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Three 4G Discussion Thread (Part 2)


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Old 19-10-2015, 21:08
jchamier
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I am in a university town and get almost 100 nearly every time, and that's not because the area is quiet but rather that's the cap. I know I could be getting 180 (as that's exactly what an EE engineer) and possibly even higher.
Guess my area has not so good back-haul or spectrum challenges :-/
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Old 19-10-2015, 21:33
iTech
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Good to see that Northern Ireland are getting the extra capacity with 4G, just one itsy bittsy problem with Three's coverage checker. No 4G coverage in Northern Ireland. I've sent them a question, let's see if they accept it.
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Old 19-10-2015, 22:16
GavinAshford
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Some point in the last week or so Three's LTE coverage maps have been updated.
These are 22nd Sept vs Today (19th Oct):
800mhz: http://gdurl.com/LvRn
1800mhz: http://gdurl.com/tDhE
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Old 19-10-2015, 22:45
Mark in Essex
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A lot of people have been posting on the blog that they have SMS issues, some appear to have got round it with a factory reset.
Thanks for that.

I was hoping it may not come to that, but I guess if it's worked for others then I'll give it a go sometime.
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Old 19-10-2015, 23:04
Gigabit
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Gotta say, if you force 800MHz on the G4, it goes on forever.
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Old 19-10-2015, 23:05
Redcoat
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Good to see that Northern Ireland are getting the extra capacity with 4G, just one itsy bittsy problem with Three's coverage checker. No 4G coverage in Northern Ireland. I've sent them a question, let's see if they accept it.
Interestingly, 3's coverage checker is currently returning the following message if you search for coverage with either a BT78 or BT79 postcode..

We're planning some network improvements in your area on 20/21/22* October 2015. We're really sorry if this affects your services. It's crucial work that will improve your network experience.
...I wonder if it is 4G related, either 1800MHz or even 800MHz? The latter would be extremely useful in the sticks out here. In saying that, 3 have made no public announcements yet on bringing 4G west of the Bann.

*Depends on the postcode being searched.
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Old 20-10-2015, 00:22
daveyfs
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Surprised London and the south east is last, but might confirm why I've not seen any improvements. Shame it doesn't give a date either.
It was active in Reading a week last Thursday - I went into my iphone test mode when I was there and it showed 15Mhz down and up and 1392 on the ARCFN thing (or whatever its called).
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Old 20-10-2015, 09:58
southlad
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Hi all,

Can someone please confirm that my LG G3 bought from Amazon sim free will not get the Three Super Voice update?

I have a three pay monthly sim inside it.

Thank you.
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Old 20-10-2015, 10:23
Skippy2005
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Hi all,

Can someone please confirm that my LG G3 bought from Amazon sim free will not get the Three Super Voice update?

I have a three pay monthly sim inside it.

Thank you.
From what I gather if you flash the phone with 3 software, when the G3 is given access you should it too.
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Old 20-10-2015, 11:14
japaul
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It was active in Reading a week last Thursday - I went into my iphone test mode when I was there and it showed 15Mhz down and up and 1392 on the ARCFN thing (or whatever its called).
Reading is a bit different as it was Three's test area and they've been running 15MHz of 1800 there since August by agreement with EE who still held the licence for it until the beginning of October.
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Old 20-10-2015, 11:37
Mark in Essex
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I can confirm that a factory reset sorts out the SMS sending problem (last thing I wanted to do and thought I may not need to do it as it was not a big update).
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Old 20-10-2015, 11:52
mupet0000
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All 5 of my most local sites in Bedford are showing 15MHz in field test mode. Only on the Upload section though, Download always shows unknown, I assume this is because field test mode isn't updated by Apple.

Funnily enough, it hasn't helped congestion in the slightest. I'm getting the same speeds at the same times. During rush hour, 4G speeds get down to 1mbps down and 10mbps up standing right next to one site in particular. Other sites, congestion isn't as bad, with speeds of around 5-15mbps at peak times.

These are all MBNL sites, and EE will be getting 20mbps+ while Three is at 1mbps from the exact same site at the same time. EE do have more sites not in the MBNL share here, plenty of legacy Orange sites that are still functional, at least one is Orange/Voda that EE have been out to and upgraded to 2G/4G.

There was a point a few months back where this particular congested site couldn't even take calls or texts during peak times when my EE phone connected to the same site functioned perfectly fine. It doesn't have antennas capable of 800MHz, I can only imagine if they gave it 800MHz it would be completely unusable @ 5mhz.

I've seen absolutely no movement in legacy Orange sites being integrated into MBNL around here, but the large majority of them are still active. The Orange fallback no longer exists (it shows in network searches but cannot be connected to) except one particular site in the town centre where coverage from the local 4G MBNL site is awful and anytime you enter a shop you will roam onto Orange.

