[3GScottishUser]

Called a friend yesterday on my Nokia 7600. Call dropped 4 times in 10 minutes! Too embarrassing to reuse 3 so used my landline to reconnect and finish the conversation.

Today I called a friend on his Vodafone mobile using 3. Call dropped twice in five minutes.... horrific! Used my Samsung Z500 (on stop the clock) to continue the conversation. Guess what? No call drop, crystal clear speech for more than 20 minutes.

Cor blimey.... I cant wait until I can redeem my cashback and inform 3 to disconnect. Its what they deserve for the appalling network performance. Never mind .... just 2 months to go until I no longer provide 3 UK with undeserved and misleading statistics (ARPU £42/month - I have paid just a fiver and that is more than the T/T600 package is worth).

[cyberkid999]

Called a friend yesterday on my Nokia 7600. Call dropped 4 times in 10 minutes! Too embarrassing to reuse 3 so used my landline to reconnect and finish the conversation.

Today I called a friend on his Vodafone mobile using 3. Call dropped twice in five minutes.... horrific! Used my Samsung Z500 (on stop the clock) to continue the conversation. Guess what? No call drop, crystal clear speech for more than 20 minutes.

Cor blimey.... I cant wait until I can redeem my cashback and inform 3 to disconnect. Its what they deserve for the appalling network performance. Never mind .... just 2 months to go until I no longer provide 3 UK with undeserved and misleading statistics (ARPU £42/month - I have paid just a fiver and that is more than the T/T600 package is worth).

So were you in a bad area then for it to drop so many times or were you mobile. I would have thought by now that you know you could drop a call in a dodgy area so why make a call if your signal is poor. Are you also saying that you dont know how to switch your phone onto O2 or even that you have not had your 7600 factory reset...

[Ben]

Of course, manually switching a handset between bands is something none of us should have to do, especially when in very strong 3G signal like 3GSU is, but alas - when there's a fault it has to be done. I'm assuming the O2 signal is usable, in which case outgoing calls could be made on 2G with a little tinkering each time, but that does not detract from the obviously poor state of Three's network *in that specific area*.

What we do need to take into consideration with Three is that, due to the nature of their rollout being focussed on population-dense areas, each of our experiences may be dramatically different even if we don't live that far apart. We can only really speak for ourselves (and our limited number of friends/relations) and so must be wary of over-generalising comments we make.

[Hypnotic]

I've had a call drop once in my life. You're just unlucky.

[3GScottishUser]

My 7600 is not factory reset. Why should it have to be? The thing should work properly without having to be 'modified'.

I was actually using the handset at home when the calls drop. This is nothing new and its strange as I am not in a fringe area. The 3 mast is just about 1/2 a mile up the road on quite a high spot but the signal here especially indoors is almost unusable. Its not just at home the problem arises as I am still using the Nokia (to try and get some value from my contact minutes).

My Vodafone 3G coverage is borderline, quite weak but useable most of the time (as some here will know as they have been able to participate in videocalling). As far as voice communication is concerned I rarely check now to see what network the handset is using, its not an issue and I dont care really as long as I can have a stable connection for the duration of the call. I have yet to experience a problem with voice calling on the Samsung Z500 and on Vodafone speech is noticably clearer compared to the 7600 or a Motorola on 3. This could have something to do with compression levels being used by different networks. One thing is for sure my contacts can recognise when I use "That cheap phone service" (as some call it).

Over the last few months 3's reception /coverage has improved slightly in my experience but overall I am not convinced that the service is greatly better than it was a year ago. Four handsets on I have decided to draw a line under 3 and consider that I have given them far more opportunity than most customers ever would, I know many who have bought and dumped ThreePay within a couple of months. Its very hard to 'soldier on' with poor voice commmunication these days. bizzarre, but you get used to 'call dropping' and accept it after a while due to the cost savings, but now that others have changed pricing policies (stop the clock etc) there is no longer any need to put up with such unreliable communications services.

I will try an organise a 'spot the difference' call with someone here to see if they can correctly identify which network is carrying a call. Results to follow.

[cyberkid999]

Of course, manually switching a handset between bands is something none of us should have to do, especially when in very strong 3G signal like 3GSU is


if he has got a strong signal then why are calls dropping...... I have never dropped a singal call when I have had a good signal...

[cyberkid999]

I've had a call drop once in my life. You're just unlucky.


well said.....

