reporting good connections.
I think half of my Qik stream is powered by O2 bandwidth: http://www.qik.com/topgold And it's normally very reliable in all sorts of strange places, including under the pavement in Dawson Street, Dublin.
It would make more sense imho to instal a 3G to wifi repeater.
Linksys do nice ones that can be flashed with a variety of Linux based software.
Also it would allow you to connect wifi devices which in general are more numerous than 3G devices...
@EvertB None of the Linksys devices are battery powered unfortunately ...
Regarding 3, I'm happy enough with them apart from the not so hot coverage and some issues with connectivity. I'm not sure how much switching to O2 will improve that. Particularly in Connacht
18 comments so far
Currently do Voice + Text + Xseries Data on N95. Wondering if using O2 to do Voice + Text + 10GB Data add-on on N95 would be the way to go or Voice + Text on N95 and O2 USB Broadband + Cradlepoint
1 year, 2 months ago by ciotog
O2 are the only provider I haven't tried.
Whatever you do try and get a business contract (if you're able). Consumer support sucks.
I can't wait to get off three. They still think my name is Alex Quinn, and Donn Maguire is Alex Leonard. Also, they wouldn't give us a business contract. We should have just said fuck that and gone with someone else.
1 year, 2 months ago by alexleonard
Vodafone business support was always very good.
All telcoms account departments suck though.
1 year, 2 months ago by alexleonard
Three have been alright for me - I just want better data
1 year, 2 months ago by ciotog
@topgold has an interesting post here: http://www.insideview.ie/irisheyes/2008/09/a-false-milesto.html which I'm going to have think about. May look at O2: Voice + text + 1GB data on N95 and O2 USB Broadband on cradlepoint portable hotspot to provide wifi for both iPod Touch and N95.
1 year, 2 months ago by ciotog
That is a good read. We're screwed for 3g out here. Well, we're screwed for any sort of mobile connection. Really ropey, so I guess I rarely think about 3g. Once i've got wi-fi i'm happy. It's funny though, I keep thinking mobile plans are going to improve drastically, but they still seem overly expensive to me.
1 year, 2 months ago by alexleonard
I am really close to installing a 3G repeater on my house to see if that gets me three-bar strength for HSDPA service. That would be mobile broadband strong enough for multiple tabs upstreaming diverse data flows and that's the only flavour of broadband.
1 year, 2 months ago by topgold
I'm leaning towards leaving my phone on 3 for the time being and looking into a mobile hotspot running O2 mobile broadband while I see if they're any good for me
1 year, 2 months ago by ciotog
@topgold: maybe a 3g repeater is my way to go as well. bleedin' expensive mind
1 year, 2 months ago by barneyc
@barneyc not to mention illegal :(
1 year, 2 months ago by danlane
Hadn't thought about that. As a transmitter in the UK of course they need a permit and I would need a license (?). So what options are there for boosting a mobile signal in the UK - other than moving?
1 year, 2 months ago by barneyc
O2 are an abysmal network. Don't do it. I regularly get disconnected /during/ phone calls with a 'network busy' message, I regularly can't get a data connection despite living and working in central London, and they don't even support SMS delivery notifications. Go anywhere except O2 - Vodafone, even Orange, but personally I hear 3 are best for data at present. Why are you leaving them?
1 year, 2 months ago by dennymeta
@dennymeta The problem here in Ireland is that data on 3 is a bit hit and miss in terms of the quality of your connection and coverage. O2 on the other hand seem to have better coverage and people (particularly @topgold) are reporting good connections.
1 year, 2 months ago by ciotog
We installed a 950mhz repeater here to try and boost our shit gsm signal. Not much joy though.
1 year, 2 months ago by alexleonard
I think half of my Qik stream is powered by O2 bandwidth: http://www.qik.com/topgold And it's normally very reliable in all sorts of strange places, including under the pavement in Dawson Street, Dublin.
1 year, 2 months ago by topgold
It would make more sense imho to instal a 3G to wifi repeater. Linksys do nice ones that can be flashed with a variety of Linux based software. Also it would allow you to connect wifi devices which in general are more numerous than 3G devices...
1 year, 2 months ago by Evertb
And yes, do run a mile from 3...
1 year, 2 months ago by Evertb
@EvertB None of the Linksys devices are battery powered unfortunately ...
Regarding 3, I'm happy enough with them apart from the not so hot coverage and some issues with connectivity. I'm not sure how much switching to O2 will improve that. Particularly in Connacht
1 year, 2 months ago by ciotog