Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: TCFKAE2 on January 02, 2025, 06:06:41 PM
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Apologies if this is covered on another thread (searched but could not find a thread related to this) and/or if not appropriate for this part of the Forum (Mods - please feel free to shut-down/move if required.)
Interested to hear about experiences re different mobile network coverage in V Park.
I'm on 3 (with an "entry level" (cheap...) non-5G phone) and I get no data coverage at all in the Stadium (and am lucky to get voice coverage via cellular) from at least 45 mins before a game (I sit in Trinity/middle tier). I see others around me on other Networks getting data coverage (e.g. checking scores) throughout the game.
Any other 3 users get a better experience than me? If so is this on 5G??
Also how do non-3 Network users get on in the Stadium before/during the game?
Any info will be greatly received/thanks in advance.
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I'm on 3. I never get any signal where I am (Lower Holte). The girl next to me always keeps me up to date with scores.
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I'm O2 & it's garbage within the vicinity of vIlla Park
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My contract is with EE. Usually it works ok but sometimes can be a bit sluggish.
Hopefully one day Villa Park will have WiFi available to all free of charge. I imagine it can be done. Pretty sure that the Tottenham stadium have WiFi and I know that the Melbourne Cricket Ground (one of the world’s biggest stadiums) has free WiFi.
So I am sure it can be installed at a much smaller (by comparison) Villa Park. The only issue is that it will come at a cost which I suspect would be passed on to us fans one way or another.
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I was on 02 for the last couple of seasons and it was terrible but before that I was on EE & it was so good I could watch a dodgy stream of the game while I was in the beer queue just before half time.
I’m back with EE now and I do have a signal again. I can check scores of other games and WhatsApp people who are elsewhere. I’ve even watched the VAR on sky go when we’ve been live. I haven’t bought any beer in Villa Park this season though so I don’t know whether it’s THAT good any more.
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I'm on Vodafone, coverage is fine but no chance of using it at peak times i.e. half-time, too many people doing the same congesting the site.
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I was on 02 for the last couple of seasons and it was terrible but before that I was on EE & it was so good I could watch a dodgy stream of the game while I was in the beer queue just before half time.
I’m back with EE now and I do have a signal again. I can check scores of other games and WhatsApp people who are elsewhere. I’ve even watched the VAR on sky go when we’ve been live. I haven’t bought any beer in Villa Park this season though so I don’t know whether it’s THAT good any more.
amfy, the beer's shit! ;-)
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I can get signal by Amfy on my way down the stairs at half-time so that may be location rather than provider based. (Near the open air).
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I'm with O2 and the signal is rubbish. The only place in the ground where I can get a signal is in K6 which I think is because it's at the end of the Holte upper so not in the middle of a stand.
I've often thought about why they haven't got wifi but I guess it's down to cost like others have said.
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Can a moderator lock this before Heck sees it as another money extracting opportunity.
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So here is an enigma. I am on O2 and surfacing is crap for for most websites except Paddypowers. Do betting concerns do a "power up" deal with the club by fitting specifically tailored boosters?
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I’m O2 and get no signal from about 45 minutes before kick off…it’s why it’s annoying to have ticket n phone, used to just leave it in the glove box
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From memory I've got an idea that at an FCG meeting we were told something about Villa not being able to boost WiFi signalling due to problems with broadcasters. Or maybe I'm talking shite.
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A Small Heath steward told me they weren't allowed to boost signal as it could interfere with the police's signal and make it harder for them to communicate in an emergency. This was ten years ago, though, so may no longer be a problem or he might just have been talking bollocks in the first place.
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65k at Cheltenham races and they have improved it massively. No HT to cope with mind.
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EE works in 5G in A8
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This is a general view and not just about VP but EE is the most expensive and it's for good reason as they piss on the rest. 3 is the worst of all the networks I have been on by a country mile. I'm currently with o2 and I'd say it is slightly below Vodafone. Basically, if you have 3, from my experience, they're a load of shite, but the jump from the rest to EE is a big one.
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This is a general view and not just about VP but EE is the most expensive and it's for good reason as they piss on the rest. 3 is the worst of all the networks I have been on by a country mile. I'm currently with o2 and I'd say it is slightly below Vodafone. Basically, if you have 3, from my experience, they're a load of shite, but the jump from the rest to EE is a big one.
I agree on 3 I was with them for the past two years and they are terrible, the worst I’ve had. I live in zone 2 in London and frequently had no signal between home and work.
I’m told that EE have their own infrastructure and thus are the best by a mile, which is why they can charge more. They were very good when I had them a few years ago. I’m currently with Vodafone who are somewhere in between the above two.
