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How do 'virtuals' work - Vodaphone

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Dave

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Jul 7, 2012, 9:06:36 AM7/7/12
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I'm on TalkMobile who, apparently, use the Vodaphone network. Last
night a few of us went to a gig and when the band played one particular
song I tried to phone home to let my wife hear it but I had no signal.
However, two other people who were there are on Vodaphone proper, and
they both had service and strong signal, so why and how does that work
then?? Three handsets, two using Voda directly working well and one (an
HTC Desire HD if that makes a difference) using Voda via TalkMobile
that didn't work?


Roland Perry

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Jul 7, 2012, 10:30:56 AM7/7/12
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In message <u_CdnSx_1Z3SqWXS...@bt.com>, at 14:06:36 on
Sat, 7 Jul 2012, Dave <n...@telling.com> remarked:
>I'm on TalkMobile who, apparently, use the Vodaphone network. Last
>night a few of us went to a gig and when the band played one particular
>song I tried to phone home to let my wife hear it but I had no signal.
>However, two other people who were there are on Vodaphone proper, and
>they both had service and strong signal, so why and how does that work
>then??

Difference between 2G and 3G enabled up on the handsets?
--
Roland Perry

Graham.

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Jul 7, 2012, 10:44:53 AM7/7/12
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I have no explanation, I wouldn't have expected your phone to
discriminate between the Vodaphone and TalkMobile services because at
the RF level they are the same service.

Here is something not unrelated, in the run up to the recent Stone
Roses concert in Heaton Park, Manchester, they put in some temporary
basestation infrastructure
http://www.flickr.com/photos/g3zvt/7520605184/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/g3zvt/7520606464/in/photostream/lightbox/

No idea which networks are involved in that lot but no doubt they got
a return on their investment with the extra calls that otherwise would
have failed.

--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

Unimobiles.com

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Jul 7, 2012, 1:25:17 PM7/7/12
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On Sat, 07 Jul 2012 14:06:36 +0100, Dave <n...@telling.com> wrote:

Talkmobile is a virtual network so Vodafone contract customers take
priority if the area was conjested (which at a gig it would be)

--
http://www.unimobiles.com
http://giffgaff.unimobiles.com - FREE GiffGaff Simcard
Vintage, Retro and Collectable Mobile Phones

Graham.

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Jul 7, 2012, 2:14:31 PM7/7/12
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On Sat, 07 Jul 2012 18:25:17 +0100, Unimobiles.com
<sa...@unimobiles.com> wrote:

>On Sat, 07 Jul 2012 14:06:36 +0100, Dave <n...@telling.com> wrote:
>
>>I'm on TalkMobile who, apparently, use the Vodaphone network. Last
>>night a few of us went to a gig and when the band played one particular
>>song I tried to phone home to let my wife hear it but I had no signal.
>>However, two other people who were there are on Vodaphone proper, and
>>they both had service and strong signal, so why and how does that work
>>then?? Three handsets, two using Voda directly working well and one (an
>>HTC Desire HD if that makes a difference) using Voda via TalkMobile
>>that didn't work?
>>
>
>
>Talkmobile is a virtual network so Vodafone contract customers take
>priority if the area was conjested (which at a gig it would be)

I wasn't aware of that, have you any evidence?
Even if you have, I will still need convincing it was happening in the
OPs case because he said he lost the signal, if it was a question of
priority he would have a signal but, the call would fail.

--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

R. Mark Clayton

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Jul 7, 2012, 3:19:22 PM7/7/12
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"Roland Perry" <rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7LdHQWag...@perry.co.uk...
This could be the service offered or whether you had or were even able to
have your handset operate on 3G, 2G and if 2G on both bands.

For instance 3 phones will use 2G1Hz UMTS on 3G natively and then roam onto
2G with O2 / Orange.

Similarly TalkMobile might only have 3G coverage and if your phone is not
configured right might not roam onto 2G or possibly (see other sub-thread)
Voda might not let you.

Alternatively your TalkMobile service might be 2G only and / or the cheap
phone you have does not support 3G.

> --
> Roland Perry


PS music over GSM (2G) will sound absolutely **** as the low bit rate codec
is optimised for voice.


Woody

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Jul 7, 2012, 3:31:28 PM7/7/12
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"Dave" <n...@telling.com> wrote in message
news:u_CdnSx_1Z3SqWXS...@bt.com...
Despite the other theories expound it could as simple as the fact
that your phone was registered on a different cell to the other
people.


--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com


Roland Perry

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Jul 7, 2012, 3:54:21 PM7/7/12
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In message <k80Kr.603910$N53.3...@fx20.am4>, at 20:31:28 on Sat, 7 Jul
2012, Woody <harro...@ntlworld.spam.com> remarked:
>Despite the other theories expound it could as simple as the fact
>that your phone was registered on a different cell to the other
>people.

