Vodafone coverage - unimpressed

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myfullflavour

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#97232 14-Feb-2012 17:56

I signed onto a 24 month iPhone contract with Vodafone before Telecom came on as a carrier.

I'm wishing I didn't.

Since June last year I've lived in Bethlehem, in Tauranga where the signal sits around 1 bar of 3G coverage. Pop a Telecom or 2Degrees sim and suddenly I've got 4-5 bars.

I do a lot of driving around Tauranga, and compared to my wife who is on iPhone on Telecom, the coverage is shocking.

We move to a new place in Ohauiti, Tauranga this week, and sure enough, only 1 (and 2 bars when I'm lucky) of 2G coverage. I'm getting SureSignal as I need to be able to make calls, but it seems ridiculous that Vodafone charge us $349 for not being able to provide a service I spend $3000 a year paying for !

I wrote this post to share my experience, maybe warn others thinking of signing iPhone contracts with Vodafone in Tauranga and express my frustration about having to fork out $349 just to receive working coverage.

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#581489 14-Feb-2012 18:12

I was in Bethlehem and Tauranga last month and had no issues at all with coverage in all locations I was!

Tauranga and Bethlehem have their own serving cells so not sure how coverage can be so low for you

John

FYI I am using a SG II

scuwp

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#581491 14-Feb-2012 18:31

Sorry to say that my experience has been similar in other areas as well as around Tauranga. Other threads have covered this issue but it seems that the iPhones just work better on Telecom for some reason (massive generalisation I know)

I am stuck on VF for work and a recent upgrade to an iPhone is now regretted as the reception in many areas is quite frankly rubbish. I rarely get above 2 bars on mine and mostly see just 1. I don't think I have ever seen it with all bars showing. I have had 2 handsets as the first crapped out in only 5 days, but coverage and signal strength has been the same on both.

I don't think it is necessarily the network as workmates with other brand handsets have no such problems, a technical explanation is all a bit beyond me but from a consumers point of view it just seems that the iPhone and VF just don't get along that well together.

Edit: I did read somewhere that VF shop staff seemed to be actively discouraging customers from choosing iPhones...something in that perhaps? (if true)

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

drajk

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#581494 14-Feb-2012 18:42

My wife and I made a number of trips to Tauranga and Mount Manganui late last year when my grandmother was sick/died and we never had any problem with VF coverage using either phone or USB modem. We stopped at Bethlehem as well and coverage there was also fine for me (both calls and data). Obviously no network can have perfect coverage everywhere but I generally have found VF coverage to be very good in recent years.

drajk

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#581495 14-Feb-2012 18:48

Also I meant to say that was at Waimarama at Christmas and my iPhone on Vfnz had calling and data coverage throughout the beach property on Waitangi Rd whereas everyone else had to put their phones in a specific place to get them to have a signal (both telecom and VF) so I don't believe there is any incompatibility with VF and the iPhone 4S.

scuwp

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#581517 14-Feb-2012 19:20

drajk: Also I meant to say that was at Waimarama at Christmas and my iPhone on Vfnz had calling and data coverage throughout the beach property on Waitangi Rd whereas everyone else had to put their phones in a specific place to get them to have a signal (both telecom and VF) so I don't believe there is any incompatibility with VF and the iPhone 4S.

Fair enough. OP doesn't indicate what model iPhone. I assumed it was the iPhone 4 as he said it was before Telecom started selling them. My comments relate to my personal experience with the iPhone 4

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

kyhwana2

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#581520 14-Feb-2012 19:29

This is why I don't do contract's :P

(That and prices/plans always seem to get cheaper! Why get stuck with the same prices for 2 years given the amount of competition now!?)

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andrewcnz

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#581523 14-Feb-2012 19:34

scuwp:
drajk: Also I meant to say that was at Waimarama at Christmas and my iPhone on Vfnz had calling and data coverage throughout the beach property on Waitangi Rd whereas everyone else had to put their phones in a specific place to get them to have a signal (both telecom and VF) so I don't believe there is any incompatibility with VF and the iPhone 4S.

Fair enough. OP doesn't indicate what model iPhone. I assumed it was the iPhone 4 as he said it was before Telecom started selling them. My comments relate to my personal experience with the iPhone 4

Yeah but there is no 3G extended(900) in use in Tauranga and Suburbs. So as long as the iphone had 3G 2100 and 2G 900/1800 the its able to use Vodafone's offering in Tauranga!

codyc1515

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#581528 14-Feb-2012 19:43

kyhwana2: This is why I don't do contract's :P

(That and prices/plans always seem to get cheaper! Why get stuck with the same prices for 2 years given the amount of competition now!?)

