Ask a Shiter

[Bill_Gates]

re mobile phone networks

Before 3G (UMTS) there was 2G (GSM) and before that was 1G (TACS).

The original 1G networks were Cellnet and Vodafone.

When 2G came along, Cellnet and Vodafone started to mount 2G on their existing 1G masts, and built a few more masts for 2G. Then Mercury One-to-One appeared, then Hutchisson Orange. The latter blitzed the country with masts, wherever they could put them, upsetting a lot of house owners, because up until the late 90's mobile phone networks only needed to submit a planning application to a council, and got planning permisison by default if the council did not object in 14 days. Then the planning laws on mobile phone masts were changed.

Around 1998 it started to become very difficult for mobile phone networks to plan new masts, so mast sharing became very common place (mast sharing had been in operation already, but networks preferred to build their own, until the planning law was changed).

Then in 2000 Tony Blairs lot auctioned 5 licences for 3G spectrum, which cost the UK mobile phone industry something like £20 billion. The four 2G netowrks each stayed in the auction right to the end, bidding against many startup companies that wanted a licence.

Cellnet became O2, Mercury 1-to-1 was bought by T-Mobile, and Hutchison sold Orange to France Telecom. So O2, Vodafone, TMO, and Orange who had all bought very expensive licences for 3G spectrum, decided to roll out 3G slowly. Meanwhile Hutchison, who had bought the fifth licence and called their 3G network "Three", had to roll out 3G coverage very quickly because they had no 2G.

2G coverage, for various reasons, is better than 3G coverage, so when you are in rural areas you are more likely to be on a 2G signal, depending on the network you are on.

In summary .....

O2 operate independently from other networks, with their own 2G and 3G coverage.

Vodafone operates independently from other networks, with their own 2G and 3G coverage.

TMO used to operate independently from other networks, with their own 2G and 3G coverage, but see below.

Orange used to operate independently from other networks, with their own 2G and 3G coverage, but see below.

Three operates its 3G independently from other networks, but still needs a 2G to hand into when their 3G coverage fails, see below.

 

For various reasons, TMO and Orange decided so share antennas. So where TMO has antennas and Orange coverage needs improvement, Orange can put its signal out through the TMO antennas. And vice versa. (note that antenna sharing is very different from mast sharing). TMO and Orange are now effectively a single network known as "Everything Eveywhere", though they still market themselves separately, ffs.

 

Three relies on "Everything Everywhere" 2G to fall back into, but in my experience, they have set their parameters to hang onto their own 3G signal until the person with the phone has died.

 

Take your pick gents, it's a fucking capitalist disaster out there.

[Wilko220]

Hi check the brake fluid level. You won't believe the amount of people that ignore the red brake fluid warning lights they just assume its a faulty switch. If the pads are low the level can drop too low or you might have a leak

 

Thank you - 'twas the brake fluid level, of course. Now to find the leak...

[Wilko220]

Hi check the brake fluid level. You won't believe the amount of people that ignore the red brake fluid warning lights they just assume its a faulty switch. If the pads are low the level can drop too low or you might have a leak

 

Thank you - 'twas the brake fluid level, of course. Now to find the leak...

[Richard]

It's normal for the fluid level warning to come on when the pads are low, the 'lost' fluid is in the caliper pistons.

[Richard]

It's normal for the fluid level warning to come on when the pads are low, the 'lost' fluid is in the caliper pistons.

[Ross_K]

Mercury One-to-One appeared

 

I forgot about those fuckers. They were shite of the highest order...

 

I had one of their Motorolas. It gave me a headache if I used it for more than two or three minutes

[Ross_K]

Mercury One-to-One appeared

 

I forgot about those fuckers. They were shite of the highest order...

