Drizt Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Hi Guys, Been looking at the plans and it looks like either Virgin or Vodafone have the best plans with regards to value for money. Just wondering who has the best coverage / service ? Virgin is on the optus network which I hear is pretty hit and miss, but Vodafone is a complete mystery to me... Any help would be greatly appreciated ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickenism Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Hi Drizt, I'm on Virgin and have had no coverage issues whatsoever - even here in rural Vic. I find their service to be superior to the others as well (at least, they're the first phone company I haven't had to argue with - if that's saying anything ) All in all, I'm happy with Virgin (who wouldn't be ) and even though I'm now out of contract I have no compelling reason to change. Value-wise, I reckon they're the go. Hope this helps, Cheers, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drizt Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Thanks heaps mate, thats exactly the kind of information I was after. Hi Drizt,I'm on Virgin and have had no coverage issues whatsoever - even here in rural Vic. I find their service to be superior to the others as well (at least, they're the first phone company I haven't had to argue with - if that's saying anything ) All in all, I'm happy with Virgin (who wouldn't be ) and even though I'm now out of contract I have no compelling reason to change. Value-wise, I reckon they're the go. Hope this helps, Cheers, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audiobugged Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 (edited) As an alternative to all the telstra bashing - go with telstra's nextG for the iphone... The iphone 3GS has got an upgraded radio chip that enables it to go to 7.2mbps hsdpa. Faster than a lot of broadband. I am on telstra and upgraded from the iphone 3g (already faster than all the other networks) to the 3gs (heaps faster than optus,virgin,voda)... As an example, I used the speedtest app after I got it and was rocked by a download max averaging around 5-6mbps!!! (tried in various locations - sydney cbd going eastern suburbs, and also all the way out west to Parramatta with the lowest average at around 2mbps). Absolutely stoked... much like when I first upgraded from ADSL to ADSL 2+ about 3 years ago!!! I find that there's now very little difference between using it on 3G compared to using it on wireless at home (802.11g and adsl2+)... Yes, you get some of the coverage with optus,voda,virgin (and certainly inferior coverage at that) but also, a lot of their "3g" is really 3g when you can get it (2100mhz) unlike on the telstra network where the new iphone's 3.5g capability can really be exploited... I believe optus has upgraded some of their areas to 3.5g (7.2mbps) but I am under the impression that this is not compatible with the iphone's radio chipset (different frequency) Any voda/virgin/optus users care to share their download speeds (and where they got their readings?) Do a bit of research - most people just look at price and sometimes coverage without understanding the difference in network capability. To me it's like buying a porsche or a ferrari but instead of access to a racetrack everywhere (highways + no speed limits) with Telstra (and yes paying a premium for this), you are only allowed to drive your ferrari on unsealed roads or school zones... AB Edited August 30, 2009 by Audiobugged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gee Emm Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 G'day Drizt We were on Vodaphone (4 x mobile phones) In a word, the coverage was pus (IME). As soon as the contracts ended we were outa their faster than off-fish out of a rectum. We have soon since moved to Telstra 3G, including 2 iPhones (1x 8Gb & 1 x 16Gb). Now working like a charm Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Work phone here is Vodafone. Absolute crap, I have to go outside to talk on it every day. My personal phone is Telstra NextG. Its the go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drizt Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 From a quick look, the Telstra iPhone plans are hell expensive. What plans are you guys on ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gee Emm Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I must first admit to being a mobile phone luddite (to the extreme) My 8Gb iPhone was $199 up front, a $30 plan + $10 pcm for 150Mb (free calls to 3 other mobiles on same account) My son's 16Gb iPhone was $349 up front, a $30 plan + $10 pcm for 150Mb (free calls to 3 other mobiles on same account) OT. I wish I got my iPhone much sooner. Now I don't carry separates; an old phone, old Palm and old iPod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikizee Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I have an iphone with optus. I have been with Telstra for years and years, and this was my first phone with Optus. Their network SUCKS BALLS. Call dropouts all the time, and using the internet works only about 70% of the time... it will be fine for 20 mins, then even though there is full bars of signal strength, nothing will work. Have to toggle airplane mode and reconnect to the network. This goes on ad infinitum. I have had numerous phone calls with iphone support about their shitty network, have done everything they have wanted me to do ie replace SIM try sim in another handset, restore phone etc. All my friends that have iphones on optus all experience the same thing. So I called optus again last week and told them I had had enough, I was not getting the service or network I am paying for, and wish to be released from my contract. They of course said no, because my home address wasnt in a coverage blackspot I would have to pay cancellation fees. I politely explained to them that the purpose of a MOBILE phone is to be able to make phone calls in places OTHER than home. They still said no so I filed a complaint with the Ombudsman, was referred to a special 2nd level complaints group in Optus, who took my complaint. They have 10 working days to get back to me, tomorrow will be day 9. Lots of other people have been able to get out of the contract with optus for this very reason, so I'm thinking my odds are good. I'm then going to port to Telstra pre-paid, to take advantage of their faster 850Mhz network which the iphone DOES support (unlike optus' YesG network, only their regular 3g network). Telstra have good prepaid deals atm, $40 for 150 mins talktime and 150 text, plus $40 credit to spend on anything you like (I will be buying data). Check out www.whirlpool.net.au, its a tremendous resource that has