Dodgy mobile 3G reception in Calwell.

Being olde and technically challenged, I have checked out http://maps.spench.net/rf, but apart from indicating that there are transmitters within walking distance of my home and work, I am unable to relate this info with my apalling (Vodaphone) reception.

Do the numbers indicate the transmitter power? Do the various colours indicate the transmitter users?

Becoming really fed up with having to walk outside for any calls – and it seems to be getting worse!

Telstra is not an option. I loathe them more than politicians.

Can a wise person advise how to reset the iphone to 2G?

I am really becoming desperate.

Optus 3G in West Macgregor is a disgrace, I have one postage stamp sized area in my yard that I stand in to get any reception at all..When i get to work in Barton there is very little Optus 3G coverage there as well..

linger said :

Deref said :

Absolutely. You should be able to switch your phone from 3G to 2G and be amazed at the improvement. You can always switch back to 3G if you need data.

if i do switch to 2G, will i still be able to use my telstra wifi for internet?

Yes. The WiFi connection is independent of the cellular connection.

MightyJoe said :

Agreed, but apart from calls, the iphone is a data chugging device is it not? you try webbing / emailing from an iphone in 2G.

I’ve tried. That’s why I’m with Telstra now. But that wasn’t your original assertion. And being a data-using device is hardly unique to the iPhone. Really, what you meant is “I want reasonable speed mobile data which needs 3G”. In which case, yes, of course it sucks not to have it.

MightyJoe said :

Agreed, but apart from calls, the iphone is a data chugging device is it not? you try webbing / emailing from an iphone in 2G.

Spectra said :

MightyJoe said :

pity I have/had an iphone which needs 3G.
Oh and forgot to add, agreed with the Telstra comment.

Get what you pay for, but even a grumpy service bugger like me can’t fault Telstra’s network.

No it doesn’t. Not even Apple are crazy enough to release a phone that doesn’t work with standard GSM/GPRS.

As for the larger problem, I ditched Optus’ network (via Virgin) in favour of Telstra a few months ago. A shade more expensive, but there’s now no question in my mind that you get what you pay for.

Agreed, but apart from calls, the iphone is a data chugging device is it not? you try webbing / emailing from an iphone in 2G.

Spectra said :

MightyJoe said :

pity I have/had an iphone which needs 3G.

No it doesn’t. Not even Apple are crazy enough to release a phone that doesn’t work with standard GSM/GPRS.

As for the larger problem, I ditched Optus’ network (via Virgin) in favour of Telstra a few months ago. A shade more expensive, but there’s now no question in my mind that you get what you pay for.

linger said :

Deref said :

Spectra said :

MightyJoe said :

pity I have/had an iphone which needs 3G.

No it doesn’t. Not even Apple are crazy enough to release a phone that doesn’t work with standard GSM/GPRS.

Absolutely. You should be able to switch your phone from 3G to 2G and be amazed at the improvement. You can always switch back to 3G if you need data.

if i do switch to 2G, will i still be able to use my telstra wifi for internet?

No, for Internet connection you need 3G. But if you’re not using the Internet connection you can switch to 2G to get better phone reception and switch back to 3G when you need data.

G…I an surprised to hear others complaining about poor service/reception.

http://www.tio.com.au/

i can recommend having a look at http://maps.spench.net/rf – get an idea of which mobile towers are near your house, what 3G frequencies they operate on (generally optus/vf ~2100MHz, vf/telstra – ~850MHz), and what direction they face. This will let you guess how good the coverage is at your house. We live in Crace and Telstra is the only option for us, as the optus/vf transmitters on Crace Hill point at Palmerston, Mitchell and Giralang. Armed with this info, vodafone let us off the last 18months of our new 2 year contracts

Deref said :

Spectra said :

MightyJoe said :

pity I have/had an iphone which needs 3G.

No it doesn’t. Not even Apple are crazy enough to release a phone that doesn’t work with standard GSM/GPRS.

Absolutely. You should be able to switch your phone from 3G to 2G and be amazed at the improvement. You can always switch back to 3G if you need data.

if i do switch to 2G, will i still be able to use my telstra wifi for internet?

Spectra said :

MightyJoe said :

pity I have/had an iphone which needs 3G.

No it doesn’t. Not even Apple are crazy enough to release a phone that doesn’t work with standard GSM/GPRS.

Absolutely. You should be able to switch your phone from 3G to 2G and be amazed at the improvement. You can always switch back to 3G if you need data.

I live in Turner, and have no reception at all from Optus – no 3G, not a single bar of phone reception. I rang Optus to ask why, and was told it could be a “structural issue with the building, which means that no mobile network will work in your flat.” when i asked them to explain how my housemates on Telstra and 3 (!) have perfect phone AND 3G reception, i was told “well good for them”.

would move telcos, but i’ve got a work phone. very frustrating, my phone was basically a glorified plants vs zombies player until i got a telstra wifi mobile broadband device. still no phone reception though so people have to email me if they need me and i call them back via skype. *smh*

Pooks said :

I thought I could go to another provider, but they seem to basically use the same network!. My father is with Telstra but also lives in Calwell. Guess what…He has crappy reception too!.