 

I had one of their Motorolas. It gave me a headache if I used it for more than two or three minutes

[Bill_Gates]

Yeah I think their nick-name was One to None, and Orange was 0 Range LOL

[Bill_Gates]

Yeah I think their nick-name was One to None, and Orange was 0 Range LOL

[DSdriver]

...The brake warning light (the one which comes on when the handbrake is applied) has started illuminating permanently. Furthermore, the digital dashboard display (yeah, Connoisseur SE spec FTW) states "brake fault". Any ideas folks? Are we about to have an OMG BREAK FALE or can this wait the few days (and few hundred miles) until I'm back home?

I had a car where the handbrake warning and worn brake pads used the same light. Can't remember what car it was though. Soz.

[DSdriver]

...The brake warning light (the one which comes on when the handbrake is applied) has started illuminating permanently. Furthermore, the digital dashboard display (yeah, Connoisseur SE spec FTW) states "brake fault". Any ideas folks? Are we about to have an OMG BREAK FALE or can this wait the few days (and few hundred miles) until I'm back home?

I had a car where the handbrake warning and worn brake pads used the same light. Can't remember what car it was though. Soz.

[RobT]

Tyres. I’m replacing the back ones the R25, and want to get some decent ones. I thought about Continental Eco Contact 3s, but ‘the internet’ states these are meant for small cars. Is this right? Also looking at Avon ZT5s as tread pattern is similar to the two remaining decent ones (which are that well known brand Fortuna!).

[RobT]

Tyres. I’m replacing the back ones the R25, and want to get some decent ones. I thought about Continental Eco Contact 3s, but ‘the internet’ states these are meant for small cars. Is this right? Also looking at Avon ZT5s as tread pattern is similar to the two remaining decent ones (which are that well known brand Fortuna!).

[wuvvum]

Hi check the brake fluid level. You won't believe the amount of people that ignore the red brake fluid warning lights they just assume its a faulty switch. If the pads are low the level can drop too low or you might have a leak

 

Thank you - 'twas the brake fluid level, of course. Now to find the leak...

I once suffered a total brake failure at rush hour on the Paris Périphérique in an automatic Saab 9000 Turbo. Handbrake was useless on that car as well. Being 19, I just kept on going at a slightly reduced speed, and ended up making it from Paris to Norwich with no brakes. It was interesting, especially the ferry off-ramp which was a steep downhill slope with a tight 90 degree bend at the end, but the car and I both survived the experience.

[wuvvum]

Hi check the brake fluid level. You won't believe the amount of people that ignore the red brake fluid warning lights they just assume its a faulty switch. If the pads are low the level can drop too low or you might have a leak

 

Thank you - 'twas the brake fluid level, of course. Now to find the leak...

I once suffered a total brake failure at rush hour on the Paris Périphérique in an automatic Saab 9000 Turbo. Handbrake was useless on that car as well. Being 19, I just kept on going at a slightly reduced speed, and ended up making it from Paris to Norwich with no brakes. It was interesting, especially the ferry off-ramp which was a steep downhill slope with a tight 90 degree bend at the end, but the car and I both survived the experience.

[Cavcraft]

Tyres. I’m replacing the back ones the R25, and want to get some decent ones. I thought about Continental Eco Contact 3s, but ‘the internet’ states these are meant for small cars. Is this right? Also looking at Avon ZT5s as tread pattern is similar to the two remaining decent ones (which are that well known brand Fortuna!).

 

Do you mean 'meant for small cars' as in you don't know if they're available in the size you want, or do you mean 'meant for small cars' but they do they in the correct size for your's?

If the tyre size and speed rating are the same as your's then I can't see a problem.

[Cavcraft]

Tyres. I’m replacing the back ones the R25, and want to get some decent ones. I thought about Continental Eco Contact 3s, but ‘the internet’ states these are meant for small cars. Is this right? Also looking at Avon ZT5s as tread pattern is similar to the two remaining decent ones (which are that well known brand Fortuna!).

 

Do you mean 'meant for small cars' as in you don't know if they're available in the size you want, or do you mean 'meant for small cars' but they do they in the correct size for your's?

If the tyre size and speed rating are the same as your's then I can't see a problem.

