What has Tarbert, Loch Fyne, done to upset Vodafone and Google? None of us who live here have any idea why these two giant corporations seem intent on destroying our local economy and want to keep us incommunicado with the outside world.
This morning (9th August 2011) the Vodafone signal is down for the umpteenth time in recent months. Sometimes it can be out for weeks at a time. It has been happening for years and is now a regular occurrence.
Vodafone don’t seem to care that it is the sole means of communication for many of our 2000 plus citizens nor do Vodafone care that it is the chosen supplier for many who work for the emergency services. Despite complaints, a campaign by our local paper and even an anti Vodafone Facebook page, Vodafone continues to offer a dangerously poor level of service and reliability to our population.
Google, the main means of finding out how to get to towns and village in remote rural areas, absolutely refuses to acknowledge Tarbert’s existence. There are around 12 communities named Tarbert or Tarbet in Scotland. Tarbert on Loch Fyne is by far the largest. Despite this Google continues to ignore us. Thus, when anyone wants to find us on Google Maps they are directed to other Tarberts. We have written letters, complained to our MSPs, had articles published in local and national Newspapers. Despite this Google continues to arrogantly ignore our pleas and insist that we don’t exist.
To many folk this may seem to be a quaint wee technological oddity but to our largest industry, the tourism industry, it is a major blow.
Perhaps Google and Vodafone really love Tarbert and want to keep it a secret known only to themselves? Maybe Google and Vodafone feel that our beautiful harbour, ancient castle (once a parliament for Robert the Bruce) and award winning seafood are too good to let the world know of its existence.
Whatever the reason, Vodafone and Google continue to make their billions while their neglect and indifference allows our local economy to crash and burn.
Bob Chicken, Tarbert Community Councillor
Sorry, the first two hits on google search today are for Tarbert Loch Fyne.
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I tried the same on a ‘Google’ search for ‘Tarbert’ and everything on the first pages related to Tarbert businesses and attractions – the first hit is for the Tourist office in Tarbert….maybe Google has fixed the problem??? We changed mobile phone supplier to one that works….. and our mobiles work in Tarbert…..maybe that’s the solution?
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It looks as if Google have a simple error on their map, there is no Tarbert visible in that location on the OS 1:25000 map though Google can hardly be blamed for there being many places with the same name. Tarbert on Harris might object if all enquiries about Tarbert were directed to Tarbert Loch Fyne.
Most online mapping sites seem to get their data from the same company and there are many errors. There is a system for reporting the errors to the company (not Google) but it takes many years for corrections to appear (if ever!). Until recently the Belford Hospital in Fort William appeared on Google Maps and Sat Navs at it’s old location which closed in the 1960s. The street where I live is shown incorrectly on just about every computer mapping system – the only correct one is Online StreetMap because I corrected it! There are also many errors on Google Maps because businesses have been added using their postcode or users have added places themselves without zooming into get the exact location.
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Stephen – It’s Google Maps that are the problem. Like yourself folk find out about the delights of our village from the search engine. They then go get directions on Google Maps. The map currently shown on the Google page directs one to a place called Tarbert on a hill South of Cloanaig. In order to do this one actually drives through TLF to get to it!
In the past it has shown Tarbert on Jura and another Tarbert on Cowal. Google still refuses to believe that Tarbert, Loch Fyne exists on a map. Have a look for it on Google Maps.
In the last few years there have been articles in a number of newspapers on this anomaly yet Google continues, arrogantly, to deny our existence.
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Edit Google Maps: Improve information in Google Maps for the world to see
http://maps.google.com/help/maps/edit/
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Sorry that only works on additions to the maps not errors in the maps themselves
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Lizzie – on Google I think my reply to Stephen explains that it is the maps not the search engine which are at fault.
On Vodafone I quite agree that for, local individuals, a change of supplier to the more reliable T Mobile,02 or Orange networks is an effective solution.
However, Vodafone is a worldwide provider and the largest in the UK. It offers some advantages over its competitors and is, I suspect, the most popular among visitors to the area. It is also popular with the emergency services, contractors, maintenance companies etc. Why should our community be disenfranchised just because Vodafone won’t fix their problem here?
