Is it worth the change?

[lukemul69]

Hey everyone,

I literally just discovered Public Mobile... I'm currently on Fido, paying $80 a month for 3GB data, I've been on Wind and Koodo before but wasn't happy with the connection I was getting even in Downtown Vancouver it was very slow and kept dropping. I need a good stable data connection for work. 

I see the pricing is very good on PM but my main concern is the reception, also is it LTE?

Many thanks.

[stonechucker]

Hmmm... Took me longer than 20 minutes to write that.... You've already ordered your SIM!

Stonechucker

[stonechucker]

Hi @lukemul69,

welcome me to the community, I just joined 11 days ago.

youve come to the right place, and I think my situation will sound very similar to you.

i was with WIND, and Rogers previously, the former most recently.  At both home and work, thick wall concrete construction, and also at work, metal roofs and in a valley.  On WIND, if I didn't stand outside the building, I could not make a call, or get SMS, or data reliably.  No joke.

i asked fellow workers, and a home, fellow tenants, "who is your cell provider?"

The resounding newer was Telus.

As I was lurking in the forums here for months before making my switch, I read TONS of postings, and bravo'd many post and replies.  I also determined that PM ran on the Telus LTE network.  That was my deciding point.  Order the SIM, and make it happen.

i live in Brantford ON, so delivery of the SIM came in two days.  I paid off my WIND account on the Friday afternoon, including phone subsidy.  I had about 20 days remaining on my service.

That same Friday, in the evening from my living room, I connected to the PM website to activate my SIM.  I signed up with a temp phone number from PM in my calling area, picked my plan, paid for it with voucher (I don't want to use credit card), and voila, phone was active, including data.  NOTE.. This may not work, but the fix is quick.

Aafter that successful connection, I ported my WIND phone number.  That took about 20 minutes to complete. Easy-peasy!

at home, and at work, I now have 3-4 dots out of 5 service, and generally have LTE.  3G happens in Brantford, as the big three have infrastructure here, but it's not as big as an urban centre like Toronto or Vancouver.

i say order the SIM, and take the plunge.

We are here if you need help!

thanks for letting me give you my experience.

StoneChucker

[ute1978]

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@lukemul69 wrote:

Thanks all, I have ordered a SIM card and will call fido to give them my 30 days!

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Believe me. You will not regret it. I signed up in April this year and I am still on cloud nine.

And if you have any questions or if you have issues, the community is here to help.

[lukemul69]

Thanks all, I have ordered a SIM card and will call fido to give them my 30 days!

[socialcocoon]

There is little to no difference in coverage and reception. The primary differences are the name of the network provider and the level of support.

[imm1304]

Hi @lukemul69!

Difference between PM and Koodo.. well, PM is more self-directed whereas Koodo is more traditional. 

With PM, there are no call centers, no retail stores and all plans are pre-paid.  Community based and online customer service only.  Also, PM is BYOD carrier.. doesn't sell or subsidize any phones.  

With regards to coverage, if your colleagues/friends currently on Telus are happy, then you will be happy too.  Not sure what Koodo was like 3 years ago, but its best you do your homework before making the move because you are essentially going back to the same parent company as Koodo and expect the same level of network coverage.  

[nishufan]

@lukemul69 For example. Koodo just like Bestbuy, and PM like Amazon. Koodo has retail stores and selling phones and other services through online and their store just like Bestbuy. PM only sell their services online and offer fewer services. But they all using Telus network, so the signal should be similar. 

[JaK]

Koodo and PM both use the Telus network, so should have the same reception. The difference is in their plan structures, Koodo is a discount post-paid provider, PM is pre-paid with even less frills (ie only BYO phones, no call in support, etc), but very agressive rates. If Telus reception works were you are, PM should as well.

[nishufan]

 I believe Telus network is better than three years ago. If you can get the Telus signal, PM should be ok.

[lukemul69]

Also, what's the difference between PM and Koodo if they are both under Telus.

[lukemul69]

Hey, thanks for the reply!

Yes, Koodo was the first network I joined arriving in Vancouver 3 years ago it was terrible and 3G kept dropping and kept getting no service in certain areas. That was 3 years ago I imagine its better now but I work in a concrete building and only Fido, Rogers and Telus seem to get through, Wind and Koodo I had no luck.

[JaK]

Hi @lukemul69;

Yes, it is LTE. In fact, PM is owned by Telus and uses Telus' network, so connectivity and data speeds are as good as Telus. (Koodo is also on Telus, did you have issues there?). Definitely worth it, think you won't be disappointed.