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Three 4G Discussion Thread (Part 2)


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Old 27-03-2016, 00:17
WelshBluebird
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Had a look online and I'm pretty sure UK prisons don't use jammers? I'm not sure.

However on the Three coverage checker, I've found something strange. At a prison very close to me, the coverage just stops. All around the prison. And then continues after it.

See here: http://imgur.com/wDMl0uj

Does that look like a jammer to you? Why would Three include a jammer on their checker, no one else does? I just thought it was quite random to see coverage entirely stop right over a prison!

(see for yourself by typing BT49 0LP into Three coverage checker)
Slightly weird question, but does the prison building itself have any affect?
I know usually the networks don't take into account buildings etc, but I lived pretty much next door to Shepton Mallet prison for a bit. I got good signal (so no question of a jammer etc) but that prison itself had a pretty impressive (and intimidating!) wall around it that I could imagine would be a good blocker of mobile signals if the local masts weren't at a tall height.
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Old 27-03-2016, 08:06
InfamousTeal
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Slightly weird question, but does the prison building itself have any affect?
I know usually the networks don't take into account buildings etc, but I lived pretty much next door to Shepton Mallet prison for a bit. I got good signal (so no question of a jammer etc) but that prison itself had a pretty impressive (and intimidating!) wall around it that I could imagine would be a good blocker of mobile signals if the local masts weren't at a tall height.
Could be that yeah. Didn't think the coverage checker understood individual buildings though!
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Old 27-03-2016, 11:23
Thine Wonk
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I know topography is taken into account, it may also be possible to use crowdsourced feedback data based on the network or crowdsource coverage apps. That approach would be no good with individual buildings, but for a larger area it could give a general idea.

I guess the answer is we don't know as the networks don't share how they generate the maps in much detail.
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Old 27-03-2016, 11:43
jonmorris
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Is the area blocked out by Google as some Government sites are? Perhaps that data also blocks the coverage info from showing on other layers?
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Old 27-03-2016, 15:23
Mark in Essex
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Is the area blocked out by Google as some Government sites are? Perhaps that data also blocks the coverage info from showing on other layers?
Could be that.

I know there is a MOD Base I had to go to for work a few years back.

Even though it takes up a whole island it's not on the map.
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Old 27-03-2016, 17:20
Yogimax
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Actually, before i get too cocky, have Three got SRVCC yet? Anyone got an active call to drop from 4G800 to 3G2100?
I can confirm whilst driving I started a call on 4G800, it transferred to 3G2100 when I got to a good signal area, then transferred back to 4G800. This was over a period of 15 minutes.
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Old 27-03-2016, 18:30
Stereo Steve
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I can confirm whilst driving I started a call on 4G800, it transferred to 3G2100 when I got to a good signal area, then transferred back to 4G800. This was over a period of 15 minutes.
Was that a VOIP call or through TinT? Sorry, lost touch with the discussion.
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Old 27-03-2016, 20:23
moox
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Was that a VOIP call or through TinT? Sorry, lost touch with the discussion.
With TinT it appears to continue as a VoIP call over HSPA, it doesn't move you to a circuit switched call or anything
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Old 27-03-2016, 20:34
Yogimax
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With TinT it appears to continue as a VoIP call over HSPA, it doesn't move you to a circuit switched call or anything
On a separate note, I was in an area today where the 4G800 kicked in as there was no 3G coverage. I was able to tether my tablet to my phone with no issues.
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Old 27-03-2016, 20:43
Stereo Steve
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With TinT it appears to continue as a VoIP call over HSPA, it doesn't move you to a circuit switched call or anything
Oh, so TinT can work happily on 3G too and switch between 3 and 4G?
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Old 27-03-2016, 20:43
The Lord Lucan
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Many prisons (depending on who they keep there and general crime severity of those inmates) do have RF blockers. Not just cellular is blocked though and they would not show this on the map as it would only be very local disturbance.
The building would block signal quite considerably if it were on a similar height plain to the mast.. reinforced think concrete and dense metal fencing.
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Old 27-03-2016, 21:41
Thine Wonk
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Oh, so TinT can work happily on 3G too and switch between 3 and 4G?
The way it seems to work is if you're on 3G or 4G 1800 then you rely on cellular calls, the 3G VoLTE calling only seems to kick in when you're on 4G 800, however when you go out of 4G 800 coverage it seems to allow you to continue the VOIP call on 1800 4G or even 3G rather than drop the call.

That's the way it seemed to work for me when I tested it. When I only had 3G TinT didn't want to take priority over the cellular network, it seems to only continue calls that are already established from 4G 800 as a preference over dropping them.
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Old 28-03-2016, 08:19
Freeview_Viewer
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Coverage checker is showing my postcode as Super Voiced however three deny it's in my area talking to customer services so at a loss. Just waiting for the Three in Touch app to be updated officially updated as beta app will not access 800mhz on my Galaxy S6
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Old 28-03-2016, 11:10
moox
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Oh, so TinT can work happily on 3G too and switch between 3 and 4G?
If they wanted to, they could probably do that - but TinT won't make the initial connection over 3G, it has to be 800MHz 4G, but if it goes to 1800 4G or 3G it will carry on with the call going over IP.

Didn't test to see if it'll switch between wifi and 4G
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Old 28-03-2016, 11:32
The Lord Lucan
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Three's checker does sometimes say this?

