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Three 4G Discussion Thread (Part 2) |
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#1426 |
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: United Kingdom
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Can you force 800MHz on the S5?
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#1427 |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Totnes, Devon
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Notice how Pocket lint get's it wrong saying you'll have 4G all the time but conversely the Three announcement states it's mainly for indoor coverage i.e where there's no 3G.
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#1428 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 1,510
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Quote:
Notice how Pocket lint get's it wrong saying you'll have 4G all the time but conversely the Three announcement states it's mainly for indoor coverage i.e where there's no 3G.
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#1429 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 14,637
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Quote:
Notice how Pocket lint get's it wrong saying you'll have 4G all the time but conversely the Three announcement states it's mainly for indoor coverage i.e where there's no 3G.
I left 3 a few years ago for the same reason - the phone would try to hang onto 3G even though 2G would be better. I came back because I knew I could get a home signal box that would fix the problem. But that might be different because the 2G was obviously from a different network operator. |
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#1430 |
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 229
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Quote:
But if the priority levels are set as people are saying they are, what about the phone on fringe 3G coverage? Will the phone hang onto 3G for dear life or will it move to 4G if it is stronger?
I left 3 a few years ago for the same reason - the phone would try to hang onto 3G even though 2G would be better. I came back because I knew I could get a home signal box that would fix the problem. But that might be different because the 2G was obviously from a different network operator. |
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#1431 |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Totnes, Devon
Posts: 6,693
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But they can alter the thresholds. Can't remember the terminology (japaul taught us all about it a while back : )
With 2G they didn't really want you on it so 3G hung on. I would imagine they would need a good overlap with 3G/4G so calls would reliably hand over being the more complicated PS to CS and vise versa. |
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#1432 |
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Newtown, Powys
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Can you force 800MHz on the S5?
If it doesn't work for you then trying installing Shortcut Master (Lite) https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....lite&hl=en_GB Once installed use the Secret Code Explorer option and look for the code 2263 and select it. Launch 0 worked for me. EDIT: Once the menu is accessed select LTE Band Preference and choose which Band you want. It doesn't tell you what Mhz each is. But as I am aware Band 20 is 800mhz. |
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#1433 |
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2,876
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Quote:
Yeah you can, using the RF Band Selection Menu by typing *#2263# in the Dialer.
If it doesn't work for you then trying installing Shortcut Master (Lite) https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....lite&hl=en_GB Once installed use the Secret Code Explorer option and look for the code 2263 and select it it. Launch 0 worked for me. ![]() Mine should be arriving tomorrow. |
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#1434 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 620
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I was hoping for something more from Three, but this 800MHz launch is really disappointing.
1. Launched with only one device being compatible (S5) and no roadmap available to view. Three have only given info about the LG G4 and new iPhones being compatible, the other phones and dates we know about are only from internal documents. The majority of customers can't even get on 800 at the moment, and some us wont be able to for a long time, or not at all unless we get a new phone. 2. Launched as a last resort rather than part of the network - you're only getting on 800MHz if there's nothing else, with 0 priority it's hardly going to be a seamless 4G experience between 1800 and 800, and with only 5MHz of 800 I can see why. This means for people like me whose phones have a poor signal and the battery drains quicker, it's not going to help unless they increase the priority of 800. 3. Overly optimistic and misleading coverage maps - When you are viewing 800 coverage, it overlays 1800+800, giving the impression that you will get 800 everywhere that's shown and that they work together so you will get 4G consistently in a particular area. It's just not true, and in 1800 areas at least, I suspect the 800 layer is extremely thin as it is in my town, but the coverage map makes it look impressive. 4. VoLTE - In theory, it's great. But if you have good 3G or 1800 4G, you aren't getting on 800 and you aren't using VoLTE. Hopefully they will enable VoLTE on 1800, but as of now it's 800 only. This also causes problems if you are on an 800 VoLTE call and you go out of 800 coverage, it's not going to switch to 1800 so it must drop you down to 3G. I was hoping for better than this. It will be interesting to see how the VoLTE launch goes for EE/Voda, and also how EE deal with 800. If it's as bad as this, I'll give Three a pass lol. At least Three will get 5MHz extra for 1800 soon, should help with congestion and speeds. |
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#1435 |
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2,876
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In my area, the 3G signal is very poor (-105dBm) due to the 2100MHz frequency, there is no 1800MHz 4G but it looks like there is some 800MHz 4G, which, judging from where the mast is, would provide a decent signal.
