Mobile Coverage comparison

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Mobile Coverage comparison

johny99

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#261565 4-Dec-2019 08:33

Extremely quick question, For those of you that have switch from Spark and Voda how does your coverage compare on 2D from that of your old carrier? I have been asked by small plumbing business if 2 Degrees is a good option, as they are struggling with their current Spark costs, 2 degrees is about 45% more cost effective on a like for like basis, they are based in the Manawatu-Wanganui region but the owners do travel far and wide in their motor home. Thank you in advance.

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#2367897 4-Dec-2019 08:41

I changed over from Vodafone to 2degrees 2 years ago and you now need to be very rural to roam onto Vodafone NZ (even if at all)

Even had 4G coverage up Cape Reinga on 2D

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#2367898 4-Dec-2019 08:41

Check each providers coverage maps.

It can vary though depending how far off the beaten track they go with their motor home :)

Campsite I'm looking at staying at, has Spark, but noone else for example.

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DjShadow

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#2368039 4-Dec-2019 12:10

I think 2degrees's map is a bit ambitious, eg it shows full strength 4G at my place of work but when I've tested it I only get 1 bar

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#2368053 4-Dec-2019 12:25

DjShadow:

I think 2degrees's map is a bit ambitious, eg it shows full strength 4G at my place of work but when I've tested it I only get 1 bar

@DjShadow coverage maps generally reflect outdoor coverage to the road side

hio77

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#2368105 4-Dec-2019 13:25

Linux:

you now need to be very rural to roam onto Vodafone NZ (even if at all)

i heavily disagree with this. My device spends atleast 9 hours a day roamed onto VFNZ's network and i'm still in auckland!

2D's edge coverage can be a little rough, but i've been very impressed with their infill efforts of late and actual network usability wise, I'd rate them a good second place on average, some areas are bloody impressive though!

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#2368124 4-Dec-2019 13:57

DjShadow:

I think 2degrees's map is a bit ambitious, eg it shows full strength 4G at my place of work but when I've tested it I only get 1 bar

This ^^

We were on 2D when we moved to Otaki Beach. Map said it was full coverage but we had to stand on the street and could get nothing in the house.

Moved to Skinny, who's map also showed full coverage, and it was great until about 2 years ago. We can walk around the house but we get nothing in the back garden.

CYaBro

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#2368130 4-Dec-2019 14:07

DjShadow:

I think 2degrees's map is a bit ambitious, eg it shows full strength 4G at my place of work but when I've tested it I only get 1 bar

I'd also agree with this.
Their coverage map shows our address well inside their 4G range but we get basically no signal here except if I go outside behind the garage, stand on one leg and stick my tongue out to the left.
Then you may get 1 bar. 😆

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#2368132 4-Dec-2019 14:13

With the exception of my house (which of late has been a 1-bar effort, ably covered by wifi calling) I have found 2DM to be at least as good as VFNZ (who I was with for many years prior).

The only thing I miss is the overseas roaming, but for a business like theirs, it's likely a moot point anyway.

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tripper1000

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#2368147 4-Dec-2019 14:57

All providers have areas of excellent and poor coverage.

Before taking a plunge that could have a happy or sad ending, suggest your guy buys a 2DM SIM (only $5), chuck it in a spare phone and keep and eye on the signal strength as he cruises around the region.

To have the best of both worlds, he could change the business over to 2DM, and put a "if out of coverage" divert on the phone to go to a back-up Spark pre-paid number when out of 2DM/V.fone coverage.

I have found 2DM coverage (4G etc) around the upper north island to be as good as the coverage maps. Don't forget that you will get lesser 4G coverage if the phone lacks band 28 as a lot of older/cheaper/imported LTE phones do.

