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Three 4G Discussion Thread (Part 2)


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Old 22-11-2015, 19:48
hybridtheory
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Providing it is in your area you wil get a stronger signal indoors providing very weak to no 3G. You also need a compatible handset and the three update to activate it. Currently Samsung S5/6 and Edge along with LG G4 have access to 800mhz, other handset are due to be activated in due course BUT and it's a big BUT you must buy your phone from 3 as sin free phones won't get access.




Hi

I bought my iPhone 6S from Apple Sim Free. R u saying I won't be able to access 800 Spectrum when it's available for the iPhone?

Thanks

Baz
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Old 22-11-2015, 20:04
Skippy2005
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[/b]

Hi

I bought my iPhone 6S from Apple Sim Free. R u saying I won't be able to access 800 Spectrum when it's available for the iPhone?

Thanks

Baz
No Bas sorry for the confusion the iPhones will work with an Apple carrier update in due course. iPhones are the exception where they can be bought SIM free
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Old 22-11-2015, 20:06
enapace
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[/b]

Hi

I bought my iPhone 6S from Apple Sim Free. R u saying I won't be able to access 800 Spectrum when it's available for the iPhone?

Thanks

Baz
You will Sim Free Apple phones are basically just unlocked and that's only difference.
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Old 22-11-2015, 20:11
d123
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You could say that firmware-wise, every iPhone 6s is exactly the same, doesn't matter where it comes from.
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Old 22-11-2015, 21:32
southlad
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Sorry for being a bit stupid, but can someone explain why my non three LG G3 won't be able to get the update from Three.

Edit. I have a three Sim in it.

Thanks.
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Old 22-11-2015, 21:55
Daveoc64
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Sorry for being a bit stupid, but can someone explain why my non three LG G3 won't be able to get the update from Three.
When you buy a phone from a network (like Three), they typically alter the manufacturer's software to include some branding and settings to make the phone work well with the network out of the box.

This new feature requires that you have the network modified software on your phone.

Once you have the phone, the network doesn't have any way of changing the software on the phone to be theirs, so you can't get the new software.
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Old 22-11-2015, 22:13
mhs81
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When you buy a phone from a network (like Three), they typically alter the manufacturer's software to include some branding and settings to make the phone work well with the network out of the box.

This new feature requires that you have the network modified software on your phone.

Once you have the phone, the network doesn't have any way of changing the software on the phone to be theirs, so you can't get the new software.
What I don't understand is that originally when they were first rolling 4g out, Three said customers would need an update. This turned out not to be true in the end. I can appreciate that this particular update requires the software on the phone to be modified, but I'm fairly confident that this can be done on non Three branded phones. It seems as if Three are only currently updating certain phones so they can monitor the new frequency. If I were more cynical I would say that they are pushing this 'super voice' and by restricting it to certain handsets (conveniently the more expensive phones that Three sell) it makes good business sense when selling contracts.
The representative I spoke to today assured me that non Three branded phones would receive the update required to run on the 800mhz frequency - he said that this needed to be done as many customers come from other networks bringing their own phones with them.
Clearly there will be a way to update all phones (running Android) so they can run on 800mhz and have VoLTE. It all depends on how keen Three are to make it happen. I can't see that they would be in any rush to do this at the moment.
After careful consideration this probably isn't a deal breaker for me. At the moment I get fairly good 3g coverage wherever I go, often getting speeds of over 20mbps. Unless the performance decreases significantly, I probably won't move from the cheap plan that I have, regardless of this whole VoLTE debacle.
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Old 22-11-2015, 22:23
Gigabit
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Your phone supports the frequency, that isn't the issue.

The issue is that your phone does not contain firmware that can connect to Three's VoLTE network.

I assume every phone tries to connect to 800MHz and the network simply does a VoLTE connection test and if it cannot connect it kicks the device off the network.
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Old 22-11-2015, 22:33
jchamier
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I assume every phone tries to connect to 800MHz and the network simply does a VoLTE connection test and if it cannot connect it kicks the device off the network.
Maybe its the reverse, the network doesn't let the IMEI number of handsets it doesn't recognise as being supported connect to 800. On 1800 or 3G they can validate the firmware level and store this info in the HLR.
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Old 22-11-2015, 23:44
sammyelrefee1
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Maybe its the reverse, the network doesn't let the IMEI number of handsets it doesn't recognise as being supported connect to 800. On 1800 or 3G they can validate the firmware level and store this info in the HLR.
I don't think it is like that.
I am currently working on a way to get VOLTE on a note 3.
I have got as far as having the VOLTE preference menu in call settings. I also do connect to the 4G 800Mhz (band 20) network. However, the connection to the IMS is not working so when I make a call I'm dropped back down to 3g. I am currently working on making it work fully!

Btw, does anyone here have a rooted S6 on 3 and would be willing to share a file?
(others.xml/features.xml) ?