Does the information I've read in this thread mean that my phone will stay on the crappy 3G signal? |
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#1436 |
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 731
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Quote:
In my area, the 3G signal is very poor (-105dBm) due to the 2100MHz frequency, there is no 1800MHz 4G but it looks like there is some 800MHz 4G, which, judging from where the mast is, would provide a decent signal.
Does the information I've read in this thread mean that my phone will stay on the crappy 3G signal? Edit..... What is the point in which it will handover if a poor 3G signal is present? -120/124? iPhone 6+ sits on 3G -113dbm if it's sat on the arm of the chair if I try to use or pick it up it goes to NO SERVICE, I would hope it would use 800 when live rather than sit on such a weak signal. |
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#1437 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,373
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Isn't it theoretically possible to hand over a live call from 3G to LTE though? Not sure if the 3 network can do it but I think it's possible so maybe even if they can't do it, they are looking at that. At the end of the day, as more people get 4G phones, all the networks are going to want to keep as much voice on 3G as possible. It's not just 3. The pieces of 3's jigsaw are probably being able to hand over smoothly, enabling 1800 VoLTE and also sourcing more 1800 spectrum and rolling out more of this. Maybe acquiring O2 will help too. I suspect there is a plan, it's just going to take a while. Longer term, they have have a big chunk of 1400 to play with as well.
In the meantime, if you've got a compatible phone, 800 will be a god-send for some people. Only allowing fully compatible hardware onto it is very clever as they can run it at full power where I suspect 1800 has to breathe with 3G. VOD / O2 have not done this so they have to keep 800 within the range of 900 2G (which is not so bad but not ideal). At the end of the day, no network is there yet. I'll be interested to see what EE do in terms of hardware as at the moment their 1800 is as hamstrung by 2/3G as 3's is. I think they will go down very much the same route of branding it as a different product. At the end of the day, they all face similar problems. |
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#1438 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,373
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Quote:
In my area, the 3G signal is very poor (-105dBm) due to the 2100MHz frequency, there is no 1800MHz 4G but it looks like there is some 800MHz 4G, which, judging from where the mast is, would provide a decent signal.
Does the information I've read in this thread mean that my phone will stay on the crappy 3G signal? |
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#1439 |
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 8
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/delurk
I've noticed a change in the language from the Blog announcement back in April ("1million will be using VoLTE this year") to the official press release ("By the end of the year, one million of our customers will have access to better indoor coverage") - I guess that of the million people "having access" by being in a coverage area a lot will not be "using" it due to a lack of compatible handset. There's also been a scaling back of the estimates for future years "7.5million will be enjoying it by 2016" to "By 2017, we expect up to 5.5 million Three customers could have access" then limiting that further by "subject to device compatibility". Paul. |
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#1440 |
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 80
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Quote:
I was going to ask the same question in my home I get one dot signal not even the 3G symbol shows I think the dbm is -130. I assume i will be one that will benefit with 800 with those readings. I'll check and report back!
Edit..... What is the point in which it will handover if a poor 3G signal is present? -120/124? iPhone 6+ sits on 3G -113dbm if it's sat on the arm of the chair if I try to use or pick it up it goes to NO SERVICE, I would hope it would use 800 when live rather than sit on such a weak signal.
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#1441 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,373
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Quote:
I'm in the same situation were I'm in a rural setting and get one bar 3G to No Service. There is work being done today and tomorrow here so today I have had No Service all day so far.. I'm hoping for a reasonable 4G 800 signal. If I could lock it with an iPhone 6 all the better but not sure that's possible. I'm not even concerned about VOLTE I only want to be able to make and receive calls/texts trouble free!!! To much to ask??
