[Closed] Vodafone or EE for Scotland?

It was always Vodafone but EE/BT now seems to be better. There are still pockets where one or the other doesn't work.

Don't use it for broadband but I've found Vodafone gets a signal in more places than the other networks - however, in built-up areas, the signal strength doesn't better any of the other networks. Suspect either will be fine for broadband - assuming you aren't in the middle of the back of beyond.

We have Vodaphone and EE sim cards for work phones in the Highlands.

Vodaphone is the default, with EE used when Vodafone coverage not available.

What specific location are you looking at OP?

I have a Vodaphone sim in my aircard for when EE drops out when we're out and about in the camper, I barely turn the aircard on.

Edit, although it is very handy have when needed.

What specific location are you looking at OP?

Everywhere / Anywhere really. It’s not a one trip thing, we live in Ayrshire. We built a new camper and find we’re spending a lot more time away in it than the last one so want something a bit more useful than Three which is what both the phones are.

Either will be better than Three.

@scotroutes yep! I’ve stuck with Three because I’ve got such a good deal and it’s not a bad thing to have no signal sometimes 🙂

Vodafone or EE for Scotland?

Scotland covers quite a large area in case you hadn't noticed.

Unlike the delivery driver few yrs ago who never noticed after my drop he was heading to wick and was hopeful of doing Aberdden to wick in about 2 hrs.

😅

Travel the western isles with work to some fairly remote places. Some of the guys I work with have voda or 3, I've got EE and it consistently has best connection for calls and 4G. The few places i get poor signal, voda has poor signal too.

We're Vodafone and EE for our sims. Both work well, EE seems to get better data speed connections out in some more remote places these days.

We're with Vodafone broadband and it is very good, I think the router is better than the cheap EE or Plusnet we had before...

I'd agree that its much of muchness now. We have both EE and Vodafone in two properties next door to each other now.

If it's for occasional trips rather than constant use I'd be probably basing my decision on which would offer the best pay as you go or 30day sim. A bit of a google might be worth while to see which 3rd party telecom firms use either network as this is often the way to a cheaper pay as you go sim.

For what it's worth I'm on giffgaff using O2 network. I live in Fort William.
This coverage map might be useful
https://webcoveragemap.rootmetrics.com/en-US

Vodafone and EE have licences for different frequency bands and each does not necessarily use all the frequencies in all locations or all for 4G plus not all devises use all the frequencies.

The differing frequencies have different characteristics regarding how far they transmit, the penetration of buildings and the bandwidth they support.

Historically the frequencies licenced to Vodafone travel further than those licenced to EE. So EE needed more towers. If has EE build these towers in the right place for you then thru can provide better performance than Vodafone. But it all depends on location.

Then you have to factor in the performance of the network backhauling from the mast to the main network, and then the peering between the network and the rest of the internet.

Travelling and working around Scotland a lot - one of the first things I had to do at each location is check with everyone I'm with what signal we're getting on their phones so we know if we can communicate with people if we leave them on site... its very rarely the case that EE doesnt have the best provision and its rarely the case that there's no signal in remoter areas its often the only signal. Historically Vodafone was the better option in the north because they'd been funded to HIE to put infrastructure in -  but that was pre 3G - so when you can get calls through you often don't get data. Generally though I find  phone blackspots are more of an issue in Galloway and the Borders than the Highlands and Islands

Scotland covers quite a large area in case you hadn’t noticed.

I had cheers, I’ve lived here long enough.

A bit of a google might be worth while to see which 3rd party telecom firms use either network as this is often the way to a cheaper pay as you go sim.

Yeah Voxi (Voda) or Plusnet (EE) seem the best options. Voxi seems easier to stop & start and if you get the right package unlimited video streaming, which is ideal for those wet, windy, dark winter afternoons.

Thanks all, looks like it’s pretty even these days with EE maybe just edging it.

I didn’t say in the original post but also want it for EU roaming so will check who’s got the best options.

https://talkmobile.co.uk/ is voda
Plusnet (&BT) is EE - Plusnet we have a 30 day sim for £5 12gb and unlimted calls & texts.

I'm due an upgrade in the next 10 days with Vodafone - thinking I'll just update my airtime, but the contracts appear to be offering airtime coverage in a large number of EU countries as part of the contract...I think Vodafone were due to roll out their charging for EU places but it got delayed, so might still be on offer just now.

One thing to watch for on plusnet mobile is that not all shortcode sms numbers work - including some used by the NHS. Anyone choosing to use EE as their network would be best off using a plan from BT or EE rather than plusnet - speeds / coverage will be the same.

Cheers.

Just gone with Voxi. £12 for 25gb with unlimited video & social media.

Their roaming is better at 20GB vs Plusnet 15GB.

I’ll either stop it when I don’t need it or drop it down to one of the lower plans.

One thing to watch for on plusnet mobile is that not all shortcode sms numbers work

Not an issue for me as I just want it for a mobile router 👍

So…. Voxi is up and running but for some reason seems a bit slow. Speed check shows reasonable speeds but in use it takes a long time to load anything (even when it has a full signal).

In France it was barely useable.

I’m going to give Plusnet a go to check it’s not the router playing up.

phil5556 - across a lot of Scotland Vodafone / Voxi are using a low frequency for 4G (band 20 / 800Mhz). This gives the appearance of good coverage / strong signal on 4G but the bandwidth is very limited - hence it's very slow on data speeds.

It's also worth checking the device you're using can support all of the LTE / 4G bands that Vodafone are using in the UK - quite a lot of mobile routers only support a limited selection of bands. Vodafone uses the following bands (not all bands are in all areas though):

800MHz (4G)
900MHz (2G & 3G)
1400MHz (4G)
1800MHz (2G)
2100MHz (3G)
2600MHz (4G)
3400MHz (5G)

Plusnet used to use a limited selection of EE's 2G / 3G / 4G bands (unless it's changed recently) so you might find that slower than an EE connection in the same place. If you can borrow an EE sim first that might help you to decide.

It's also worth mentioning that EE are rolling out 5G on low frequencies now but with fairly usable bandwidth (so good coverage and good speeds). There's already quite a lot in rural areas across Wales and the South West that doesn't show on EE's coverage map so Scotland will likely follow soon.

<table class="table">
<tbody class="tbody">
<tr class="row">
<td class="cell
">GSM bands supported</td>
<td class="cell">850,900,1800,1900 MHz</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row">
<td class="cell
">UMTS bands supported</td>
<td class="cell">850,900,1900,2100 MHz</td>
</tr>
<tr class="row">
<td class="cell
">4G bands supported</td>
<td class="cell">800,850,900,1800,2100,2600 MHz</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Apparently 👆🏻

So 1400 missing from the 4G?

Well that table doesn’t look like it’s supposed to 🤣

We moved from vodaphone (rarely an issue where ever I went) to EE at work. Can't even get a signal in the office. If I call home on the hands free there are 3 spots where it will drop out completely.

This is echoed across our entire officestaff.

So if your coming to the north east or up deeside I wouldn't bother with EE.

I used O2 for my personal phone and it works grand where ee struggles in most cases.

“So 1400 missing from the 4G?”

Yes and no.

Unless it’s changed recently Vodafone hasn’t made much use of the 1400Mhz band - typically only in urban / high density areas and only for downlinks.

The spectrum they have been allocated can only be used where it’s joined / aggregated with a primary (another) band that has an uplink.

So if your coming to the north east or up deeside I wouldn’t bother with EE.

what do you expect in lower deeside.

EE works fine for me in NE and logie (no more)  view 😂

You must have dracs "EE" mines woeful - maybe its the iPhone xr it's in. It's a piece of crap n all.