Does O2 actually have a 3G network? :eek:

[johnnyjibbs]

Hi there,

The one major problem I have been having since upgrading to my iPhone 3G (from an existing non-iPhone contract) is poor data coverage.

I'm living and working in London, and so expected to have good 3G coverage, but I've never once managed to get 3G network so far - not in Park Royal where I live, Liverpool St/Brick Lane last night where I went for a few drinks or in Notting Hill/Ladbroke Grove where I work. I really would have thought that one of those would have had at least some 3G coverage.

Not only that, but I'm also struggling to get EDGE network and am sometimes falling back on the slowest type of data network (shown as a small dot in a blue box next to the O2-UK and signal strength info). Occasionally, I have O2-UK and can make calls, but the phone cannot access data.

I'm currently on wi-fi in my house but I can't get Visual Voicemail either - but I've just read that this may be because it requires at least EDGE data network (excluding wi-fi).

Has anyone else had any issues with this? I've always been on O2 and my previous phone (a Sony Ericsson K850i) had 3G (although I wouldn't know if it actually received it).

I don't believe that the phone could be faulty but has anyone else been having any issues? Is it anything to do with O2 having problems with its network while trying to deal with all the new iPhone activations (seems very unlikely).

I'm an existing customer who transferred their SIM, remember, so I am not waiting for O2 to activate me.

Many thanks in advance.

John

 

[poolish]

where i am at the mo, there is no 3g, however my dad and sisters blackberrys pick up EDGE i think, but my iphone will only pick up GPRS (blue with white dot)... hmm..

 

[dalvin200]

O2 probably has a better 3G network than it's EDGE network

Check the O2 Coverage Map for more info

 

[eggplant]

Their 3G network covers most (if not all) of London, my home too supposedly though I think O2 still need to upgrade my contract to allow me to connect to the 3G network.

 

[JD92]

I think O2 got in trouble from Ofcom for having crappy 3G coveragea few months back, so maybe they're still trying to sort out their coverage.

Hope they get HSDPA sorted soon.

 

[netdog]

I'm not impressed with the 3G speeds I was getting today in Maida Vale.

 

[nathanj.massey]

As you can see from O2's coverage map, 3G coverage is pretty sparse. I was suprised when I saw this, I thought 3G was much more widespread than it is.

Also, O2 got a telling off from Ofcom in February for not meeting coverage targets.

 

[alFR]

I'm an existing customer who transferred their SIM, remember, so I am not waiting for O2 to activate me.

Check to make sure your SIM is a 3G one - it tells you how to do this in the help section on the O2 site.

 

[Applespider]

If you're on Wifi, you won't get an 3G logo in the menu bar.

I've noticed more 3G symbols than I got on my old N73 which kept falling back to EDGE. And have happily been able to go online and check stuff today while out with pals which wouldn't have been able to do easily before.

 

[UKmacman]

Also near camden here and I have full bars but a white square with a dot in the middle. Phone has just been activated and can hardly open a web page. What the?

Website says I am in a strong coverage area. Do they have to turn 3g on or something?

 

[yogamonkey]

I'm in deepest darkest Essex and have been amazed at the almost constant 3G coverage. I hardly ever had access to Edge on my 1st gen iPhone. Maybe it's that the phone has better reception now, or 3G has been improved but I'm really happy with it.

 

[CarlmUK]

It sounds as if you have no data connections at all gprs/edge/3G . I had this with mine, I called O2 and she told me to goto settings and reset all settings. I did and it worked suddenly 3G starting working.

Making sure you have the latest firmware might help too.

 

[monkeygadge]

I've got constant 3G tested at 907 kbs. Relates to previous Touch Dual on O2's HSDPA network getting average of 1100 kbs. Not bad.

 

[UKmacman]

Just reset the settings and I have the latest settings but still no 3g!!!

 

[johnnyjibbs]

Check to make sure your SIM is a 3G one - it tells you how to do this in the help section on the O2 site.

This could be it. Guess I'll have to check with the o2 shop.

It sounds as if you have no data connections at all gprs/edge/3G . I had this with mine, I called O2 and she told me to goto settings and reset all settings. I did and it worked suddenly 3G starting working.

Making sure you have the latest firmware might help too.

I could try that. But would that erase all my texts etc? In iTunes it says my phone I'd up to date.

 

[trashmac]

crappy 3G coverage in southwark

Very interesting to see this thread...

I was happy with the EDGE coverage at home on my v1 iphone however I can't get any 3G coverage at home (it shows the 3G indicator but the signal strength is really low). The result of this is that I get lots of missed calls and error messages (lost your default network or somesuch) as it does not switch to EDGE very easily. I could turn off 3G but then what's the point...

I'm going to see what it's like over the next week around london but currently not happy...

 

[CarlmUK]

Yeh i was worried that reset all setting would lose my saved data but it only erases settings. Network config, icon arrangement, background picture etc...

So i still have all my sms's, call history, email etc...

the 02 lady said to use reset all while i was on the phone, I did also see reset network settings might be worth trying that first if you dont want to loose all your settings.

As for the firmware version mine said upto date, when i pressed restore in itunes it downloaded a newer firmware version.

If i go to Settings > General > About my version says 2.0 (5A347)

 

[OS X Dude]

Making sure you have the latest firmware might help too.

The 3G iPhone has firmware 2.0 preloaded anyway

 

[CarlmUK]

It has an old version pre-loaded

 

[OS X Dude]

It has an old version pre-loaded

haha lol. An old version of 2.0 - 1.999999 recurring perhaps

 

[eggplant]

Make sure 3G is enabled in Settings > General > Network > Enable 3G

 

[Ori]

haha lol. An old version of 2.0 - 1.999999 recurring perhaps

Ermmm...it is preloaded with a previous version of 2.0. Hitting restore on itunes downloads the latest build version. (ends with a 7 and not a 5)

I just did it in the hope of improving my battery life.

 

[Akaal]

Ive only 3 bars max for 3G, mostly its on 2 bars, this is quite bad!

 

[entwife]

As you can see from O2's coverage map, 3G coverage is pretty sparse. I was suprised when I saw this, I thought 3G was much more widespread than it is.

Also, O2 got a telling off from Ofcom in February for not meeting coverage targets.

yeah o2 has worse 3g covergae in the UK by a mile, roughly 81%

 

[CarlmUK]

haha lol. An old version of 2.0 - 1.999999 recurring perhaps

As Ori said its a newer build of version 2.0.

Few seconds of research would have stopped you looking silly there