Internet usage on Vodafone...

[daveh]

I am not a technical person so please bear with me.

I have a phone, on the vodafone network, that will allow me to use the internet. It works fine on wi-fi at home but, outside when I go into Lerwick, it is unable to get the internet at all. I have "data enabled" ticked in the settings so I don't know why there is a problem.
In the past week, I have tried to use it (with the sound off) whilst waiting at the dentist and during a two-hour wait at the health centre. Others were using their phone, to access the internet at the health centre (although I don't know what network they were on), so is there a problem accessing 3G out and about in town with vodafone?

Any thoughts?

[MuckleJoannie]

Vodafone don't have 3g in Shetland so internet on a phone is always going to be slow. Like yourself I have found trying to use the internet over the phone has got to be a waste of time. A few weeks ago I tried to send a text with a picture to my wife as sheb was south. It took me from 2pm to 10pm to get it to send.

 

I reckon the Vodafone network in Shetland is getting overloaded and can't cope with anything other than phone calls and plain texts.

[daveh]

Many thanks for the reply.

 

I wasn't aware that they didn't have 3G available here. That is ridiculous in these times; particularly as I have such a strong phone signal. All very frustrating.

[shetlandcars]

you could check the wifi and look for SICGUEST which should be available in/near any council properties.

Its free to use but there are restrictions

[daveh]

^^

Thanks.

What password would I need to use it?

[MJ]

"guest" used to be the password for sic guest

there is free wifi in the montfield dentist, don't know about doctors

O2 have 3G in town and Vodafone have 3G in Walls.

I'm surprised you can't use the 2G signal. Even my 4G Phone can use the O2 2G cells and my MiFi router streams video on 2G in stronger signal areas.

Have you ever been able to access the internet on the network alone before?

It may be worth just asking vodafone to send you the network settings again, or you can change your APN settings manually.

[daveh]

Thanks for that.

 

I will be near the Sound school and hall this morning so will see if I can get into the internet using the "guest" password.

 

I have never heard about APN settings so have copied a link (http://www.geeksquad.co.uk/articles/07-how-to-set-apn-settings-for-the-vodafone-network#Android) to my wife, who is far more technically-minded than me, to look into it.

 

I will let you know if it works.

[MuckleJoannie]

If you are a BT broadband customer you can use their app to find wifi hotspots. It uses BT customers' internet hubs.

 

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=30549

 

http://www.bt.com/static/wa/wifi/pages/findhotspots.html

[JustMe]

If you are a BT broadband customer you can use their app to find wifi hotspots. It uses BT customers' internet hubs.

 

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=30549

 

http://www.bt.com/static/wa/wifi/pages/findhotspots.html

But not a lot of good if we are all off due to a flash of lightning!.

[shetlandcars]

^^

Thanks.

What password would I need to use it?

 

no password required

[Romeo]

I use Vodafone, parked outside the Walls shop and it's the only place I've seen 3G appear on my Blackberry!  Brae isn't bad as you get the EDGE signal but everywhere else is pretty hopeless.  Tried O2 out of interest and within Lerwick 3G was very good coverage but as soon as I passed Leasks garage on the way out of town the signal went and it too was then useless.

 

I know the Vodafone 3G discussion has been on here before and supposedly Voda see no financial benefit to installing it in Shetland.  Come on everyone, we're paying the same as on the mainland and getting a (very) second rate service!  Would be good to put some pressure on Voda one way or another....maybe even find out the costs and have a whip round

[MuckleJoannie]

Vodafone have special trial equipment in Walls allowing 3g in that area.  I believe 3 have 3g in Lerwick and Scalloway but I haven't tried it myself.