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beforenightfalls

185 posts

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#61641 20-May-2010 14:28
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I am currently with telecom's cdma network and have found it works really well virtually everywhere I've been in NZ over the last 2 years. It worked well where I lived rurally in Hawkes Bay, Vodafone didn't work at all. It worked in rural Dunedin where I used to live, Vodafone didn't... And in many isolated places on holidays etc I've had coverage where Vodafone phones didn't.

My contract is coming up for renewal and I desperately need a new phone so am keen to sign a new contract, do I move over to XT or Vodafone?

XT have brought out a plan that I think would suit me, so I guess the really important question is what is the coverage like in Dunedin? Has anyone had any problems (except for the very obvious outages recently)? I spoke to Telecom today and they said there are areas of XT in Dunedin that have fair coverage, rather than good. Dunedin people, does it work where you live?!

Thanks.

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sbiddle
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  #332379 20-May-2010 14:35
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The XT coverage was designed to mirror the CDMA network. It didn't quite deliver on that, hence the installation of MHA's and new sites.

In reality the coverage of all 3 is never going to be identical. There are regions where Telecom are stronger than Vodafone and regions where Vodafone have better coverage than Telecom.



scooby101
59 posts

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  #332443 20-May-2010 16:27
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Hi beforenightfalls

A guide to XT coverage is available at http://www.telecom.co.nz/mobile/ournetwork/coverage


johnr
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  #332448 20-May-2010 16:33
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Vodafone NZ have built some new coverage 3G only sites in the Dunedin region in the last 12 months

John



beforenightfalls

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  #332502 20-May-2010 18:00
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I should be fine for coverage for XT according to their online map thing. I've found Vodafone doesn't work very well in rural locations, telecom cdma usually did. I live in town now so its not such a problem.

quickymart
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  #332582 20-May-2010 20:31
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Funny you say that, Vodafone works far better in the rural locations I go to, whereas CDMA typically has 1-2 bars (usually only 1).

johnr
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  #332611 20-May-2010 21:06
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beforenightfalls: I should be fine for coverage for XT according to their online map thing. I've found Vodafone doesn't work very well in rural locations, telecom cdma usually did. I live in town now so its not such a problem.


Maybe you need to try a 900/2100 3G Device then

John

clintondane
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#336548 31-May-2010 12:28
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Hey mate, sorry if this reply is too late for the early show but I have recently changed from the cdma network to XT and I hate it! I bought a great new phone etc and got sodl an awesome story. Only to get home to Sawyers Bay and find I have no reception at all .
I've been in to telecom and thrown my toys but basically they shrug their shoulders and say, " ah well ".
Needless to say I'm ticked off and have been to Vodafone after a friend came to my house and is on their network and gets great coverage. I don't know how well you know Dunedin but Sawyers Bay is no more than 10k's from town and by no means rural, and I get no reception. So what I say to you is think lng and hard about XT and weigh up the pros, ( very Few ) when compared to Vodafone.
Good luck,
I look forward to hearing how you chose.

 
 
 

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nitrotech
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  #336568 31-May-2010 12:45
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clintondane: Hey mate, sorry if this reply is too late for the early show but I have recently changed from the cdma network to XT and I hate it! I bought a great new phone etc and got sodl an awesome story. Only to get home to Sawyers Bay and find I have no reception at all .
I've been in to telecom and thrown my toys but basically they shrug their shoulders and say, " ah well ".
Needless to say I'm ticked off and have been to Vodafone after a friend came to my house and is on their network and gets great coverage. I don't know how well you know Dunedin but Sawyers Bay is no more than 10k's from town and by no means rural, and I get no reception. So what I say to you is think lng and hard about XT and weigh up the pros, ( very Few ) when compared to Vodafone.
Good luck,
I look forward to hearing how you chose.


Out of interest what model of phone are you using?

beforenightfalls

185 posts

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  #336573 31-May-2010 12:55
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yeah sawyers bay is hardly rural. if xt doesn't work at your home then they can't provide the service you signed up for, and you should be able to get out of a contract without fees. or at least go on the old network instead. xt works very well for us but we live in south dunedin. i'm happy with my new phone and contract is a good price too.

quickymart
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  #336719 31-May-2010 18:33
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Telecom do not sell CDMA devices any longer, so he'd be reconnecting his old handset.

Log it as a coverage fault (0800 400909) - if you don't let them know they won't be able to do much about it. It's faster to call and log it then going into the shop.

sleepy
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  #336728 31-May-2010 18:54
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I used to live in musselburgh rise and always had problems with 025 so was first to upgrade to 027 which was no better have recently moved to xt and havent noticed the usual dead spots that i used to get driving around dunedin, but if you have a place in mind am happy to try i know how frustrating it is to have no coverage at home

clintondane
2 posts

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  #336985 1-Jun-2010 12:28
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i bought a new htc touch 2 phone. windows 6.5 operating system, all the bells and whistles but still no xt coverage. just driving around dunners though on a day to day basis i see my signal fluctuate hugely!

SteveON
1916 posts

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  #337014 1-Jun-2010 13:28

Ahhh, just get a 2degrees phone, will work in more places and is cheaper than XT.

beforenightfalls

185 posts

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  #337061 1-Jun-2010 15:03
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2 degrees didn't seem much cheaper to me!

SteveON
1916 posts

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  #337063 1-Jun-2010 15:10

beforenightfalls: 2 degrees didn't seem much cheaper to me!


What calling plan are you looking at using?
The $29 for 300 offpeak minutes + texts?

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