yeap, they all say limited coverage!

Is this the one you used?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rootmetrics

Been with 3 now since they first started up in the UK.

I initially had endless problems with dropped calls and poor data coverage, but over the last few years this has largely ceased to be a problem.

I haven't had a contract for some time now and currently have the One Plan on a 30 day rolling contract. This gives me pretty much unlimited data / calls and means my bill rarely varies from the base price of the deal.

I did recently look at alternatives to 3, but everyone I tried didn't come near, in terms of price / data caps etc. I nearly signed up with Virgin mobile, before finding out at the last minute that their Unlimited data is actually capped and does not allow tethering. As far as I can make out 3 are the only network provider currently offering truly unlimited data.

Is this the one you used?

https://play.google....com.rootmetrics

thank. downloaded and ran this. - only results from my area displayed are O2 and all score only 1 star, does this mean that no other carrier has any signal?

although phone is, as usual showing no signal and is unable to make calls the app reports -69dBm.

this is goobldy **** to me i'm afraid - but does this maybe mean that there is a signal but my phone is rubbing (which I have long suspected) HTC Wildfire S on Tesco moblie (piggybacks on o2)

No other networks means no other results.

The more people who use it and run tests the better it'll become.

Best suggestion is get a £1 or Free payg sim on three pop it in your phone and see how you get on before you make your mind up

Another thing to bear in mind (now) as far as fast data networks go.

Three and O2 are currently the only two networks that support DC-HSPA which gives a decent boost in speed to almost 4g levels and all it needs is a compatible phone (currently iphone5, Nexus4, nokia lumina etc)

Three also have a deal with EE to share their 4g network, although this isnt likely to go live until the latter half of this year.

Just checked my current data usage...

The uTorrent was downloading a new ROM for my phone - and it was complete in less than 30 minutes!

I've been on Three for 2 years and I've been quite impressed with the coverage. Just having 3G everywhere, but like all networks it has it's bad spots and black spots due to signal but I'm impressed how it works. It's just brilliant. This is just outdoors though but indoors I find some houses, buildings, places have limitations to the service like the internet is awful or doesn't work but calls and texts will. It's weird when it says 3G though haha. The customer service have always been polite to me and so have I back which helped and I've only had to contact them to upgrade my contract of course and beg them for a really cheaper deal than normal  . I won't be changing networks so soon  :clap:  Oh and I don't see the point in going in the shops as they're only there for sales! So no point at all unless I want to play on the new live devices and end up taking one out lol I don't though but it's sooo tempting!!! Argh but I'm happy with my iPhone 6 Plus on 3  :p But what I do find is that some of the staff are helpful than others in the shops.  :|  :peek: 

Edited 13 June, 201511 yr by DanRHTHO

Another thing to bear in mind (now) as far as fast data networks go.

Three and O2 are currently the only two networks that support DC-HSPA which gives a decent boost in speed to almost 4g levels and all it needs is a compatible phone (currently iphone5, Nexus4, nokia lumina etc)

Three also have a deal with EE to share their 4g network, although this isnt likely to go live until the latter half of this year

 

Doesn't EE/Orange do this now?

Another thing to bear in mind (now) as far as fast data networks go.

Three and O2 are currently the only two networks that support DC-HSPA which gives a decent boost in speed to almost 4g levels and all it needs is a compatible phone (currently iphone5, Nexus4, nokia lumina etc)

Three also have a deal with EE to share their 4g network, although this isnt likely to go live until the latter half of this year.

Doesn't EE/Orange do this now?

I've now been with Three for quiet a few years.

 

I did my last upgrade in store, from an iPhone 5 to iPhone 6, the store staff have access to the same tools used by the remote CS team. I was able to negotiate a pretty good deal, and got an iPhone 6 64GB for nothing upfront, on the standard tariff with 600mins, all you can eat data etc and 2000 3 to 3 mins each month.

I got rid of home phone and moved to 3 some time ago.Signal maps show great- actual usage is crap. 3 can't explain WHY.

Doesn't EE/Orange do this now?

There are now in effect 2 networks, mbnl operate the 3/EE network and the other one is used by Vodafone /O2.