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Sorry gang, I can’t see what the problem is with the map…
If you search for Tarbert, Loch Fyne you get a map showing:
Loch Fyne Ferry Terminal, Tarbert Lochfyne Harbour Authority, Loch Fyne Seafarms Ltd, Loch Fyne Seafarms Ltd, Loch Fyne Gallery, Waverley Loch Fyne Excursions
Harbour Street, Tarbert, Argyll PA29 6UD. There is also an option for 133 results for “loch fyne”
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and if you search for “tarbert” you get
1 Tarbert
Tarbert town (Dec 2006)
Castle Street, Tarbert, Argyll and Bute PA29 6, United Kingdom
2 Tarbert Lochfyne Harbour Authority
Tarbert harbour
Garvel Rd, Tarbert, Argyll PA29 6TR, United Kingdom
3 Tarbert Academy
School Road, Tarbert, Argyll PA29 6TE, United Kingdom
+44 1880 820269 () · tarbert.argyll-bute.sch.uk
4 Tarbert Library
Tarbert Library, Barmore Road, Tarbert, Argyll PA29 6TW, United Kingdom
5 Tarbert Pharmacy
Bannockburn Buildings, Barmore Road, Tarbert, Argyll PA29 6TW, United Kingdom
+44 1880 820232
6 Tarbert Indian Restaurant
Photo
196 Harbour Street, Tarbert, Argyll PA29 6UD, United Kingdom
+44 1880 821099 () · tarbertindianrestaurant.co.uk
7 Tarbert Shellfish Co Ltd
Industrial Estate, Campbeltown Road, Tarbert, Argyll PA29 6TX, United Kingdom
+44 1880 820799
and that’s just page 1 of 4..!
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Apologies, Bob, I didn’t think to look at Google Maps. I’ve noticed a general deterioration in the quality of GM recently; there’s all sorts of misplaced post offices and incorrectly located postcodes and the like, so it’s hardly a surprise.
Unfortunately internet search works best on uniquely named search terms, and Google’s algorithm is (allegedly) automated.
It’s no consolation, I’m sure, but Tarbet Loch Lomond’s Vodafone coverage has also been hopeless recently. Maybe you should all buy satellite phones instead, and send the bill to them!
And finally, it’s not Google maps that has the OS maps, it’s Bing.
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(looks at Tarbert on google Maps.)
Oh dear, yes, that’s totally wrong, isn’t it?
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The only coverage in the Luss area comes from an Orange mast at the back of the village. If you dont have Orange or T-Mobile, you’re stuck.
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The odd thing is that Vodafone have at least two base stations covering Tarbert Loch Fyne.
They are on the TV site South West of the village (with Orange and T-Mobile)
Also on the high ground just North of the village (with O2)
Both these are 900 MHz only.
There will also be some coverage from Meall Mhor.
I would never like to rely completely on a mobile phone as shown here sites can be out of action for long periods – a friend on Skye had his local site off for many months. Also from what I was told a few years ago most of the small base stations have either no battery backup or very limited battery backup – they were actually going around and removing batteries from many sites. A BT telephone exchange should keep going for a few weeks if the electricity supply is lost.
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Mention of Meall Mor, the view from up there demonstrates just how well concealed the centre of Tarbert is, and presumably the need for very local transmitters to achieve adequate coverage is part of the problem.
Incidentally, the array of dishes, aerials and assorted gadgets on the various masts large and small at Meall Mor are almost beyond counting, are mostly unidentified, and make me wonder who all the users are; some of them spooks? It’s rare to walk up there these days without being passed by technicians on their rounds.
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Try BING, they go straight to Tarbert.
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I got the follwing reply after e-mailing Vodafone UK CEO Guy Laurance. So far the service has been on and off today (Sunday 14th)so something is happening.
Dear Bob
Thanks for your email to Guy and for your time on the phone.
I’m sorry that there has been a further outage and apologise for the inconvenience caused. To answer your questions:
1. A hardware fault has been identified with the microwave transmission equipment which provides the connection to our network.
2. We need to replace the faulty hardware and to do this we have to climb the mast. As the mast is shared with equipment for the BBC we have to get agreement from them to power down their antennas.
3. Replacing the hardware will fix the current problem. I can never guarantee a fault free service though as other faults may occur.
4. If all goes to plan the hardware will be replaced and the service restored on Sunday 14 August. If it doesn’t go to plan I will update you on Monday 15 August.
5. We are conducting a site review to check the feasibility of us relocating our equipment below the BBC antennas. This will speed up access in the future should we need to get to the hardware on the mast.
All the best
Andrew Woodvine
Directors’ Office
For and on behalf of
Guy Laurence
Vodafone UK CEO
Phone: +44 8080 044477
Email: vodafonedirectorsoffice@vodafone.com
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