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Vodafone works okay for me. I can have a quick look at the match thread on here at half-time, and occasionally have looked at replays if the game I’m at is on Sky or discovery as I am a subscriber. That’s on my mobile data. I’m not a fan of free wi-fi. We have it at work and it doesn’t work - people say it’s because too many people are using it, but there’s only 50/60 blokes on each shift. It’s also crap on the bus and when walking around Asda. In all these locations I have to use my mobile data. So I’m not exactly confident wi-fi would work at VP with 40,000 in it.
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65k at Cheltenham races and they have improved it massively. No HT to cope with mind.
Spread over an immensely bigger area, though.
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This is a general view and not just about VP but EE is the most expensive and it's for good reason as they piss on the rest. 3 is the worst of all the networks I have been on by a country mile. I'm currently with o2 and I'd say it is slightly below Vodafone. Basically, if you have 3, from my experience, they're a load of shite, but the jump from the rest to EE is a big one.
I have just exited a 2 year contract with 3, thank fuck, they're absolutely shit.
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I am on 3 and get just enough signal to check scores in K7.
3 are about to merge with Vodafone.
It is illegal under Net Neutrality laws for any ISP (including phone companies) to slow down or block access to individual websites. The betting sites are probably just storing more data on your device and highly optimising the last bit of data you need to get to a front page. They will understand the size of the potential market and will have invested a lot in finding ways to keep it working in low bandwidth situations. Most websites don't need to bother with that.
I'm not a WiFi Engineer but I've seen enough about it to know that even doing indoors at VP is a massive engineering challenge. To do the main stadium, whilst not impossible, would take someone with a lot of skill and cost a lot of money.
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This is a general view and not just about VP but EE is the most expensive and it's for good reason as they piss on the rest. 3 is the worst of all the networks I have been on by a country mile. I'm currently with o2 and I'd say it is slightly below Vodafone. Basically, if you have 3, from my experience, they're a load of shite, but the jump from the rest to EE is a big one.
I have just exited a 2 year contract with 3, thank fuck, they're absolutely shit.
I tried them twice 6 years apart... on both occasions I exited my contract within 14 days. I thought 6 years was long enough for them to have improved but clearly not. Make that 8 years including your 2.
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I'm with O2 and for years have not been able to get any kind of signal within half a mile of VP, even when I have had my work phone which is EE, I still don't get a signal
This is from all different areas of VP, it used to wind me up big style seeing people around me checking scores, on social media, betting, sending messages etc, just like normal and couldn't even check if the wife had got her arse out of bed!!
I got all excited earlier this year when I tried and it showed up 'AVFC free' as a network, but it wouldn't connect!
The signal does seem a little better this year, I have been able to send an receive messages now and again, but still not to any decent standard
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I'm with 3 and generally fine during the match, but useless at half time. Vodafone was just as bad. Generally though in Birmingham I have found 3 to be much better on 5g than Vodafone was and better than my O2 work phone is. I guess it's where you go etc. VP needs a half decent WiFi set up. Pathetic that it hasn't sorted it yet.
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I'm on Vodafone. Trying to get on before the game for a last minute bet can be tricky but I'm often asked to 'check the scores' during the game and I can normally get on fine.
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I'm with 3 and generally fine during the match, but useless at half time. Vodafone was just as bad. Generally though in Birmingham I have found 3 to be much better on 5g than Vodafone was and better than my O2 work phone is. I guess it's where you go etc. VP needs a half decent WiFi set up. Pathetic that it hasn't sorted it yet.
Not really. As rjp intimated, it isn't the easiest thing to give WIFI to 10k devices* in one location with enough speed to actually do anything with. For example each of the wifi boxes you see dotted around places are rated to 250 devices, however really are only good between 50-100 max. Tottenham are one of the few with supposedly decent wifi**, but then it was the newest stadium and designed in at the build stage to some extent.
*Based on 1 in 4 connecting.
** Although not confirmed if what they state they offer is actually what the fans experience.
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This is a general view and not just about VP but EE is the most expensive and it's for good reason as they piss on the rest. 3 is the worst of all the networks I have been on by a country mile. I'm currently with o2 and I'd say it is slightly below Vodafone. Basically, if you have 3, from my experience, they're a load of shite, but the jump from the rest to EE is a big one.
I have just exited a 2 year contract with 3, thank fuck, they're absolutely shit.
Dont sign up to contracts folks, loads of sim only deals around. If the network is shit for you, you can just switch.
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I'm with 3 and generally fine during the match, but useless at half time. Vodafone was just as bad. Generally though in Birmingham I have found 3 to be much better on 5g than Vodafone was and better than my O2 work phone is. I guess it's where you go etc. VP needs a half decent WiFi set up. Pathetic that it hasn't sorted it yet.
Not really. As rjp intimated, it isn't the easiest thing to give WIFI to 10k devices* in one location with enough speed to actually do anything with. For example each of the wifi boxes you see dotted around places are rated to 250 devices, however really are only good between 50-100 max. Tottenham are one of the few with supposedly decent wifi**, but then it was the newest stadium and designed in at the build stage to some extent.
