that's not completely correct (force 2g Orange on 3 network)

as long as its not an 3 Branded phone you can just switch it to GSM/2g only (why i never buy 3 branded phones as the network mode switch is missing even if unlocked phone) as long as you do not do it for more then an week your ok as they cut you off if you stay on orange for more then an week 2g, text and voice will be fine but getting Data on roaming orange 2g is another problem as i could Never get an data to work when it was roaming on orange 2G (maybe they turn of data where they Think they know they have 3g coverage)

the roaming agreement is with Orange masts only (no access to EE/NBNL or t-mobile network but then again that's 3 and t-mobile any way as most NBNL masts or t-mobile masts are 3/T that's why i use the t-mobile map to get three coverage as three coverage map is just an Lie, like saying you got indoor coverage when you got barely outdoor coverage) i find t-mobile coverage map to be mostly dot on (for both networks on t-mobile) if you cant see t-mobile you likely not going to get an Three signal as well (but some phones now Hide the fact your on orange mast when on an t-mobile phone)

Where I live there is not an agreement to network share with Orange.

I have 2 3 masts within 2 streets either way of me. So a 3 mast within about 50m either way.

If I switch to 2g only it just displays no service as there isn't an agreement to fall back on orange here. The 3 service is deemed good enough to not warrant a fall-back.

Orange is hosted on the same mast as 3 so should work. It's also much higher on the tower...

That being said SOMEHOW 3 still manages no service in parts of this house. I think it's because I'm where the masts would theoretically overlap.

I ALSO found that data didn't work when on orange 2g which really did my head in as I'd often spend weeks at a time in one of those areas and just getting emails through would have been nice (even slowly).

You can only force the 2g if there's an agreement in place. In and around London this really is not very often (if at all)

Edited by ukhardy07 (Tue 04-Sep-12 02:11:06)

last mast with orange 2G was turned off a couple of months ago - info from three Uk Facebook.

Three is great when it works, Mast CV0276 on Tachbrook Park, Warwick, which covers South Leamington Spa, Whitnash, Warwick Gates, Tachbrook Park & Europa Way (main road Into Town). The Three Executive office informed me that the mast needed a major Repair / upgrade which wont be completed before the end of the year. This is why they cancelled my data contract as it was only used in this area.
I tried it also at my home address in Central Warwick, nr the Train Station & got 0.4 DL & 0.2 UL Mbit/sec at 2 pm.

I too found three to be pretty good. I dont use my 'phone' for talking, only for internet and texting. I too use my phone daily on the train and get a decent connection between Stirling and Edinburgh most of the way.

Three's coverage for 3G is brilliant, even in the far north and west of Scotland.

The only thing I did not like about three was that their 2G roaming agreement with orange is voice/text only, no GPRS. For that reason alone, when my contract expired, I shifted to Virgin mobile. £12/mnth sim only monthly contract for unlimited data, unlimited texts and 150mins of calls. Their 3G coverage post merger is as good as Three's and they do allow GPRS data over 2G (lots of patience required!)

Speedtest shows about 2Mbits both up and downstream.

Nigel

I love my Three connection! It's ridiculously fast, even though I live in a tiny little town in a county called Rutland!

http://www.speedtest.net/result/2291294896.png
http://www.pingtest.net/result/71883207.png

Not bad for a 3G connection, eh?

Very good indeed -- I am really tempted to get a new phone, not for LTE but DC-HSPDA.

People honestly don't know what they're missing with three. Best network I've been on by miles and miles. Cheapest, best 3G network and the most generous allowances on tariffs. Absolute no brainer.