'97% coverage' - how big is that 3%?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › '97% coverage' - how big is that 3%?

kaiwai

116 posts

Master Geek

#34941 1-Jun-2009 15:46

I'm currently sitting on a Vodafone broadband mobile prepaid and had a look at the pricing of Telecom's XT Network. I am wondering where that 3% resides given that when I am on the train going into Wellington I find that the data connection will drop from a robust WCDMA connection to a pitiful GPRS which barely loads pages. I am wondering whether the XT Network is actually 97% covering New Zealand or whether that is simply Telecom claiming their network, covers 97% but the XT network is less than that.

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923 posts

Ultimate Geek

#220431 1-Jun-2009 15:51

I can tell you that Kaka Point in the clutha district does not have XT coverage or Vodafone coverage

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#220434 1-Jun-2009 16:01

I think the ad says "97% of the area where Kiwi's live & work". Which may differ from "97% of the geographical area". I'm hoping they wouldn't be that sneaky, but that's advertising for you.

It's also interesting that both VF and Telecom are quoting the 97% figure. You'd think one of them would see what they could do about sticking another few towers around to reach the 98% mark and one-up the competition.

kaiwai

116 posts

Master Geek

#220436 1-Jun-2009 16:05

stevenz: I think the ad says "97% of the area where Kiwi's live & work". Which may differ from "97% of the geographical area". I'm hoping they wouldn't be that sneaky, but that's advertising for you.

It's also interesting that both VF and Telecom are quoting the 97% figure. You'd think one of them would see what they could do about sticking another few towers around to reach the 98% mark and one-up the competition.

The problem is that I can get coverage but not 97% WCDMA coverage - about time that both companies upgraded their equipment because lord knows they charge enough for their services.

andrewcnz

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

#220444 1-Jun-2009 16:12

stevenz: I think the ad says "97% of the area where Kiwi's live & work". Which may differ from "97% of the geographical area". I'm hoping they wouldn't be that sneaky, but that's advertising for you.

It's also interesting that both VF and Telecom are quoting the 97% figure. You'd think one of them would see what they could do about sticking another few towers around to reach the 98% mark and one-up the competition.

Well on vodafone the network. When they say 97% of population is covered by 2G its not exactly the same 97% of the population that get 3G.

euanandrews

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#220449 1-Jun-2009 16:25

It is marketing speak...

As pointed out above, the 97% relates to where people live, work and play....its where 97% of the population is to be considered to be in at any one time.

It is not 97% of New Zealand geographically...Vodafone does not cover that either.

It makes no economic sense for them to finance a network that covers 97% of a farm way out in the sticks...that farm will not be covered at all.

It just a play on words...97% of where people are....and the majority of the population are in the citys.

kaiwai

116 posts

Master Geek

#220451 1-Jun-2009 16:33

TheBartender: It is marketing speak...

As pointed out above, the 97% relates to where people live, work and play....its where 97% of the population is to be considered to be in at any one time.

It is not 97% of New Zealand geographically...Vodafone does not cover that either.

It makes no economic sense for them to finance a network that covers 97% of a farm way out in the sticks...that farm will not be covered at all.

It just a play on words...97% of where people are....and the majority of the population are in the citys.

Which doesn't answer my question, which is, am I going to see inconsistent coverage when going into wellington the train - all of this being urban areas; I don't expect coverage in the stick but I do expect being able to get some decent 3G reception in Heretaunga/Silverstream and along the line as it goes into wellington.

Decimate

120 posts

Master Geek

#220455 1-Jun-2009 16:43

kaiwai:
TheBartender: It is marketing speak...

As pointed out above, the 97% relates to where people live, work and play....its where 97% of the population is to be considered to be in at any one time.

It is not 97% of New Zealand geographically...Vodafone does not cover that either.

It makes no economic sense for them to finance a network that covers 97% of a farm way out in the sticks...that farm will not be covered at all.

It just a play on words...97% of where people are....and the majority of the population are in the citys.

Which doesn't answer my question, which is, am I going to see inconsistent coverage when going into wellington the train - all of this being urban areas; I don't expect coverage in the stick but I do expect being able to get some decent 3G reception in Heretaunga/Silverstream and along the line as it goes into wellington.

XT network is 100% WCDMA. No GPRS/EDGE or any of that junk. So, that should answer your question.

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kaiwai

116 posts

Master Geek

#220458 1-Jun-2009 16:51

Decimate:
XT network is 100% WCDMA. No GPRS/EDGE or any of that junk. So, that should answer your question.

