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Three 4G Discussion Thread (Part 2)


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Old 15-09-2015, 20:09
iTech
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I spoke to them on the phone, they were adamant that Super-Voice and 800MHz will only work on Three branded devices, unless you have an iPhone 6 or the new 6s. Any Android or Windows phones must be running the Three branded software.

I assume this is a limitation of the operating systems and unless Three can get manufacturers to include their VoLTE settings into their own roms (like Samsung/LG/Sony/Motorola unbranded roms), then we won't get VoLTE on sim-only without an iPhone or without flashing the Three branded rom on the relevant device.

In the case of devices the don't have Three branded roms but do technically support 800MHz+VoLTE, officially, these devices will not be supported. Although it is interesting to note the ability of the Nexus 6 to access 800MHz even though it doesn't have the correct VoLTE settings.
That's not what they told me yesterday. Which bit did you talk to? I was speaking to network technical support.
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Old 15-09-2015, 20:14
The Lord Lucan
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That's not what they told me yesterday. Which bit did you talk to? I was speaking to network technical support.
What muppet has heard is what I've heard too..
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Old 15-09-2015, 20:22
jonmorris
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I wrote this earlier, which I tried to write in layman's terms to explain what's a pretty messed up launch (not that Three can really do much else).

It's at http://jmcomms.com/2015/09/15/three-...e-limitations/

I thought to do this after reading some of the news stories today that were somewhat misleading.

If anyone can share it, it might help raise awareness of the issues and people might put some pressure on Three to explain things and consider what to do for people that just need data (whether using a MBB SIM or any SIM in a data only device). As well as letting people know that if they buy a OnePlus, Wileyfox, Huawei or something else not ranged by Three then they're effectively stuffed.
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Old 15-09-2015, 20:26
DevonBloke
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One of the things EE/MBNL are trying to iron out before launch.
I was wondering. I know nothing of the technicalities of which I'm sure there are many but it just sounds like it would harder to go from CS to PS.
Do we assume this works on Three then or have they skipped that part to get it out before EE.
We need someone to test weather a 3G call will hand over to 800 when moving out of 3G coverage.
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Old 15-09-2015, 20:33
TheEdge
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The Edge: It's only for Voice..

Also iPhones won't be allowed on 800 until at least October, not just VOLTE from what i'm told.



One of the things EE/MBNL are trying to iron out before launch.
Not according to the quote on the Three blog: "It’ll allow customers to make calls, send texts and go online in places they may have previously had poor or no signal."
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Old 15-09-2015, 20:33
The Lord Lucan
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I was wondering. I know nothing of the technicalities of which I'm sure there are many but it just sounds like it would harder to go from CS to PS.
Do we assume this works on Three then or have they skipped that part to get it out before EE.
We need someone to test weather a 3G call will hand over to 800 when moving out of 3G coverage.
They are publicly ironing out issues.. as Three seem to always do with new shiny things. They are the EE/MBNL Beta testers...
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Old 15-09-2015, 20:34
DevonBloke
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I wrote this earlier, which I tried to write in layman's terms to explain what's a pretty messed up launch (not that Three can really do much else).

It's at http://jmcomms.com/2015/09/15/three-...e-limitations/

I thought to do this after reading some of the news stories today that were somewhat misleading.

If anyone can share it, it might help raise awareness of the issues and people might put some pressure on Three to explain things and consider what to do for people that just need data (whether using a MBB SIM or any SIM in a data only device). As well as letting people know that if they buy a OnePlus, Wileyfox, Huawei or something else not ranged by Three then they're effectively stuffed.
Excellent piece Jon. very accurate.
I suppose really it's only us that know how it all works that it seems frustrating, however for the average user with an S5 their experience is going to be transformed just on coverage alone.
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Old 15-09-2015, 20:35
The Lord Lucan
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Not according to the quote on the Three blog: "It’ll allow customers to make calls, send texts and go online in places they may have previously had poor or no signal."
I should have said CURRENTLY
Although.. it will likely to <always> be limited to voice only in areas where 800 isn't needed. If you get my drift.
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Old 15-09-2015, 20:45
TheEdge
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I should have said CURRENTLY
Although.. it will likely to <always> be limited to voice only in areas where 800 isn't needed. If you get my drift.
Errrrrm honestly, no I don't. While I'm not super technical like a lot of people on here (quite frankly half of the networking stuff they talk about goes right over my head) I would find it hard to believe that Three would deploy the 800Mhz spectrum to support voice calls ONLY, or am I completely missing your point?
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Old 15-09-2015, 20:58
Pedro_C
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Having read Jon Morris' piece, it looks like I got most of my facts right on the little video I did on YouTube. I have linked to his article.

Their Guildford 800MHz seems to come from one transmitter on the Hog's back which seems to cover pretty much all around. Not suprising, it's pretty high up. Just need to get more than three 1800MHz masts now to provide the 4G capacity.
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:07
Denco1
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I wrote this earlier, which I tried to write in layman's terms to explain what's a pretty messed up launch (not that Three can really do much else).

It's at http://jmcomms.com/2015/09/15/three-...e-limitations/

I thought to do this after reading some of the news stories today that were somewhat misleading.

