Thinking of moving to 02 mobile broadband

Tech3

Im currently on the Vodafone Broadband package and my 18 month contract is nearly expiring. I did a manual search for a few operators in my area (small village) and 02 popped up. Now I know the contention ratio is very good around here with vodafone as the speeds are very good compared to where I work in a city.

Just a few questions I need to know before getting it:

- Are all the 02 masts upgraded to 7.2Mbps or is just certain areas.

- Has anyone that changed over to 02 noticed any difference in speed.

7.2Mbps is a lot more to spread out to users in cells than the 3Mbps is currently on Vodafone. I would expect it would give users a better download and upload speed but I could be told otherwise!

Walkman

You need to say what small village you are in as speeds vary greatly from place to place when it comes to mobile broadband.

foggy_lad

tech2 wrote: »

Im currently on the Vodafone Broadband package and my 18 month contract is nearly expiring. I did a manual search for a few operators in my area (small village) and 02 popped up. Now I know the contention ratio is very good around here with vodafone as the speeds are very good compared to where I work in a city.

Just a few questions I need to know before getting it:

- Are all the 02 masts upgraded to 7.2Mbps or is just certain areas.

- Has anyone that changed over to 02 noticed any difference in speed.

7.2Mbps is a lot more to spread out to users in cells than the 3Mbps is currently on Vodafone. I would expect it would give users a better download and upload speed but I could be told otherwise!

you are better off staying with vodafone for reliable broadband, o2 is 7.2mbps but that decreases rapidly as other users sign on and also weather, hills and even trees can affect the signal.

jor el

7.2M is only available in a small number of areas, as far as I'm aware. If you're in a village, it's highly unlikely to be there. If what you have is working fine, then you may be as well to stick with it.

You could try unlock your modem, and try an O2 Clear SIM for a few weeks with the broadband addon, this is the only way to try it out without buying a new modem. You could buy the O2 modem, and then return it if it doesn't work. I think they still allow 7 or 14 day trial periods. Don't cancel Vodafone until your sure though.

foggy_lad

is real broadband available in your area? i know it is more expensive but you get a much more reliable service as well as phone calls etc

CutzEr

The speed of O2 depends on the amount of people using it - Ask around and see if anyone else has O2 broadband.

At the moment there is not alot of people using vodafone, that is why you are getting good speeds.

Tech3

Thanks for the replies,

I live in North Kerry so Im not sure if 7.2Mps is supported there. The contention rate should be good with 02 as its very remote and has a very elderly population who would never use broadband.

In reply to line broadband, there is none available as the lines are not supported. There is a choice of satelite but for simple web surfing the 3G is fine. I would however like to see how 02 is as the monthly rate is lower than my current vodafone package of 30 euro a month.

jor el

The only way to know is to try it. No one else's experience will be comparable to yours. Don't forget, you're also sharing space with phone users, not just other broadband users.

Johnboy1951

tech2 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies,

I live in North Kerry so Im not sure if 7.2Mps is supported there. The contention rate should be good with 02 as its very remote and has a very elderly population who would never use broadband.

In reply to line broadband, there is none available as the lines are not supported. There is a choice of satelite but for simple web surfing the 3G is fine. I would however like to see how 02 is as the monthly rate is lower than my current vodafone package of 30 euro a month.

Are there not also wireless operators in your area ... maybe Permanet?

Tech3

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Are there not also wireless operators in your area ... maybe Permanet?

No it doesnt cover me however wireless does cover a huge population of Kerry. Even if was available the service is very costly.

Johnboy1951

tech2 wrote: »

No it doesnt cover me however wireless does cover a huge population of Kerry. Even if was available the service is very costly.

I have no direct knowledge of those services but a friend is using Permanet and from what I remember his costs (may now be slightly different) were less than mine on an Eircom landline when the line rental was taken into account.
He also tells me that the footprint of the service is curtailed as competitors have adjoining areas in their footprint. I do not know the names of the competitors .... but north Kerry was mentioned at one time.

Just checked current price ... 45 euros for 2MB service. This is now dearer than Eircom who raised their service speed without charge some time ago.

watty

That is over 5 Euro CHEAPER than eircom as the cheapest price for ANY eircom DSL if you otherwise don't need a phone line is over 50 Euro.

33% of people don't have a phone line. Mobile Phone penetration is 120%. About 1/3rd of phone lines are Government welfare subsidy as it's not realised this is available for phones too.

So it's reasonable to always include eircom rental when comparing.