Not impressed with 3's roaming partner Orange UK

[Dave Keys]

I have been with 3 since May 2004. One of the benefits of 3 was that even where there was no 3G coverage, you could be sure of robust 2G coverage thanks to the roaming agreement with O2.

Now, my phone (Sony W850i) is roaming onto Orange (displays "Orange on screen) and the signal is often much weaker.

Not only that, in order to get connected to the internet, I have to force the phone onto the 2G coverage from O2 for it to work reliably, to the point of it being virtually unusable.

Two questions;

1) Am I the only person who's been having this difficulty

2) Is there any way I can get out of my 12month contract on the basis of this (began in May 07). (A long shot I know!)

Any help/views/comments would be welcome.
Dave

[Neil201]

I've been with them since Sept '05 and am in the same position. Hasn't your phone been enabled and preferred for Orange roaming since earlier this year or have Three only just got round to doing a SIM update (by sending you a text telling you there are network improvements etc etc)?

In answer to your other question, I doubt you'll be able to get out of your contract. I'm giving it a go myself but very much doubt I'll get anywhere! I suppose you don't get if you don't ask!! At a bear minimum, I'm now looking at porting out just before the end of November as I'll only have less than 4 Months remaining and might get some good offers around Christmas on the network I'm looking at moving to.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

[Dave Keys]

I've been with them since Sept '05 and am in the same position. Hasn't your phone been enabled and preferred for Orange roaming since earlier this year or have Three only just got round to doing a SIM update (by sending you a text telling you there are network improvements etc etc)?

In answer to your other question, I doubt you'll be able to get out of your contract. I'm giving it a go myself but very much doubt I'll get anywhere! I suppose you don't get if you don't ask!! At a bear minimum, I'm now looking at porting out just before the end of November as I'll only have less than 4 Months remaining and might get some good offers around Christmas on the network I'm looking at moving to.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Yep please do - although I can't find a network doing what I want for the right price - it seems all networks charge more or less the same these days. I just want to be able to use my internet at the end of the day. The phone will occasionally connect to orange for the internet when it feels like it. No problem with voice calls though.

[Neil201]

Yep, Three are not bad on price for data usage but like you say voice is all fairly similar. VF's Stop The Clock deal, as well as improved network coverage/reliability and seemless 2G/3G changeovers have tempted me towards Vodafone. O2 seem only to want to give me thousands of texts on a SIM only deal which I'll never use!!

[seaniboy]

but msn messenger works roaming on Orange there is a plus point, it doesnt on o2

[Neil201]

but msn messenger works roaming on Orange there is a plus point, it doesnt on o2

It probably used to but Three have now wound up the data roaming with them in anticipation of cancelling their roaming completely.

[sweetice2007]

plus its a bonus ... i have access to edge uing my 3 sim card as it roams on to orange.... but i only have to pay £5 for data bundle..its great

[munkimatt]

i've read that there is a network coverage share coming between 3 and T-Mobile in negotiation.

[snotty]

I thoroughly agree with you. O2 coverage is brilliant but Orange is distinctly iffy. I was with Orange right from launch date and was very happy until I moved to my current address. Since then I get dropped calls in certain areas and a very weak signal at home. When I switched to 3 with O2 coverage I never got a dropped call, but since they've switched to Orange, the same old problem is back again. It's a pity, because otherwise I find 3 to be excellent. I've been with them for over 2 years now and I see no reason to change. Generally I get good coverage and excellent rates, which is all I want. Fortunately I never need to talk to CS in India so no problems!

[Neil201]

I thoroughly agree with you. O2 coverage is brilliant but Orange is distinctly iffy. I was with Orange right from launch date and was very happy until I moved to my current address. Since then I get dropped calls in certain areas and a very weak signal at home. When I switched to 3 with O2 coverage I never got a dropped call, but since they've switched to Orange, the same old problem is back again. It's a pity, because otherwise I find 3 to be excellent. I've been with them for over 2 years now and I see no reason to change. Generally I get good coverage and excellent rates, which is all I want. Fortunately I never need to talk to CS in India so no problems!

