3 Mobile: Reception Any Good? / Tracking Available Credit for Plans

Hi guys.

I'm currently with Optus $30 prepaid. I need a new phone so I'm
thinking about jumping to 3's $29 plan which allows you to select from
half a dozen free phones.

I've always heard that 3 suffers from poor reception, drop outs etc
I've never been told this by a 1st hand 3 subscriber, however. Is
their reception poor?

I understand 3's coverage area is quite small. What happens to the
reception when you leave the coverage area? Does another carrier
provide reception for them? Does this cost the user extra?

Is there a way to keep track of your credit when on a plan with 3. I
know I left Optus' plans because there was no way of knowing when you
would go over your credit.

Thanx 4 looking.

---

› See More: 3 Mobile: Reception Any Good? / Tracking Available Credit for Plans

On 25 Dec 2006 19:07:45 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

>Hi guys.
>
>I'm currently with Optus $30 prepaid. I need a new phone so I'm
>thinking about jumping to 3's $29 plan which allows you to select from
>half a dozen free phones.
>
>I've always heard that 3 suffers from poor reception, drop outs etc
>I've never been told this by a 1st hand 3 subscriber, however. Is
>their reception poor?

I've been with 3 for about four months now.

It only took me a few weeks before I regretted leaving Optus.

I'm sure the name "3" refers to it being a "3rd Rate Network".


>I understand 3's coverage area is quite small.

Correct. I live in the Sydney CBD but travel extensively. Even 10-15km
from the CBD and you start experiencing patchy 3G service. South from
Rockdale, North from Lindfield and West from Parramatta you can expect
to see "ROAMING" on your screen more often than not.


> What happens to the
>reception when you leave the coverage area? Does another carrier
>provide reception for them?

Yes, roaming is provided by Telstra.


> Does this cost the user extra?

No. But don't expect 3G coverage, either.


>Is there a way to keep track of your credit when on a plan with 3. I
>know I left Optus' plans because there was no way of knowing when you
>would go over your credit.

Yes, they have an excellent call cost tracker that works fairly well.

DJ! - OzDJ
[email protected]
http://blog.thedunnydoor.com

Hi there,

your post is a bit academic unless you give some indication of where you are
likely to use the phone

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi guys.
>
> I'm currently with Optus $30 prepaid. I need a new phone so I'm
> thinking about jumping to 3's $29 plan which allows you to select from
> half a dozen free phones.
>
> I've always heard that 3 suffers from poor reception, drop outs etc
> I've never been told this by a 1st hand 3 subscriber, however. Is
> their reception poor?
>
> I understand 3's coverage area is quite small. What happens to the
> reception when you leave the coverage area? Does another carrier
> provide reception for them? Does this cost the user extra?
>
> Is there a way to keep track of your credit when on a plan with 3. I
> know I left Optus' plans because there was no way of knowing when you
> would go over your credit.
>
> Thanx 4 looking.
>

BE WARNED 3 lock their phones and bastardise the firmware!

You do NOT have the ability to lock one of their phones into 3G or
Roaming (Telstra 2.5G). This can be very dangerous in a fringe area
where 3G drops in and out regularly, they have configured the phone and
network to disconnect the call every time it switches networks.

I made 3 or 4 calls one night in an attempt to talk to the local Police
Station where I was working because of this. I complained and the
denied this could or would happen. I continued to push it and finally I
got someone higher up that admitted that this was indeed correct and
that it was a 'commercial' decision, he then said it was a 'commercial'
decision to request I port my number away from 3 within 7 days or it
would be disconnected.

The truth hurts, it was going to hurt 3 financially because they would
loose call connection fees for every time the call drops out and you
have to re-connect!


--
The views I present are that of my own and NOT of any organisation I may
belong to.