Cool, thank you for the advice. Regarding the devices, is it possible to use my old Vodafone Huawei E220 modem with the service?

sbiddle

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#220470 1-Jun-2009 17:44

kaiwai:
Which doesn't answer my question, which is, am I going to see inconsistent coverage when going into wellington the train - all of this being urban areas; I don't expect coverage in the stick but I do expect being able to get some decent 3G reception in Heretaunga/Silverstream and along the line as it goes into wellington.

Where do you not get coverage?

The only deadspots on the train I'm aware of are through the tunnel south of Ngauranga and a bit of a low signal area around Kaiwharawhara.

As others have pointed out the 97% refers to population coverage - not geographical coverage.

stevonz

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#220471 1-Jun-2009 17:44

kaiwai:
Decimate:
XT network is 100% WCDMA. No GPRS/EDGE or any of that junk. So, that should answer your question.

Cool, thank you for the advice. Regarding the devices, is it possible to use my old Vodafone Huawei E220 modem with the service?

Nope not WCDMA compatible.

Cheers, Stevo

kaiwai

116 posts

Master Geek

#220482 1-Jun-2009 17:58

sbiddle:
kaiwai:
Which doesn't answer my question, which is, am I going to see inconsistent coverage when going into wellington the train - all of this being urban areas; I don't expect coverage in the stick but I do expect being able to get some decent 3G reception in Heretaunga/Silverstream and along the line as it goes into wellington.

Where do you not get coverage?

The only deadspots on the train I'm aware of are through the tunnel south of Ngauranga and a bit of a low signal area around Kaiwharawhara.

As others have pointed out the 97% refers to population coverage - not geographical coverage.

I am with Vodafone prepaid: From around Pomare onwards it basically slips between GPRS and HSPA/WCDMA, and when it comes to signal strength it is horrible and sometimes it drops out completely.

The question I want to know is whether XT Network would provide a superior service when compared to Vodafone, if so then I am tempted to go the full monty and move to Telecom.

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#220486 1-Jun-2009 18:06

stevonz:
kaiwai:
Decimate:
XT network is 100% WCDMA. No GPRS/EDGE or any of that junk. So, that should answer your question.

Cool, thank you for the advice. Regarding the devices, is it possible to use my old Vodafone Huawei E220 modem with the service?

Nope not WCDMA compatible.

Actually, the E220 supports 2100Mhz HSPDA, and VF's coverage being what it is, the E220 should work almost as well on the Telecom network as it does with VF's? Which is to say, not very well at all.

Anywhere more than about 2Km from a major CBD, and you probably won't even get a signal with it though. The E220 is a crappy device so I'd suggest pretty much any other option on either network as an alternative.

I've got a spare one laying around here, I'll see if I can get it to go in a bit with my XT SIM and report back.

sbiddle

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#220488 1-Jun-2009 18:19

kaiwai:

I am with Vodafone prepaid: From around Pomare onwards it basically slips between GPRS and HSPA/WCDMA, and when it comes to signal strength it is horrible and sometimes it drops out completely.

The question I want to know is whether XT Network would provide a superior service when compared to Vodafone, if so then I am tempted to go the full monty and move to Telecom.

Loking the device to 3G only should make a big difference.

One of the other issues is that RF performance inside the trains isn't particularly good. if you followed the exact same route as the train in a car you would find there are no deadspots in the Vodafone 3G coverage at all all the way from Upper hutt right into Wgtn. The only deadspot is the tunnel which you don't go through in a car.

scottjpalmer

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#220602 1-Jun-2009 21:30

Decimate:
kaiwai: . . . am I going to see inconsistent?coverage?when going into wellington the train - all of this being urban areas; I don't expect coverage in the stick but I do expect being able to get some decent 3G reception in Heretaunga/Silverstream and along the line as it goes into wellington.

XT network is 100% WCDMA. No GPRS/EDGE or any of that junk. So, that should answer your question.

While what you have said is correct Decimate, it doesn't exactly answer the question although it could easily be misinterpreted to. If there isn't coverage there isn't coverage regardless of the technology in use. There may well be a spot or 2 or more where there is no XT coverage in the areas being spoken about, especially inside a train carriage as sbiddle has pointed out.

But yes, where there is XT coverage it will always be 3G.

gkjb

128 posts

Master Geek

#220692 2-Jun-2009 08:18

The coverage up at Vic Uni's Kelburn campus is vastly improved since I went on XT. In places where there used to be no coverage at all (like the inside of a lift in the middle of Kirk building) I now have 4 plus bars.

Its a great feeling to know that you aren't chewing throught the battery life and don't have to look like the world's biggest gimp trying to find that single bar of reception anymore.

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