Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iphone 3G on O2 (UK) a couple of questions

Psyxologos said:
WOW! This was really FAST. Thanks a lot guys, I am much obliged with your help.

I live in a place close to Blackpool (Lytham St Annes) and currently with Orange I get a full 5 bars on 3G. Does the EDGE network refer to o2's own infrastructure? I guess I could easily check coverage by buying an o2 pay as you go card and moving about the house. I do not expect problems though.
Click to expand...

I live in Blackpool and was visiting my parents in LSA this afternoon (near what used to be Guffogs on Headroomgate Road). I was quite happily getting 3G data speeds in the garden, & indoors, and only once dropped down to EDGE speed whilst indoors behind two sets of brick walls.

Call quality was excellent regardless.
 
Brenster said:
I live in Blackpool and was visiting my parents in LSA this afternoon (near what used to be Guffogs on Headroomgate Road). I was quite happily getting 3G data speeds in the garden, & indoors, and only once dropped down to EDGE speed whilst indoors behind two sets of brick walls.

Call quality was excellent regardless.
Click to expand...

That is very reassuring. Thanks a lot mate for this.

Tipsy, thanks for your replies, they are very helpful. I have searched the forums though and was unable to dig out the relevant thread regarding the ring tone. I used several search phrases but no luck. I think I will make a separate thread and endure people's wrath for asking the same question that has already been answered...

EDIT: I found several threads now! Thanks. Do not know what PC demon got in my search terms earlier...
 
Can I ask if what I heard today about Iphone 3G having a much worse signal reception (especially on 3G) is an urban myth or an actual fact? These people are O2 customers for a few years now and insisted that their old phones had much better reception than their new iphones...
 
Psyxologos said:
Can I ask if what I heard today about Iphone 3G having a much worse signal reception (especially on 3G) is an urban myth or an actual fact? These people are O2 customers for a few years now and insisted that their old phones had much better reception than their new iphones...
Click to expand...

3G reception is quite weak. It is fine when outside in central London. As soon as you turn off 3G, reception is actually quite amazing. Better than on the original iPhone.
 
neiltc13 said:
O2's coverage is the worst I've ever seen in the UK. In my house I rarely get above 1 bar out of 5 on my iPhone and everywhere else it's rare to see above 3. EDGE coverage is nonexistent.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Probably something's wrong with your phone. I'd been with Orange for 7 years when the original iPhone came out and I switched to O2. I was quite amazed with the reception.
 
I live in an area which has a really very good O2 signal - both EDGE and 3G. On my old Sony Ericsson phone, I always had a full 3G signal. Now on the iPhone 3G I am lucky to get a 2 bar signal inside. It improves a lot outside, but I would hazard a guess that a future software update might tweak the 3G signal.

With regards to your earlier posts about ringtones, I know you said you already had answers, but by far the easiest way to create a custom ringtone for your new iPhone is to use the Audiko service (http://audiko.net/). You upload any audio file from your computer, clip to the piece you want, add fades etc. and then download the .m4r file straight away (just load this file into iTunes and it will be available as a ringtone after your next sync).
 
zign said:
Probably something's wrong with your phone. I'd been with Orange for 7 years when the original iPhone came out and I switched to O2. I was quite amazed with the reception.
Click to expand...

Well with my 3G now the signal is slightly improved (one bar or so more, probably due to the plastic on the back instead of the metal) but this is GPRS only where I live. O2 really isn't making much of an impact on the country with 3G or EDGE rollout.
 
zign said:
3G reception is quite weak. It is fine when outside in central London. As soon as you turn off 3G, reception is actually quite amazing. Better than on the original iPhone.
Click to expand...


Thanks very much. It sounds odd really though, because I am with Orange and where i live (and in many other places in the UK) I have no troubles at all getting 4 or 5 bars on 3G in my N95. I definitely want the iphone 3G (mainly for the ease of use and the amazing extra on being able to be connected to the internet any time wherever you are for free with the o2 tarrifs) but they are strongly dependent on a decent 3G signal. This is what I fear...

sibruk said:
I live in an area which has a really very good O2 signal - both EDGE and 3G.
Click to expand...

I live in Lytham St Annes (close to Blackpool) and orange has 3-5 bars 3G constant indoors-outdoors. Do providers differ? I was unde the impression they share masts. No?

sibruk said:
On my old Sony Ericsson phone, I always had a full 3G signal. Now on the iPhone 3G I am lucky to get a 2 bar signal inside. It improves a lot outside, but I would hazard a guess that a future software update might tweak the 3G signal.
Click to expand...

Is this possible? It would be great if it is....

sibruk said:
With regards to your earlier posts about ringtones, I know you said you already had answers, but by far the easiest way to create a custom ringtone for your new iPhone is to use the Audiko service (http://audiko.net/). You upload any audio file from your computer, clip to the piece you want, add fades etc. and then download the .m4r file straight away (just load this file into iTunes and it will be available as a ringtone after your next sync).
Click to expand...

This is great info. Thanks a lot!
 
Psyxologos, cellular providers definitely do differ in their coverage! You are correct in that they often do share masts (they lease space off of each other) but not all masts carry a cell for all providers.

And in answer to your other question about software updates delivering signal enhancements - yes, each new release of the iPhone OS comes with a new version of what's called baseband firmware. Basically tweaks and performance enhancements to the radio equipment inside the phone. It is these changes that gives the hacking community so many headaches, because they need to find new methods of unlocking the new baseband firmware.
 
sibruk said:
Psyxologos, cellular providers definitely do differ in their coverage! You are correct in that they often do share masts (they lease space off of each other) but not all masts carry a cell for all providers.

And in answer to your other question about software updates delivering signal enhancements - yes, each new release of the iPhone OS comes with a new version of what's called baseband firmware. Basically tweaks and performance enhancements to the radio equipment inside the phone. It is these changes that gives the hacking community so many headaches, because they need to find new methods of unlocking the new baseband firmware.
Click to expand...

Very concise and clear information. Thanks a lot indeed!
 
I have been indecisive about buying an iphone since launch day. Just when I am about to make the decision and leave orange after 10 years of happy subscription, I read horor stories about 3G reception being non existent in iphone (technical fault some say) some (significant portion) of the time and i put it off.

I am holding still for Tuesday's event and the aftermath of the rumoured release of the 2.1 firmware that allegedly will address the issue of reception. I find it quite difficult to say good bye to 5 bars of 3G constantly in my N95 to get a phone that at best of times has two or three bars of 3G. I am definitely attracted by the internet function in the iphone, I like the ease of interface, I most definitely like the design. But these are not good enough reasons for me to take a step back in technology and get myself a phone that has limited connectivity and crippled bluetooth.

Any idea if the reception issue so profound in the US is as widespread here? I have heard so many things, I do not know what to believe. Some say that the expected firmware upgrade will tackle the 3G reception issue, others say that it is a motherboard issue and people wanting an iphone should wait for the German firm supplying apple with the motherboard to sort the situation out.

As far as the bluetooth problem is concerned, I doubt they will do anything, given the fact that INTENTIONALLY crippled it in the first place. Such a waste of potential. Why cripple the phone to make it less efficient?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back