[cyberkid999]

I was actually using the handset at home when the calls drop. This is nothing new and its strange as I am not in a fringe area. The 3 mast is just about 1/2 a mile up the road on quite a high spot but the signal here especially indoors is almost unusable. Its not just at home the problem arises as I am still using the Nokia (to try and get some value from my contact minutes).



So if the signal is almost unusable why are you moaning when the call drops. What do you expect....

[3GScottishUser]

I was actually using the handset at home when the calls drop. This is nothing new and its strange as I am not in a fringe area. The 3 mast is just about 1/2 a mile up the road on quite a high spot but the signal here especially indoors is almost unusable. Its not just at home the problem arises as I am still using the Nokia (to try and get some value from my contact minutes).

So to clarify....... I am in a primary coverage area and the signal is highly variable. It goes from full signal to nothing and has done this since 2003! I can make a call sitting in my lounge with a good signal strength indication and when it inevitably drops the handset registers a low signal stength or sometimes nothing at all! As stated, this is not confined to calling from home, it happens in many parts of Glasgow and across Scotland when i have been travelling. At £5/month who would complain if the service worked reliably (the line noise, latency and fading one can live with) but the frequency of failure makes the whole experience utterly frustrating. Another separate issue is the 'call failed' message on the Motorola or its equivilent on the Nokia. This appears far too often and I have sometimes had to use my landline at home rather than 3 after viewing this several times in succession. I have spoken to 3 on numerous occasions about this problem and have yet to be provided with a reasonable explanation, even 2nd level support (in Glasgow) have been unable to identify why the problem exists at my Post Code location. 3 themselves know full well when calls fail and drop, or the should do as the same company put an automated credit system in when they ran Orange and its unlikely that they would have inferior systems 10 years on.

So to conclude. In my experience, 3 have a far stronger signal where I live. Its not the strength that appears to be the issue it is its consistancy. Calls drop when a handover takes place between roaming networks, not much one can do about that. Vodafone's 3G transmitter is much further from my house and their 3G signal is variable but quite weak (I only get it in certain rooms and outdoors) but because they have solid GSM coverage and switching is seamless I have yet to experience any difficulties here making or receiving voice calls. Of course its a bit dearer but the last 2 years have convinced me that mobile communications are the same as anything else and 'you get what you pay for'.

[chaslam]

Of course, manually switching a handset between bands is something none of us should have to do, especially when in very strong 3G signal like 3GSU.


Yes but I think that if it means using or not using your phone, then you should do it.

Like Hypnotic, I have only had 1 or 2 dropped calls in my 2 years experience with three. I know you (3GSU) have always have problems with 3 but there must be somthing VERY wrong about the mask or somthing if it drops when you are still in 3G signal! Have you tried to tell them about this issue?


My 7600 is not factory reset. Why should it have to be? The thing should work properly without having to be 'modified'.

Yes but this isnt always with three or the nokia 7600. Oranges 6630 was a nightmare to use and was terrible, all because of the brandings. People found once they put the generic on, it worked much better. Is it not worth giving it a go if it will improve your use or the phone?

[Biohead12]

I'm starting to get along with the Three Network now. Seems to be much more usable with the modern phones.
My A1000 never dropped a call for the best part of 6 months when I decided to sling it for an XDA. OK, there call centre leaves something to be desired but at least I can make a call on 3 now. O2 in my area has suddenly dropped in quality too, ever since it became a 3 3G area, on my XDA IIs you can hardly here the other person on O2.

Of course 3gsu, you can't say three are rubbish until you've had the latest handset and all that. You can't expect an older phone to work the same as a new one. The 7600 is definately starting to age. It's like me saying Windows Vista is always going to be rubbish because I tried one of the early alpha builds. But with every new version it improves. Of course what I'm saying definately does not apply to one of my 3 phones because there is simply no hope for it full stop. NEC e808N. Heheh.

[3GScottishUser]

There comes a point when you have to draw a line under things.

I put up with 2 x NEC e606's, a Motorola a835 (Still have it), Nokia 7600 (Stil have it) and Motorola c975. I dont think I could be accused of not giving 3 a real chance! All 5 have proven to be less than what I consider acceptable for a communications device.