*Based on 1 in 4 connecting.
** Although not confirmed if what they state they offer is actually what the fans experience.
It's solvable you just need to design it properly and commit to working with the right partner to implement it well. And would sit outside any spending restrictions as it's infrastructure cost.
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It is illegal under Net Neutrality laws for any ISP (including phone companies) to slow down or block access to individual websites. The betting sites are probably just storing more data on your device and highly optimising the last bit of data you need to get to a front page. They will understand the size of the potential market and will have invested a lot in finding ways to keep it working in low bandwidth situations. Most websites don't need to bother with that.
I spent 5 years plus writing live betting systems for bookmakers, and that is exactly what it is.
It is not so pronounced now, because the tech of how it is done has changed, but back in my day, live odds and markets require a lot of data to be hosed down, and absolutely it becomes about making that data as compressed and minimal as possible to ensure the sites are responsive.
There used to be other factors, too, which probably aren't so much the case any more, but when we used to do work for Irish bookies, Paddy Power, Boylesports etc, they were always extremely big on the low-bandwidth thing, as they had a lot of customers in rural Ireland who were still on awful connections.
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It’s generally been pretty good for me in most parts of the ground on EE. Even managed to stream one of the euro games from outside The Trinity last season, which had already kicked off, as I was waiting patiently in the mahoosive queue to get in.
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I'm with 3 and generally fine during the match, but useless at half time. Vodafone was just as bad. Generally though in Birmingham I have found 3 to be much better on 5g than Vodafone was and better than my O2 work phone is. I guess it's where you go etc. VP needs a half decent WiFi set up. Pathetic that it hasn't sorted it yet.
It isn't pathetic, though - who would set it up, for starters? And why?
They're (the club) not going to set up free wifi for everyone because there's just no return in it for them, and it'd be expensive. Then there's the fact that even if they did, they're going to need major infrastructure support from the internet provider they opted to use, because the existing consumer set-up isn't going to cut it.
The mobile networks are saturated because there are 40,000 in a tiny physical area trying to use their networks where for the other 1-year-minus-2x19-hours there are a few hundred at absolute most, and there's no real business case for them to massively increase the infrastructure, either.
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I just (as in yesterday) binned 3 for an EE SIM only deal, and noticed this from their product description.
Our fastest speed and incredible extras. Enjoy ultra HD video and 4K gaming. Gift data to family, get unlimited watch data and a VIP connection when the network is busy. No-charge roaming in the EU and beyond. Choose an extra like Netflix, TNT Sports, an Xbox pass or Google One AI Premium. Uncapped speed.
I'd imagine some of us are on that VIP channel without being aware of it which probably explains the differing experiences we have.
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It isn't pathetic, though - who would set it up, for starters? And why?
They're (the club) not going to set up free wifi for everyone because there's just no return in it for them, and it'd be expensive. Then there's the fact that even if they did, they're going to need major infrastructure support from the internet provider they opted to use, because the existing consumer set-up isn't going to cut it.
The two stadiums who have boasted about their new super duper wifi,(marketing only, I haven't found any confirmation about how good it actually is from fans) are Spurs and Pool. They have partnered with HP Aruba and some other company respectively. Both have publicised how they could track fans, footfall and to upsell stuff based on location in the stadium (I'm assuming an app or the Wifi Portal). So their might be a return for them but people probably won't like it when forced to use something like that at VP.
But both those clubs have ground/stands that have been built fairly recently so probably alot easier to plan out the mesh systems etc.
But I'm still not convinced on how good the connections actually are when 60K are there.
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I was at the London Stadium for Foo Fighters, free wifi, 80000 people and I managed to stream the England-Denmark game live up until they came on. Again for the first game of the season v West Ham it was excellent, so it can be done!
I'm on O2 and get nothing at VP from 45 mins before hand, until I'm well past the Aston Tavern on the way out afterwards I can't even make calls.
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I may be stating the obvious but everyone does realise there’s free WiFi in the stadium. I use it every week and other than a slight faf signing in it’s great.
However agree with everyone about 3, it’s utter shite since the move to 5G.
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EE works, the rest don't. I've been in all 4 stands fairly recently and it works everywhere.
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What I've found works because most people are on the 4g/5g network that gets clogged up. I tend to change put my phone back onto the 3g network and it seems to work OK for me
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65k at Cheltenham races and they have improved it massively. No HT to cope with mind.
Spread over an immensely bigger area, though.
And supplemented with temporary cell sites by the networks and isn't surrounded on all 4 sides by a metal, concrete and glass structure which digital telephony/radio doesn't deal well with (Rayleigh fading)
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O2, 4G. Never been able to get internet access, whats app access or anything of the like inside the ground or in the near vicinity.
