Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › TeamVodafone Sailing
VinLew

210 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1


#67498 2-Sep-2010 19:35
Send private message

Browsing the Vodafone website today, and came across TeamVodafone Sailing. Not only is it a pretty spiffy looking trimaran, but the website makes some interesting claims:

- Vodafone’s extended 3G coverage is available up to 120km offshore (measured from the location of the coastal base transmitter site)

-Vodafone’s 3G coverage sends 24% more data per second, than Telecom’s XT network (Vodafone – 787.7 kbps vs. Telecom – 599.2 kbps)

-New Zealand Navy Seals tested both Vodafone and Telecom’s XT network in April 2010 and found a higher call success rate/lower drop call rate on the Vodafone network

-Vodafone network is the fastest and most reliable network on the water

http://play.vodafone.co.nz/teamvodafone-sailing

My two questions are
1) Has anyone had any experience using Vodafones marine coverage, and what was it like?

2) Shouldn't Vodafone be actively promoting the use of VHF radios in a marine environment?
In an emergency, you would be far better off using a VHF radio IMHO

What do you think?

Create new topic
scottjpalmer
6032 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 790

Moderator
ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #375953 2-Sep-2010 19:53
Send private message

NZ has Navy Seals? Are they of the animal variety? Or dudes in spiffy costumes with big knives?



Madmax77
152 posts

Master Geek


  #375958 2-Sep-2010 20:00
Send private message

VinLew: Browsing the Vodafone website today, and came across TeamVodafone Sailing. Not only is it a pretty spiffy looking trimaran, but the website makes some interesting claims:

- Vodafone’s extended 3G coverage is available up to 120km offshore (measured from the location of the coastal base transmitter site)

-Vodafone’s 3G coverage sends 24% more data per second, than Telecom’s XT network (Vodafone – 787.7 kbps vs. Telecom – 599.2 kbps)

-New Zealand Navy Seals tested both Vodafone and Telecom’s XT network in April 2010 and found a higher call success rate/lower drop call rate on the Vodafone network

-Vodafone network is the fastest and most reliable network on the water

http://play.vodafone.co.nz/teamvodafone-sailing

My two questions are
1) Has anyone had any experience using Vodafones marine coverage, and what was it like?

2) Shouldn't Vodafone be actively promoting the use of VHF radios in a marine environment?
In an emergency, you would be far better off using a VHF radio IMHO

What do you think?





I'll answer your second question here. We agree in our humble opinion;-)

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/coverage/marine.jsp 

While Vodafone hopes that the extended mobile coverage will help increase safety among boaties,we strongly advise boating and fishing enthusiasts to carry a marine radio for emergency purposes. Water Safety NZ recommends boaties carry at least two means of communication for in-shore trips and three means if travelling over two miles from shore. Water Safety NZ recommends VHF radios, flares, locator beacons and cellphones. For more information see the Water Safety NZ website.




Never ask what sort of computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If not, why embarrass him?

munchkin
939 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 16

Trusted

  #375965 2-Sep-2010 20:25
Send private message

VinLew:
-Vodafone’s 3G coverage sends 24% more data per second, than Telecom’s XT network (Vodafone – 787.7 kbps vs. Telecom – 599.2 kbps)

What do you think?


I think that Vodafone should fix their terrestrial network before promoting their marine coverage... A couple of weeks ago, the @VodafoneNZ twitter account called me out for doing XT speed tests at 3AM, and said that I should do tests with my Vodafone NZ SIM to give "a fair and balanced view" - let's look at the results:

The first three tests are via Telecom's XT network, the last 7 tests are via Vodafone's 3G network. I stress that these are not conclusive, representative or to be interpreted as such in any way, and that they were taken via my iPhone. I also note that at ~3AM, there should have been little to no traffic on each network, which makes the Voda performance look that much worse...Please look at the ping for each test result, too.

Before you ask, I tested more with Vodafone's network to see if it was an issue with the speedtest server, which it clearly wasn't as I used multiple sites.

Anyway, here we are:



oldmaknz
536 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #375966 2-Sep-2010 20:29

Hah.

Madmax77
152 posts

Master Geek


  #375973 2-Sep-2010 20:47
Send private message

munchkin:
VinLew:
-Vodafone’s 3G coverage sends 24% more data per second, than Telecom’s XT network (Vodafone – 787.7 kbps vs. Telecom – 599.2 kbps)

What do you think?


