Help Mobile Data question

[GalaxyS2Kent]

Just returned from a holiday in Wales and NOT ONCE could I get Internet access on my Samsung Galaxy S4! I recently upgraded the Android OS to 5.0 so I'm wondering if that could have affected it. I have a pay monthly contract with Tesco mobile and I think they use the O2 network. I had both "mobile data" and "data roaming" checked. The phone signal was fine.

Now that I'm back home in Kent, it works (sort of) but still find some things won't work, like downloading something from the Google Play Store. My phone contract is finished this month, so I'd really like to know whether to consider upgrading my phone or changing mobile providers.

 

[mikedt]

When you're back home in Kent and it "sort of" works, are you using WiFi? If so, check the phone's APN details are correct and present for O2, they could have been wiped out during the 5.0 OS upgrade.

 

[GalaxyS2Kent]

When you're back home in Kent and it "sort of" works, are you using WiFi? If so, check the phone's APN details are correct and present for O2, they could have been wiped out during the 5.0 OS upgrade.

Yes, it works on wifi and also the mobile data works here in Kent. Coverage in Wales was spotty and I expected that...and know that when I don't have a phone signal I won't be able to use mobile data, but I'm wondering if upgrading my phone to a newer model (Samsung Galaxy S6?) would have solved the problem. Or perhaps changing from Tesco to another carrier?

On my phone, the APNs listed are O2 Mobile Web, O2 Pay & Go, TESCO Mobile (which I have checked most of the the time) and O2 MMS. I did try changing to each, with no luck.

 

[El Presidente]

deleted....I'm getting double posts for some reason. Sorry!

Not yor fault, it's happening quite a lot recently, apologies for the inconvenience.

Could be an issue with the masts in your area? Do you know if other Tesco/O2 users are having problems?

http://status.o2.co.uk/

That will show you if there are any problems with masts near your postcode.

 

[Slug]

Coverage in Wales was spotty and I expected that...and know that when I don't have a phone signal I won't be able to use mobile data

Unfortunately, even with a phone signal there's no guarantee that mobile data will be available due to geographical constraints i.e. topography, distance from (or lack of) base stations etc.

I'm wondering if upgrading my phone to a newer model (Samsung Galaxy S6?) would have solved the problem.

Unlikely, unless you suspect a hardware fault with your current one.

Or perhaps changing from Tesco to another carrier?

That could make a big difference if another network offered better 3G coverage.

On my phone, the APNs listed are O2 Mobile Web, O2 Pay & Go, TESCO Mobile (which I have checked most of the the time) and O2 MMS. I did try changing to each, with no luck.

The Tesco Mobile APN is the correct one. Although Tesco is an O2 MVNO their server settings differ from those of the 'parent' network.

 

[GalaxyS2Kent]

Not yor fault, it's happening quite a lot recently, apologies for the inconvenience.

Could be an issue with the masts in your area? Do you know if other Tesco/O2 users are having problems?

http://status.o2.co.uk/

That will show you if there are any problems with masts near your postcode.

Aha!!! Thanks for that link. It shows NO mobile data coverage for that area (LL43 2BZ). At least now I know it wasn't something silly that *I* did.... or my phone. I love my "antique" Galaxy S4 and it's a 3G, which should be enough in most cases. Thanks again!

 

[GalaxyS2Kent]

Unfortunately, even with a phone signal there's no guarantee that mobile data will be available due to geographical constraints i.e. topography, distance from (or lack of) base stations etc.....
The Tesco Mobile APN is the correct one. Although Tesco is an O2 MVNO their server settings differ from those of the 'parent' network.

Thanks for that info. I'm learning a lot now about 3G and 4G coverage! Next time I go on holiday, I will check our accommodation very carefully. A week without wifi and/or mobile data almost made me lose the will to live!

 

[El Presidente]

Aha!!! Thanks for that link. It shows NO mobile data coverage for that area (LL43 2BZ). At least now I know it wasn't something silly that *I* did.... or my phone. I love my "antique" Galaxy S4 and it's a 3G, which should be enough in most cases. Thanks again!

No problem.

There's nothing wrong with the S6, but no point in forking out if you don't need to (especially if you're happy with your current handset). At least I've saved you the cost of a new phone

 

[mikedt]

Aha!!! Thanks for that link. It shows NO mobile data coverage for that area (LL43 2BZ). At least now I know it wasn't something silly that *I* did.... or my phone. I love my "antique" Galaxy S4 and it's a 3G, which should be enough in most cases. Thanks again!

It looks like O2 are no longer offering EDGE data over their 2G GSM network, it's now voice and SMS only. Even with 2G EDGE data, although it's slow, you can still do basic internet things, such as email, Facebook updates, Whatsapp and Wechat IM, etc.

EDIT:

I was thinking about this, because my father is an O2 customer(son is a China Mobile customer), and he sometimes goes North Wales or Cornwall, where 3G and 4G are often very patchy in rural areas. And if they've ceased their 2G EDGE data service, could be a problem. Wonder if the other UK networks, like Vodafone and EE have done likewise, no more internet access with 2G EDGE? 3 UK being 3G and 4G only for everything.

 

[Mark Webb]

I live in rural North Yorkshire and based on me experiences with friends and family, you can get zero data through on their 2G service any more. ...which basically leaves use largely stuffed. Strangely the cost hasn't come down at all.