I was with Orange back in 1995 when coverage outside major conurbations was non-existant, however then it was accepted as GSM was still an emerging technology. Orange and 3's own 3G coverage at home is fine, it's just in areas I travel where Orange suffers. Fortunately I still have O2 to fall back on to but this is on it's way out soon'ish I think. Three is great for value and like you say, if you never have reason to speak to CS you'll have no problems with them. It's only when you start dealing with CS that you'll realise the issues.

My other concern now too is that as they've effectively stopped completely their own 3G rollout then any areas currenty suffering this 2G/3G handset switching issue (mentioned elsewhere on these forums) or where general coverage is poor are likely not to see any improvement at least in the medium term.

i've read that there is a network coverage share coming between 3 and T-Mobile in negotiation.

This network share only relates to 3G and not GSM roaming. I suspect that it only covers new sites too but you never know, it may also improve coverage in some places for existing H3G customers if they choose to RAN share on selected T-Mobile Node B's where their own coverage is currently poor.

I think RAN sharing is definitely a good idea for the mobile networks in general as it saves them money as well as taking environmental issues in to account. Sadly the one network left without a potential RAN sharing partner is the one that has the worst 3G coverage!

[munkimatt]

I think RAN sharing is definitely a good idea for the mobile networks in general as it saves them money as well as taking environmental issues in to account. Sadly the one network left without a potential RAN sharing partner is the one that has the worst 3G coverage!

I'm quite amazed that O2 haven't got one. There was supposedly discussions between O2 and T-Mobile but seemingly they've broken down and 3 are in the picture now.

To be quite honest, I have no issue with the current agreement between 3 and Orange. 3's own coverage is pretty good round here and Oranges coverage is good as well. In the more rural areas I find the EDGE coverage an absolute godsend.

[a_ukboy]

I too am happy that Three chose Orange, most my family live in South West Surrey, Three don't have 3g coverage there and before they started using Orange i would never get coverage, now i get full coverage. I'm also an ex o2 customer and for me where i travelled too they were appalling with coverage..

[edna_clouds]

I'm not happy at all..:mad: I had great signal from three until last Wednesday at home and now I've got nothing.. I use my phone at home alot or did but now it's totally useless. I live out in the sticks and have no 3g coverage.. I took out my contract in Febuary and was very pleased until this week.. I feel like I was sold a contract wrongly.. I also feel that you should receive the same level of service throghtout your contract. Not at all impressed.. Surely they are not furfilling their part of the contract??? are they? I'm doing my part by paying my monthly tarriff but now I'm paying for a service I'm not receiving..Sooo mad.. No wonder three have got such a bad name throughout forums if this is how they threat their customers..

[Neil201]

I'm not happy at all..:mad: I had great signal from three until last Wednesday at home and now I've got nothing.. I use my phone at home alot or did but now it's totally useless. I live out in the sticks and have no 3g coverage.. I took out my contract in Febuary and was very pleased until this week.. I feel like I was sold a contract wrongly.. I also feel that you should receive the same level of service throghtout your contract. Not at all impressed.. Surely they are not furfilling their part of the contract??? are they? I'm doing my part by paying my monthly tarriff but now I'm paying for a service I'm not receiving..Sooo mad.. No wonder three have got such a bad name throughout forums if this is how they threat their customers..

Were you getting O2 GSM coverage where you were (ie did your phone have the aerial symbol with '3' as the network). This means Three are now obviously starting to remove O2 roaming from people's SIM cards.

[edna_clouds]

Were you getting O2 GSM coverage where you were (ie did your phone have the aerial symbol with '3' as the network). This means Three are now obviously starting to remove O2 roaming from people's SIM cards.