" We're aware there's been a network problem in your area for some time. We're really sorry if your services are affected – we're doing all we can to fix it.

The nature of this problem means we need to work with another company which makes solving it more complex. Rest assured, we're pushing them to help us as soon as they can. "
That is usually if it is for O2/Voda or Tetra.. Not MBNL/EE. As 9 times out of 10 MBNL/EE is upgrading the mast so will benefit both networks.
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Old 29-03-2016, 09:46
red_g00ner
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Coverage checker is showing my postcode as Super Voiced however three deny it's in my area talking to customer services so at a loss. Just waiting for the Three in Touch app to be updated officially updated as beta app will not access 800mhz on my Galaxy S6
How did you get the Beta version of TiT?
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Old 29-03-2016, 10:53
moox
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How did you get the Beta version of TiT?
Go back a few pages, there is a link
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Old 29-03-2016, 12:20
-ajm-
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Thanks to someone, I've got hold of a copy of Three inTouch v5.1.8, but unfortunately it doesn't work on my device (Samsung S4 Mini running CM12.1). When I hit the Activate button, it keeps coming up with "Enable mobile data: Provisioning must go through mobile data connection. You must enable mobile data.". No amount of turning on or off mobile data or wifi seems to get past that message.

If anyone else fancies a try, this link should work (I ZIPped the apk which I received by email so as to preserve the original apk filename, whilst making the URL easier):
ftp://publicublic@princegaz.no-ip.biz/public/Three_inTouch_v5.1.8.zip
not sure how to disable smilies, but the link is fine

Thanks again to the uploader.
Registered perfectly fine on my Sony Z2. Forced to LTE only and it's reporting cell ID 8. That's 800 isn't it?

Genuinely quite surprised that it worked.
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Old 29-03-2016, 12:50
moox
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Registered perfectly fine on my Sony Z2. Forced to LTE only and it's reporting cell ID 8. That's 800 isn't it?

Genuinely quite surprised that it worked.
6, 7 or 8 according to japaul - http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2058551 - also in my experience, if the intouch app says 4G calling is ready, then it's 800 - it knows when it it's on 1800 and won't allow 4G calling.

Personally I'm impressed at how good the coverage is in my house on 800. Even Vodafone and O2 on 900MHz seem to suffer where I am. I'm not sure where the cell site is in my case, but if I go to the other end of the village (where the cell sites live, including 3's 3G one) there's no 800 4G at all.
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Old 29-03-2016, 13:52
-ajm-
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One thing I've noticed is if I toggle airplane mode, it holds on to an 800 signal even if there's 3G available. All this is without the app open too.
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Old 29-03-2016, 14:21
InfamousTeal
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One thing I've noticed is if I toggle airplane mode, it holds on to an 800 signal even if there's 3G available. All this is without the app open too.
Yeah my iPhone 6 does this too. Will find and stay on 800 after airplane moding, for about a minute sometimes.

Quick question, if I buy a Three PAYG sim, and give it the £20 bundle, I'll be able to take that SIM to the USA, and use 300 mins, 3000 texts and 12GB of data for free in the US? I mean, I know how Feel at Home works and everything, but I'm on pay monthly, and this is PAYG. Does it all work the same?

Seems too good to be true! £20 for free calls and texts to the UK and 3G in America.
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Old 29-03-2016, 14:25
moox
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I find that it seems to prefer 3G over 4G, but it doesn't care whether it's 800 or 1800 4G
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Old 29-03-2016, 14:33
jonmorris
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Quick question, if I buy a Three PAYG sim, and give it the £20 bundle, I'll be able to take that SIM to the USA, and use 300 mins, 3000 texts and 12GB of data for free in the US? I mean, I know how Feel at Home works and everything, but I'm on pay monthly, and this is PAYG. Does it all work the same?

Seems too good to be true! £20 for free calls and texts to the UK and 3G in America.
Yes, although if you know how Feel at Home works then you'll know not to expect too much from it. Do a speed test and be impressed with 10 or 20Mbps, but don't expect to get that for just about anything you do as it will throttle, and streaming is blocked (someone recently showed me that Three now states it blocks streaming when you buy the £5 add-on, albeit only AFTER you've paid and activated it).

It will be fine for Facebook, Twitter, email and similar, just don't try and stream or update apps. Even downloading files is probably out unless you've got a lot of time on your hands.
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Old 29-03-2016, 14:37
InfamousTeal
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Yes, although if you know how Feel at Home works then you'll know not to expect too much from it. Do a speed test and be impressed with 10 or 20Mbps, but don't expect to get that for just about anything you do as it will throttle, and streaming is blocked (someone recently showed me that Three now states it blocks streaming when you buy the £5 add-on, albeit only AFTER you've paid and activated it).

It will be fine for Facebook, Twitter, email and similar, just don't try and stream or update apps. Even downloading files is probably out unless you've got a lot of time on your hands.
I know, I had that in Italy last year I think I'll buy a separate AT&T sim for myself so I get nice unthrottled 4G out there. (Even though I have free roaming on my account, it's rubbish, as you say.) Ridiculous that I get it free but still have to pay someone else to get a proper roaming service. I'd pay Three to unthrottle me if I could, rather than pay AT&T.
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Old 29-03-2016, 14:59
jonmorris
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I don't understand why Three doesn't offer 'full' access for a fee, like others do. It could make money and not upset users who just want a decent service - even if it's not free.
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