GiffGaff vs 3 3G/HSDPA coverage

[Guest KenBW2]

Is anyone else on GiffGaff finding themselves connected to a 2G network more often than 3G or HDSPA? When I was on 3 I was getting HDSPA more often than not.

It's proving quite frustrating being with giffgaff's slow speeds, it's impacting on battery life too having to keep awake for longer while it pushes the same data through a smaller pipe.

I understand they're having issues but I gather they're (sort of) fixed atm

Edited May 8, 2011 by KenBW2

[Guest Roph]

3's network and O2's network don't always overlap. Here I get awful 3 coverage, but full O2 coverage. I can pull up to 3.5mbit/s from GiffGaff on my blade.

[Guest Reading1800]

Is anyone else on GiffGaff finding themselves connected to a 2G network more often than 3G or HDSPA? When I was on 3 I was getting HDSPA more often than not.

It's proving quite frustrating being with giffgaff's slow speeds, it's impacting on battery life too having to keep awake for longer while it pushes the same data through a smaller pipe.

I understand they're having issues but I gather they're (sort of) fixed atm

Fine with mine, they've rolled back the charging that had caused slow speeds so unlimited internet again at the moment even on the £5 bag, speeds been fine on mine and normally H on mine

[Guest KenBW2]

Do you get H coverage when you're out and about too? Namely out of towns and cities?

[Guest Roph]

I'm not sure what use our answers could be, since we most likely don't live in the same area as you. Either way, I get consistent HSPA coverage where I go.

You can use this tool to check O2 / giffgaff coverage: http://www.o2.co.uk/coveragechecker

Edited May 7, 2011 by Roph

[Guest steveuk1981]

I've switched from GiffGaff to three because of the painfully slow speeds i was getting, only place i got good speeds (on gg) was in my works car park, once inside work it was pointless trying, everywhere else was edge. Where as with Three i've been pretty impressed, always have h on my screen and its always very quick.

[Guest KenBW2]

I'm not sure what use our answers could be, since we most likely don't live in the same area as you. Either way, I get consistent HSPA coverage where I go.

You can use this tool to check O2 / giffgaff coverage: http://www.o2.co.uk/coveragechecker

Your answers increase the sample size on which I base my assertation that on GiffGaff the device is connected to 2G more than 3G. I went on a trip to London (from Preston), then back to Preston then Leeds. In all locations and all journeys my phone showed "G" more often by far than it showed either "3G" or "H". Naturally 3G/H were seen in built up areas. What sort of sample are you going off? I want to emphasise that it's *by far* more often 2G than otherwise - something like 80/20.

The coverage checker states it's for "voice coverage" which I'd assume means 2G, so this isn't much use.

I've switched from GiffGaff to three because of the painfully slow speeds i was getting, only place i got good speeds (on gg) was in my works car park, once inside work it was pointless trying, everywhere else was edge. Where as with Three i've been pretty impressed, always have h on my screen and its always very quick.

Nice to know I'm not being stupid!

[Guest glossywhite]

I've switched from GiffGaff to three because of the painfully slow speeds i was getting, only place i got good speeds (on gg) was in my works car park, once inside work it was pointless trying, everywhere else was edge. Where as with Three i've been pretty impressed, always have h on my screen and its always very quick.

This is exactly what I have just done. I was also a bit sick of giffgaff and their continually shifting goal posts - never know what their plan is from one month to the next, as they keep changing their minds. Not ideal.

[Guest KenBW2]

This is exactly what I have just done. I was also a bit sick of giffgaff and their continually shifting goal posts - never know what their plan is from one month to the next, as they keep changing their minds. Not ideal.

Were you having the aforementioned speed issues? And have you noticed any change in signal/2G-3G-H connections, better or worse since the switch?

Edited May 7, 2011 by KenBW2

[Guest glossywhite]

Were you having the aforementioned speed issues? And have you noticed any change in signal/2G-3G-H connections, better or worse since the switch?

Speed? What speed? :mellow: ... oohhh, you mean the DIALUP speed I was getting?

I don't have massive amounts of time to sit around studying it in-depth; suffice to say, I now get 1.2Mbps where I live, and that'll do nicely, Sir.

The other UK networks SERIOUSLY need to work on their networks...

[Guest wbaw]

I think O2 are about the worst for 3G, followed by Vodafone & 3 seem to be the best. However, it depends where you live, no operator has 100% coverage & different operators are better in different areas.

This website has links to the main UK networks' coverage maps. http://www.compare3gmobilebroadband.co.uk/3g-coverage-uk.htm

Edited May 8, 2011 by wbaw

[Guest glossywhite]

I think O2 are about the worst for 3G, followed by Vodafone & 3 seem to be the best. However, it depends where you live, no operator has 100% coverage & different operators are better in different areas.

This website has links to the main UK networks' coverage maps. http://www.compare3gmobilebroadband.co.uk/3g-coverage-uk.htm

If they can't even do 3G, they're gonna lose customers when it comes to LTE.

[Guest Azurren]

If they can't even do 3G, they're gonna lose customers when it comes to LTE.

O2 seem to be the only network actually talking about 4g / LTE.

What do you think sounds better in an ad? Full 3g coverage vs 4g :)

T-Mobile seem to have fairly good 3g coverage, even better when they finally merge 3g with orange

Although they seem to capp data @ around 2mbps :unsure:

[Guest Fou-lu]

02 coverage in London is pretty good, using Giffgaff i get 3-5mps, varies by the room im in, since they returned the free internet it improved ALOT, from 300-700kps during the weeks when charging data was applied.

Edited May 8, 2011 by Fou-lu