FOS Mobile Phone Networks.

[thatone1967]

Starting to get into Twitter more and more, and figure that, as I now follow a few motorsport types (always up for more suggestions) hoping to keep an eye out for anything good happening at FOS.
Anyone know if there will be decent mobile coverage ?
Will possibly be tweeeting a bit (depending on the answer to this question) user name as above..

[MDJ]

I worked for Vodafone 10 years ago and we used to put temporary sites up to cover events such as these. Basically a base station on a trailer with a winch up 15m mast. Takes the load off the existing infastructure. Not sure if they still do this but I expect so. Nice earner for the mobile co's.

Edited by MDJ on Friday 17th June 13:17

[MDJ]

I should add, all the other operators had the same set ups at most events we used to cover, so you should be ok.

[F1JHerbert]

I amn with T-Mobile and they tend to 'Boost' and 'Strengthen' their signal over the weekend

[fatboy69]

I found that the '3' network coverage was poor last year.

[F1JHerbert]

fatboy69 said:

I found that the '3' network coverage was poor last year.

I was once with '3' network and always found their coverage very poor where ever I was....

[tubbystu]

I would anticipate great periods of system overload. If you think on that basis making any connection or voice call is a bonus.

The amount of air traffic generated by any sizable crowd is likely to overload whatever capability they try and temporarily deploy.

[thatone1967]

tubbystu said:

I would anticipate great periods of system overload. If you think on that basis making any connection or voice call is a bonus.

The amount of air traffic generated by any sizable crowd is likely to overload whatever capability they try and temporarily deploy.

Would the people that plan the Goodwood / Mobile networks not plan for this though?

Surely with the rise in data that flies across the airwaves with the increase in Facebook / Twitter etc it would make good sense?

[tubbystu]

thatone1967 said:

tubbystu said:

I would anticipate great periods of system overload. If you think on that basis making any connection or voice call is a bonus.

The amount of air traffic generated by any sizable crowd is likely to overload whatever capability they try and temporarily deploy.

Would the people that plan the Goodwood / Mobile networks not plan for this though?

Surely with the rise in data that flies across the airwaves with the increase in Facebook / Twitter etc it would make good sense?

With so many large temporary events taking place across the peak summer weekends and multiple network operators it probably just isn't feasible to add so much local infrastructure to each and every event. Potentially 100,000 people all tweeting, facebooking, e-mailing and texting on arrival just to find their mates etc.....

The clever events do often tie in a sponsorship deal with one operator who will ensure better coverage at an event. Even events in central London suffer, such as Wimbledon tennis and the Hard Rock concerts in Hyde Park (who both have network provider tie-ins), where it can be nigh on impossible to get access once the doors have opened.

Try re-setting your phone to 2G for texts & voice.

[richebets]

thatone1967 said:

Would the people that plan the Goodwood / Mobile networks not plan for this though?

Surely with the rise in data that flies across the airwaves with the increase in Facebook / Twitter etc it would make good sense?

I am pretty sure your find there is extra phone masts in place. every year you will find at the top of the hill, in the carpark to the back of the F1 paddock, two or three 'mast trailers' with generator sets on them. (pretty sure these are 'phone signal boost masts') i maybe wrong ,but then i've never had a problem with my mobile phone at fos..

[MDJ]

richebets said:

I am pretty sure your find there is extra phone masts in place. every year you will find at the top of the hill, in the carpark to the back of the F1 paddock, two or three 'mast trailers' with generator sets on them. (pretty sure these are 'phone signal boost masts') i maybe wrong ,but then i've never had a problem with my mobile phone at fos..

That's right they are. From memory we (Voda) had 2 on site. One near the top close to the hill climb finish and one down near the golf course. They used to stay in place for the revival aswell.

[5H4K]

I live two mins from Goodwood. Data signal isn't great at this end of our town, and it's much worse/non-existent in Goodwood, as I often pop over to the circuit and drive through Goodwood. I remember trying to upload photos from my phone during last year at the FOS and even a compressed photos would take a very long time to upload.

[Jackleman]

Vodafone works well up there.

[thatone1967]

Jackleman said:

Vodafone works well up there.

I'm on Orange!

[thatone1967]

Jackleman said:

Vodafone works well up there.

I'm on Orange!

[richebets]

thatone1967 said:

I'm on Orange!

I be on orange network too, But its a 'alright' service signal at fos.

[hurstg01]

Any [free?] wifi hotspots there too?

[racing green]

Four days at Festival and NOT being able to be contacted by phone - Priceless!!!!!

[5H4K]

Jackleman said:

Vodafone works well up there.

Not for me.

GSM signal is fine for everyone; 3G and data is non-existent.

[thatone1967]

hurstg01 said:

Any [free?] wifi hotspots there too?

That's a good question... Had not considered that!