GPRS, EDGE, HPSA: what are you getting on Orange ?

[Guest Loftup]

I've put the SIM card from my old Orange E650 (HTC s710) into my new Touch HD.

I haven't noticed any improvement in speed of downloads through the Orange "air" network (when not on WiFi).

This was so even in London last week where I would have expected HPSA 3G to be widely available.

Is this an availability issue ie the faster network is getting rolled out very slowly and not yet available in Central London or up North ? Or perhaps I have to ask Orange to activate it for my account ? Or is there some some registry or options change I need to make on the HD ?

Many thanks for any help offered.

[Guest billybear]

I've put the SIM card from my old Orange E650 (HTC s710) into my new Touch HD.

I haven't noticed any improvement in speed of downloads through the Orange "air" network (when not on WiFi).

This was so even in London last week where I would have expected HPSA 3G to be widely available.

Is this an availability issue ie the faster network is getting rolled out very slowly and not yet available in Central London or up North ? Or perhaps I have to ask Orange to activate it for my account ? Or is there some some registry or options change I need to make on the HD ?

Many thanks for any help offered.

Do you get '3G' or 'H' with this sim card at all?

I ordered a new pay-as-u-go sim card and could'nt get get 3G in my unlocked vario 2 to come up - Turned out is was'nt a 3G capable sim. B)

The Orange shop told me it had to be a black or green card not the standard Orange, which also has less contacts on it (even tho their unused!)

Edit: I'm getting mostly H/3G in Worcester & Droitwich but sometimes steps down to E - better than T-mobile.

Edited December 5, 2008 by billybear

[Guest Neil5459]

That is correct- Orange only supply the type of SIM card appropriate to the device on your contract, so your old SIM will only be GSM, not 3G

As for obtaining a new, 3G SIM from Orange, you may be unlucky if you want to use your existing contract and phone number. Orange still emphatically refuse to reissue an upgraded SIM card unless the contract shows it is linked to a £G device.

I have 2 Orange contacts and wanted to swap my out of contract SIM card into a 3G HTC Diamond. They emphatically refused to issue a 3G SIM unless I signed for an upgrade which included a 3G handset; I was forced to take a 12 month contract with a free SE 910i which I prompty sold. Got a very good deal on data/airtime but very annoyed by their attitude.

They are happy to issue PAYG 3G SIMs, but won't switch this to your existing contract number.

[Guest Terminal]

Did you get your touch from Orange on contract? If so it should have come with a new SIM...

I live and work in and around North central London and can confirm I have had pretty good HSDPA and 3G coverage...

[Guest billybear]

Did you get your touch from Orange on contract? If so it should have come with a new SIM...

Not sure if you mean me?

But, yes, I got a new SIM with my orange contract from buymobilephones.net (+£20 Quidco cashback BTW) - then PAC'ed my old number from T-mobile (only took less than 2 days)

I tried to get a PAYG 3G SIM first, unsuccesfully, to try the coverage first as I have no experience of Orange. But I can confirm I'm happy with the 3G/HSDPA coverage so far.