2degrees 3G performance in Dunedin

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Batman

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#97186 13-Feb-2012 12:38

I watch with interest the new postpaid plan giving us >1g data per month and > 200 mins call time a month for $39.

The catch: sign up for one year....

Now I live in Dunedin (hills - south east) and work in the hospital building.

Have been with Telecom and get perfect H+ coverage and speeds wherever i go ... but for $40 i don't get as much and I was afraid of voicemails costing 20c per listen ...

So moved to Voda - pathetic coverage anywhere indoors and certain non cbd outdoor places were pathetic too eg by the beach/esplanade ... but i know that after 30 days I can go back to telecom ...

Question with 2d

1) voicemail free?

2) if i sign up for 1yr what is the termination fee?

3) do i expect the performance compared to vodafone:
- exactly the same
- similar
- better
- worse
- difficult to say

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#580818 13-Feb-2012 12:45

Voice mail 20 cents a go . As for would it work ok where i am. Go to super market pick up a pre pay sim card for bugger all and do some testing before you sign up for any thing long term.

jbard

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#580821 13-Feb-2012 12:47

I live out on the peninsula and performance is terrible compared to vodafone.

I am going to make a thread about it after more testing as something isn't right.

I am in the middle of a coverage zone and my phone and others tested frequently change between full bars, 1 bar and no coverage even when i am outside.

I can't make or receive calls as it says not enough signal even when i have full bars - texts and data still work though.

Now as far as i know 2 degrees are still testing the network so hopefully this will all change but it is a pain you can't roam on vodafone anymore while they do this testing.

2degreesCare

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#580827 13-Feb-2012 12:59

Hi thanks for your query.

1) voicemail free? No, it's 20c per call. More details here - http://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/paymonthly/plans

2) if i sign up for 1yr what is the termination fee?

If you’re signed up to a Pay Monthly $29, $39 or $59 Plan on either a 12 or 24 month term and want to cancel your Plan, you’ll need to cover the Pay Monthly Plan charge for any remaining months of your term, up to a maximum of $300. Multiply the value of the plan by the number of months left in the plan (e.g. a $39 plan for 12 months and cancel your plan after 8 months you would pay $39 x 4 = $156).

3) do i expect the performance compared to vodafone:
We're building our own network in Dunedin so it will not be like for like. We're currently optimizing and pleased with the results so far. We hope to go live soon - please stay tuned!

Cheers
^POB

robjg63

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#580829 13-Feb-2012 13:03

Perhaps you should look at Mauricio's post:
http://www.freitasm.com/7962

Nice map tool - you can see if there are 2 degrees sites (or others) in your area.

I noticed that where I live in Auckland I get lowish signal strength (I am in a bit of a dip to be fair). My wife uses Telecom (I am on 2 degrees). She gets quite good strength. Seeing where the Telcom and 2 degrees sites where nearby it makes sense that at our house TC would be a bit better than 2 degrees - but I guess sometimes the opposite would be true. I guess its a bit of an art covering bumpy terrain....

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#580837 13-Feb-2012 13:22

thanks that's a good link - the original post needs to be translated onto google maps to work but this is one click awesome!

it's amazing how well telecom 3g works with about half the number of towers vs voda!!!

robjg63

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#580843 13-Feb-2012 13:29

Yes - I noticed that there seem to be fewer towers when I looked on the Auckland map.
Havent heard anyone complain that they dont have good coverage though.

Perhaps the 850 MHz frequency that Telecom uses as their primary frequency has a bit better coverage on rough terrain? I suppose there was a good reason why they didnt go 900 MHz like 2 degrees and Vodafone?

Hah - I just looked up wikipedia and found this:

"The specifications of XT were chosen to bring it into line with a number of other networks in overseas territories, such as Telstra's Next G (in Australia); furthermore, 850 MHz services can cover greater geographic distances and penetrate buildings more effectively than higher frequencies."

