FYI: VFAU non-urban reception is disgusting

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Batman

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#87314 25-Jul-2011 18:01

Been road tripping off Melbourne and i would like to warn you guys: don't use Vodafone AU ... use either Optus or Telstra.

Along great ocean road my voda has given me 100% grief: no reception in buildings, poor reception everywhere, no reception many places ... and my wife's optus - 100% usability on high speed 3G! aarrrrgh

Note: VFAU "roams" on telstra network when VFAU does not have coverage - but i think because the places we've been "have" VF coverage (albeit atrocious), I can't latch on to telstra in these places

-END-

sbiddle

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#497740 25-Jul-2011 20:39

What sort of handset did you have? If it doesn't support the 850, 900 and 2100 3G bands you would not have been able to make use of the 3 3G bands that their network uses.

Telstra's Next G network is vastly superior to any other network in Aussie.

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lxsw20

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#497757 25-Jul-2011 21:30

Yeah got a few mates in Ozzy who really don't rate the Vodafone network over there, I grabbed an Optus sim when i went over and it was fine all around Mornington Peninsula

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#497761 25-Jul-2011 21:36

Different carriers different coverage foot prints it's like this all over the world

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#497766 25-Jul-2011 21:44

Here is some further INFO on the upgrades that are happening now to the VF-AU network including using the 850mhz band for UMTS / WCDMA

http://www.vodafone.com.au/personal/aboutvodafone/network/index.htm?pid=v:hme::network:her:new-netwo...

John

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#497822 25-Jul-2011 23:45

ok i might start a new thread tomorrow but let me try here:

yes i have a samsung galaxy s2 bought from voda AU. in my desperate attempts to get a signal i put the phone here there and everywhere and ... OOPS it suffered a drop from about 80cm ish ... now i'm by the beach and the phone is doing this to me:

Mobile network type: UMTS
Mobile network state: Connecting

when this happens i get no 3g

then it will show

Mobile network type: HSPDA
Mobile network state: Connected

when this happens i have 3g -> "H" and get internet for about 5 seconds and then it goes back to UMTS-connecting ... and this alternates like a pendulum!

(note: i can see this because i am using wifi hotspot. same thing happens when i use the phone presumably because this 3g and no 3g goes on and on)

is it something to do with dropping the phone or the signals? (btw showing Signal strength -99dBm 7 asu)

i am going back to melbourne CBD ... fingers crossed i don't have to use contents insurance!

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#497843 26-Jul-2011 06:13

lxsw20: Yeah got a few mates in Ozzy who really don't rate the Vodafone network over there, I grabbed an Optus sim when i went over and it was fine all around Mornington Peninsula

It's work noting as well that in many areas (all the major cities and in some rural areas) Optus and Vodafone share the same towers and panels, and in some cases the same BSC's.

khull

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#497861 26-Jul-2011 08:45

you tell me - i'm trying to use 3G in the NZ CBD areas and its already disgusting unless you consider 3G dial up speeds 'broadband'

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#498205 26-Jul-2011 19:57

well i'm talking about reception. i am happy to accept slower speeds at peak hours ...

i am pleased to report that back at melb cbd i have no disconnections (yet) phew

essentially i checked the coverage here http://www.vodafone.com.au/tools/checker/index.htm clicking only 3g ... then rang the customer service who told me where there is no coverage i am roaming on telstra without additional charges ... but couldnt get onto telstra at any cost (where the map shows supposed to have coverage but can't get reception - obviously i probably am not allowed to latch to telstra, but where the map shows no coverage telstra also rejected me :(

happy now!

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#498215 26-Jul-2011 20:13

khull: you tell me - i'm trying to use 3G in the NZ CBD areas and its already disgusting unless you consider 3G dial up speeds 'broadband'

Did you not advise this in another thread on Geekzone a while back and I requested to meet up with you so I can look into this issue and I never heard from you,

The offer still stands and I work in Auckland CBD Upper Queen Street anytime during business hours / After hours is fine.

Looking forward to hearing from you

Thanks John 021323505

(ps sorry if I have the geekzone user)

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#498222 26-Jul-2011 20:19

joker97: well i'm talking about reception. i am happy to accept slower speeds at peak hours ...

i am pleased to report that back at melb cbd i have no disconnections (yet) phew

essentially i checked the coverage here http://www.vodafone.com.au/tools/checker/index.htm clicking only 3g ... then rang the customer service who told me where there is no coverage i am roaming on telstra without additional charges ... but couldnt get onto telstra at any cost (where the map shows supposed to have coverage but can't get reception - obviously i probably am not allowed to latch to telstra, but where the map shows no coverage telstra also rejected me :(

happy now!

Unless things have changed recently national roaming on Telstra isn't automatic, you have to request it unless you have international roaming activated on your account.

Batman

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#498279 26-Jul-2011 22:56

I did ask the csr dude...he said nothing needed to be activated...grrrrr :(

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#498400 27-Jul-2011 10:50

khull: you tell me - i'm trying to use 3G in the NZ CBD areas and its already disgusting unless you consider 3G dial up speeds 'broadband'

I have just sent you a PM looking forward to your reply

Hi Khull

I would like to meet up and see these 3G speed tests you are getting that are dial up speed,

If we have an issue I would like to get it fixed ASAP,

(Email address & mobile number included)

Thanks John