[RobT]

Tyres. I’m replacing the back ones the R25, and want to get some decent ones. I thought about Continental Eco Contact 3s, but ‘the internet’ states these are meant for small cars. Is this right? Also looking at Avon ZT5s as tread pattern is similar to the two remaining decent ones (which are that well known brand Fortuna!).

 

Do you mean 'meant for small cars' as in you don't know if they're available in the size you want, or do you mean 'meant for small cars' but they do they in the correct size for your's?

If the tyre size and speed rating are the same as your's then I can't see a problem.

 

In the tyre information blurb they say specifically designed for small cars, but they do them in the size I need. The 25 has 14" rims, can't imagine many modern executive barges run on such small wheels.

[RobT]

Tyres. I’m replacing the back ones the R25, and want to get some decent ones. I thought about Continental Eco Contact 3s, but ‘the internet’ states these are meant for small cars. Is this right? Also looking at Avon ZT5s as tread pattern is similar to the two remaining decent ones (which are that well known brand Fortuna!).

 

Do you mean 'meant for small cars' as in you don't know if they're available in the size you want, or do you mean 'meant for small cars' but they do they in the correct size for your's?

If the tyre size and speed rating are the same as your's then I can't see a problem.

 

In the tyre information blurb they say specifically designed for small cars, but they do them in the size I need. The 25 has 14" rims, can't imagine many modern executive barges run on such small wheels.

[Volksy]

TBH the R25 probably weighs the same as a new 'small'* car.

[Volksy]

TBH the R25 probably weighs the same as a new 'small'* car.

[Spiny Norman]

TBH the R25 probably weighs the same as a new 'small'* car.

 

Dunno what model yours is but a 2 litre R25 GTS is about the same weight as a modern Clio DCi.

http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=37290

http://carleasingmadesimple.com/business-car-leasing/renault/clio/kerb-weight/

[Spiny Norman]

TBH the R25 probably weighs the same as a new 'small'* car.

 

Dunno what model yours is but a 2 litre R25 GTS is about the same weight as a modern Clio DCi.

http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=37290

http://carleasingmadesimple.com/business-car-leasing/renault/clio/kerb-weight/

[Morgan84]

Rover 75 brake warning lamps

 

Red = Fluid level low

Yellow = Pads getting low

[Morgan84]

Rover 75 brake warning lamps

 

Red = Fluid level low

Yellow = Pads getting low

[CreepingJesus]

Suspect testers do check, but I'm not 100% sure. Police and Ministry bods might well do too, but insurance assessors will, in the event of a claim. Especially on a car like yours, they'll be looking for something like that so they can tear up the claim. Personally, I'd give it a bodyswerve, however bargainous.

[CreepingJesus]

Suspect testers do check, but I'm not 100% sure. Police and Ministry bods might well do too, but insurance assessors will, in the event of a claim. Especially on a car like yours, they'll be looking for something like that so they can tear up the claim. Personally, I'd give it a bodyswerve, however bargainous.

[Wilko220]

I do find it quite ironic that the insurance is more likely to pay out in the event of a 50mph winter accident if the car has 150mph summer tyres versus 130mph winters.

 

You could say ironic, or you might equally say scandalous! They're just crooks, always looking for any loophole.

 

PS - thanks, chaps, for the 75 brake advice. I hadn't realised Citroens use different brake fluid but it's prevalent stuff here!

[Wilko220]

I do find it quite ironic that the insurance is more likely to pay out in the event of a 50mph winter accident if the car has 150mph summer tyres versus 130mph winters.

 

You could say ironic, or you might equally say scandalous! They're just crooks, always looking for any loophole.

 

PS - thanks, chaps, for the 75 brake advice. I hadn't realised Citroens use different brake fluid but it's prevalent stuff here!

[ashmicro]

Ford KKDA engine, 1.8TDCI 115 BHP as fitted to C-Max's. Timing belt or chain? Autodata helpfully lists both!

 

Cheers in advance