Mobile phone networks

[George38]

I am trying to find out which mobile phone network has the best national coverage. I have googled every combination of relevant search words, without success. Does anyone know of a website that covers every operator......or even most of the big names?

[ChuckFickens]

Can't help with the website....

But when you say most of the big names....you only have 4 to think about

orange
o2
t-mobile
vodafone

all the others simply rent space on the network from one of the above and all the above have coverage maps on their sites

[George38]

Thanks for the prompt reply chuck, trouble is that only the Orange site shows a map showing the whole country whereas the other three ask you to key in a post code to show coverage in that small area.
I travel extensively and would have to key in hundreds of post codes to give me the same information as a country-wide map!
I'm somewhat surprised that this kind of info isn't readily available to anyone who wants to make a judicious choice as to which service provider gives the widest coverage!!

[legendis.god]

george when i drove for business reasons in scotland the coverage varied between network providers.

when i went north of aberdeen the works orange mobile got good vcoverage whereas my vodaphone wasnt as good.

i also had a 3 phone which could vary greatly too.

so depends exactly where in the uk you would use it most
you wont ever , i dont think get 1 network that will be the best everywhere and also i believe that the type of phone you have can also play a part in the reception too.
id ask in your local mobile phone shop maybe phones4u see if they have any literature or usually they have maps coloured in.

remember coverage is usually measured on population coverage rather than actual area.

hope thats some help

[scaniavabis]

legend is very correct. coverage is based on population not area so when they say they have 99% coverage they mean about 70% of the area.

3mobile shows full coverage in my post code you there is no signal. The same postcode at the other end of the road has got nearly a full signal so a map or even a post code doesn't help you.

Best idea to save wasting money, borrow a phone or invite friends round to yours and check out their signals

[scaniavabis]

sorry George, just re-read the question and realised you're looking for best coverage while out and about. I have trucks that go all over the UK. There's nothing in any of networks, I'm currently with Orange and it's just as good as any of the other big 3, all of which I've had in the past. Stickk with the big 4 though, the others aren't really up to it.

[Fitzer]

Hmmm, map mobile coverage uk, throws up various results, about number 6 on the list is this http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/busi ness/sectors/wireless/gsmcoverage.html no idea how up-to-date it is but it certainly does what you want

[happy_face]

I've been with Orange, T-mobile and now currently 3.

3 is definitely the worst I've ever come across. I've had some problems with Orange as well (in London of all places). T-mobile is the network I've personally never had any probs with. I've been in tunnels and basements and T-mobile still worked

[George38]

Thanks Fitzer, the link to ordnance survey is exactly what I was looking for! Interesting to note though, that % coverage by population isn't the same as % coverage by area!! I read somewhere a while ago that the government was thinking of forcing the major operators to share their aerial masts to halt the proliferation of same! Pity it hasn't come to anything so far!!!!