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#1442 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 14,637
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Quote:
I'm in the same situation were I'm in a rural setting and get one bar 3G to No Service. There is work being done today and tomorrow here so today I have had No Service all day so far.. I'm hoping for a reasonable 4G 800 signal. If I could lock it with an iPhone 6 all the better but not sure that's possible. I'm not even concerned about VOLTE I only want to be able to make and receive calls/texts trouble free!!! To much to ask??
![]() Why didn't/don't you ask 3 to see if they'll send you a home signal box? That would have fixed your problem |
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#1443 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 80
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I think if they refuse to let the iPhone 6 use the 800 4G then I would have no option but to leave Three.. For all that I like the company, if I can't use their services then what's the point!!
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#1444 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,373
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I think the iPhone is coming in October. I can't see why the 6 won't be included.
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#1445 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Totnes, Devon
Posts: 6,693
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Quote:
Isn't it theoretically possible to hand over a live call from 3G to LTE though? Not sure if the 3 network can do it but I think it's possible so maybe even if they can't do it, they are looking at that. At the end of the day, as more people get 4G phones, all the networks are going to want to keep as much voice on 3G as possible. It's not just 3. The pieces of 3's jigsaw are probably being able to hand over smoothly, enabling 1800 VoLTE and also sourcing more 1800 spectrum and rolling out more of this. Maybe acquiring O2 will help too. I suspect there is a plan, it's just going to take a while. Longer term, they have have a big chunk of 1400 to play with as well.
In the meantime, if you've got a compatible phone, 800 will be a god-send for some people. Only allowing fully compatible hardware onto it is very clever as they can run it at full power where I suspect 1800 has to breathe with 3G. VOD / O2 have not done this so they have to keep 800 within the range of 900 2G (which is not so bad but not ideal). At the end of the day, no network is there yet. I'll be interested to see what EE do in terms of hardware as at the moment their 1800 is as hamstrung by 2/3G as 3's is. I think they will go down very much the same route of branding it as a different product. At the end of the day, they all face similar problems. This was specified in 3GPP release 8 (one way). Release 11 includes Reverse SRVCC which I assume Three will be using so when going to the edge of 3G you will switch to 800. In other words their calls should go both ways. |
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#1446 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 731
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Quote:
I'm in the same situation were I'm in a rural setting and get one bar 3G to No Service. There is work being done today and tomorrow here so today I have had No Service all day so far.. I'm hoping for a reasonable 4G 800 signal. If I could lock it with an iPhone 6 all the better but not sure that's possible. I'm not even concerned about VOLTE I only want to be able to make and receive calls/texts trouble free!!! To much to ask??
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#1447 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,985
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I think if they refuse to let the iPhone 6 use the 800 4G then I would have no option but to leave Three.. For all that I like the company, if I can't use their services then what's the point!!
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#1448 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,373
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Quote:
Three will use SRVCC to switch from 4G (packet switched) to 3G (circuit switched).
This was specified in 3GPP release 8 (one way). Release 11 includes Reverse SRVCC which I assume Three will be using so when going to the edge of 3G you will switch to 800. In other words their calls should go both ways. I wonder what will happen on the fringes of 3G where you dip in and out of service. Will the phone constantly be switching back to a poor 3G signal or will it settle on a strong 800? |
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#1449 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Totnes, Devon
Posts: 6,693
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Quote:
So the only real issue is phones hanging to a crappy 3G signal where there is a solid 800 one and killing the battery? If 800 is restricted to VoLTE only devices while 1800 breathes with 2/3G, there should be little problem as far as I can see for 3 or EE once it's all rolling.
I wonder what will happen on the fringes of 3G where you dip in and out of service. Will the phone constantly be switching back to a poor 3G signal or will it settle on a strong 800? It's not like with 3G/2G where they didn't want you on the 2G really. LTE doesn't breath. They just set the 1800 to be less than 3G's smallest reigned in footprint hence why the 1800 is so crap. |
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#1450 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2,876
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Are there plans to allow 3G to move up to LTE during an active data transfer?
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