Wol

Both Mrs Wol and I have been with Virgin mobile since arrival five years ago. Virgin uses the Optus network.

We have been finding that our mobiles are often cutting out during calls both in and out, even when we have the maximum strength signal. After about five-ten seconds there are three little beeps and the call is cut off. It's getting more than a bit annoying - yesterday a relative called me a dozen times and each call was cut off after a few seconds.

Question: are any of the networks any better than this? I don't really want to have to change but it's beyond a joke!

Eastend Girl

Telstra (best reliability but more expensive). Vodafone and 3 (3 reverts to Telstra if out of area). My family are all with Optus or Virgin and always having down time

Wol

Thanks. I hate Telstra with a vengeance but I have their pay-as-you-go details and will have a look at them.

viviennef

I detest telstra changed to vodaphone. OH works all over Australia. Telstra has largest overall coverage/reliability

Sally Simpson

I am with Optus & have not had any problems so far ()

Welshie

I've been with a few networks and I found that I've had the least problems with Vodafone. Good coverage and I even get coverage in areas where my friends with other networks cannot.

silver

Few thoughts..
Telstra.. Best coverage/network (by a long way) on next G however costs $'s and have customer service/systems issues.
Optus/Virgin... Good coverage (especially with yesG/3G900 phone) and good call rates are good but generally over subscribed (although I believe they are investing in capacity).
Voda.. Rates are ok but coverage is significantly less (in terms of land mass) and is pretty poor compared to other 2.
3.. Can be a good bet roams onto most of the nextG/telstra GSM network (where it overlaps with other carriers) but using data when roaming costs..

All resellers (woolworths/crazyjohns/lebara etc..) will piggyback on one of the networks above so will have similar issues..

Buy prepaid and try them..

Look on www.whirlpool.net.au

Centurion

As we all know, Telstra has the best infrastructure and network hands down. You pay a bit more for it, but to my mind its worth it. I don't really want to deal with Telstra and I feel dirty for it, but they do have the best product out there, even if the way they sell it is frustrating as heck.

Sally Simpson

Do you cross yourself & say 3 Hail Mary's after each call?

Centurion

No, they would charge me a religious add on pack fee for that no doubt

Wol

GarryP

On a related note, what's the best pre-paid provider that provides sensible amounts of 3G bandwidth for smartphones?

In the UK I can get six months usage for £20; who's most up to date in Aus?

quoll

Sorry to hear that Virgin/Optus is dropping out on you Wol - must say that I havent had that problem at all - does the "help" desk have any ideas? I have found them to be reasonably "helpful" especially if you get the tech bloke in Sydney rather than the overseas kids. A post on whirlpool may get you some suggestions as well. It may be a regional thing for you - does it happen when you are in other areas? I guess if you and your OH have the same problem then it isnt a phone issue because that would have been my first thought.

As for smartphone data - I get 1gb for $15 a month with the aforementioned Virgin and havent had any problems. Never even come close to the limit either and could easily go down to 300mb for $10

silver

Depends on where you are going to use it...... And what bands your phone supports.. UK uses 3G2100 Oz uses 3G2100 (in the cities), 3G850 (Telstra Next G network) and 3G900 (regional and rural/Optus and Voda)

Three do a good deal for Data, but charge extra for data when you roam onto the Telstra nextG network (which you can roam onto most of if your phone supports 3G850 otherwise its there GSM/Edge network). Three's network only extends to the 5 capital cities. However three phones have started to work on voda GSM also who have an Edge network and does not charge anything above your data allowance. However Voda has the worst coverage of the big 3 networks..

Virgin(optus) is a good option they have the second largest network but as soon as you go outside of the major cities/regional towns unless your phone supports 3G900 you will be back to GPRS speed which is really slow.

Voda has 3g2100 3g900 and Edge so even tho they don't have as good coverage they are a reasonable choice for data.

Telstra have the best coverage by a long way on 3G850 Next G network but charge $10 for 100mb data packs. There GSM network is also Edge enabled.

The long and short is choose your provider based on what your phone supports and where/how much you need to use it. Personally I use about 100mb a month when not using tethering so 1gb plans are over the top. The other thing is to keep more than 1 sim.

GarryP

Mine does 3G2100 and 3G900, which is why I've been looking at Virgin. However I need to see some sensible bandwidths and rules before I can be sure.