Vodafone or Sparks

Forums › New Zealand Mobile and Wireless › Vodafone or Sparks

1 | 2 | 3

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1847135 15-Aug-2017 15:40

kryptonjohn:

Yeah but that's population coverage I'm talking about anti-population coverage in the wop-wops.

At present Vodafone's 4G coverage is greater in both population and land area than Spark - the difference however is pretty minimal in the grand scheme of things.

Linux

12188 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8480

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1847136 15-Aug-2017 15:43

kryptonjohn:
Correct me if I am wrong, but on Spark the whole network has 4G data. On Vodafone you lose 4G when you get out of the cities and major tourist towns.

Seems that way to me anyway.

100% incorrect no network in NZ offers 4G coverage matching 3G as of today

Look at the 4G coverage maps of each carrier and you will see where 4G coverage is and is not but remember they are not updated everyday when new 4G sites go live

Linux

Linux

12188 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8480

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1847138 15-Aug-2017 15:44

sbiddle:
kryptonjohn:

Yeah but that's population coverage I'm talking about anti-population coverage in the wop-wops.

At present Vodafone's 4G coverage is greater in both population and land area than Spark - the difference however is pretty minimal in the grand scheme of things.

Look on the global scale and roaming scale they are chalk and cheese

Linux

Linux

12188 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8480

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1847150 15-Aug-2017 15:46

kryptonjohn:
Yeah but that's population coverage I'm talking about anti-population coverage in the wop-wops.

Why would a carrier build coveage where people don't go to?

Linux

Edit : New coverage sites are not cheap to build and keep running

djtOtago

1181 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 605

#1847154 15-Aug-2017 15:51

kryptonjohn:

Yeah but that's population coverage I'm talking about anti-population coverage in the wop-wops.

In the south island I find a lot of places where Spark only has a 3G available if they have any coverage at all. For me Vodafone supplies much better coverage in the places I work and play.

There are even a few places where I can get Vodafone 3G and 4G coverage and no service from Spark at all. And in places where I can't get 3G I can often still get Vodafone 2G.

So for me Vodafone has much better coverage.

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 953

Lifetime subscriber

#1847157 15-Aug-2017 15:53

Interesting and counter to my own anecdotal experience. What's the source of that claim?

Seems like Spark and Vodafone bicker among themselves about this all the time, the following a bit out of date:

http://stoppress.co.nz/news/whos-biggest-them-all-spark-and-vodafone-tussle-over-4g-superiority

This has them about the same for population:

https://www.mobileworldlive.com/asia/asia-news/vodafone-spark-hit-4g-coverage-goal-ahead-of-schedule/

I'd like to switch from Spark to Vodafone as my car (ex UK VW) can do RSAP but only works on VF not Spark but always seem to have better coverage than my mates on VF.

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 953

Lifetime subscriber

#1847160 15-Aug-2017 15:56

Linux:
kryptonjohn:

Yeah but that's population coverage I'm talking about anti-population coverage in the wop-wops.

Why would a carrier build coveage where people don't go to?

Linux

Edit : New coverage sites are not cheap to build and keep running

That question doesn't really apply. People go to the wop-wops, just not so many.

Linux

12188 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8480

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1847161 15-Aug-2017 15:57

News article from 2017

http://www2.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503402&objectid=11808914

Linux

Linux

12188 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8480

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1847164 15-Aug-2017 16:05

Coverage footprints change / improve week to week it's not static and with more co-location going on these days it's a win win for comsumers

Linux

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 953

Lifetime subscriber

#1847168 15-Aug-2017 16:15

Yep, and it sounds like my anecdotal experiences are far from representative!

kharris

1209 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 327

ID Verified

Trusted

#1847188 15-Aug-2017 17:02

kryptonjohn:

Yep, and it sounds like my anecdotal experiences are far from representative!

Given it is not a competition can we get back to the point in the original post.

Unless you live in Foxton you can't really give the guy the answer he requires.

Both Spark and VF offer similar services and have similar 4G coverage. Some of the lower priced plans require you to pay a fee for accessing your voice mail, others don't. Best to read the small print for that. Depending on your budget you might want to consider 2 degrees, Warehouse Mobile, or Skinny as these all provide other pricing options.

Kirk

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

kharris

1209 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 327

ID Verified

Trusted

#1847215 15-Aug-2017 17:17

Looking at Sparks 4G coverage maps they look OK for Foxton.

Looking at the VF coverage maps for Foxton, it seems to only really covered by 4G extended which makes use of the 700MHz frequency. If your Mobile handset utilises 700MHz then you should be OK.

Based on this you may find Spark gives better reception in your case, but this is only based on the maps I have looked at. You may be better to ask around the local people in your community to get an idea of real experiences.

Kirk

michaelmurfy

meow
13581 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10914

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1847223 15-Aug-2017 17:41

@Linux seems like you know a bit about Vodafone ;)

My 2c - I am on both Spark (via Skinny Direct) and Vodafone and have done a craptonne of travelling over the last week around NZ. Spark in many cases had usable data where Vodafone didn't. I also find that Spark often "just works".

However until just recently there was no Vodafone coverage out at my parents house (only Spark). I am at the moment getting 5 bars of LTE coverage on Spark where Vodafone is currently stuck on 3G at 3 bars. Both towers are in the same location.

This is my personal preference. If I had to pick between the two it'll be Spark all the way for coverage. Vodafone have come a long way but they still don't beat Spark for coverage in many many places. There has however been a few (but not as many) ocassions where there was Vodafone coverage but no Spark coverage.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

kharris

1209 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 327

ID Verified

Trusted

#1847224 15-Aug-2017 17:45

michaelmurfy:

@Linux seems like you know a bit about Vodafone ;)

My 2c - I am on both Spark (via Skinny Direct) and Vodafone and have done a craptonne of travelling over the last week around NZ. Spark in many cases had usable data where Vodafone didn't. I also find that Spark often "just works".

However until just recently there was no Vodafone coverage out at my parents house (only Spark). I am at the moment getting 5 bars of LTE coverage on Spark where Vodafone is currently stuck on 3G at 3 bars. Both towers are in the same location.

This is my personal preference. If I had to pick between the two it'll be Spark all the way for coverage. Vodafone have come a long way but they still don't beat Spark for coverage in many many places. There has however been a few (but not as many) ocassions where there was Vodafone coverage but no Spark coverage.

You didn't happen to travel through Foxton? ;)

Kirk

michaelmurfy

meow
13581 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10914

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1847236 15-Aug-2017 18:36

kharris:

You didn't happen to travel through Foxton? ;)

Missed that on this round but from what I remember Foxton wasn't bad for both Spark and Vodafone coverage.

Good ole location history:

1 | 2 | 3