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2G/3G Only Sites on Vodafone

jmngonline

ULTIMATE Member
Just curious if there is any more 2G and 3G only masts about on Voda?

I am aware of the 3G only microcells in rural areas still active and a 2g "G" only mast I had recently discovered behind Travelodge Beckington.

Thought Id make an an individual forum to closley monitor potential upgrades on those untouched masts


Here's a photo of the Travelodge Beckington one
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KhnpUPbjrinSogHSM0bE-fj-wFsfTBvj/view?usp=drivesdk
 
So I'm not an expert but driving up the A11 and A14, the phone on the CarPlay said "E" several times which I have been told on this site is 2G, so perhaps along those roads, there are still 2G masts? I am on O2 and said "3G" at these times.
 
So I'm not an expert but driving up the A11 and A14, the phone on the CarPlay said "E" several times which I have been told on this site is 2G, so perhaps along those roads, there are still 2G masts? I am on O2 and said "3G" at these times.
No, not necessarily.

O2 and Vodafone can drop down to 2G/3G for: capacity reasons (if there's low capacity on 4G, 3G or 2G may be faster), coverage reasons (I think 2G and 3G are set to higher power than 4G even though B8 2G/3G is theoretically higher than B20 4G, I'm not qualified to explain it really)

O2 probably is connected to HSPA/HSPA+ but I think iPhones display it as 3G (I suppose it's better than 4G 😂)
 
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I can confirm their "G" only site at Travelodge Beckington only shows bars now no data
 
That Travelodge Beckington still "G" only

1000042933.webp

CID 1103

O2 has 3G on it I think because the Cellmapper trails shows bright green

1000042937.webp
 
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2G still forms part of the International GSM / PCN Roaming Agreement.
Could you explain more for me?

Other networks in countries abroad turned off 2G first, such as Australia. 2G is virtually unusable meanwhile 3G is usable if it's not congested.
 
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Could you explain more for me?

Other networks in countries abroad turned off 2G first, such as Australia. 2G is virtually unusable meanwhile 3G is usable if it's not congested.
Yes, it's not a simple Shut Down Agreement plan, Australia along with some Asian Regions switched off 2G years ago.

The UK Networks still running 2G for now, and have all said that they plan to switch off 2G before 2033, untill then it will probably just deteriorate before it becomes a Cobweb Network.
 
Came across a good old fashioned Vodafone tuning fork in Inverary last weekend.

Curiously, a planning application was approved to replace it in 2016 with a CTIL/Beacon 4G mast.
And again in 2021.
And again in 2022
And finally again in May 2024.

Seems they've been wanting to replace it for nearly a decade, but for whatever reason haven't gotten round to it.
1722953816469.webp


As far as I could assume, it was broadcasting Vodafone 2G only... but I didn't have a Vodafone SIM to test
 
Came across a good old fashioned Vodafone tuning fork in Inverary last weekend.

Curiously, a planning application was approved to replace it in 2016 with a CTIL/Beacon 4G mast.
And again in 2021.
And again in 2022
And finally again in May 2024.

Seems they've been wanting to replace it for nearly a decade, but for whatever reason haven't gotten round to it.
View attachment 17277

As far as I could assume, it was broadcasting Vodafone 2G only... but I didn't have a Vodafone SIM to test
Aw, it looks a little lost hiding in the trees like that chrsphr. 😊
Some timescale for it's upgrade though, maybe they can't find it. :rolleyes: 😊
 
Came across a good old fashioned Vodafone tuning fork in Inverary last weekend.

Curiously, a planning application was approved to replace it in 2016 with a CTIL/Beacon 4G mast.
And again in 2021.
And again in 2022
And finally again in May 2024.

Seems they've been wanting to replace it for nearly a decade, but for whatever reason haven't gotten round to it.
View attachment 17277

As far as I could assume, it was broadcasting Vodafone 2G only... but I didn't have a Vodafone SIM to test
Cool! I wonder how old it is...
 
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So I'm not an expert but driving up the A11 and A14, the phone on the CarPlay said "E" several times which I have been told on this site is 2G, so perhaps along those roads, there are still 2G masts? I am on O2 and said "3G" at these times.

Also, on Vodafone, usually the presence of E indicates that you are actually connected to a 4G mast, just dropped down to 2G for whatever reason.
E was super rare on Vodafone's network, till the Beacon programme which upgraded everything to 4G.
As to why you dropped to E - sometimes when bouncing between a lot of masts the phone just might for a moment pick 2G as the strongest signal... the handback from 2G to 4G is often really slow, even if there is 4G signal available. This is why I just have 2G turned off on my phone
 
There are two that I can think of right now:

- one at Tyndrum, in the Highlands (but in Stirling council area) - GPRS only, if even that. I wasn't able to get a data connection when I was going past on the train
- one near Southdean in the Scottish Borders. I'm pretty sure it's Voda only and it's pretty hopeless for data. Last time I checked it was GPRS-only.
 
There are two that I can think of right now:

- one at Tyndrum, in the Highlands (but in Stirling council area) - GPRS only, if even that. I wasn't able to get a data connection when I was going past on the train
- one near Southdean in the Scottish Borders. I'm pretty sure it's Voda only and it's pretty hopeless for data. Last time I checked it was GPRS-only.
Even 3 has 4G there!

People on Tyndrums Facebook group even moaned about the fact that VF/O2 is a 2G only area there
1000043054.webp
 
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