different forums for all mobile carriers, plus one specifically for the iphone. So my suggestion/recommendation would be to buy the iphone outright from the Apple Store, then go on Telstra Prepaid. You will save a lot of money (and frustration) in the long run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audiobugged Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 (edited) Just to note that virgin actually belongs to optus and uses their network, so you'd have exactly the same pros and cons... Thought optus would have resolved their network issues by now (remember reading all about the issues they had their north sydney exchange hitting saturation and people having to turn off 3g and go onto 2g so that others could actually call them...) but guess not - sell more iphones regardless of whether network can support and then try and manage the customer complaints... you probably were speaking to their call centre people in some 3rd world country... (bangladesh,sri lanka, etc...) AB Edited August 30, 2009 by Audiobugged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikizee Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 You are correct - my friend who works at optus has told me that 80% of iphones are on their network, and they have simply oversold it. When I called up to complain about call dropouts etc their first solution was 'just turn off 3g and run it on 2g'. I said that was a really crappy solution and completely defeats the purpose of owning an iphone. They have done other things to piss me off too, they are the only network to charge you EXTRA for tethering - (tethering is where you connect your phone to a laptop via usb and use it as a wireless modem to surf the net on your computer). Even though its a feature of the phone, not their network. You pay for all this data per month, how you use it should be up to you. But no, if you actually want to USE this data you get slugged an extra 10 bucks a month. No other network does this (not even virgin, which is own by optus!). I have since installed a hack on my phone so I can enable tethering for free but thats besides the point. I HATE OPTUS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poita Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 (edited) I think Virgin offers the best value for money plans. My, my wife, my mum (all in Adelaide) and my sister and her BF (Sydney) have all been on Virgin for a couple years now and have had no problems whatsoever with the network... I have had massive problems with Telstra setting up internet for myself, and internet and phones for my parents. It is my personal policy never to give them another cent if I can help it due to their appalling customer service. I now have naked DSL and VOIP so I do not have to pay line rental. They do have the best mobile coverage though, but I have never needed any better than what I have with Virgin. Edited August 31, 2009 by Poita Added Telstra rant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audiobugged Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 When I called up to complain about call dropouts etc their first solution was 'just turn off 3g and run it on 2g'. I said that was a really crappy solution and completely defeats the purpose of owning an iphone. That is absolute bollocks and pretty unbelieveable... like complaining to ferrari that your gearbox has issues in the fifth gear and their response being "just use the first 4 gears and you'll be alright". Or alternatively, I can imagine the outcry if one of our members had an issue with their speaker tweeters not working and being told to listen to music that didn't have such extended treble - just listen to solo cello or double bass and you'll be alright... Regardless of who the provider is, that crap is totally unacceptable and well worth complaining to the ombudsman (I'm sure that Telstra, Virgin, Vodafone each also have instances of giving crap "advice" like that though thankfully i haven't been on the receiving end of any with Telstra so far... knock on wood...) AB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikizee Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Well I received a call from Optus' customer relations group today annnnnddd... They released me from my contract! WOOHOO! The only catch is that I have to pay them $200 to buy the iphone handset outright... which isnt a bad deal, and something I expected, from hearing other people's experiences. The guy who called me was very friendly and said 'yep, the bottom line is that you can't run your business when clients cant call you, so we're going to allow to port to another carrier.' So I shot straight off to a Telstra shop, ported my number over which only took half an hour (they told me it might take up to 24 hours) and its all sweet. Now have 3G at full strength at my house. Best monday I've had in a while Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drizt Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share Posted August 31, 2009 If only Telstra weren't hell expensive and had competitive data rates it would be an easy choice. Theres no equivalent Telstra cap plan to Virgin's offerings, which seem like the value for money option at this point in time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikizee Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Which plans are you looking at, what would be your spend per month? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drizt Posted September 1, 2009 Author Share Posted September 1, 2009 Which plans are you looking at, what would be your spend per month? This plan looked good from virgin -> http://www.vodafone.com.au/personal/iphone/index.htm?cid=sem:g:iph:comp1:d $69 cap plan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audiobugged Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 If only Telstra weren't hell expensive and had competitive data rates it would be an easy choice.Theres no equivalent Telstra cap plan to Virgin's offerings, which seem like the value for money option at this point in time. I would be cautious of virgin since they are using the optus network - data speeds seem to range from unusable to mediocre. If you can't afford Telstra then Voda seems to be the lesser of the two evils though someone else might be better placed to answer coverage questions (at least you get consistently mediocre results that are still usable) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikizee Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I would definitely recommend going to www.whirlpool.net.au and reading people's feedback in the 'mobile carriers' and 'iphone' forums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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