Reducing the power of the 3G2100 wouldn't really help, it would just move the same problem a bit closer to the mast.

I feel the current priority is correct given that they only have 5MHz of 4G800 to play with, but they need to adjust it so that it only jumps to a weaker 3G2100 (or 4G1800 if VoLTE gets enabled on it) if the signal strength is a bit higher than the current setting of "anything, no matter how weak".

Maybe they are assuming they will get their hand's on O2's 800 spectrum soon and will then move it up the order?

I don't even seem to have 4G800 at all on my iPhone 6s with the carrier 23.1!
I have a home signal box and when I turn it off and go downstairs, I still get no service when according to the coverage checker I should be getting 'excellent' coverage by 4G800.

They just need to change the priority slightly so it switches at a very low 3G signal (1 bar or between -100 to -110 dBm instead of losing 3G and then switching to 4G800.

Although I am covered quite well by 3G2100 on 3 where I live which is fairly rural, 4G800 would still be nice to have as it can drop out occasionally or get a bit slow, and I would be able to turn off my home signal! Come on three!!

Yeah as has been said that would fix the problem in that location but the issue would just move inwards towards the mast.

What they actually need to do (and don't really know why they haven't) is to have an idle mode handover threshold.
So for example and idle device would switch to 800 at, say, -100dBm on 3G.
Then it would switch back to 3G when the 3G signal was say, -90.
I think they are worried that would mean an awful lot more device on 800 more of the time and it couldn't cope.

Yes, they are really stuck. As it is, my mate wouldn't consider switching to Three as it was still as unlikely to make successful calls as on EE's 3G. However EE's WiFi Calling is the killer feature and means his phone works great in his place.

So "Super-Voice" or "Super-Pumped" is a bit of a misnomer.... and the coverage map is LOL.

Yes, one thing came to light with WiFi calling.
That is how much better phone signals really need to be. The allnround situation often sounds quite dire.

I am switching to 3 in the New Year. Though I have no idea if I will have 4G, I do know the 3G signal is impressive and so will be quite happy with that if there is no 4G.

But surely It would cope nicely if they enabled it on every site and gave it the same priority as 3G if it has about the same capacity as DC HSPDA, then that would double the capacity 3's network has? Or is it not as simple as that? And use 4G1800 solely as data?

No not as simple as that.
It can't have the same priority. It has to be higher (which they can't do as they have loads of 800 masts with no 1800), or lower.
Also it's not going to be on every site.
EE have 18000+ sites and have stated they are doing 3800+ sites with 800.
It wouldn't make sense to do all of them. Lots don't need it.

4G 1800MHz has been spotted in Retford, although from my investigations, only the mast in the centre of Retford has it switched on.

And now that 4G has come to my town, I await the inevitable 30 day notice that'll soon arrive because Murphy's Law is like that.

Ok wishful tanking then, do 3 plan to have 18000 masts too both 3G2100/4G1800? Does anyone know how many 4G800 sites they plan to have. Assuming 3 don't get o2.

No doubt you will hate it and then praise O2 again...

Three doesn't understand the meaning of the word Excellent. It looks like my town has got just the one mast with 800, yet the coverage checker shows blanket coverage almost everywhere with a bigger footprint than 3G.

It's simply not true, I haven't found a single place where I now get service where I was unable to before. Downstairs in my house I get awful 3G, when I first got the update the iPhone stuck on 4G800 and it was much better, but after some VoLTE testing it went back to 3G and I haven't been on 800 since.

I've tried 3 locations that I know of where the coverage checker shows Excellent indoor 4G Super-Voice coverage, yet I get no service at all. Nothing has changed.

It may look good on a coverage map but in reality it is absolutely no where near anything shown. And it's clearly showing 800+1800 coverage on the map which makes no sense as the two bands don't operate together or handoff to each other.

Ooops, wrong thread....
Deleted!

DevonBloke you must know the answer

The only place I've seen any change is at my girlfriends on the outskirts of sleaford Nottingham. Normally I'm on 1 bar of 3G or no signal and now I get 1 bar of 4g. But often I've took my phone out of my pocket and it's no signal then maybe a minute later I get 1 bar of 4g 800. And this is in a area where three say excellent 3G and no 4g.

I've also tried at my dads who has a signal box and once the signal box is turned off I just lose signal altogether and get nothing till the signal box is turned on.

Sorry, I don't.
I was hoping someone else might!
I don't think Three have released any information about it.
EE did the other day stating "more than 3800".

I take this to mean at least 3800 identified masts but there may be more when the coverage is tested.

EE and Three are sharing the tri-band antennas on masts. Whether that's all of them or some of them and who decides what I don't know.

Hoping someone might!

They're not sharing all 800 antennas it seems, or at least according to this planning application for MBNL near Hull.

http://gdurl.com/L3Sa

From:
https://newplanningaccess.eastriding.gov.uk/
15/03735/TELCOM

Edit: I read Devons post as EE/3 sharing the 800 frequency, hence the above comment, having reread though I don't think he meant that.

That doesn't mean that EE can't come along later and deplo 800 using the 800 antenna though.

Yeah I meant sharing the physical antenna panels.
Thing is as Pedro says there is nothing stopping EE coming back and linking across to the 800 feed in exactly the same way as you can see in that diagram that Three are linking back across to EE's side to the 1800 antenna. https://www.dropbox.com/s/73ol4cvucq...-1800.JPG?dl=0
Bookey said the same.
Thing is Three are on this manic 800 rush to roll out 800 that no one can use. Hahaha
EE are more concentrating on the base 1800 rollout and doing the 800 as they go afterwards.
Those are just initial plans showing initial connections.
EE could and probably will come back afterwards and link theirs in.
Hell it's probably them paying most of the cost of antennas.
I can't see EE not having 800 wherever Three have it.

Actually if I was running the EE rollout I would make damn sure that wherever Three had the 800 hooked up, so would EE.

How much extra would it cost them, considering they would already have the base station and backhaul? And considering that would in the short term fill the gap caused by restricting 1800 power I suppose it would act as the fill in until they can 2G CSFB.

I just think EE could always stay ahead of Three (coverage wise) by making sure all Three 800 sites were also EE sites. not that staying ahead of Three is particularly difficult at the mo. But then that's Three's fault.

Goodness no 3 aren't planning to have 18000 4G1800 masts Would cost Hutchinson far too much

I think jabbamk1 stated the revised plan was about 70% population coverage under 1800MHz? I'd guess they don't plan on over 5000 4G1800MHz sites.

Three isn't aiming at the same market as EE, it is designed to be lower cost, more for your money but for the lower cost you get less coverage and lower speeds.

I'm perfectly happy as anything over 6 Mb/s allows you to do everything you want really, I'd much rather have the unlimited which you can't get on EE and the lower pricing.

I think EE might actually match Three even if they didn't do all the masts Three have 800MHz at.
In Manchester Three seem to have avoided quite a good few site locations. I'm unsure if it is landlord problems or not as these sites because they also have EE 2600MHz but no Three 4G. If EE add 800MHz to the better locations Three aren't present at they could easily beat Three coverage wise without needing to 800MHz every site Three are already at.