73 de Simon, VK3XEM.
<http://web.acma.gov.au/pls/radcom/client_search.client_lookup?pCLIENT_NO=157452>
<https://www.police.vic.gov.au/lars/lars.asp?File=/Components/screens/PSINFP04/PSINFP04.asp?Key=PSAILT&Page=11&Row=23>

[email protected] wrote:

> I've always heard that 3 suffers from poor reception, drop outs etc
> I've never been told this by a 1st hand 3 subscriber, however. Is
> their reception poor?

Initially their network performance (in Brisbane at least) was very poor
- many dropouts and failed calls. They did spend a lot of effort on the
network though, and considering Telstra purchased a 50% stake in the
network it can't be too bad these days!

Also the network performance can't be measured by looking at the signal
meter on your phone. 3 uses W-CDMA technology at a higher frequency that
will show lower apparent signal strength, but still perfectly usable. As
with any CDMA based technology, the best way to check signal strength is
to make a call!


> I understand 3's coverage area is quite small. What happens to the
> reception when you leave the coverage area? Does another carrier
> provide reception for them? Does this cost the user extra?

Telstra GSM provides roaming. Data charges outside of the 3G area are
higher from my understanding, but voice calls are not.

"Simon Templar" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:4590c809$0$11209$61c65585@uv-55king-reader-01.melbourne.pipenetworks.com.au...
> BE WARNED 3 lock their phones and bastardise the firmware!
>
> You do NOT have the ability to lock one of their phones into 3G or Roaming
> (Telstra 2.5G). This can be very dangerous in a fringe area where 3G
> drops in and out regularly, they have configured the phone and network to
> disconnect the call every time it switches networks.

Duh.

> I made 3 or 4 calls one night in an attempt to talk to the local Police
> Station where I was working because of this. I complained and the denied
> this could or would happen. I continued to push it and finally I got
> someone higher up that admitted that this was indeed correct and that it
> was a 'commercial' decision, he then said it was a 'commercial' decision
> to request I port my number away from 3 within 7 days or it would be
> disconnected.
>
> The truth hurts, it was going to hurt 3 financially because they would
> loose call connection fees for every time the call drops out and you have
> to re-connect!

There is nothing wrong with their behaviour.

If you have an emergency you should call 000.

Any other call is therefore a non-emergency and who cares if it drops out.

[email protected] said....

> I've always heard that 3 suffers from poor reception, drop outs etc
> I've never been told this by a 1st hand 3 subscriber, however. Is
> their reception poor?

My daughter and son in law both have $29 3G capped plans with 3. they
don't have any real problems. Sometimes the phones don't work that well
on Melbourne's public transport. When out of a 3G area, it roams to
Telstra GSM without any problems.

Thanx 4 all the replies guys.

Based on what I've heard, I think I'll stick with Optus for now.

SUggest you try another provider,
3's customer servcie is crap you need an interpreter every time u call
customer care which is located in india somewhere.

reception is crap and unless you are within their network limits you wont
be able to receive or make any calls in anmy mode ie mms, video, or just
normal fone call

Im so digusted with them that i terminated my contract before its due time.
also beware on the fone u choose as you wont be able to unlock it. this
means your'e compelled to stay with their network. you can view usage via
internet or mob fone.

I am one very unhappy and dissatisfied X 3 subscriber

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi guys.
>
> I'm currently with Optus $30 prepaid. I need a new phone so I'm
> thinking about jumping to 3's $29 plan which allows you to select from
> half a dozen free phones.
>
> I've always heard that 3 suffers from poor reception, drop outs etc
> I've never been told this by a 1st hand 3 subscriber, however. Is
> their reception poor?
>
> I understand 3's coverage area is quite small. What happens to the
> reception when you leave the coverage area? Does another carrier
> provide reception for them? Does this cost the user extra?
>
> Is there a way to keep track of your credit when on a plan with 3. I
> know I left Optus' plans because there was no way of knowing when you
> would go over your credit.
>
> Thanx 4 looking.
>

ASIS wrote:

> reception is crap and unless you are within their network limits you
wont
> be able to receive or make any calls in anmy mode ie mms, video, or
just
> normal fone call

What a load of BS.