I have a new Samsung Z500 now on Vodafone and its like night and day both in terms of performance and customer service. I have to pay a bit more but I dont mind as contacts can actually hear what I say now and i dont have to keep redialling when calls drop. Just yesterday I tried to use the 7600 to make a call (trying to get some value from the inclusive mins) and after two call drops I threw the thing aside and used the Samsung which performed perfectly (maybe on GSM or 3G - dont know and dont care...it works).

I have used friends LG's (U8110/8120/8138) and a motorola a1000 to make calls and I'm afraid the audio quality 3 provide is just nothing like the clarity offered by Vodafone. I have done my time with 3 for now and will let others sample the 'delights' they offer.

[Ben]

I have used friends LG's (U8110/8120/8138) and a motorola a1000 to make calls and I'm afraid the audio quality 3 provide is just nothing like the clarity offered by Vodafone. I have done my time with 3 for now and will let others sample the 'delights' they offer.
There is that element of network performance that, if affected, wont be cured by a handset. I do agree that the latest handsets help, and it sounds like the Nokia 6680 is generating the most 'happy customers' I've ever observed on Three, but I think you're right in saying they've had their chance with you now. There are definitely issues with the network in your locality that are not typical of Three nationwide, but they've had plenty of time to sort those out.

[cyberkid999]

There comes a point when you have to draw a line under things.

I put up with 2 x NEC e606's, a Motorola a835 (Still have it), Nokia 7600 (Stil have it) and Motorola c975. I dont think I could be accused of not giving 3 a real chance! All 5 have proven to be less than what I consider acceptable for a communications device.



the thing is none of these phones are classed as high end. the NECs are known to be poor. The 7600 is a gimmick. the c975 is a basic low end model and i speak from experince about the a835 as I still have one connected and when compared side by side to my 6630 its very poor and loses signal far more often and takes forever to come back so if you are basing all you theorys on these phones then I can see where you are coming from. but try one of the 'better' phones and you would notice a difference.

[Biohead12]

I've got one of O2's Top of the range handsets yet still continue to get a shocking signal. Surely that counts for something. Ironically, the best two networks where I am is Vodafone and 3 now. No other network comes close.

[Ben]

I've got one of O2's Top of the range handsets yet still continue to get a shocking signal.
O2's footprint is still embarrassingly small. Luckily they have a seamless 3G-2G handover that, while not ideal for video calling with such a small footprint, should allow you to make the most of data and voice services.

Re: cyberkid - I think there reaches a stage where there's an obvious lack of network proficiency. The network up where 3GSU lives uses different hardware to that based in England, and it sounds probable that there are deep seated issues in the area concerned. Obviously those issues are not present everywhere otherwise no one would be using Three. All I can suggest is that you start your own threads documenting your experiences of Three in your specific location in order to strike a balance. All we ask here is for honesty.

On the subject of honesty, we have not pretended that Orange don't have issues. I reported yet another 'missed call' issue today, a calendar year after the first negative experiences I encountered, and can only hope that my co-operation will assist them in becoming better than they are at the moment. Vodafone, however, seem to be offering the most creditable service to date.

I'd like to finish by emphasising this point: Report on your own experience. Do not berate the experiences of others.

[3GScottishUser]

If you examine the facts you will find that the NEC e606 was a top of the range launch handset. The Motorola a835 was also a mid range 3G handset when it was available and shares its electronics with many of the other Mortorola models. The Nokia 7600 was up until a couple of months back the ONLY Nokia 3G handset available. So I have tried three brands of handsets on 3 and all are different generations of products. I now have a Samsung Z500 on Vodafone and it is clearly very different in terms of quality and performance from any of the 3 products i have had experience of.

Every time a new handset arrives many make the mistake of thinking it will be the answer to all the known 3 defficiencies. I doubt it, well not in my case at least as I have experienced much the same performance with all of the handsets i have tried and as stated above it would be silly continuing to pay money for something that I cant use. Onwards and upwards with a functional service for now with Vodafone.

[chaslam]

3GSU, Do you think that in the future, if three do start offering seamless handovers, you will go back to they?

[3GScottishUser]

They cant. The registration process required to use the 02 network can only be initiated when the handset looses its connection with 3's UMTS network and it will always take some time to complete the user authentication etc. The only way 3 can avoid call dropping is to have a very robust signal themselves so handovers are not required, but in my area (as you know) they dont have that so until such times as 3 have similar call retention and reliability as the rest, I wont be tempted to return.

