topic Re: My feelings about O2 reception in Discussions & Feedback

My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 11:19:13 GMT

I have just joined the forum today as I was interested to see what other people think about O2's reception around the country. My own experience is that it's very variable even when I'm in a city when I think 'surely I must get a signal here.'

At least a voice call connects more times than not, but internet access is pretty abysmal most places. This generally doesn't connect. I carry a Three mifi dongle with me and use this to connect to the internet if I'm not able to join to a landline broadband.

What bugs me are the texts telling me about the services I could use. Well I can't if I don't have a signal.

They can supply me with cinema and concert tickets. If I want these I'll go to a cinema or theatre. I don't go to a cinema to buy a phone, I go to a phone provider. Perhaps if they concentrated on their core business a bit more I might actually get a better service for the money I am paying. They are telling me about 4G now. I wont hold my breadth. After all these years of not be able to make 3G work I can't see them getting 4G to work in a few months.

I am unfortunately tied to O2 until December but then I'll be free to leave and then, dare I say it, my smart phone may actually appear to be smart.

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Bambino — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 11:30:32 GMT

You can go into your MY O2 account and opt out of receiving text messages. O2 are in the process of rolling out 4G, so it will still be a while before it's available everywhere, but they are aiming for 98% coverage and are hoping to achieve that by 2015, although they have until 2017, I believe.

You are free to take your business wherever you want once your contract expires, but before you go, you should check what kind of coverage the other networks will provide in the areas you frequent the most, i.e. home and work. You can pick up a few Pay & Go sims from the other networks and try them. Make sure your phone is unlocked before you do.

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

adamtemp64 — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 11:37:41 GMT

As part of the 4g rollout all base equipment is upgraded thus 2g and 3g will improve at the same time. (2g and 3g required for voice as 4g is data only).

http://www.o2.co.uk/network/future some info out of date but most is vaild i.e. o2 got the 800mhz 4g coverage obligation lot that gurantees the network must be 98% indoor coverage and not the 90% outdoor coverage it is now on 3g (ofcom rules)

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 13:39:41 GMT

I'm shocked at the signal O2 now provides... I have been with them for just about 10 years now, and I used to get great 3G at my registered address and most places... I don't live in a big city but i also don't live in the sticks either... So i don't understand why 3G is no more...

I asked O2 what happen and i get the responses "3g was never in your area as per coverage map..." "Engineer is working on it right now...". I got fed up with the BS and wrote a letter of complaint as data was my biggest problem but they kept trying to push the tugo app at me which is not the resolution to my data problem... I then got a reply telling me they were willing to drop my tariff by 10quid (to stop me going any further) and that i could keep same allowance inc. Data... now that my tariff is lower I plan to pay it off mid year and move since my contract originally ends in Jan 15' and i can't wait that long to get a better service.

It's a shame because o2 used to be my fave but i now see that their 3g service is actually low for odd reasons and yet they hope to obtain 99 coverage for 4g? Aye right!!!

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

adamtemp64 — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 13:52:05 GMT

They are not aiming for 98% they have to and the only network that has to. And that extends to 2g and 3g yes ofcom say it must be 98% by end 2017 yet o2 are aiming for end 2015 and are apparently 6 weeks ahead of schedule pre xmas rollout.

This ofcom pdf proves it is 2g 3g and 4g frequencies for the coverage obligation lot http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/award-800mhz/statement/4GCov-verification.pdf

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 15:20:15 GMT

Either way... I cannae wait to jump ship... It's not feasible for me to have a smartphone on a provider that cannot provide properly... The provider I will be moving to even provides 3G in the most obscure places that O2 can't. I also came across this 3G issue in Glasgow which is useless and shocking for a big city.

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 15:27:45 GMT

Good luck with whichever provider you choose

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Bambino — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 15:29:15 GMT

You're free to move to whichever provider you want to. No one is forcing you to stay.

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 15:39:27 GMT

Hi Contractor and welcome to the Community. We are all customers here helping other customers.

I won't repeat much of what has already been said. However most of the networks are currently reviewing and updating the numbers of base stations as the new technology allows signal to travel further. EE who own Orange and TMobile are reducing the number of base stations and as they continue this process there are winners and losers. O2 and Vodafone created Cornerstone where they are sharing base stations. As this project continues, combined with the requirement to improve 2g 3g and introduce 4g signal will improve across the country.

It should also be noted that networks are struggling to handle the amount of data in particular that is being sent over the air hence 4g roll out.

I myself left Vodafone as I was having similar issues with them as you report here.

The industry is changing and I suspect in two years signal will be vastly improved across the country.

Ultimately it is up to you though but PLEASE heed the advice and try out other networks via free sims on the areas you use your phone most. DO NOT RELY ON WEBSITE COVERAGE CHECKERS.

