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Vodafone and O2 4G experience thread


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Old 17-08-2015, 23:02
DevonBloke
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I'm a little confused 😕 if this is right and the post about mimo, there is only one mast that Vodafone have in the local town which is 4g'd and which had 900mhz 3g, the other is only single carrier 2nd Gen 3g, when in use this mast on 900mhz 3g the phone switches to H+ indicating DC-Hsdpa how can that be?
Don't forget, it's quite possible I'm taking bollocks!!!
in fact now I come to think of it, the vast majority of handsets are now 3G so it's entirely possible that they are doing 10Mgz 900 in places.
In fact don't listen to me at all, I must have been drunk!!!
Hahaha
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Old 17-08-2015, 23:33
jaffboy151
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Don't worry Devon, how ever much bollocks you might accidently bring to the party I'm sure I more then match you in loads of crap... )
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Old 18-08-2015, 00:35
Denco1
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No DevonBloke I'm pretty certain they are still doing 5MHz of 3G and that will never change or not for the foreseeable future, you nearly never talk bollocks

I realised my original post was a bit ambiguous when I said I'm not sure on the 900MHz situation I meant I didn't know how much of the rollout is MIMO and how much is SISO, they might be running 28mbps or 21mbps over 5MHz.

H+ just means over 14.4mbps I think which could be either MIMO or DC, it is very rare you will get an android device tell you that you are using DC unless you are in a service menu.
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Old 18-08-2015, 00:58
Stereo Steve
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No DevonBloke I'm pretty certain they are still doing 5MHz of 3G and that will never change or not for the foreseeable future, you nearly never talk bollocks

I realised my original post was a bit ambiguous when I said I'm not sure on the 900MHz situation I meant I didn't know how much of the rollout is MIMO and how much is SISO, they might be running 28mbps or 21mbps over 5MHz.

H+ just means over 14.4mbps I think which could be either MIMO or DC, it is very rare you will get an android device tell you that you are using DC unless you are in a service menu.
Pretty good evidence that in most places 3G900 is just a sticky plaster to boost the map with no real base behind it. Probably to meet licensing obligations. It could have been good if there was any backhaul behind it. Maybe they are getting that sorted now.
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Old 18-08-2015, 01:17
daveyfs
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Before too long I think we'll see them refarming that 900 Mhz to LTE. I think its already been done in some places (Czech Republic?)

For all the operators 3G has a limited shelf life now, and I think they'll move quite quickly to bin it once VOLTE is up and running and has had its bugs ironed out.
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Old 18-08-2015, 06:41
jaffboy151
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Vodafone 3g 900 is like all of the Vodafone network at the moment OK where it's been upgraded, hit and miss where it's not, you don't get great speeds generally on 900mhz but I do find it works and give a consistent level of 1 or 2mbps of data out away from towns where three and EE might get 5 or 10meg one minute nothing the next, only when congestion takes hold does the 900mhz start to fall down. It comes back to what you want from your network, I rarely download big files but do stream a lot and need a consistent data flow of above 1meg. so on the whole I'd rather have the signal penitration then silly speed most the time,
I'm looking at Vodafone 3g 900 as a basic level introduction to life with 800mhz 4G on three, from what I can gather it won't be a great deal better for speed.
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Old 18-08-2015, 10:09
sibley88
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Getting full 4G in Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes now, so seems that mast has gone live.
Saw a Vodafone 4G Full steam ahead van on the A5, so they may be testing the signal or activating more.

Also saw a guy in a yellow jacket hanging off my local VO2 mast this morning, so that one seems to be getting closer to going live. (in the meantime, is switched off so no indoor o2 at home)
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Old 18-08-2015, 11:52
iampaulxo
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Just seen the offer for free 50GB of data when you buy a big value bundle on pay as you go. It's advertised directly on their website. Would be a great way to test out their 4G network and even as whole to see what they offer. Bare in mind I think you have to get at least the £20 bundle to benefit from 4G access as the £10 doesn't allow it according to T&C's but it's still a pretty good shout.
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Old 18-08-2015, 12:12
Denco1
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Just seen the offer for free 50GB of data when you buy a big value bundle on pay as you go. It's advertised directly on their website. Would be a great way to test out their 4G network and even as whole to see what they offer. Bare in mind I think you have to get at least the £20 bundle to benefit from 4G access as the £10 doesn't allow it according to T&C's but it's still a pretty good shout.
That's great news. It also says in the T&C's existing customers will get a text about how to opt in, so anyone with an existing sim doesn't have to get a second one to benefit. I guess this is directly matching EE and there 100GB promotions.

In other news Vodafone have finally got around to doing the sim only tariff refresh, looks more expensive than EE although on the top tier plans you still get the free Spotify options etc.
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Old 18-08-2015, 12:22
iampaulxo
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That's great news. It also says in the T&C's existing customers will get a text about how to opt in, so anyone with an existing sim doesn't have to get a second one to benefit. I guess this is directly matching EE and there 100GB promotions.

In other news Vodafone have finally got around to doing the sim only tariff refresh, looks more expensive than EE although on the top tier plans you still get the free Spotify options etc.
Yeah I forgot to mention that it applies to existing Pay as you go customers which makes life so much easier.