I may look again at 3 at some future date (if they are still around) but for now I am genuinely very pleased with my new Samsung Z500 on Vodafone. I have taken for granted poor audio qulaity and call dropping for so long its a bit of a novelty to go back to a user experience that I guess millions take for granted every day and that I had forgotten existed.

Shortly I will have 02 3G as well as Vodafone 3G and will be on contract with 3 until late October, but I really dont need more than two services and cant justify retaining them all.

[chaslam]

They cant. The registration process required to use the 02 network can only be initiated when the handset looses its connection with 3's UMTS network and it will always take some time to complete the user authentication etc. The only way 3 can avoid call dropping is to have a very robust signal themselves so handovers are not required, but in my area (as you know) they dont have that so until such times as 3 have similar call retention and reliability as the rest, I wont be tempted to return.

I may look again at 3 at some future date (if they are still around) but for now I am genuinely very pleased with my new Samsung Z500 on Vodafone. I have taken for granted poor audio qulaity and call dropping for so long its a bit of a novelty to go back to a user experience that I guess millions take for granted every day and that I had forgotten existed.

Shortly I will have 02 3G as well as Vodafone 3G and will be on contract with 3 until late October, but I really dont need more than two services and cant justify retaining them all.

Yes, I know that. What I am saying is IF they do. They probably wont but I was asking IF there handovers were seemless, would you go back to 3?

[3GScottishUser]

I know they cant so its hypothetical really. But supposing they did I would still like to take a break from them for a while and try out some other services. With 5 different flavours of 3G available in the UK it seems rather blinkered to remain with one particular provider, especially when the experience has been so frustrating.

After October I won't be considering another 3 deal unless something significant in terms of product and service improvment arises. I will definately not be tempted by price ever again and would probably only consider 3 as a secondary facility.

[Ben]

Yes, I know that. What I am saying is IF they do. They probably wont but I was asking IF there handovers were seemless, would you go back to 3?
I'd give them another go IF the handovers were seamless and IF there was open data access with decent pricing. Defo. I hold on to a Threepay to keep 'up' on the state of the network, as so to speak, and it's not too bad here minus the latency.

[cyberkid999]

I'd like to finish by emphasising this point: Report on your own experience. Do not berate the experiences of others.


I was up in Scotland myself the other day on the outskirts of Edinburgh and I held a call for almost 30 minutes whilst in a truck and mobile. I didnt lose the signal until I got down past Pathhead which is hardly a large population area which is what one person reported that you needed to be in a highly populated area or have no signal at all for Three to be of any use. From my experience this is total nonsense and I travel around the country quite a bit. It is however very annoying to hear people moaning about things when they should know better ie the necs were high end phones - yes they were then but its now known they are fault ridden and unrealibale so how can you NOW compare a network when using a crap phone. Get a decent phone and then give us your experience when in a good area instead of somewhere that has poor signal. I could say that quite easily about some networks without going too far away either where the signal is none existant but the Three one is..... I could then say from my experince that T Mobile is crap bu that would be for me and my opinion.

from my experince using quality phones I have never had any problems and never noticed any difference.

[3GScottishUser]

Nokias are quality phones as are Motorolas and neither of those brands have proved much good for me on 3. I have made loads of calls over the last 2 years and 2 months with 3 and am now using a Samsung Z500 on Vodafone. Others here will testify that the quality of voice calls from the Samsung on Vodafone is totally different from making the same call to the same destination with 3. After a lot of consideration I suspect it may be something to do with the infrastructure in Scotland (which is different from the South) and the amount of compression 3 apply to voice calls. Latency is another big problem on 3 for some reason and is very pronounced when using an LG.

One can keep banging on about quality till the cows come home but the fact is even cheap GSM handsets that sell for £39 can often manage better voice call clarity and reliability than 3's supposed upmarket 3G handsets..... and so they should. The point is EVERY handset should be able to do the basic job of voice calling and texting.

Anyway I'll struggle on with my wee Nokia 7600 until October then it'll be sold on e-bay and I'll be back to 2 handsets on 2 netwroks with both GSM + 3G on each.....bliss!

[solo12002]

back to 2 handsets on 2 netwroks with both GSM + 3G on each.....bliss!

One is vodafone whats the other??

[3GScottishUser]

The other will be on 02. I have both GSM and UMTS coverage from both of these networks where I stay plus we also have 2 other integrated networks from T-Mobile UK and Orange. 3 also have their UMTS network available but you know how good that is here!

All told there are 9 networks showing when I do a search where I live.