3G Help

[div]

Hello

I am currently crying with frustration at 02.

I know very little about 3G - in fact nothing and I know some other threads have covered this but::

I changed my sim card yesterday as from an earlier thread I understood that I need to do so as my old card was over 4 years old.

Today I ventured into a 3G zone according to the 02 site, and move around to different locations - Exeter city centre - and I only could see the E symbol. Is is very street dependant, is so then it is pretty useless.

I called 02 on 202 to ask for some assistance - and despite selecting the option for 3G - they didn't seem to have a clue.

I was told that the call needed to be between two 3G handsets despite telling them all I want to do was access the internet and check my mail ( am I being stupid 3G is for data ?).

I then asked about increasing the speed of my 3G connection from 128 to 384 kps - as far as I can gather this is necessary for HSPDA ( is that correct ). I am on a consumer tariff. I visit Bristol quite a bit and I understand that has HSPDA coverage? I was told that the speed couldn't be increased ( no such option ).

Who do I need to contact that can help me at 02 - all I wanted my orbit 2 was to view the web and email. I remember years a go contacting a specialist data division, does that still exist, if so, does anyone have the contact details?

Thanks for reading, hopefully I have made my self clear, if not please let me know.

Many Thanks

DiV

[waveydavey]

The HSDPA transport has to be enabled, you need to have a data package and you have to be in high signal area too.

Can you check it is enabled first?

Go Start - Settings - Connections - HSDPA - Enable.

From there, you will need a 3G SIM. Does your SIM actually say 3G on it? It's always possible they've supplied you with a non 3G card.

Depending on the coverage it could be street Dependant but usually in a town centre you'd expect to get a decent signal outside almost anywhere.

The other thing you'll need really is a data bundle on your account, do you have this? Without it 3G can become very expensive very quickly.

To be honest, if you're in Exeter town centre and have 5 minutes (or so) I'd pop into the O2 store in Exeter. They should be able to confirm both whether you have a 3G SIM and whether you should be getting 3G/HSDPA. They'll also be able to check/add a data bundle too.

[neilm]

There are a few questions here!

Firstly, just because the O2 website shows an area as being 3G enabled, it doesn't necessarily mean it is universal A Cell can cover a wide area, and if you are closer to a 2G only cell, that one may connect by preference due to its stronger signal. I would have thought however that Exeter was big enough to have a 3G mast somewhere near the centre- indeed O2 coveage map says 3G is across the city, but that there is no HSDPA current or planned.

Their advice about 3g to 3g handsets is only valid for video calling- both phones have to be 3g and both within a 3g area. This obviously doesn't hold for data

Even with normal 3G, you may be able to get the 384kbps connection, but you need to make a good case for it, otherwise you will be constrained to 128kb over 3g and around 1Mb on HSDPA if you ever go soemwhere that's enabled.

For normal light web browsing and email, you won't notice much difference between 3G and GPRS, but for more sustained browsing and file downloads the faster connections will make a big difference.

O2 Technical Support do have a dedicated Data department, but I think you need to go via normal CS to get there. Once you get through to them, stress that you use mobile internet a lot, and want the full speed available.

[div]

Firstly thanks guys for your answer - I have just returned from a trip to Exeter airport - o2's map showed this as a 3G area - and it worked , infact it was quite quick compared to gprs on my old xda II.

Mind you I would still like it be as fast as it can - why should not it be ?

Yes, I am on a web bolt on, I am assuming this also includes email downloads?

Many Thanks

DiV

[neilm]

Originally Posted by div

Firstly thanks guys for your answer - I have just returned from a trip to Exeter airport - o2's map showed this as a 3G area - and it worked , infact it was quite quick compared to gprs on my old xda II.

Mind you I would still like it be as fast as it can - why should not it be ?

Yes, I am on a web bolt on, I am assuming this also includes email downloads?

Many Thanks

DiV

OK- glad it seems to work!

THe web bolt-on covers all use of data from the PPC except VOIP and Streaming content.

[div]

I am even chuffed that is seemed to work o.k. with HSPDA in Taunton today.

Does anyone know if you connected it as a modem to a laptop as to whether you would charged if you have the web bolt on - how do they know?

Thanks

DiV

[neilm]

Laptop use is specifically precluded in the T&C, and yes, they can tell! If you make too much of ahabit of it, you will receive a warning and will be asked to move to a higher level plan. I don't know if they would charge you for the modem usage.