Best Irish Mobile Network ?

pudzey101

Currently with 48 , choosing to leave because of bad signal and woeful internet speeds , what currently in your opinion is the best network , id mainly be looking for one with the most data allowances

cb1959

pudzey101 wrote: »

Currently with 48 , choosing to leave because of bad signal and woeful internet speeds , what currently in your opinion is the best network , id mainly be looking for one with the most data allowances

Don't go to Three or any of the other providers like 48 who use their network. You will have the same problems with the network or even worse. It is well documented here on Boards that Three have shut down hundreds of base stations since buying over O2, and since they switched off the Vodafone roaming agreement that was propping up their shoddy coverage.

You need to move to Meteor/Eir or Vodafone. Myself and all the family have moved to Meteor & Eir and we haven't looked back - far superior network, HD Voice calls, Tethering allowed and far better roaming deals. Meteor have excellent Pre-pay deals, and Eir have good deals if you want to bundle with eir-Fibre Broadband & TV.

What's the point in Three having so called AYCE data when their network doesn't work most of the time, and they don't allow tethering?

ED E

48 operate on the legacy O2 network, Three, VM and iD have access to the new network infrastructure, they may be better (but subscriber numbers are high).

stereo_steve

100% , I just avoided three or any of it's MVNO's when I was shopping around. Got a good deal with eir. Can't complain about coverage or speed

pudzey101

Going to check out eir never heard of them before

ED E

pudzey101 wrote: »

Going to check out eir never heard of them before

Its the other name for meteor, exact same staffing and infrastructure.

_Kaiser_

Be aware though that while eir(com) may have the better network, their billing operations are shockingly poor - so if you run into any issues, be prepared for a lot of frustration in resolving it.

paddyjoe183

I moved to vodafone, they seem to have the best signal all over the Country, they are pricey but the best phones are normally at a good price if not free when its time to upgrade, only fault I have with them is their customer care team, all from other Countries and are horrible to deal with..... seems to be the same with a lot of call centres these days..... virgin media being the worst.....

corcaigh07

Three are grand once you are in an urban area. One of the best pay as you go deals on the market.

In a rural area, coverage is only good on the Vodafone network. I think eMobile or now eir used to piggyback off the Vodafone network and Postfone definitely do.

Obviously you can go Vodafone but they are far and away the most expensive on the market.

amdaley28

On Vodafone down here in the south west.
Excellent coverage.
Never have a problem.

Rabo Karabekian

I'm with Three but am seriously considering my options. The 'talk to ...' thread here on Boards is eye-opening. I have been kind of just accepting their shoddy coverage (it always was a little bit off, but there have been some serious downtimes over the last while) and they seem to take every opportunity to get as much money from you as possible (and yeah, I understand that they're a business and that this is going to be their basic operating model, but a little bit of far-sightedness goes a long way).

The only thing that's been keeping me there is their 20 euro PAYG offer. I'm just wondering, if I signed up to something similar with Vodafone, is their data allowance something that you might expect to last the month? I tend to just use my phone (outside of my house) for checking whatsapp, other social media, and occasionally Spotify.

bugfreebob

Rabo Karabekian wrote: »

I'm with Three but am seriously considering my options. The 'talk to ...' thread here on Boards is eye-opening. I have been kind of just accepting their shoddy coverage (it always was a little bit off, but there have been some serious downtimes over the last while) and they seem to take every opportunity to get as much money from you as possible (and yeah, I understand that they're a business and that this is going to be their basic operating model, but a little bit of far-sightedness goes a long way).

The only thing that's been keeping me there is their 20 euro PAYG offer. I'm just wondering, if I signed up to something similar with Vodafone, is their data allowance something that you might expect to last the month? I tend to just use my phone (outside of my house) for checking whatsapp, other social media, and occasionally Spotify.

You should consider the €20 PAYG offer from Meteor. Unlimited any-network voice calls, 15GB data(dropping to 7.5G after 6 months) and 400 free texts per month using the MyMeteor app. With the level of data usage you describe, this should be more than generous. Far superior network to Three with good 4G coverage and HD Voice. Not as expensive as Vodafone.

Wonda-Boy

Well I am with Eir for just over a year, eircom before that and I can tell you it's not the same as meteor. Might be same company but I have had nothing but issues...finally free from my contract after small claims court upheld my concerns.

Nexarz

I've been with meteor, three and o2 back in the day but I always end up back on Vodafone. Coverage is much better. Worth the extra quid for less frustration finding coverage.

_Kaiser_

Nexarz wrote: »

I've been with meteor, three and o2 back in the day but I always end up back on Vodafone. Coverage is much better. Worth the extra quid for less frustration finding coverage.

I had massive problems with VF before/over Christmas when I tried to port out and had to wait till one of their "you owe us money" letters arrived before I finally got the switchboard number and got through to their Collections team. Their offshore support (Egypt) is shocking and their packages are significantly overpriced... NEVER again!

Three has coverage problems but work out cheapest/best value for me (business sim-only package) and at least they have a dedicated business team based in Ireland that you can deal with

Eircom/Meteor as I said previously have shockingly poor billing/back-office systems. Although you can usually steer the agents into doing what you want them to, whether their systems will comply is another matter.