I was getting good coverage on the o2 GSM but now all I can get or can't get is orange.. Had I of known this I would not of signed a 18 month contract with Three as I knew orange was a no go in my area..:mad:

[granary]

Same problem here, I have been a 3 customer for years and while the signal has at times been 'iffy' , since migration to Orange (whatever possessed them to do that?) I now have NO signal at home or work and have to drive literally miles to find one. £'s CEO claimed on this site ( http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/May2006/3040.htm) that existing customers would still be able to roam on O2 - fat chance. Appalling service from 3 and I have NO confidence in the my ability to use my phone unless I am sitting in the middle of Norwich.

[grahamb]

Were you getting O2 GSM coverage where you were (ie did your phone have the aerial symbol with '3' as the network). This means Three are now obviously starting to remove O2 roaming from people's SIM cards.

Apologies for butting in here, but I'm intrigued about the interpretation you've given for the symbols in the top left corner of the phone's display.

I'm experiencing signal strength problems here in the house and believe I'm on '3s' own network at the time with a '3' and a 'G' replacing the aerial symbol with a '3' below that. If I try a manual network selection and choose what I believe to be 'Orange' (shown as 2G/3G 3), once found, the aerial symbol returns and I get near (3/4 bars) full strength signal. Of course, '3' have 'locked' the phone in 'Automatic' network selection, so after seconds...sometimes a few minutes, it locks back onto '3' :(.

Is a detailed explanation documented somewhere, on the various combinations you can get in the top left corner of the display?

Thanks.

[Neil201]

What phone have you got? Some do display a 'G' I think meaning GPRS is present on the network the phone is using. Nokia's tend not to do this, I just get an antenna or 3G symbol on my N73.

I've now not been with Three since last October but would guess that they have now completely dumped the O2 roaming and Orange 2G would appear on handsets as '3' with a non-3G signal? Am I correct here???

[grahamb]

What phone have you got? Some do display a 'G' I think meaning GPRS is present on the network the phone is using. Nokia's tend not to do this, I just get an antenna or 3G symbol on my N73.

I've now not been with Three since last October but would guess that they have now completely dumped the O2 roaming and Orange 2G would appear on handsets as '3' with a non-3G signal? Am I correct here???

It's a Nokia 6288 and according to the manual the 'G' does mean that it is registered to a 'GPRS' or 'EGPRS' or 'WCDMA' network. I also get another 'G' to the right of this (enclosed in a square outline) indicating that 'a packet data connection has been established'. When the phone swaps between '3s' own network and 'Orange', this 'G' has a 'strikethrough', which again according to the book, means the packet data connection is on hold. It returns once it's locked on to the new network.

I'm pretty certain that it's 'Orange' that I roam to as the 'manual network search' displays 'O2 - UK', but selecting this results in 'No network access'.

If '3s' own network is available, the exact listing I get is:-

3G 3
2G/3G 3
2G/3G T-Mobile UK
2G vodafone UK
2G/3G O2 - UK

The second in the list is 'Orange', and when selected, the signal strength is very good...BUT...as soon as '3s' network reaches a certain level, it goes back to that :mad:.

I had a 'follow-up' call from '3s' CS yeterday evening, and after a few minutes the call dropped when the phone swapped networks :rolleyes:. Needless to say, they didn't call back.

I've been with '3' about same time as you - last September - and I'm sure I didn't experience this problem during 2007 - we made some lengthy calls during those 3 months - and they were fine. I believe I've read on here that '3' were phasing out 'o2' as their roaming partner by the the end of 2007.....umm....coincidence that the problems have started to surface in 2008?????

Although I'm not keen to do it - only 6 months into contract - I'm going to ask on here about 'debranding' and others' experiences of doing it. I just want manual network selection to work as it should, and stay on manual.

[quincy]

Voice call handover between 3's 3g and Orange's 2g is *supposed* to be seemless - in practice for me it rarely is but it was never meant to be with 3 -> o2

[Neil201]

I don't want to go against forum rules but without going in to too much detail, I successfully de-branded my N73 when I was still on Three and had it locked to Orange for 3 Months before moving network. The call drop rate reduced significantly and overall coverage was much better. You can't alter the manual/automatic network selection by de-branding as this is set by the SIM but the GSM/UMTS selection menu will re-appear.