I've been with three a while now too. Due to upgrade in August but not sure what I'll do. Network is OK and where I can't get signal I can usually use WiFi to text and call. Prices seem to have risen sharply too. I'm paying £34 a month for unlimited data/texts/calls but it looks like I will have to lay considerably more this time around with a decent phone.

I've been with three a while now too. Due to upgrade in August but not sure what I'll do. Network is OK and where I can't get signal I can usually use WiFi to text and call. Prices seem to have risen sharply too. I'm paying £34 a month for unlimited data/texts/calls but it looks like I will have to lay considerably more this time around with a decent phone.

 

 

Chris I guess you are on the One Plan, thats been discontinued and they are moving existing customers slowly off the plan as contracts expire.  So in August they will offer you a close alternative or your PAC code to go elsewhere, if you do nothing then you'll transfer automatically to the new tariff. Mine is the closest I could get to the one plan whilst keeping the costs reasonable as I only need unlimited data.

 

One thing I do like about 3 is the "Feel at Home" part of their offering, essentially my tariff works in most european countries. So in France and Spain for example, any calls come out of my allowance as usual and are not charged. Same with data, although capped at 25GB IIRC for all you can eat contracts.

http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Phones/Feel_At_Home

 

I could never manage without a home phone, the internet is so much more reliable for speed plus will keep on working even if the mobile network has issues with masts etc.

I'm still very pleased with Three.

 

Coverage is good. No better or worse than any other network. There are always going to be some black spots but on the rare occurrence I have experienced this it is all mobile coverage that's affected not just Three.

 

The difference with Three is that often friends who are on O2 or Vodafone who have signal but only have 2G while I have 3G.

 

4G is also blisteringly fast. I was sat in a park in London the other day and so I decided to download a film from google play store I had previously purchased. It was 1.3GB and was downloaded in just under 5 minutes!

 

I've also been making use of my 4GB tethering allowance.

 

I'm going to Italy next month too so will get to use my allowance (as above) which is a real big plus. Just hoping they add Germany at some point as we make regular trips to see family and it would be great not to have to swap over to the German sim anymore.

 

No other network gets close to what Three offer at the moment. I couldn't find anyone else offering unlimited 4G data for a start... and definitely not for £15 a month!

I have 3 on my iPad mini. Very pleasd with it and reasonably priced for data.

I pay Three, £8 monthly for 5GB mobile broadband, using MiFi, reduced from £15.99 as a long standing customer.

 

I use the Three 3p 2p 1p payg for my phone. Cheapest payg by far, I think. (I do not have a smartphone yet, prehistoric K800i).

 

Would definitely recommend.

 

Also, I'm sure it's free to call customer services (may stand corrected ?).

 

As a few say though, try before you buy, and this will save you any disappointment or hassle!

Edited 14 June, 201511 yr by Tilt

Currently 4g coverage areas are few and far between though

Currently 4g coverage areas are few and far between though

 

3G is still pretty quick.

 

I live in a 4G area, when I visit my mum (west Yorkshire) that's all 4G and the whole of London has 4G when I go down with work. Suits me fine.

 

I just see it as a bonus... which is how Three sell it.

 

Phil

just spent 4 days with no coverage at all, but there was none on my work vodafone either

There are now in effect 2 networks, mbnl operate the 3/EE network and the other one is used by Vodafone /O2.

 

While this might be true (don't know if it is or not), Vodafone/O2 don't use all the network. There are areas near me which have been covered by O2 for years but still Vodafone don't cover them, and the same the other way round. I get good Vodafone signal in my house, but O2 is non existent.

It's true but the Vodafone o2 deal is much more recent than MBNL and is still being rolled out. In some areas O2 move on to the Vodafone network, in other areas the other way around. In the East of Scotland they moved on to O2, in the west they moved to Vodafone.

I used to have great Vodafone signal but now have to use a sure signal box.

 

Here's MBNL web site for you http://mbnl.co.uk/  and here's the Vodafone deal http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2012/11/20/better-coverage-fewer-masts-your-complete-guide-to-our-network-joint-venture/