Mobile Phone Coverage

Our mobile repeaters are great for boosting your mobile phone signal but it's also worth knowing what network can offer you the best coverage in your area, here is our handy guide to mobile phone coverage.

How do I check mobile phone coverage in my area?

Mobile phone coverage varies widely in the UK. Its vital to check the mobile network coverage in your area before you buy, particularly if you plan to regularly use your mobile phone at home. Each mobile phone operator offers a network coverage checker on their website.

By simply typing in your home or work postcode you can find out how strong each networks coverage is in your area.

Click on the logos below to go directly to the coverage checker for each network.

Virgin Mobile Coverage	3 Mobile Coverage	Vodafone Coverage	T-Mobile Coverage	Orange Coverage	O2 Coverage

Top tips for checking coverage at home:

1. Check the coverage checkers above to see what quality coverage the networks claim for your home and workplace.

2. Check with your friends and neighbours to see which mobile networks give them good coverage in your area.

3. The ultimate test for your mobile network coverage would be to test a phone in your house. You could hold a mobile network coverage party, inviting one friend per mobile network round for a few drinks light snacks then when nobody turns up you can softly cry yourslef to sleep.

4. Alternatively, why not buy PAYG SIMs for your preferred networks and test £5 worth of calls in the locations where you will use your mobile phone the most - home and work (you presumably have a couple of deals in mind!)

5. Dont forget that different phones have different strengths of reception so buy online and use the distance selling act to cancel your contract and return your phone within 7 days if the coverage is not good enough.

Use Free SIMs to check coverage!

All the mobile operators offer free SIMs. This is the perfect way to test the real mobile network coverage you would get by switching operators.

Why not take advantage of this to test the coverage in your area with?

T-Mobile Free SIMs	Vodafone Free SIMs	3 Free SIMs

Virgin Mobile Free SIMs	Orange Free SIMs	O2 Free SIMs

Why does mobile phone coverage vary?

Good quality mobile phone coverage is vital when choosing the best mobile phone deal. Phone coverage varies by mobile operator as they each operate their own phone masts in different locations.

For example, whilst you may have fantastic Orange coverage at home you may find that the T-Mobile signal is weak.If you are thinking of changing your mobile phone operator you should definitely check the coverage of the networks you are considering before you buy rather than have the hassle of cancelling your contract and returning your phone.

Will mobile phone coverage change in the future?

There are deals being struck between some of the mobile phone operators to share their networks but for the time being mobile phone coverage will be different for each different provider. For instance, T-Mobile and 3 share some masts to help improve mobile phone and mobile broadband coverage for both parties but its unclear whether this is in place now or planned for roll out over the next few years. Its unlikely that all the phone providers will ever all share the same masts.

Virgin Mobile Coverage	3 Mobile Coverage	Vodafone Coverage	T-Mobile Coverage	Orange Coverage	O2 Coverage

Is 3G mobile broadband coverage the same as mobile phone coverage?

Coverage for mobile phone calls and texts relies on so called 1G and 2G networks, whilst most mobile internet services such as mobile broadband and browsing the internet on your phone relies on the faster 3G networks. Because 3G is a newer, more complex technology it is harder, more expensive and technically more difficult to build good coverage. For this reason 3G mobile broadband coverage is different to mobile phone coverage so you should check both individually before buying. For instance, having good coverage for calls and texts in your home doesnt necessarily mean youll have good enough coverage for mobile broadband.

Thanks to gadgetstylist.com for the above content.