Yeah I have to agree this is a direct competition with EE seeing how well they have done with their promotions. I'm guessing this won't be the only offer Vodafone will be putting out. I believe they will put out a few more of these which I don't mind as I will be happy to test as the network coverage only gets better.
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Old 18-08-2015, 12:56
lightspeed2398
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I don't see the 50Gb. Can anyone tell me where to look? Also are the sim only deals the 20gb for £40 ones?
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Old 18-08-2015, 13:00
Denco1
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I don't see the 50Gb. Can anyone tell me where to look? Also are the sim only deals the 20gb for £40 ones?
http://www.vodafone.co.uk/terms-and-...data/index.htm

Actually they haven't really refreshed them looking into it in more detail, they've removed the long standing discount, added 4G to the bottom plan and called it a day.
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Old 18-08-2015, 13:08
lightspeed2398
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Thanks Denco.

Yeah managed to get the SIM Only page to load on my o2 Blackberry (it's really painful), they seem to have taken a step backwards SIM only wise. They're priced as a premium offering still but EE's a far better network still, I suppose pricing them this high allows the required investment though.
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Old 18-08-2015, 13:41
Pedro_C
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http://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/bundl...lans/index.htm for 50GB first month addon on PAYG.

The 20GB/Ultd/Ultd SIM only plan is £40, once available for £25 or something from CPW after cahsback
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Old 18-08-2015, 14:01
iampaulxo
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http://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/bundl...lans/index.htm for 50GB first month addon on PAYG.

The 20GB/Ultd/Ultd SIM only plan is £40, once available for £25 or something from CPW after cahsback
There is a better cashback deal with Vodafone from mobilephonesdirect whereby the monthly plan is £30 a month and £40 a month with 20GB with £168 and £268 cashback over 12 months which equates to £16 per month equivalent. Check it out.

That deal is currently in the runnings.
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Old 18-08-2015, 15:33
iampaulxo
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Does anyone know the locations of the 2600mhz masts for Vodafone in Manchester if any? And by that I mean the ones that run on its own without any form of carrier aggregation? And is there any carrier aggregation visible yet from Vodafone in Manchester?
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Old 18-08-2015, 16:07
Denco1
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Does anyone know the locations of the 2600mhz masts for Vodafone in Manchester if any? And by that I mean the ones that run on its own without any form of carrier aggregation? And is there any carrier aggregation visible yet from Vodafone in Manchester?
Yes, I put them on this thread so I'll go back and quote it in this message. If you want anymore information about the locations PM me although I am quite busy at the moment so it may not be an instant reply.
No sign of carrier aggregation in Manchester yet.
To anyone who is in or around Manchester the exact sites are;
155 Manchester United
1419 The Lowry
204 The Dock Office-Trafford Road
469 Old mill-Duncan Street
141 Alberton House Spinningfields

There could be more but these are the only ones I've found so far.
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Old 18-08-2015, 16:17
paulker
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I haven't found any in Glasgow yet
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Old 18-08-2015, 16:29
iampaulxo
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Yes, I put them on this thread so I'll go back and quote it in this message. If you want anymore information about the locations PM me although I am quite busy at the moment so it may not be an instant reply.
No sign of carrier aggregation in Manchester yet.
Right yeah cheers I do remember someone posting them up but it would've taken me a lifetime to find that post again. Thanks for that, I've saved that list now.

Once I get hold of a SIM I'll update this list if I find any more locations. Won't be able to detect any carrier aggregated sites though as I have a Samsung Galaxy S5.

Also how did you figure out the exact locations for these particular sites if you don't mind me asking?
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Old 18-08-2015, 17:22
Denco1
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Right yeah cheers I do remember someone posting them up but it would've taken me a lifetime to find that post again. Thanks for that, I've saved that list now.

Once I get hold of a SIM I'll update this list if I find any more locations. Won't be able to detect any carrier aggregated sites though as I have a Samsung Galaxy S5.

Also how did you figure out the exact locations for these particular sites if you don't mind me asking?
A combination of sitefinder and gnettrack. Sitefinder to see where the masts are in the area, then if the phone is giving a high signal reading and you can see the mast is upgraded then you've got your mast. It can be a bit difficult depending on the phone you are using as phones will stick to 2600MHz if available, so sometimes to make sure you need to lock to 800MHz to double check the 2600MHz you are receiving isn't from further away.
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Old 18-08-2015, 18:04
iampaulxo
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A combination of sitefinder and gnettrack. Sitefinder to see where the masts are in the area, then if the phone is giving a high signal reading and you can see the mast is upgraded then you've got your mast. It can be a bit difficult depending on the phone you are using as phones will stick to 2600MHz if available, so sometimes to make sure you need to lock to 800MHz to double check the 2600MHz you are receiving isn't from further away.
Okay yeah that's cool. Do any of these apps tell you what Band you're locked to? I don't have 'servicemode' on my phone because I have it rooted to cyanogen. If not LTE Discovery does the job of notifying me what band I'm locked on to (hopefully it works with VF cos it does with EE which I'm currently using on their 100gigs data).

By high signal reading you mean a low dBm right? (-79dBm for example).
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Old 18-08-2015, 19:54
M1kos
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Higher than that -60dBm if you are looking at the mast!
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Old 18-08-2015, 22:30
iampaulxo
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Higher than that -60dBm if you are looking at the mast!
Yeah it was just an example but I think the highest I've seen is about -64dBm or thereabouts, very rare to get that sort of figure ever unless the masts were running on full power of course.
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Old 19-08-2015, 07:52
Gigabit
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How can O2 be GPRS on parts of the A1 and M25?!?

Vodafone is on 4G most of the time...
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Old 19-08-2015, 08:26
M1kos
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It all depends how close you can get to the panel antennas a site near me shows -45dBm if you are exactly in front of them as the antennas are low down about 12m agl
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