Which network for best 4G performance?

[TheAngryDog]

From what I understand, which could be totally wrong, most of the networks use a difference MHz for their 4G signal? Which one is likely to be the best for performance?

[xreyuk]

At the moment, EE because they had a 1 year head start. They have the biggest coverage and low, mid and high frequencies available (only use their mid frequency at the moment). You'll likely find these the most expensive

Vodafone are probably next best performance wise, they're only using their low 800Mhz band at the moment so will be slower than EE. Things should pickup when they start using their higher band. O2 are probably in a similar vote but in the latest root metrics reports, Vodafone were higher.

Three are good but they speed limit their 4G to 50Mbps, however if that's not quick enough you're really picky. You'll likely find these the cheapest.

[TheAngryDog]

Thank you, that's very informative. I have poor reception on Orange's network so I cannot see WE being much if any better. They also want to charge me the national debt of a small country to swap over despite me being in the qualifying period of my contract.

Vodafone look decent value, 4gb of 4g, Sony Z2 for £35 on CPW. No one I have found can touch that.

[Pints]

Here's the latest Root Metrics reports.
http://www.rootmetrics.com/uk/special-report- 2014 18-55

EE top, followed by Three. Vodafone bottom.

[s p a c e m a n]

Just done a speedtest on mine sitting next to Fords Dunton test track. On 3 mobile and it spends most of its life on 4g

http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/a/955592984

[Pints]

Latest test I took with EE. (Currently lying in bed linked to lowly Wifi). http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/a/942697581

[xreyuk]

Pints said:

Here's the latest Root Metrics reports.
http://www.rootmetrics.com/uk/special-report- 2014 18-55

EE top, followed by Three. Vodafone bottom.

Vodafone are second in the major cities for 4G performance (look at Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, London etc), however overall they come last due to slow 3G speeds (and coverage) and I think they have the highest call failure rate.

In terms of purely 4G, Vodafone are second, overall network, last.

It is however, well known that Vodafone and O2 disagree with Root Metrics and they've used their own independent testing to back up their claims. There's also a big feeling within the industry that Root Metrics favour EE as they have a partnership in place and money exchanges hands between then (EE customers can run as many Root Metrics tests as they want without using data allowance)

Edited by xreyuk on Sunday 7th September 07:57

[eybic]

Are you in a 4G area? Annoyingly I moved house about a year ago from a full blast 4G area to a just about 3G area

[Blown2CV]

when you say performance are you referring to coverage? Strength of signal affecting speed etc.

[Pints]

xreyuk said:

Root Metrics favour EE as they have a partnership in place and money exchanges hands between then

[AGK]

TheAngryDog said:

Thank you, that's very informative. I have poor reception on Orange's network so I cannot see WE being much if any better. They also want to charge me the national debt of a small country to swap over despite me being in the qualifying period of my contract.

Vodafone look decent value, 4gb of 4g, Sony Z2 for £35 on CPW. No one I have found can touch that.

I was with Orange and my signal was so bad that I couldn't have iMessage enabled as I wouldn't receive messages. It was an absolute shambles.

I phoned up and they moved me on to EE 4G. Signal/performance/reception is in a different league. I was sceptical at first but I've not had any issues with signal since.

[survivalist]

xreyuk said:

Pints said:

Here's the latest Root Metrics reports.
http://www.rootmetrics.com/uk/special-report- 2014 18-55

EE top, followed by Three. Vodafone bottom.

Vodafone are second in the major cities for 4G performance (look at Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, London etc), however overall they come last due to slow 3G speeds (and coverage) and I think they have the highest call failure rate.

In terms of purely 4G, Vodafone are second, overall network, last.

It is however, well known that Vodafone and O2 disagree with Root Metrics and they've used their own independent testing to back up their claims. There's also a big feeling within the industry that Root Metrics favour EE as they have a partnership in place and money exchanges hands between then (EE customers can run as many Root Metrics tests as they want without using data allowance)

Edited by xreyuk on Sunday 7th September 07:57

I moved from EE to Vodafone. Moving back soon. I've never been so many places where all I get is GPRS, 3G is awful in terms of both coverage and speed and GPRS is a waste of time these days. The only thing I have been impressed with is the sure signal. Although the tech support for getting it working was terrible also - there is a reason why the deals are cheap.

[George111]

EE was a pile of sh*t when it first came out but now it's very good as far as coverage and data speed is concerned. EE, in the places I go, is much better than O2 - but you need to test it in the places you go to because it's not uniform coverage, even in areas with 4G coverage, it still varies a lot.

[TheAngryDog]

My time is split between Aylesbury (no 4g), Sheffield (4g), sometimes go to London (4g) and Hull (4g with EE).

My main issue is that I don't want to find poor signal again if I went to EE and I don't want to be subject to EE's price increases that seem to happen every year.

[George111]

TheAngryDog said:

My time is split between Aylesbury (no 4g), Sheffield (4g), sometimes go to London (4g) and Hull (4g with EE).

My main issue is that I don't want to find poor signal again if I went to EE and I don't want to be subject to EE's price increases that seem to happen every year.

I would get a payg SIM and go testing.

[xreyuk]

Pints said:

It's okay, mis quote me and completely ignore the bit where I say 'There is a feeling within the industry'.

tt.

[George111]

xreyuk said:

Pints said:

It's okay, mis quote me and completely ignore the bit where I say 'There is a feeling within the industry'.

tt.

I'd not see that site before. Interesting page here: http://www.rootmetrics.com/uk/rsr/map/2014-1H?z=un...

[mattley]

xreyuk said:

Pints said:

It's okay, mis quote me and completely ignore the bit where I say 'There is a feeling within the industry'.

tt.

I'm with you on that xreyuk, a particularly tttish response from Pints especially given your carefully chosen words, which understated the case IMO. It's not just a feeling is it? Root metrics data collection methods and weighting across result factors are far from transparent.

As for money changing hands I don't think it's a secret that of the three networks EE are root metrics only paying customer.

[TheAngryDog]

TBH, I think I'm going to go with O2 or Tesco Mobile. This EE talk regardless of how true it is or not is off putting, and I have never been convinced by Three or Vodafone, but was prepared to maybe give Vodafone another go.

[Chrisgr31]

I am on Vodafone and have an Ipad on 3G and a phone on 4G. The 4G coverage is improving significantly and coverage on my commute has always been awful for Vodafone, however there are now a number of places where I can get 4G coverage and not 3G.

Certainly I am beginning to wish the Ipad was on 4G as the coverage seems so much better.