But if that cell's busy it'll look for another (actually, they are
looking all the time).
--
Roland Perry

Unimobiles.com

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Jul 7, 2012, 4:39:56 PM7/7/12
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On Sat, 07 Jul 2012 19:14:31 +0100, Graham. <m...@privacy.net.invalid>
No hard evidence, although a Vodafone salesperson claimed this was the
case when I quoted Talkmobile deals. In the end I stayed with
Vodafone, transferring the number to Virgin for a today and then back
for a new contract with cashback via Quidco.

Certainly on o2, GiffGaff data has less priority then o2 dongles as I
tested this myself.

I think all networks are pretty appaling for 3G data speeds (at least,
here in norwich) - I was thinking of going with Three, but apparently
they only have good outdoor reception.

Bob Eager

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Jul 7, 2012, 4:59:09 PM7/7/12
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On Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:39:56 +0100, Unimobiles.com wrote:

> On Sat, 07 Jul 2012 19:14:31 +0100, Graham. <m...@privacy.net.invalid>
> wrote:
>
>>On Sat, 07 Jul 2012 18:25:17 +0100, Unimobiles.com
>><sa...@unimobiles.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On Sat, 07 Jul 2012 14:06:36 +0100, Dave <n...@telling.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>I'm on TalkMobile who, apparently, use the Vodaphone network. Last
>>>>night a few of us went to a gig and when the band played one
>>>>particular song I tried to phone home to let my wife hear it but I had
>>>>no signal. However, two other people who were there are on Vodaphone
>>>>proper, and they both had service and strong signal, so why and how
>>>>does that work then?? Three handsets, two using Voda directly working
>>>>well and one (an HTC Desire HD if that makes a difference) using Voda
>>>>via TalkMobile that didn't work?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>Talkmobile is a virtual network so Vodafone contract customers take
>>>priority if the area was conjested (which at a gig it would be)
>>
>>I wasn't aware of that, have you any evidence? Even if you have, I will
>>still need convincing it was happening in the OPs case because he said
>>he lost the signal, if it was a question of priority he would have a
>>signal but, the call would fail.
>
> No hard evidence, although a Vodafone salesperson claimed this was the
> case when I quoted Talkmobile deals. In the end I stayed with Vodafone,
> transferring the number to Virgin for a today and then back for a new
> contract with cashback via Quidco.

MRD.



--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

Woody

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Jul 8, 2012, 3:46:47 AM7/8/12
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"Roland Perry" <rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote in message
news:vbeCk6tt...@perry.co.uk...
The OP said his phone had no signal? Agreed the signalometer may
show zilch, but for most phones if the SP name still shows the
phone believes it has signal.

It also depends on how the SIM has been set up to deal with site
changes. When I was on Vodafone it used to hand over to another
cell when there wa still some small signal showing, but Orange
that I have now will often loose signal altogether before it
tries to move to another site (assuming that site has resources
available.) What is more, despite the merger with T-Mob the
Orange SIM will always try to use Orange whenever it can, even
when a local T-Mob signal is wrapping the signalometer round the
end stop but the nearest/best Orange is barely registering.

So whilst TM say there <should> be no difference between them and
Voda, in practice there could be significant differences in
signal handling of which - to be fair - their sales/support staff
may not be aware.

Dave

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Jul 8, 2012, 1:19:58 PM7/8/12
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Bob Eager pretended :
MRD?


Dave

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Jul 8, 2012, 1:23:45 PM7/8/12
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Woody explained :
> "Roland Perry" <rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:vbeCk6tt...@perry.co.uk...
>> In message <k80Kr.603910$N53.3...@fx20.am4>, at 20:31:28 on Sat, 7 Jul
>> 2012, Woody <harro...@ntlworld.spam.com> remarked:
>>>Despite the other theories expound it could as simple as the fact
>>>that your phone was registered on a different cell to the other
>>>people.
>>
>> But if that cell's busy it'll look for another (actually, they are looking
>> all the time).
>> --
>
>
> The OP said his phone had no signal? Agreed the signalometer may show zilch,
> but for most phones if the SP name still shows the phone believes it has
> signal.

There was a small white x at the bottom of the smallest signal
indicator bar and the words "No service" on the screen.
Message has been deleted

Roland Perry

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Jul 8, 2012, 4:33:26 PM7/8/12
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In message <4OWdnZl6m4aiXGTS...@bt.com>, at 18:19:58 on
Sun, 8 Jul 2012, Dave <n...@telling.com> remarked:

>MRD?