[tissot]

I don't want to go against forum rules but without going in to too much detail, I successfully de-branded my N73 when I was still on Three and had it locked to Orange for 3 Months before moving network. The call drop rate reduced significantly and overall coverage was much better. You can't alter the manual/automatic network selection by de-branding as this is set by the SIM but the GSM/UMTS selection menu will re-appear.

i have same situation, though on my debranded SEk610 i can chose 'manual' selection and it seems to be working, however i m not completely sure as usually use gsm mode for stable reception.

[grahamb]

............You can't alter the manual/automatic network selection by de-branding as this is set by the SIM but the GSM/UMTS selection menu will re-appear.

Thanks for that useful info. I didn't know that....just assumed manual/automatic would work once de-branded. Umm...am I correct in assuming GSM/UMTS comes under the menu option 'Network Mode' which is currently locked to 'Dual Mode'?

Confess the more I read on here about the 'de-branding' process - and the possible repurcussions - the more I'm shying away from trying it, especially as I'm only 6 months into the contract. I might have a stab at writing to the 'Executive Office' of '3' and explain the unsatisfactory operation I'm experiencing. You never know until you at least try asking ;).

[peterkinxl5]

I'm surprised so many of you are having difficulty with Three now it has switched roaming partners from o2 to Orange. In my experience Three has vastly improved since switching to Orange On o2 I could be fairly certain of a dropped call in every 4 or so. With the switch to Orange this has improved markedly to about 8. I'm interested to find out where the problems are.

[grahamb]

I'm surprised so many of you are having difficulty with Three now it has switched roaming partners from o2 to Orange. In my experience Three has vastly improved since switching to Orange On o2 I could be fairly certain of a dropped call in every 4 or so. With the switch to Orange this has improved markedly to about 8. I'm interested to find out where the problems are.

For me I think it's a case of just able to get a signal - 99% of the time just 1 bar strength - whilst in the house, and although this just allows for a connnection, it must momentarily disappear (more power to maintain the connection), hence the dropped calls. As I mentioned before, when I manually select 'Orange', the strength of signal is superb, but certainly in 'standby mode', the phone some minutes or even seconds later finds the much weaker '3' network and of course changes back. I have rarely seen it happen in reverse - change from '3' to 'Orange' - of its own accord. Understandable of course, seeing as '3' would have to pay whilst using their roaming partner, but very frustrating from a user's perspective :(.

Must admit I was under the impression like some others that the changeover should occur 'seamlessly', similar to when changing cells whilst travelling with maybe a momentary break in the connection, but not enough to cause it to be dropped.

[Neil201]

I'm surprised so many of you are having difficulty with Three now it has switched roaming partners from o2 to Orange. In my experience Three has vastly improved since switching to Orange On o2 I could be fairly certain of a dropped call in every 4 or so. With the switch to Orange this has improved markedly to about 8. I'm interested to find out where the problems are.

Holmfirth and New Mill in West Yorkshire were always problematic areas on Orange rather than O2. It may be in your part of the world Orange has had higher investment than O2 but overall I'd always say GSM900 networks in the UK have the best coverage over GSM1800 ones. I also find that Orange suffered with more interference than did O2 on high ground, whether this is due to O2's network planning or more spectrum being licenced to them than Orange I'm not sure?

[peterkinxl5]

I'm not an expert as to why this may be but in my experience networks like O2 running at 900mhz almost invariably had better indoor coverage than those running at 1800mhz such as Orange. What also tends to happen is where Orange has microcelled areas such as City Centres like Wolverhampton then capacity and call quality is above those 900mhz networks like o2. Swings and roundabous but sadly with losers as well as winners.

[quincy]

doesn't 900 have a bigger range in rural areas too or was that just in the early days (Orange/TMobile = PCN)