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SaltyNZ

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#580844 13-Feb-2012 13:32

Generally speaking lower frequencies are absorbed less by air, so propagate further. But the main reason they used 850MHz for UMTS was that they had it.

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wongtop

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#580845 13-Feb-2012 13:32

The big difference will be between 850MHz and 2100MHz - the difference between 850MHz and 900MHz will be small. My understanding is that the 2Degrees network in Dunedin will have 3G at 900MHz as well as 2100MHz.

andrewcnz

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#580853 13-Feb-2012 13:45

I am hoping that some sites in Tauranga get the 3G 900 treatment.

Batman

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#580891 13-Feb-2012 15:12

2DegreesCare: Hi thanks for your query.

1) voicemail free? No, it's 20c per call. More details here - http://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/paymonthly/plans

2) if i sign up for 1yr what is the termination fee?

If you’re signed up to a Pay Monthly $29, $39 or $59 Plan on either a 12 or 24 month term and want to cancel your Plan, you’ll need to cover the Pay Monthly Plan charge for any remaining months of your term, up to a maximum of $300. Multiply the value of the plan by the number of months left in the plan (e.g. a $39 plan for 12 months and cancel your plan after 8 months you would pay $39 x 4 = $156).

3) do i expect the performance compared to vodafone:
We're building our own network in Dunedin so it will not be like for like. We're currently optimizing and pleased with the results so far. We hope to go live soon - please stay tuned!

Cheers
^POB

can you confirm the 900MHz tower vs 2100Hz tower and how do i know which tower does which?!

SaltyNZ

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#580896 13-Feb-2012 15:17

joker97:

can you confirm the 900MHz tower vs 2100Hz tower and how do i know which tower does which?!

We use both, and there is no way for you tell which tower is which unless your handset is running radio network test software or similar which will tell you.* Honestly, the best way is as previously suggested: buy a prepay SIM and try it. If coverage is unsuitable, you lost very little.

*But generally speaking the original Tier 1 coverage does not have UMTS 900 - only the new sites.

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#583223 18-Feb-2012 16:00

anyone can tell of experience of 3g speeds in the city area inc roslyn maori hill south dunedin & university?

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#583623 19-Feb-2012 22:59

ok so used wife as guinea pig once i realised the bonuses do not need you to sign up for any terms!

amazingly fast (ok sorry i've lived in oz for a year where things take "business days" to happen ... went to dick smith at 4pm sunday, 5 mins later credit check passed and i was on data zooming ... x hours later in the evening on a sunday my voda number was ported!!!!

WOW

ok the speeds - much better reception than voda everywhere i went. a few places previously only 2g with voda i'm getting H speeds of 2Mbps. a few places where the is ZERO voda i'm getting H with 2d ...

BUT

how do i check my balances? the m.2degreesmobile.co.nz has no option to see balances

TO ALL please note there have been issues going outside of urban centres with difficulty latching on voda roaming but it seems 2d is also aiming at 97% where people live coverage ... so bcos i dont travel much it should be fine ... for now ...

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#583627 19-Feb-2012 23:19

The easiest way to get balances is to dial *100#1# and then press "call". Save it as a contact and favourite it or make a shortcut to it for easy access.

VtechTaka

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#586020 23-Feb-2012 23:36

Frequencies in a nutshell Telecom /2degrees
benefits of 850mhz
850 Mhz travels further requiring less sites to cover areas
reducing capital required for expenditure
drawbacks
less traffic can be transmitted due to the uplink and downlink being contained within the band
causing congestion possibly resulting in network dropoff

2100 mhz on the other hand has a separate uplink and downlink and can hold significantly more traffic volume the 850mhz
It is one of the most widely used frequencies in the western world.
drawbacks
shorter wave penetration requiring more sites to cover areas.

One other thing worth mentioning is that upgrading is alot easier with 2100mhz with less cost which so potentially quicker to market with ultra high speed MBB

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