I can assure you that Telstra and Optus do not use the same network (Virgin and Optus, yes; Telstra and 3, partly (but they’re in the process of pulling 3 off Telstra entirely)). I’m not saying Telstra doesn’t have a blackspot in Calwell too, maybe there’s something about the topography there that makes it particularly hard to get a signal too. As I said in my earlier comment, all I can say is that, both empirically from my own observations and anecdotally, Telstra’s coverage is, on the whole, far superior.

MightyJoe said :

pity I have/had an iphone which needs 3G.

No it doesn’t. Not even Apple are crazy enough to release a phone that doesn’t work with standard GSM/GPRS.

As for the larger problem, I ditched Optus’ network (via Virgin) in favour of Telstra a few months ago. A shade more expensive, but there’s now no question in my mind that you get what you pay for.

poisonivy said :

After years of poor to non-existent mobile reception in Ainslie, I finally devoted a couple of weekday mornings to getting some satisfaction from Optus.

First, get them to confirm that you are in a ‘black spot’ for reception.

Next, ask to be put through to their ‘retention’ area. These are the guys who can manage cancellation of your contract, but most importantly, they are able to offer discounts/credits for poor service and incentives to retain you as a customer.

They eventually (after some prodding: ‘is that the best you can do?’) offered me a device called a Home Zone*, which uses your home broadband internet connection to deliver/boost the signal to your phone. A big plus is that because calls made from home are going through your internet connection, they are free! Which is nice, after paying a motza for years for a service that was non-existent in my home.

* There is usually a charge for the Home Zone service, but if it is rectifying a network problem, it will be free. Go here for info: http://www.optus.com.au/home/mobile-phones/homezone/

Don’t put up with shit service from the telecomms companies – push back a bit and you might be surprised at what they can do for you.

Thanks for the advice. I’ll be ringing them today.

I had the same issue (Theodore).

After dropping and breaking my iPhone, I went back to using a Blackberry, and now it’s working fine.

After years of poor to non-existent mobile reception in Ainslie, I finally devoted a couple of weekday mornings to getting some satisfaction from Optus.

First, get them to confirm that you are in a ‘black spot’ for reception.

Next, ask to be put through to their ‘retention’ area. These are the guys who can manage cancellation of your contract, but most importantly, they are able to offer discounts/credits for poor service and incentives to retain you as a customer.

They eventually (after some prodding: ‘is that the best you can do?’) offered me a device called a Home Zone*, which uses your home broadband internet connection to deliver/boost the signal to your phone. A big plus is that because calls made from home are going through your internet connection, they are free! Which is nice, after paying a motza for years for a service that was non-existent in my home.

* There is usually a charge for the Home Zone service, but if it is rectifying a network problem, it will be free. Go here for info: http://www.optus.com.au/home/mobile-phones/homezone/

Don’t put up with shit service from the telecomms companies – push back a bit and you might be surprised at what they can do for you.

I get pretty crappy 3G reception in parts of my house. I just switched my phone from 3G to 2G and the signal meter went top-of-scale. Not much use for data, of course, but great for phone calls.

I have had the same problem, unfortunately the reality is that not all areas in Canberra have good 3G coverage, my advice is use your phones settings and revert back to GSM as opposed to dual band, you may get slightly slower internet on your phone, but I now get full reception.

I totally feel for you. My first thought was to leave Optus and use someone else. If I am paying for a service, I expect to be able to use it!

I thought I could go to another provider, but they seem to basically use the same network!. My father is with Telstra but also lives in Calwell. Guess what…He has crappy reception too!

It’s a lose-lose situation.

We are in Calwell and have experienced very bad wireless internet of late. I too called Optus who we are with and was informed that the network was very congested in this area and that the only way around it would be to get a fixed line connection which we don’t want. He actually recommended finding another provider! I looked at iinet, but they use the Optus network so probably won’t make any difference.

I have tried fiddling with the settings on our wireless connection, with no real success.

Anyone else in Calwell with another provider and having better results? Really really don’t want to go with Telstra…although yes, I do realise that Optus are generally woeful – major issues with them since they went through a bizarre account number changing exercise that caused havoc for me!

We are with Vodafone for mobile phones…yes, again I know they are woeful too…and had major issues for about 6 months during their well documented network issues, but not bad now, as long as you don’t expect to actually have to use your mobile device that is!

i had the same with amaroo, only to be told 6mths after my first complaint that half of amaroo is classed as a 3G black spot…. pity I have/had an iphone which needs 3G.

My advice, if you are paying for it, and not receiving the services, ask for the contract to be terminated (not fit for service) and search elsewhere.

Honestly, i have been with both Optus (Amaroo) and Three (Qbn) and found each to be crap. Am now on Telstra and IMO they are fantastic and I pay the same amount (planwise) as I did with the other companies.