Im not that bothered to be honest as its tome away from the phone, but its a bit shite like.
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What I've found works because most people are on the 4g/5g network that gets clogged up. I tend to change put my phone back onto the 3g network and it seems to work OK for me
This is a good tip for anyone, anywhere, and one I have frequently used.
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What I've found works because most people are on the 4g/5g network that gets clogged up. I tend to change put my phone back onto the 3g network and it seems to work OK for me
This is a good tip for anyone, anywhere, and one I have frequently used.
That’s a useful tip. -cheers.
I’ve used the WiFi at the Amex stadium and it was brilliant - quick and stable.
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What I've found works because most people are on the 4g/5g network that gets clogged up. I tend to change put my phone back onto the 3g network and it seems to work OK for me
According to the 3 website they have switched off their 3G network in the Villa Park area so probably not a fix for us 3 users.
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What I've found works because most people are on the 4g/5g network that gets clogged up. I tend to change put my phone back onto the 3g network and it seems to work OK for me
According to the 3 website they have switched off their 3G network in the Villa Park area so probably not a fix for us 3 users.
I think they have switched off their 4 and 5G networks where I live as the signal I get is atrocious bordering on non existent.
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EE works, the rest don't. I've been in all 4 stands fairly recently and it works everywhere.
Same (not in all 4 stands) but Trinty and Ellis in the last year it works pretty well.
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What I've found works because most people are on the 4g/5g network that gets clogged up. I tend to change put my phone back onto the 3g network and it seems to work OK for me
According to the 3 website they have switched off their 3G network in the Villa Park area so probably not a fix for us 3 users.
I think they have switched off their 4 and 5G networks where I live as the signal I get is atrocious bordering on non existent.
I get as fast 5g through 3 at home as I do through Virgin much of the time. They are very hit and miss.
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What I've found works because most people are on the 4g/5g network that gets clogged up. I tend to change put my phone back onto the 3g network and it seems to work OK for me
According to the 3 website they have switched off their 3G network in the Villa Park area so probably not a fix for us 3 users.
I think they have switched off their 4 and 5G networks where I live as the signal I get is atrocious bordering on non existent.
I get as fast 5g through 3 at home as I do through Virgin much of the time. They are very hit and miss.
I reckon Virgin Media are the company I have heard most negative comment about from existing customers, in any field, not just internet provision. Nobody ever seems happy with them.
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I have never been with Virgin Media but from what I gather is they are really good... until you have a problem, then you get to witness just how shit their customer service is.
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What I've found works because most people are on the 4g/5g network that gets clogged up. I tend to change put my phone back onto the 3g network and it seems to work OK for me
According to the 3 website they have switched off their 3G network in the Villa Park area so probably not a fix for us 3 users.
Luckily for me EE haven't so I still have that option open to me
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Outside Villa park right now and the mobile coverage is brilliant
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Outside Villa park right now and the mobile coverage is brilliant
Someone’s eager!
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As I only have a works mobile phone - which will be going back in March due to me being made redundant (thanks reeves you c**t)- I can never understand why people cannot survive a few hours without looking at a phone?? It is quite sad really that folk feel the need to be contactable 24/7
The only reason I have my work mobile today is because my wife told me to bring it because of the weather forecast of snow?
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Outside Villa park right now and the mobile coverage is brilliant
Same here. I'm about five miles outside, mind.
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Outside Villa park right now and the mobile coverage is brilliant
Same here. I'm about five miles outside, mind.
Me too, nice warm cuppa. 2.20pm train it is.
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If you want full fat EE for pennies (we'll cheap anyway -25GB for a tenner no contact, EU roaming included. 1p mobile is your friend. PM for a sign up that gets you a fiver off (and me).
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Managed to use mine at half-time no issues, maybe they have improved the mobile capacity.
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Im with Vodafone and I always get a signal with them. O2 is awful. Avoid like the plague.
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If you want full fat EE for pennies (we'll cheap anyway -25GB for a tenner no contact, EU roaming included. 1p mobile is your friend. PM for a sign up that gets you a fiver off (and me).
I got the full fat one for 29 a month, pretty sure it was over 40+ earlier in December, but the clincher for me was it included a Google One plus AI subscription which I currently pay 19 quid a month for, so good deal.
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Normal 3 shutdown for me before/during match (after streaming TNT/Tot v NCFC on walk to ground) - thankfully Son on EE so got a score check a couple of times. As someone else said being without the Mobile for a couple of hours not such a bad thing.
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It’s no big deal when you’re watching the game but it is a pain in the arse when you’re trying to get hold of people at the ground when plans change. I’ve had a few examples this season where I’ve arranged to meet people at a given spot but it’s been too crowded or my train has been late and getting hold of them has proved impossible.