Please let us know how you get on.

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 16:19:27 GMT

Thank you to all who have given advice above.

It's good advice to try it first on a PAYG. I didn't do that, I took it because I liked the deal but in hindsight a good deal for a poor signal isn't such a good deal.

I live in County Durham and as I write this I have an 'E' signal which I believe equates to 2.5G. For a test I am trying to open Apple maps. The wizzy thing is wizzing around but unfortunately no map.

I travel on business to Coventry/Banbury/Oxford and you're right to say don't believe the coverage map. It says good signal down there, I know it isn't.

I remain sceptical about the future promise for 4G. I looked at the verification statement given by adamtemp64, thank you, and it's hard reading. Ther are a lot of if this, if that, measured here or there at this frequency over this type of terrain with population data from here. It's obviously not something most people can justify themselves and so we have to trust the phone companies. I don't think so.

So as you all say verify the others first because the grass might not be greener. I accept that and I will do more research than I did this time.

Thank you

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 16:25:11 GMT

Hi Contractor.

I myself was in Coventry over Christmas and I was able to connect to awesome 4g on my s4 with no problem. I also had no issue with signal across the Coventry Warwick Leamington area.

Could it be an issue with your phone or sim? Before you rush to jump ship I would check that out first because if Coventry was causing you a problem then I would have to counter that thought.

(Not saying you are wrong though, you were there with your phone and had the issues and I fully appreciate that).

Try a free sim swap first. Easiest to do at your local o2 shop who will do it for you.

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 17:07:10 GMT

Always find it funny when folk say "you are free to change supplier as no one is forcing you to stay..." For some reason talking about poor service on a forum equates to this poor generic response from a non reprasentative when in actual fact we are just stating our experience and in no way hoping this comes across as a threat... But guess that's the internet for you!

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 17:15:38 GMT

Hi Sherlocked

Thank you for your post. When we say people are free to choose we don't take the post as a threat. Some areas are better served by other operators. That is the same across the country.

If the areas a person uses most are not covered by a good o2 signal but one of the other 4 networks do offer a better signal then the customer must make a choice as to their chosen network.

We know o2 don't cover everywhere but neither do the rest. But no one wants customers to be unhappy either.

Thank you for your post though. Very helpful

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 17:26:04 GMT

This is why it pains me a little because my coverage 3G wise was amazing for my time with O2 but I'm miffed as to what has caused the decline in signal in my usual areas I visit (non-rural). I used to praise O2 to the hills but it is a shame to have to leave... Luckily I have opted for sim-free phones recently which means taking a 30 day rolling contract with another provider will be better in case a repeat happens where a switch is called for again. Was just interested to hear other opinions on their signal decline. Cheers again

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 17:28:22 GMT

You are very welcome.

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Bambino — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 17:43:47 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Always find it funny when folk say "you are free to change supplier as no one is forcing you to stay..." For some reason talking about poor service on a forum equates to this poor generic response from a non reprasentative when in actual fact we are just stating our experience and in no way hoping this comes across as a threat... But guess that's the internet for you!

Really? Is that why you said, and I quote 'Either way... I cannae wait to jump ship'?

You can state your experience or threaten or not threaten as much as you like here. Most of the time, people who are happy with the service don't come to the forum. This one or any other.

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 17:53:37 GMT

Bambino is correct. Most people go to the forums of they have a problem. Only occasionally do they post on here their good experiences.

Ultimately we all have a choice. There is alot of change happening at the moment especially with EE decommissioning duplicated sites and o2 / Vodafonethrough the Cornerstone project now sharing many masts. There are many more changes still to come but as has been reported elsewhere o2 are the only operator required to reach 98% of the population not just with 4g but with 2g and 3g as well by 2017 although o2 have committed to reach this by 2015 a full 2 years early.

It is up to you if you want to wait or jump ship.

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 18:27:04 GMT

That's laughable...lol...

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 20:13:08 GMT

I agree 100%, I have 2 personal phones and 1 business phone on O2, all what I get in most of the UK especially big cities is GPRS, shame on you O2.

Re: My feelings about O2 reception

a_hcir — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 23:15:48 GMT

I'm a recent refugee from virgin mobile who use the ee network. The first thing I noticed was that the call quality is so much better on o2, both in the city where I live and in the rural industrial estate where I work - even at home where phone insists the signal is stronger on virgin, the o2 call quality is hugely better. Ee turned off a mast where I work and the only real options for me were the old 900MHz networks.

The data isn't as fast as on virgin/ee, but is a lot more consistent - I can get quick 3g data whilst motoring around the city, whereas on virgin using 3g data on the move was extremely spotty.