Really we have no "best" network in this country.. it's more a case of who is the least worst.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Guys, for coverage/reliability, Meteor or Vodafone? :cool: Currently with iD and the coverage is brutal once you're out of urban areas.

jay93

Vodafone for coverage 100% Meteor are close but in rural areas and outside towns you could be looking at E signal at best.

FobleAsNuck

Whatever you do, avoid TescoMobile:
http://www.boards.ie/ttfthread/2057590673

cb1959

jay93 wrote: »

Vodafone for coverage 100% Meteor are close but in rural areas and outside towns you could be looking at E signal at best.

I have to disagree re E - very seldom get that these days on Meteor even in rural areas. It is true that 4G isn't everywhere yet, but I generally get solid 3G/H/H+ outside of the 4G areas. A couple of years ago when they relied on Vodafone roaming in parts of the West , they used to drop back to E in the roaming areas , but since they built out their own network and ditched Vodafone it seems fine. The roaming didn't include 3G even if Vodafone had it in the area. All the new rollout in recent years seems to be 3G/4G.

cb1959

FobleAsNuck wrote: »

Whatever you do, avoid TescoMobile:
http://www.boards.ie/ttfthread/2057590673

Absolutely shocking. I never heard of any Irish operator looking for passports for PAYG even when you sign up. Maybe it is some procededure Tesco have adopted from their "Mainland" UK operation assuming that they have to do it here also? No excuse for it though.

In any case they should be avoided because they are running on the old O2 network which is being shut down by 3.

crazygeryy

Go on meteor!

Curb Your Enthusiasm

crazygeryy wrote: »

Go on meteor!

is that 15gb data going to revert back to 7.5 after a while?

crazygeryy

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

is that 15gb data going to revert back to 7.5 after a while?

I would think so.if you get a sim card from a network how long before it has to be activated?

FobleAsNuck

^^ straight away

ahmsalo

i was on 3 and always 4g got stacked not even change to 3g by itself
so i went with tesco better 3g instead of always stacked

beauf

Stacked?

Shlippery

Was Meteor for years, then 3, then switched back to Meteor for a short while as 3's coverage was just too frustrating for me, I went onto Meteors 15gb double data offer with unlimited calls, (no texts) for 20 a month, this was grand, until Vodafone offered same deal but including unlimited texts, so switched to them. (not that I text often with Whatsapp etc, but it's still handy having the ability to send a text if needs be)

All my network loyalty went out the window! Customer service aside, I can say Vodafone's coverage has been solid, and I can't complain with the deal, its a student only thing €20 a month for the lot, unfortunately, I don't think they've many other decent offers going aside from the student deal(which lasts for 4 years!)., otherwise I would have stuck with Meteor.

3 sounds great but the coverage really was brutal!

ahmsalo

beauf wrote: »

Stacked?

sorry i meant stuck

callmepetardu

I've been with iD since the end of December and I have to say, I haven't had any real issues.

Because they're a new network, it took a while for them to sort roaming out but it's resolved now thankfully.

On bill pay and it worked out by far the cheapest out of all the Irish networks. 20gb data, 150 minutes and 250 texts for €44 a month.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

callmepetardu wrote: »

I've been with iD since the end of December and I have to say, I haven't had any real issues.

Because they're a new network, it took a while for them to sort roaming out but it's resolved now thankfully.

On bill pay and it worked out by far the cheapest out of all the Irish networks. 20gb data, 150 minutes and 250 texts for €44 a month.

€44 a month?! You're overpaying mate.

TheRiverman

3 has the best coverage in the area where I live,Meteor the worst.It's amazing with all the so called "advances" in technology,mobile phone and good mobile broadband is still crap in many parts of the country:mad::o

nursewally

Just to throw in my ten cents here...

I am currently using Eir on my phone. Although the 3G coverage is good within towns and the like and LTE is good when you can get it (Sparingly at the moment), I find that out of coverage areas and low coverage areas are Shockingly painful when rural. I travel 25 minutes from work to home in Cavan. I work in the town but obviously in a Eir network black spot as I get No service. soon as I walk out of work and down the road...4G...

I am currently considering moving to Vodafone as my work phone uses them and I have to say that I am NEVER without 3G internet. Its actually astounding to say the least.

My only concerns with Vodafone is the low Data bundles for PAYG/SIMO and their high prices to get more. Also I dont think you can tether on VF?

charlie_says

I'm on Meteor SIM only contract and am very happy with them after the disaster of Tesco mobile and iD mobile.

Vodafone are the best performance wise though but the dearest. I find Meteor hits the sweet spot between performance and price.

Best thing I did was stop buying phones on contract a long time ago and paying outright for them gives you way more flexibility as you can change around and see what works for you.

lawred2

callmepetardu wrote: »

I've been with iD since the end of December and I have to say, I haven't had any real issues.

Because they're a new network, it took a while for them to sort roaming out but it's resolved now thankfully.

On bill pay and it worked out by far the cheapest out of all the Irish networks. 20gb data, 150 minutes and 250 texts for €44 a month.

if that didn't include a phone - you're being proper ripped off

lawred2

Noone has offered any opinion on lycamobile... good bad or indifferent?