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Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Vodafone Vs Telecom - mobile 3G data speed
coffeebaron

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#45681 3-Nov-2009 19:47
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Its show time! Armed with:
1. Vodafone SIM card
2. Telecom XT SIM card
3. Option Globe Trotter GE441 Quad Band UMTS data card
4. Pocket knife (for SIM card changes)

Follow my progress over the next few days as I compare the two using one device that supports both 900 & 850 (+2100 of course) 3G bands.

[edit] NB: these speedtests are not about who is faster - keep in mind Telecom's XT network is still new and far from as loaded as Vodafone. But I hope the results will be useful and interesting, and it's great to have a device that does both networks YAH!




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coffeebaron

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  #269731 3-Nov-2009 19:51
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First round: location - Taupaki (North West Auckland)

Vodafone (signal = good)






Telecom (signal = excellent)




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corksta
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  #269755 3-Nov-2009 20:36
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Looking forward to more results coffeebaron, good stuff!

coffeebaron

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  #269981 4-Nov-2009 12:30
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Next Round: Newmarket (Auckland CBD)

Vodafone - signal excellent






Telecom - signal excellent




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plambrechtsen
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  #270011 4-Nov-2009 14:13
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I would also be interested in dropouts. Since it is mobile broadband if you can drive (or for me take bus to work) from a to b and if your data drops.

If I was made of money and didn't mind burning prepaid mobile data I would be happy to do this in Wellington also.

Plus I would test with a telecom CDMA (old network) and for good measure test 2degrees as well.

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  #270326 5-Nov-2009 13:30
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Laingholm (West Auckland)

Telecom  (signal = good)





Vodafone (Signal = Excellent)




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coffeebaron

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  #270327 5-Nov-2009 13:36
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A few notes about the way I do these speedtests:

- Speed tests are done at www.speedtest.net usually the default server is used. You will note some of the Telecom tests are of the Tauranga server. Where the server picked is different to expected, I retest on the expect server to make sure the speeds are on par with each other.

- Several tests are done and an average of the higher end results is picked.

- Ping test is done at www.pingtest.net (NB: some of these may not show above - intermittent broken link or something??)

- Signal strength is also advised as this is a very important factor. This impacts the obtainable speeds.

Edit: also had hoped to have a few more tests done by now, but I've also found an issue when switching between SIM cards - it is not always reconnected to the other network. Will investigate this further.




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coffeebaron

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  #270386 5-Nov-2009 16:07
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Huntly (Waikato)

Vodafone (signal = low)






Telecom (signal = very good)




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sansom
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#270413 5-Nov-2009 17:29
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At this point in time speedtest & ping results for the Vodafone network will depend entirely on whether the local nodeB and its backhaul have received the benefits of a network upgrade programme we are in the process of deploying.

We will have completed the first level of upgrade across the entire network by Christmas.  As of today approximately half the network has received round 1 of the upgrades.  You can tell the higher speed locations fairly easily (eg just reference the variability of some of the Vodafone results here!).

Updates on progress of the Vodafone network upgrades can be monitored by following @vodafoneNZdata on twitter.  For example, last night we added 4 more E1s (10Mbps) of backhaul capacity to our Whitford site.

Regards
Hamish

(Head of Mobile Data at Vodafone NZ)




Hamish

coffeebaron

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  #270436 5-Nov-2009 18:37
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Putaruru (Waikato)

Telecom (signal = good)






Vodafone (signal = good)




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coffeebaron

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  #270438 5-Nov-2009 18:39
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sansom: At this point in time speedtest & ping results for the Vodafone network will depend entirely on whether the local nodeB and its backhaul have received the benefits of a network upgrade programme we are in the process of deploying.

We will have completed the first level of upgrade across the entire network by Christmas.  As of today approximately half the network has received round 1 of the upgrades.  You can tell the higher speed locations fairly easily (eg just reference the variability of some of the Vodafone results here!).

Updates on progress of the Vodafone network upgrades can be monitored by following @vodafoneNZdata on twitter.  For example, last night we added 4 more E1s (10Mbps) of backhaul capacity to our Whitford site.

Regards
Hamish

(Head of Mobile Data at Vodafone NZ)

Thanks for your input. Hope these results are helpful, and hopefully taken as a "snapshot" rather than a "who's the best"




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coffeebaron

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  #271011 8-Nov-2009 14:20
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Matamata (Waikato)

Vodafone - alas I could not get a 3G signal, so it's GPRS; but apparently there is a new site on its way as noted by johnr @ http://forum.vodafone.co.nz/topic/3346-3g-extend-and-k3565-z/
So there will be a re-test to come.



Telecom - signal = very good




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plambrechtsen
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  #271164 9-Nov-2009 08:07
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coffeebaron: Matamata (Waikato)

I would also include things like if you were indoors or outdoors when performing the test.

You should notice that Vodafone's performance will substantally drop when indoors vs Telecoms due to the frequency that Vodafone run their 3G network on (2100 mhz) rather than Telecom (WCDMA - 850mhz) in the major metro areas.

I catch the bus most mornings from the eastern suburbs into the Wellington CBD.  While on the move the two networks are subtanlly different.  For example Vodafone always drops at the end of the runway on Calabar road.. or drops down to GPRS which is as good as dropping.

coffeebaron

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  #271187 9-Nov-2009 09:16
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plambrechtsen:
coffeebaron: Matamata (Waikato)

I would also include things like if you were indoors or outdoors when performing the test.

You should notice that Vodafone's performance will substantally drop when indoors vs Telecoms due to the frequency that Vodafone run their 3G network on (2100 mhz) rather than Telecom (WCDMA - 850mhz) in the major metro areas.

I catch the bus most mornings from the eastern suburbs into the Wellington CBD.  While on the move the two networks are subtanlly different.  For example Vodafone always drops at the end of the runway on Calabar road.. or drops down to GPRS which is as good as dropping.

Tests are all done stationary - would not be good to drive and use laptop at same time :)
It is a mix of indoor / outdoor, and the signal strength is noted. Actual signal strength is more relevant than whether it is indoor or outdoor. Also, some tests are in Vodafone's 900MHz areas too. Happy to note this though on from now on, and for the record:
Taupaki - indoors
Newmarket - outdoors
Laingholm - outdoors
Huntly - outdoors
Putaruru - indoors
Matamata - outdoors


The main objective behind the tests is to see what both networks are capable of over a range of signal strengths and variety of locations.




Rural IT and Broadband support.

 

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71 
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

 

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

coffeebaron

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  #271333 9-Nov-2009 16:12
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Tokoroa - South Waikato (outdoors)

Telecom - signal = excellent






Vodafone - signal = excellent




Rural IT and Broadband support.

 

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71 
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Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

johnr
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  #271384 9-Nov-2009 18:11
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A few weeks back vodafone disabled 3G to 2G hand down across all RNCs while in a packet data session

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