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#2368184 4-Dec-2019 15:53

2D also run band 8 900Mhz 4G / LTE (only carrier in NZ to do this 4G band)

Mahon

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#2368213 4-Dec-2019 16:36

DjShadow:

I think 2degrees's map is a bit ambitious, eg it shows full strength 4G at my place of work but when I've tested it I only get 1 bar

I am in Invercargill and 2 degrees coverage is very basic compared to what my friends get on other networks.

wibble

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#2368222 4-Dec-2019 16:49

hio77:

i heavily disagree with this. My device spends atleast 9 hours a day roamed onto VFNZ's network and i'm still in auckland!

Where in Auckland are you? National roaming onto Vodafone is blocked in central Auckland. I think the closest place to central Auckland you can go to roam onto VF is Kumeu.

KiwiSurfer

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#2368460 4-Dec-2019 21:46

wibble:

hio77:

i heavily disagree with this. My device spends atleast 9 hours a day roamed onto VFNZ's network and i'm still in auckland!

Where in Auckland are you? National roaming onto Vodafone is blocked in central Auckland. I think the closest place to central Auckland you can go to roam onto VF is Kumeu.

Most of Waiheke Island requires roaming on Vodafone's network last time I was there. Still within Auckland and only a ferry ride away from the CBD.

To the OP, I would suggest getting a cheap SIM and either borrowing a phone or buying a cheap one to test the coverage. You can get 2degrees SIM for $1-2 from some places e.g. Warehouse Stationary, petrol stations, etc. Or even get a Warehouse SIM,

Over the last 5 years I have spent at least a year with each network. I have found all three to have strengths and weaknesses. 2degrees is very good in most suburban areas in Auckland but there are still pockets of no indoor service in certain areas; while in rural areas they are very good only in areas they operate their own network. Once roaming on Vodafone, data speeds are capped at a very low rate making it unusable for anything other than email. I left 2degrees due to that issue as some of my holiday spots is poorly serviced by 2degrees and roaming on Vodafone was too painful so I had the worst of both worlds. Spark I find a bit hit and miss: they can be very good but I've found spots where Vodafone or even 2degrees are much better. E.g. I find Vodafone will often have multiple sites at certain holiday towns whereas Spark often only has one or two sites which don't provide enough infill coverage and even then some seem to be brought in only for the summer. Vodafone seem to manage to cover the places I visit reasonably well with permanent sites all year round. But on the other hand Vodafone hasn't really optimised their 4G network so drops down to 3G are frequent even in areas the other two have strong 4G service.

Rangus

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#2369224 5-Dec-2019 21:46

I wouldn’t bother with 2D especially in Marlborough. There mobile coverage map is not correct on there website.

I’ve moved from Vodafone to 2D and with in 2 months I’ve move back to Vodafone. 2D piggy back off Vodafone network and there data speed is like 2G dial up speed. You can’t run the Rova app When you’re phone is with 2D / Vodafone piggy back service as you travel on the road. And other area in Marlborough there’s even no coverage to make a phone call on 2D when Vodafone has 5 bars on the same stretch of road.

Customer service is marginal at times. I’ve complained to them about there mobile cell coverage and they weren’t even concerned or making bs story’s saying we use spark as our back up and another cs saying we Vodafone as hour back up.

If that is not a concern I say go for it but if coverage and true 4G or 3G mobile coverage stick with Vodafone or spark.

I had a Samsung galaxy note 9 on 2degrees and I found it horrible a bad experience and now back with Vodafone I’m using an iPhone and is way better combination.

Key points with 2degrees. When there is no 2degrees cell coverage your phone will switch to Vodafone and the data super slow.
When your phone is 2degrees coverage area will a long time stay on the Vodafone network and you can tell by go to settings / mobile settings on a android phone.

2degrees is getting better with cell towers slowly going up but otherwise that’s my experience with them.

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#2369275 5-Dec-2019 22:10

Have to agree with the above post at the moment if your 2degrees connection roams onto VodafoneNZ network 2degrees restrict the 3G speed to 0.28Mbps on the downlink and 2degrees customers at the moment can't roam onto the VodafoneNZ 4G network

The uplink speed when roaming onto VodafoneNZ is much faster than the down link

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