Thanks in advance!
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Old 23-11-2015, 00:08
d123
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Maybe its the reverse, the network doesn't let the IMEI number of handsets it doesn't recognise as being supported connect to 800.
I doubt it, or the people who flashed s5's to Three branding still wouldn't get the feature (which they do).
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Old 23-11-2015, 00:51
mhs81
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I don't think it is like that.
I am currently working on a way to get VOLTE on a note 3.
I have got as far as having the VOLTE preference menu in call settings. I also do connect to the 4G 800Mhz (band 20) network. However, the connection to the IMS is not working so when I make a call I'm dropped back down to 3g. I am currently working on making it work fully!

Btw, does anyone here have a rooted S6 on 3 and would be willing to share a file?
(others.xml/features.xml) ?

Thanks in advance!
I presume you need to be rooted to even get onto the 800mhz? Sounds very promising though!
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Old 23-11-2015, 01:25
sammyelrefee1
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I presume you need to be rooted to even get onto the 800mhz? Sounds very promising though!
Yeah I edited a few files which in the system folder which requires root.

I will also need a copy of every file in the folder : /data/data/com.sec.imsservice/databases/

(I have a feeling that the above is all I need but will ask for the xml file just in case!)
If someone can do this I would be grateful!
Thanks
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Old 23-11-2015, 02:03
sammyelrefee1
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I will also need a copy of every file in the folder : /data/data/com.sec.imsservice/databases/
I believe anyone who has Volte working on 3 with a rooted phone can provide me with these files...

Thanks!
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Old 23-11-2015, 10:45
tarzion
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Providing it is in your area you wil get a stronger signal indoors providing very weak to no 3G. You also need a compatible handset and the three update to activate it. Currently Samsung S5/6 and Edge along with LG G4 have access to 800mhz, other handset are due to be activated in due course BUT and it's a big BUT you must buy your phone from 3 as sin free phones won't get access.
That is not 100% true.

I have got a EE sourced Xperia Z5 and I flashed the latest Three firmware on it and I can connect to the 800Mhz network without any messing around. It connects to the 800Mhz network when there is either no or very low 3G or 1800Mhz 4G.

I don't have any VOLTE arrows but during the weekend I made a call on 4G from inside a building where there is absolutely no Three 3G signal and I was connected to the 800Mhz 4G network.

I wonder how I managed that though.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2nqgnww.png
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Old 23-11-2015, 10:56
d123
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That is not 100% true.

I have got a EE sourced Xperia Z5 and I flashed the latest Three firmware on it and I can connect to the 800Mhz network without any messing around. It connects to the 800Mhz network when there is either no or very low 3G or 1800Mhz 4G.

I don't have any VOLTE arrows but during the weekend I made a call on 4G from inside a building where there is absolutely no Three 3G signal and I was connected to the 800Mhz 4G network.

I wonder how I managed that though.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2nqgnww.png
The latest update from Three appears to have removed the arrows icon (at least it has on the s5), but VoLTE definitely still works.
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Old 23-11-2015, 11:07
tarzion
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The latest update from Three appears to have removed the arrows icon (at least it has on the s5), but VoLTE definitely still works.
Well, the other times when I make a call while connected to the 4G network, it switches automatically to the 3G network.
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Old 23-11-2015, 11:17
d123
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Well, the other times when I make a call while connected to the 4G network, it switches automatically to the 3G network.
I suspect that's more to do with priorities, as soon as the phone sniffs 1800Mhz it moves to 1800Mhz at the earliest opportunity, hence the use of CSFB at that stage.
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Old 23-11-2015, 12:53
jonmorris
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And it stays on 3G for as long as data is in use.
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Old 23-11-2015, 15:44
Skippy2005
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Hi I may well out my LG G4 from 3 on eBay this week, as I'm thinking of the S6. I can assure you it has Accra to VoLTE too if anyone might be interested PM if you have any questions.
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Old 23-11-2015, 16:44
Skippy2005
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Hi I may well out my LG G4 from 3 on eBay this week, as I'm thinking of the S6. I can assure you it has Accra to VoLTE too if anyone might be interested PM if you have any questions.
May well sell my LG G4 typing and walking is not my favorite trick ha ha. Access!!!! That'll teach me to stop and proof read!
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Old 23-11-2015, 17:02
Stereo Steve
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My non VoLTE but 800 capable ZTE shows bars and '4G' on the screen when it sees 800. I know this for a fact as there is no 1800 in that area. But as soon as you try to call or do data, the signal disappears from the screen. No idea what that means.
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Old 23-11-2015, 17:50
Pedro_C
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Three second line support is now saying that my mast is working fine. Yeah, 0mbps and no data is really fine.
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Old 23-11-2015, 19:09
highfrequency
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Put a phone SIM into my Huawei 5377 WIFI thing today and got 800MHz 4G. I guess the network validates it as a mobile data device and allows it to connect.

Even though 3G is virtually non existent here as soon as it picked up a weak signal it went back to 3G again. It was only on 800 if there was no other signal at all.

I wonder if they can set different network priorities for Phone and Data only devices?
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Old 23-11-2015, 19:37
Pedro_C
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The mega slow local 3 and EE mast has now gone down, no 3G coming from it! hoping this means UPGRADEEEE.

EDIT: Now the signal's shot up again!

Signal now back to normal, but speed is still 0.

2000ms ping, 0.02mbps down and 0 up. Typical evening really
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