I think that Vodafone should fix their terrestrial network before promoting their marine coverage... A couple of weeks ago, the @VodafoneNZ twitter account called me out for doing XT speed tests at 3AM, and said that I should do tests with my Vodafone NZ SIM to give "a fair and balanced view" - let's look at the results:

The first three tests are via Telecom's XT network, the last 7 tests are via Vodafone's 3G network. I stress that these are not conclusive, representative or to be interpreted as such in any way, and that they were taken via my iPhone. I also note that at ~3AM, there should have been little to no traffic on each network, which makes the Voda performance look that much worse...Please look at the ping for each test result, too.

Before you ask, I tested more with Vodafone's network to see if it was an issue with the speedtest server, which it clearly wasn't as I used multiple sites.

Anyway, here we are:



Can you clarify which question you were answering?

My two questions are 
1) Has anyone had any experience using Vodafones marine coverage, and what was it like?

2) Shouldn't Vodafone be actively promoting the use of VHF radios in a marine environment?
In an emergency, you would be far better off using a VHF radio IMHO

What do you think? 




Never ask what sort of computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If not, why embarrass him?

munchkin
939 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 16

Trusted

  #375976 2-Sep-2010 20:53
Send private message

You asked "What do you think", and I replied that "I think that Vodafone should fix their terrestrial network before promoting their marine coverage", and then I proceeded to show why I think that.

 
 
 
 

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).
Beccara
1473 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 517

ID Verified

  #376276 3-Sep-2010 14:30
Send private message

I sit on neither Vodafone or Telecom's side but Vodafone has 2.5ish million subscribers alot of which are on 3g since its pretty hard to buy a phone on their network without it, Compare this with Telecom XT's 600,000ish subscribers and Its easy to see why XT's faster. I'd like to see XT's network with 2+mill subscribers and see how fast it is then.

But at the end of the day I dont really like either but am with Vodafone because it offers the best coverage where I am, Had CDMA back in Wellington due to its better coverage where I was.




Most problems are the result of previous solutions...

All comment's I make are my own personal opinion and do not in any way, shape or form reflect the views of current or former employers unless specifically stated 

kiwitrc
4123 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 833
Inactive user


  #376282 3-Sep-2010 14:57
Send private message

scottjpalmer: NZ has Navy Seals? Are they of the animal variety? Or dudes in spiffy costumes with big knives?


Yeah I want to know more about the seals.

VinLew

210 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1


  #378637 10-Sep-2010 18:06
Send private message

Madmax77:
VinLew: Browsing the Vodafone website today, and came across TeamVodafone Sailing. Not only is it a pretty spiffy looking trimaran, but the website makes some interesting claims:

- Vodafone?s extended 3G coverage is available up to 120km offshore (measured from the location of the coastal base transmitter site)

-Vodafone?s 3G coverage sends 24% more data per second, than Telecom?s XT network (Vodafone ? 787.7 kbps vs. Telecom ? 599.2 kbps)

-New Zealand Navy Seals tested both Vodafone and Telecom?s XT network in April 2010 and found a higher call success rate/lower drop call rate on the Vodafone network

-Vodafone network is the fastest and most reliable network on the water

http://play.vodafone.co.nz/teamvodafone-sailing

My two questions are
1) Has anyone had any experience using Vodafones marine coverage, and what was it like?

2) Shouldn't Vodafone be actively promoting the use of VHF radios in a marine environment?
In an emergency, you would be far better off using a VHF radio IMHO

What do you think?





I'll answer your second question here. We agree in our humble opinion;-)

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/coverage/marine.jsp?

While Vodafone hopes that the extended mobile coverage will help increase safety among boaties,we strongly advise boating and fishing enthusiasts to carry a marine radio for emergency purposes.?Water Safety NZ recommends boaties carry at least two means of communication for in-shore trips and three means if travelling over two miles from shore. Water Safety NZ recommends VHF radios, flares, locator beacons and cellphones. For more information see the?Water Safety NZ website.


Ah, I didn't see that there. But still, if vodafone are promoting how well their network works in the ocean, I would (personally) expect at least a small footnote to advocate the carrying of VHF.
That's just my opinion, but as a yachtie I sure wouldn't rely on a 3g network for emergency communications.

Create new topic








Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.


Updates »

Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.








RSS feeds
Main feed
Forums feed
Copyright
©2002-2026 Geekzone®
Site features
Geekzone BI dashboard
Geekzone Badges
Geekzone Status Page

 

Site Information
Subscribe to Geekzone
Privacy Statement
Forum Usage Guidelines (FUG)
Advertising
Trademark and copyright