UK - what 3G network is best value?

[DM51]

Probably like most people, 99% of my time I'm on a WiFi connection, so I'd be interested to hear other members' thoughts on 3G.

What do you recommend as good value vs. good coverage? Is there a big difference between the networks? Anyone use pay as you go?


Edit: Dang. Just realised I should probably have posted this in the iPad carriers section

.

Sorry mods, please by all means move it.

 

[Ingoiolo]

I have payg by u2... The sim comes free and the very few times I need it, it's just 2 pounds per day... There is a monthly option for around 10 quids, I believe... Never used it

Connection is fairly good, at least in cen

 

[DontUnderstandMyIpad]

3 has one of the best 3G networks in the UK and also has the lowest prices. 7GB for 25£, 15£ for 3GB and 10£ for 1GB, or 2£ for 200MB/day, the other rates are for one month.

 

[plymouthred]

3 Network

I got a Three 3GB Micro SIM off Ebay for £9.99 including delivery just recently. The card works for either 3 months or 3GB whichever comes first.

To date it hasn't been used but expecting my shiny new iPad 2 to arrive tomorrow so I will update you all how it works out............

Just checked the Three website and the above is retailing for £20.99 so if it all works out okay a bargain

 

[Davenewlove]

Hi guys I've just got an iPad on three and I'm getting 15gb for £20 a month, I was getting 5gb for £12 so I don't think it's a bad deal, i work all over east riding in some remote villages and I've always had a signal

 

[plymouthred]

I got a Three 3GB Micro SIM off Ebay for £9.99 including delivery just recently. The card works for either 3 months or 3GB whichever comes first.

To date it hasn't been used but expecting my shiny new iPad 2 to arrive tomorrow so I will update you all how it works out............

Just checked the Three website and the above is retailing for £20.99 so if it all works out okay a bargain

As promised just to update you regarding the micro sim (normal sim cut to size) which I had off eBay.

It works a treat and 99.9% of the time get an extremely strong signal in the Plymouth area (UK)

 

[DM51]

You know what to do

If you don't have anything sensible or useful to contribute, I suggest you stay out of this thread.

 

[plymouthred]

You know what to do

If you don't have anything sensible or useful to contribute, I suggest you stay out of this thread.

What is that supposed to mean?

 

[DM51]

Hi plymouthred - my post wasn't aimed at you. That guy taamirplus has been scattering useless fluff posts around the board, and that was just one of them. Not sure what he is up to - maybe just trying to boost his post count.

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

One of the other reasons to stick with '3' is that their network (and I know they have joined with another carrier now) is 3G only - so no GPRS or EDGE speeds - it's 3G HSDPA all the way. I live in rural Scotland and, by sheer luck, there's a '3' basestation on a hill not too far away

Tim
Scotland

 

[DM51]

One of the other reasons to stick with '3' is that their network... is 3G only

There's a downside to that, though - presumably you get no coverage at all if you aren't in range of one of their 3G masts. Edge & GPRS are obviously slooooow by comparison, but better than nothing at all...

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

One of the other reasons to stick with '3' is that their network... is 3G only

There's a downside to that, though - presumably you get no coverage at all if you aren't in range of one of their 3G masts. Edge & GPRS are obviously slooooow by comparison, but better than nothing at all...

Yes - but they *only* have 3G because don't hold a licence for the 2G frequencies. Surely this argument would apply if you weren't in the coverage area of your Vodafone or O2 mast.

By the way - just to get on my soapbox - what annoys me is that 'foreigners' coming to the UK can, more-or-less, roam onto any network they want but UK users are locked into their home network service provider. OK - I know that arguement works the other way around - when I visit the US I can roam onto any network I want but if I lived in the US and was a customer of AT&T then I'd be locked into their network.

Why it's frustrating is that you quite often find that your own service provider has no coverage in an area you're visiting but your handset or iPad can 'see' several other networks, but you can't join them.

Now I know this is all 'built in' to the GSM MoU but it would be nice to have the option of occasionally, roaming onto a competitor's network in your home country and, yes, having to pay a - hopefully small - roaming charge but sometimes you just *need* connectivity.

The only way you can roam onto another network in your home country is if you need to make an emergency call - then your handset can join any network.

Tim gets down off his soapbox......

 

[Legion93]

Without a doubt, Three's (3) 3G plan offers 10GB of downloads for a mere £15 per month... compare that to other network providers such as Orange, O2, Vodafone or T-Mobile, it would cost almost £25-£30 to get that much of data allowance.

Plus, Three is dedicated in providing mobile broadband and specialises in 3G technology, and it has very good download/upload speeds even at peak hours. My Three 3G is really fast indeed and I only pay £15 to get £10GB of data - almost identical to my BT home broadband!

If you don't want Three, go with Orange, they both are really good network providers. Be warned though, Three does not offer unlimited BT FON or BT Openzone hotspots, unlike Orange, but since I already have BT total broadband at my home, I already get unlimited hotspots through FON and Openzone. So I decided to go with a high data package, with low value, its a win-win situation.

Three wins, hands down!

 

[joeldriver]

The Three 1GB plan seems good for £7.50/month. Plus £24 cash back from Quidco

 

[kustard]

I'm using a '3' sim in mine and it's very good - fast connection and great value for money. I am using pay as you go because most of the time I am connected to wifi but there's always train and car journeys!