You would ask that, wouldn't you.
--
Roland Perry

Bob Eager

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Jul 8, 2012, 4:54:51 PM7/8/12
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On Sun, 08 Jul 2012 21:33:26 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:

> In message <4OWdnZl6m4aiXGTS...@bt.com>, at 18:19:58 on
> Sun, 8 Jul 2012, Dave <n...@telling.com> remarked:
>
>>MRD?
>
> You would ask that, wouldn't you.

LOL!

Graham.

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Jul 9, 2012, 5:43:12 AM7/9/12
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On 8 Jul 2012 20:54:51 GMT, Bob Eager <news...@eager.cx> wrote:

>On Sun, 08 Jul 2012 21:33:26 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
>
>> In message <4OWdnZl6m4aiXGTS...@bt.com>, at 18:19:58 on
>> Sun, 8 Jul 2012, Dave <n...@telling.com> remarked:
>>
>>>MRD?
>>
>> You would ask that, wouldn't you.
>
>LOL!

Are you just saying LOL, or are you giving that as an answer?

Apparently the French use MRD meaning "mort de rire" instead of LOL

--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

Graham.

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Jul 9, 2012, 5:52:32 AM7/9/12
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On Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:23:45 +0100, Dave <n...@telling.com> wrote:

>Woody explained :
>> "Roland Perry" <rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:vbeCk6tt...@perry.co.uk...
>>> In message <k80Kr.603910$N53.3...@fx20.am4>, at 20:31:28 on Sat, 7 Jul
>>> 2012, Woody <harro...@ntlworld.spam.com> remarked:
>>>>Despite the other theories expound it could as simple as the fact
>>>>that your phone was registered on a different cell to the other
>>>>people.
>>>
>>> But if that cell's busy it'll look for another (actually, they are looking
>>> all the time).
>>> --
>>
>>
>> The OP said his phone had no signal? Agreed the signalometer may show zilch,
>> but for most phones if the SP name still shows the phone believes it has
>> signal.
>
>There was a small white x at the bottom of the smallest signal
>indicator bar and the words "No service" on the screen.
>
>
If your phone has been set up to find networks automatically then that
implies it couldn't see any networks at all. If it could, it would
have displayed something like "SOS" or "emergency calls only"

Was this gig near civilisation, or in the middle of nowhere?

--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

Bob Eager

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Jul 9, 2012, 5:55:39 AM7/9/12
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Mandy Rice-Davies....not that hard to find. The LOL should be obvious if
you look that up.

Graham.

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Jul 9, 2012, 8:04:51 AM7/9/12
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On 9 Jul 2012 09:55:39 GMT, Bob Eager <news...@eager.cx> wrote:

>On Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:43:12 +0100, Graham. wrote:
>
>> On 8 Jul 2012 20:54:51 GMT, Bob Eager <news...@eager.cx> wrote:
>>
>>>On Sun, 08 Jul 2012 21:33:26 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
>>>
>>>> In message <4OWdnZl6m4aiXGTS...@bt.com>, at 18:19:58 on
>>>> Sun, 8 Jul 2012, Dave <n...@telling.com> remarked:
>>>>
>>>>>MRD?
>>>>
>>>> You would ask that, wouldn't you.
>>>
>>>LOL!
>>
>> Are you just saying LOL, or are you giving that as an answer?
>>
>> Apparently the French use MRD meaning "mort de rire" instead of LOL
>
>Mandy Rice-Davies....not that hard to find. The LOL should be obvious if
>you look that up.

Ah fairy nuf. Strangely had you have said TWSTWT I'd have understood.

Yes of course I know what LOL usually means, I thought you were taking
the joke one stage further because you perhaps knew what I had just
found out, that in French MRD=LOL.

--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

Bob Eager

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Jul 9, 2012, 9:06:27 AM7/9/12
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What I meant about the LOL was 'why I am LOLing should be obvious once
you know what MRD means'....that followup of 'you would ask that...' was
funny!

Incidentally, she never actually said "He would say that, wouldn't he?".
It was more like "Well, he would, wouldn't he?".

Anyway....!

Dave

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Jul 9, 2012, 9:06:30 AM7/9/12
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Graham. formulated on Monday :
Preston (Lancs), not quite town centre but only a few hundred yards
off. It was in The Mad Ferret (google street view
http://goo.gl/maps/W0To). Brilliant gig, The Kast Off Kinks - not a
Kinks tribute band but genuine ex-members of The Kinks from days gone
by, such as Mick Avory (a Kink from 1964 to 1984 and inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and Jim Rodford etc). Anyway, I
digress, sorry :D

It was a transient thing anyway because my phone worked alright when I
came out. I just couldn't understand how two handsets on Vodaphone
proper worked, where mine an a Voda virtual wouldn't (inside the
building).


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