VF coverage - all of SH1?

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quickymart

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#60239 22-Apr-2010 15:45

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10640096

I remembering hearing (or reading) somewhere years ago that both Telecom and Vodafone said they had coverage of SH1 from one of the country to the other. While this is mostly true, there's still not much north of Kaitaia. Now the road is totally sealed, SH1 may see more tourists heading up to Cape Reinga, which could be a good source of income for both companies.

Before anyone says "there's nothing up there!", I agree - but there are a lot of other places on SH1 with 3 people living in them yet they get a cellphone signal too.

So, before I take my next trip up north, can anyone (from either Telecom or Vodafone) tell me if there are any plans to complete the networks coverage footprints to include the missing parts of SH1?

nickb800

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#321744 22-Apr-2010 16:00

Are you sure they claimed that? I would have thought the desert road would have fairly large blackspots.
SH1 at Mana (30mins north of wellington) with ~30,000 cars per day has a spot were calls always drop for me on VF

johnr

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#321750 22-Apr-2010 16:05

The Vodafone coverage map shows where coverage stops heading North no plans in the next 12 months for this to change

www.vodafone.co.nz/coverage

John

johnr

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#321757 22-Apr-2010 16:10

Cause a road is sealed does not mean a carrier would plan to deploy coverage

Its things like site location is there power? can transmission be deployed? can a return be made cells are not cheap to deploy

John

sbiddle

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#321765 22-Apr-2010 16:30

I recall some claims from Telecom in the late 90's that virtually all of SH1 was covered with a 3W carkit using an AMPS phone. I have certainly never heard either network make any such claims about their current coverage which certainly isn't complete by any means.

The Desert Rd is also not a complete deadspot, there is actually pretty good coverage but some deadspots primararily where there are big dips in the road near the 3 sisters.

quickymart

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#321772 22-Apr-2010 17:01

sbiddle: I recall some claims from Telecom in the late 90's that virtually all of SH1 was covered with a 3W carkit using an AMPS phone.

Aha, I think that's what you're referring to, cheers. I wasn't exactly 100% sure on the statement, and it WAS a long time ago :)

marmel

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#321796 22-Apr-2010 18:55

SH1 is not fully covered at this end of the country either.

I drive between Gore and Invercargill on a fairly regular basis and I lose coverage below Edendale for about 5 minutes.

There is also a dead spot when you head east along SH1 leaving Gore, about 10 minutes out of town. Also lasts for about 5 minutes.

I have had numerous phones and all have lost coverage in these areas.

richms

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#322035 23-Apr-2010 12:11

On my last drive south there was still a massive GSM blackspot between taupari and cambridge. Didnt have the 900MHz phone at the time to see if that was any better, but apparantly it is.

Do they count 1A as part of state highway 1 or not? Would hate to have to go via hamilton just to get cell coverage ;)

And I thought the claim of telecoms was that it was highway 1 between auckland and wellington, not the whole highway?

Richard rich.ms

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johnr

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#322042 23-Apr-2010 12:15

richms: Didnt have the 900MHz phone at the time to see if that was any better

Do you mean U900?

richms

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#322064 23-Apr-2010 13:07

johnr:
richms: Didnt have the 900MHz phone at the time to see if that was any better

Do you mean U900?

yes, just had the old nokia 1100 and some random 2100MHz only handset. Both had not much on them, 2 tries making calls on the 1100 failed so had to use a friends CDMA phone, this was just before the BS handheald law came in last year so no problems there ;)

Richard rich.ms