I've yet to see anybody offer 3GB for $40. I knew they would take it away eventually hence why I got the two-year contract. I dread the day when the contract expires...

As for the coverage in Tauranga its about the only place in NZ that I have found so far that does have generally bad coverage on Vodafone. I don't even bother to try and use the phone when I am up there. Seems to work find anywhere else in the Country though... Coverage can be a mixed bag.

OP because you moved after signing the contract I doubt they will let you away with it and if you really have to the Early Termination fees are not exorbitantly priced (e.g. they are equal to or lesser than the actual cost of the iPhone/subsidy).

kyhwana2

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#581534 14-Feb-2012 20:08

codyc1515:

I've yet to see anybody offer 3GB for $40. I knew they would take it away eventually hence why I got the two-year contract. I dread the day when the contract expires...

You mean the vodafone string along plan? :P

johnr

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#581535 14-Feb-2012 20:10

kyhwana2:
codyc1515:

I've yet to see anybody offer 3GB for $40. I knew they would take it away eventually hence why I got the two-year contract. I dread the day when the contract expires...

You mean the vodafone string along plan? :P
?

When the contract ends the 3GB stays and does not get removed and the 1000 PXT stay as well.

I must of posted this on Geekzone and the Vodafone forum over 20 times

John

kyhwana2

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#581537 14-Feb-2012 20:14

johnr:
kyhwana2:
codyc1515:

I've yet to see anybody offer 3GB for $40. I knew they would take it away eventually hence why I got the two-year contract. I dread the day when the contract expires...

You mean the vodafone string along plan? :P
?

When the contract ends the 3GB stays and does not get removed and the 1000 PXT stay as well.

I must of posted this on Geekzone and the Vodafone forum over 20 times

John

I was referring to the "Free 3GB!* for a limited time, but we're not going to tell you when exactly"

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hairy1

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#581540 14-Feb-2012 20:27

kyhwana2:
johnr:
kyhwana2:
codyc1515:

I've yet to see anybody offer 3GB for $40. I knew they would take it away eventually hence why I got the two-year contract. I dread the day when the contract expires...

You mean the vodafone string along plan? :P
?

When the contract ends the 3GB stays and does not get removed and the 1000 PXT stay as well.

I must of posted this on Geekzone and the Vodafone forum over 20 times

John

I was referring to the "Free 3GB!* for a limited time, but we're not going to tell you when exactly"
?

It was made very clear some time ago by Vodafone that as long as you stay on the original smart plans the 3 GB will remain in place. If you change plans that is when the 3 GB is gone.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

johnr

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#581542 14-Feb-2012 20:29

kyhwana2:
johnr:
kyhwana2:
codyc1515:

I've yet to see anybody offer 3GB for $40. I knew they would take it away eventually hence why I got the two-year contract. I dread the day when the contract expires...

You mean the vodafone string along plan? :P
?

When the contract ends the 3GB stays and does not get removed and the 1000 PXT stay as well.

I must of posted this on Geekzone and the Vodafone forum over 20 times

John

I was referring to the "Free 3GB!* for a limited time, but we're not going to tell you when exactly"
?

So am I

codyc1515

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#581546 14-Feb-2012 20:38

johnr:
kyhwana2:
johnr:
kyhwana2:
codyc1515:

I've yet to see anybody offer 3GB for $40. I knew they would take it away eventually hence why I got the two-year contract. I dread the day when the contract expires...

You mean the vodafone string along plan? :P
?

When the contract ends the 3GB stays and does not get removed and the 1000 PXT stay as well.

I must of posted this on Geekzone and the Vodafone forum over 20 times

John

I was referring to the "Free 3GB!* for a limited time, but we're not going to tell you when exactly"
?

So am I

I stand corrected, I thought it disappeared when the contract ended. I'm saved!

ajobbins

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#581548 14-Feb-2012 20:45

I used Vodafone for many years, mainly in Wellington and Auckland. I had no end of issues with Vodafone coverage, especially in Auckland.

The solution was to change to Telecom XT. Better overall data (More stable, lower pings, faster page load times on web) not to mention better quality calls and far superior coverage.

Twitter: ajobbins

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