If anyone can share it, it might help raise awareness of the issues and people might put some pressure on Three to explain things and consider what to do for people that just need data (whether using a MBB SIM or any SIM in a data only device). As well as letting people know that if they buy a OnePlus, Wileyfox, Huawei or something else not ranged by Three then they're effectively stuffed.
Very well written piece jonmorris. Just one thing, have you seen confirmation from Three about the G4 other than the coverage map?
Seems odd that Three wouldn't mention the G4 in the press announcement along with the S5, which with no one reporting it on here and CS telling me they knew nothing about it leads me to believe it hasn't been activated yet.
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:12
jonmorris
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If you now select the G4 on the coverage map it says it works, so I'd say it is up and running. I no longer have my G4 to check though.
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:17
moox
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If you now select the G4 on the coverage map it says it works, so I'd say it is up and running. I no longer have my G4 to check though.
I have a mifi that causes the 800 map to kick in, and I'm allegedly in 800 coverage. It doesn't work, though.
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:18
Denco1
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If you now select the G4 on the coverage map it says it works, so I'd say it is up and running. I no longer have my G4 to check though.
Ok thanks.
Perhaps I'll email CS about it tomorrow, don't really understand what's going on with the G4 seem that my call to CS didn't clear anything up, and I can't get it working on the latest firmware, albeit I dirty flashed the HUK firmware over unbranded.
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:18
Denco1
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I have a mifi that causes the 800 map to kick in, and I'm allegedly in 800 coverage. It doesn't work, though.
Are you in 3G coverage?
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:22
moox
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Are you in 3G coverage?
Barely, but forcing the device to 800MHz 4G only doesn't work either, and a network scan doesn't pick up any networks despite the map claiming coverage

It has a mobile broadband SIM too, not a phone one
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:25
Thine Wonk
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What about the LG G3, does that support supervoice and do you need Three firmware for it to work?
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:32
jonmorris
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I really want to never call it Super Voice. Sounds so cheesy!!
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:34
Zebb
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I wrote this earlier, which I tried to write in layman's terms to explain what's a pretty messed up launch (not that Three can really do much else).

It's at http://jmcomms.com/2015/09/15/three-...e-limitations/

I thought to do this after reading some of the news stories today that were somewhat misleading.

If anyone can share it, it might help raise awareness of the issues and people might put some pressure on Three to explain things and consider what to do for people that just need data (whether using a MBB SIM or any SIM in a data only device). As well as letting people know that if they buy a OnePlus, Wileyfox, Huawei or something else not ranged by Three then they're effectively stuffed.
This doesn't tally with Three's coverage checker. If I select my phone and a 4G area, it claims "You can make calls, send texts and use the internet over our 4G network.", the making calls over 4G is VoLTE right?

Also, previously I wrote, how can Three say 5.5 million will be able to use 4G like this by 2017, they won't sell that many phones. Three must allow 4G capable phones this access by a software update surely. (The backend enabling).
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:38
Denco1
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Barely, but forcing the device to 800MHz 4G only doesn't work either, and a network scan doesn't pick up any networks despite the map claiming coverage

It has a mobile broadband SIM too, not a phone one
Makes me wonder if it is fully switched on yet in your area. Did you ring CS who gave you more detailed information, can't remember who it was now.
I would have expected something to show in the network scan if 800MHz was public though, unless the mifi is being weird.
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:40
Denco1
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What about the LG G3, does that support supervoice and do you need Three firmware for it to work?
From the phone list that was grabbed from the website before launch, it is scheduled for an update in November.
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:43
Denco1
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I really want to never call it Super Voice. Sounds so cheesy!!
It really does. Nothing wrong with EE calling it 4G Voice imo, but Three obviously wanted to attach some buzzword to it.
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:44
enapace
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Reverse SRVCC from what I've heard from is actually harder to implement then SRVCC is but it's quite shocking that any network in UK specially Three has launched VoLTE without it.
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:52
Denco1
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This doesn't tally with Three's coverage checker. If I select my phone and a 4G area, it claims "You can make calls, send texts and use the internet over our 4G network.", the making calls over 4G is VoLTE right?

Also, previously I wrote, how can Three say 5.5 million will be able to use 4G like this by 2017, they won't sell that many phones. Three must allow 4G capable phones this access by a software update surely. (The backend enabling).
Well you could take that statement as meaning internet over 4G, and calls/texts over any technology, 2G roaming or 3G.

Three probably have around 1 million combined iPhone 6/+ and Galaxy S6/Edge users right now. Once other flagships are updated and upgrades are made over the next 2yrs Three will get much closer to the 5.5 million estimate. They currently have approx 4.5 million 4G users I think, so if everyone with an incompatible phone upgraded and they continue to add new subs at the rate they are now 5.5 million is achievable.
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Old 15-09-2015, 21:54
japaul
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Barely, but forcing the device to 800MHz 4G only doesn't work either, and a network scan doesn't pick up any networks despite the map claiming coverage

It has a mobile broadband SIM too, not a phone one
I did a bit more testing today with my iPad Air 2 in an area with 800 but no 1800 or 3G (which I was able to check) and there was absolutely no access to 800. The iPad just sat there sulking with 'no service' displayed despite trying to coax it with initial searches.

That's with a mobile broadband sim so I think it's a definitive no to access for data only devices for now. The coverage map does show 800 coverage for iPad Airs so perhaps this is temporary.
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