Giffgaff or Three - what are they like?

Sootie · 2 Mar 2011 at 08:52

If you were looking for a data-only SIM - pick up a Three 3G SIM Ready-To-Go 3GB for £7 off the well known river-named website - just replace when required.

SimonCHere · 2 Mar 2011 at 09:46

I'm testing out GiffGaff at the moment, just the standard, no goodybag payg.

Inside I get 366kbps, outside I get 3281kbps on a HSDPA signal.

King Damager · 2 Mar 2011 at 09:58

I'd go with GiffGaff myself, I know a few people who are on it and have had no issues what so ever.

As for issues with O2, I myself am on o2, and have been for a long time, rarely had any issues with them, except for when their internet goes down for a few hours quite often - can get annoying. But being in the centre of Norwich I have no issues with signal and hence speeds,

3625kb/s Down
1279kb/s Up

kd

Gavin · 2 Mar 2011 at 10:55

voice = fine
data = i found shocking

petecarter · 2 Mar 2011 at 11:06

Im on the very 3 deal that you mentioned. Everything is great on it, coverage and customer service is great. And because its a rolling 30 day contract you can always switch if you dont like it.

englishpremier · 2 Mar 2011 at 11:38

King Damager said:
I'd go with GiffGaff myself, I know a few people who are on it and have had no issues what so ever.

As for issues with O2, I myself am on o2, and have been for a long time, rarely had any issues with them, except for when their internet goes down for a few hours quite often - can get annoying. But being in the centre of Norwich I have no issues with signal and hence speeds,

3625kb/s Down
1279kb/s Up

kd

I'm in the center of Norwich, I work on Prince of Wales road and live by the market, in both areas I get HSDPA but still don't get anywhere near 1Mb downstream

I also had the giffgaff problem of it not sending texts (now fixed)

I'm using an Orange San Francisco, which O2 doesn't allow to receive MMS over 25Kb despite me setting it to an Iphone 3 via the user agent.

What speed test programme are you using?

GeX · 2 Mar 2011 at 12:22

DIABLO said:
The San Fran is easy to unlock and free too.

Aye, I already have phones - was just saying i'll chuck a spare sim in the spare phones to check coverage etc

I'm leaning toward 3, their coverage around where I live, am moving to and work is very good and their data network isn't tettering on the edge of death like o2's is!

I'm using an Orange San Francisco, which O2 doesn't allow to receive MMS over 25Kb

25Kb cap on MMS, what??

Hxc · 2 Mar 2011 at 12:25

englishpremier said:
I'm in the center of Norwich, I work on Prince of Wales road and live by the market, in both areas I get HSDPA but still don't get anywhere near 1Mb downstream

I also had the giffgaff problem of it not sending texts (now fixed)

I'm using an Orange San Francisco, which O2 doesn't allow to receive MMS over 25Kb despite me setting it to an Iphone 3 via the user agent.

What speed test programme are you using?

o2 in Norwich is trash. T Mobile is much, much better round here.

englishpremier · 2 Mar 2011 at 12:34

GeX said:
25Kb cap on MMS, what??

Yep the O2 network doesn't recognise the OSF so only allows 25kb MMS so don't expect to get any decent sized sexy pics sent to you from your girlfriend

Kelt · 2 Mar 2011 at 19:19

englishpremier said:
That's interesting. Are you on giffgaff and have you bought a goodybag with data? I've ust got the £5 goodybag, maybe they limit the speed on the free internet.

I'm on the same as you, £5 goodybag, free internet until 1st April.

GeX · 2 Mar 2011 at 22:00

englishpremier said:
Yep the O2 network doesn't recognise the OSF so only allows 25kb MMS so don't expect to get any decent sized sexy pics sent to you from your girlfriend

that's settled it, off to three!

biron_w · 4 Mar 2011 at 00:35

I went on giffgaff for about a month but where I live you can't get 3g(no surprise there with o2!) so i'm now on 3 and have no problems.
Both of their payg sim cards are excellent value and better than any of the other networks.

Code13 · 4 Mar 2011 at 00:59

I just moved from O2 to 3. This was for a contract iPhone 4 so not really comparable, but I've found 3 has a lot better signal, in my area at least, and I can now get 3G at home which is quite neat for checking the web when about town (and internet radio). O2 was spotty at best. While I had good signal at my house anywhere outside of town was just hit and miss., and I didn't get 3G until you get into Newcastle.

That said I haven't been with 3 all that long so it may not be an in-depth comparison. Another thing is IIRC 3 is the only network that allows you to use BBC iPlayer over a cellular connection.

visibleman · 4 Mar 2011 at 01:49

englishpremier said:
Yep the O2 network doesn't recognise the OSF so only allows 25kb MMS so don't expect to get any decent sized sexy pics sent to you from your girlfriend

This is only restricted to San Fran and there is a hit/miss hack to increase the size on the Modaco forums.

On GG here, can't say i have any major problems apart from text failing if the signal is ****e (which i didn't get previously on O2).

englishpremier · 4 Mar 2011 at 09:56

Yep I did say in my post it was OSF. It's only on O2 though. All other networks are fine.

James_N · 4 Mar 2011 at 19:39

Been on Giffgaff since the end of Jan. Fantastic 3G coverage round here, from payback ive earnt £40 and counting. Its more than paying for my goodybags!

Super Tigers · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:24

I used my LG GT540 with my Giffgaff sim around Media City at Salford Quays today, 4500kbp/s download speed !!!!! I have never had higher than 1900kbps in and around Hull, I was well impressed, BT must have spent to serious money on the backbones in that area.