Best network for mobile data on the Kapiti Line

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#2424121 19-Feb-2020 15:58

nztim:

I have no issues after I exit the short tunnel on my Vodafone phone but coming out of the long tunnel going home, I can call/txt but have no data until i get to Porirua station (as mentioned above this is only during peak times)

That's strange as I get the reverse. Coming out of the long tunnel when heading North, my data is usually connected straight away.

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tripper1000

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#2424123 19-Feb-2020 16:03

nztim: That would explain why I get coverage through 90% of the short tunnel and 30 seconds at each end of the long tunnel, IMHO All three providers should work to have 100% coverage through those tunnels, If the big one hits, and you have no coverage you could be stuck in those tunnels for hours with no way of contacting anyone.

Wistful thinking - ?

Coverage (even if it wasn't cut/blocked by whatever was trapping you in the tunnel) would probably be no use anyway. The networks collapsed from overloading after CHCH & Kiakora (even affecting AKL) and then once overloading subsided, the UPS batteries running flat (& selfish people stealing the generators) was the next issue.

Maybe the Cell companies have make changes since then?

nztim

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#2424125 19-Feb-2020 16:10

mrdrifter:
nztim:

I have no issues after I exit the short tunnel on my Vodafone phone but coming out of the long tunnel going home, I can call/txt but have no data until i get to Porirua station (as mentioned above this is only during peak times)

That's strange as I get the reverse. Coming out of the long tunnel when heading North, my data is usually connected straight away.

Want to do some testing tonight? I will be on the 5:17

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nztim

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#2424126 19-Feb-2020 16:15

tripper1000:

nztim: That would explain why I get coverage through 90% of the short tunnel and 30 seconds at each end of the long tunnel, IMHO All three providers should work to have 100% coverage through those tunnels, If the big one hits, and you have no coverage you could be stuck in those tunnels for hours with no way of contacting anyone.

Wistful thinking - ?

Coverage (even if it wasn't cut/blocked by whatever was trapping you in the tunnel) would probably be no use anyway. The networks collapsed from overloading after CHCH & Kiakora (even affecting AKL) and then once overloading subsided, the UPS batteries running flat (& selfish people stealing the generators) was the next issue.

Maybe the Cell companies have make changes since then?

All these are issues that are fair points

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Lias

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#2424168 19-Feb-2020 17:52

I'm on Vodafone and also have coverage issues on the trains between Paekak and Plimmerton.. Also terrible coverage around the northern end of Maclean Park for some reason..

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alasta

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#2424190 19-Feb-2020 18:57

In the evenings I usually take the Waikanae express that leaves Wellington at 5:18. I have given up trying to use data between the tunnels and Porirua because it was hopeless when I tested it previously.

This has been an interesting thread, and it sounds like I should be looking at Spark if I ever decide to change providers.

nztim

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#2424194 19-Feb-2020 19:08

alasta:
In the evenings I usually take the Waikanae express that leaves Wellington at 5:18. I have given up trying to use data between the tunnels and Porirua because it was hopeless when I tested it previously.

This has been an interesting thread, and it sounds like I should be looking at Spark if I ever decide to change providers.

One reason and one reason only my personal phone is still with Vodafone - fixed $7 per day roaming otherwise would have left long ago.

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#2424302 20-Feb-2020 06:34

When I was living in Waikanae for 6 months back in the CDMA days I had a EVDO datacard for my laptop and had constant useable signal after I had got out of the long tunnel until the small tunnels at plimmerton.
Spark have always had superior coverage nationwide and pre RWC there were a lot of upgrades so it doesn't surprise me reading this thread that Spark coverage is still superior.
Granted I am biased but being on VF through my work phone the last two years I notice a lot more dead spots and dropped calls around Wellington I never noticed before on Spark.
Perhaps it's my Android with a Spark vs VF image, typically iPhones have better coverage in marginal areas as per what a device testing friend of mine always said.

nztim

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#2424314 20-Feb-2020 08:12

BarTender: When I was living in Waikanae for 6 months back in the CDMA days I had a EVDO datacard for my laptop and had constant useable signal after I had got out of the long tunnel until the small tunnels at plimmerton.
Spark have always had superior coverage nationwide and pre RWC there were a lot of upgrades so it doesn't surprise me reading this thread that Spark coverage is still superior.
Granted I am biased but being on VF through my work phone the last two years I notice a lot more dead spots and dropped calls around Wellington I never noticed before on Spark.
Perhaps it's my Android with a Spark vs VF image, typically iPhones have better coverage in marginal areas as per what a device testing friend of mine always said.

Good old CDMA was twice the speed of GSM/3g back In the day!
Telecom/Sparks name was mud in Wellington when XT went belly up for
multiple 5-6 hour outages but they have recovered and the network now beats Voda hands down.

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tripper1000

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#2424338 20-Feb-2020 09:36

It pays to keep in the mind that the frequencies are changing. CDMA was 850 MHz, which has better penetration and range than LTE at 1800MHz (mostly).

Even if they're filling in blind sports with 1800/2300/2600 MHz, with the short ranges and smaller cell's you get move frequent handovers between cell sites, which is more opportunity for dropped connections.

Sure, all 3 networks are putting in ~~B27~~ B28 (700MHz) which has great penetration and coverage, but generally this isn't a high priority in urban areas.

Edit: Spelling & B27 vs B28

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#2424353 20-Feb-2020 10:04

tripper1000:

Sure, all 3 networks are putting in B27 (700MHz) which has great penetration and coverage, but generally this isn't a high priority in urban areas.

B28 not B27 but a lot of routers don't support it, which I found out with Mikrotik recently, all iPhones do though

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halper86

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#2424363 20-Feb-2020 10:29

nztim:

tripper1000:

Sure, all 3 networks are putting in B27 (700MHz) which has great penetration and coverage, but generally this isn't a high priority in urban areas.

B28 not B27 but a lot of routers don't support it, which I found out with Mikrotik recently, all iPhones do though

Does the Huawei B618 have it, im pretty sure it is MIMO too

mrdrifter

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#2424367 20-Feb-2020 10:36

nztim:

Want to do some testing tonight? I will be on the 5:17

Left early yesterday so wasn't a peak time, but I did track when my had issues this morning. Things slowed a little coming into and leaving Takapu Road station where the valley closes in, but then pages started responding and things loaded fine before entering the long tunnel. Coming out of the short tunnel, the network connected quickly, but no usable data connection until I reached the old Kaiwharawhara platform.

tanivula

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#2424457 20-Feb-2020 12:07

With work we've rotated around the network providers, but have to admit the recent change from Spark to VF hasn't gone too well. The coverage/call quality/connections have been notably worse. We travel a fair bit around NZ and this has been the same experience throughout.

We have previously been with VF and cant remember it being this bad.

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#2424469 20-Feb-2020 12:40

tanivula:

With work we've rotated around the network providers, but have to admit the recent change from Spark to VF hasn't gone too well. The coverage/call quality/connections have been notably worse. We travel a fair bit around NZ and this has been the same experience throughout.

We have previously been with VF and cant remember it being this bad.

VF used to be great but the profit focused mentality of the company over the last few years of Russell Stanners where very little was invested in the network is now so obvious. Even in Wellington there are still large numbers of sites that don't even have 4G on them.

New ownership will hopefully change this..

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