EE users get Orange 3G, Three users get Orange GSM calls/texts. Seriously, if they shut this sites roaming off, anyone in Bedford town centre on Three who entered almost any building would have no service. It's been this way for many years, they probably have left just that one site on for fallback as it must have huge amounts of people roaming on it on a daily basis.
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Old 20-10-2015, 13:26
tarzion
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Work is being carried out in my area today.

How do I find out what work has been carried out?
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Old 20-10-2015, 13:51
Stereo Steve
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Work is being carried out in my area today.

How do I find out what work has been carried out?
You'll know because your signal will be worse afterwards. That's what happens here anyway.
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Old 20-10-2015, 14:03
southlad
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From what I gather if you flash the phone with 3 software, when the G3 is given access you should it too.
Could you explain what I have to do to 'flash' the phone? (Sorry)
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Old 20-10-2015, 15:54
Mark in Essex
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Could you explain what I have to do to 'flash' the phone? (Sorry)
It means to update the software on the phone with the Three software and not the standard one.

I know it can be complicated sometimes if you don't know what you are doing and I have never tried it before (just always updated to the carriers standard software when they release and updated version).

Please note if you don't know what you are doing there is the possibility you could screw the phone up so best research it a lot before attempting it.
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Old 20-10-2015, 17:23
Icaraa
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It was active in Reading a week last Thursday - I went into my iphone test mode when I was there and it showed 15Mhz down and up and 1392 on the ARCFN thing (or whatever its called).

Yeah mine is showing 15Mhz down and up but I'm still only getting 7Mbit on a speed test.

Edit: Curiously it has now jumped to 40Mbit and I haven't moved.
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Old 20-10-2015, 21:11
iTech
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Interestingly, 3's coverage checker is currently returning the following message if you search for coverage with either a BT78 or BT79 postcode..

...I wonder if it is 4G related, either 1800MHz or even 800MHz? The latter would be extremely useful in the sticks out here. In saying that, 3 have made no public announcements yet on bringing 4G west of the Bann.

*Depends on the postcode being searched.
The reply I got:

Hi @Anthony, we’re currently in the process of testing 4G in parts of Northern Ireland so even though it’s not be displayed on our coverage checker you may find you pick up 4G in certain areas. At this point there’s no specific date set for when the update will be available for the iPhone I’m afraid however we are expecting it to be before the end of the year. Sorry I couldn’t provide anything more specific than this. If you have any further questions please let me know. Thanks, David
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Old 20-10-2015, 23:07
FmBandScan
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Well, after trying to flash my S6 with the Three firmware I bricked my phone.

Then I reset it using the Samsung smart switch and after it all loaded up I found myself able to connect to 20mhz LTE, and when I check phone info it shows I am using BTU firmware. So I am not sure how I am on it!

Speeds are around 11mbs download upstairs and 6mbs downstairs, and the upload is useless!
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Old 20-10-2015, 23:31
mupet0000
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Well, after trying to flash my S6 with the Three firmware I bricked my phone.

Then I reset it using the Samsung smart switch and after it all loaded up I found myself able to connect to 20mhz LTE, and when I check phone info it shows I am using BTU firmware. So I am not sure how I am on it!

Speeds are around 11mbs download upstairs and 6mbs downstairs, and the upload is useless!
20mhz lte?
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Old 20-10-2015, 23:46
FmBandScan
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Whoops, obviously my tired self meant band 20, 800mhz!

But I can't make phone calls on it strangely enough!
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Old 21-10-2015, 09:53
LegendaryAced
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Whoops, obviously my tired self meant band 20, 800mhz!

But I can't make phone calls on it strangely enough!
That is because your phone does not have the IMS settings. IMS is the server that handles VoLTE and WiFi Calling calls, which are, basically, VoIP. IMS settings in real world come via OTA updates. In Three (and EE & Vodafone) they require special firmware that is not properly flashed in your phone, from what you are telling us

Exception is the iPhones that require Carrier Updates.
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Old 21-10-2015, 10:11
tarzion
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Looks like the work in my area has still not been completed.

The following message has still not been updated.

"We're planning some network improvements in your area on 20 October 2015. We're really sorry if this affects your services. It's crucial, work that will improve your network experience."

Network has been very bad for me yesterday and today in the office I am struggling to get any pages to load on my new Xperia Z5 using Three firmware.

I am wondering if different manufacturers tweak their modems differently. My Moto G 3rd gen always seems to report higher signal strength than the rest of my handsets.

EDIT: BTW my Z5 always locks on to H+ / 3G and rarely locks on to 4G.
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Old 21-10-2015, 12:37
Skippy2005
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Looks like the work in my area has still not been completed.

The following message has still not been updated.

"We're planning some network improvements in your area on 20 October 2015. We're really sorry if this affects your services. It's crucial, work that will improve your network experience."

Network has been very bad for me yesterday and today in the office I am struggling to get any pages to load on my new Xperia Z5 using Three firmware.

I am wondering if different manufacturers tweak their modems differently. My Moto G 3rd gen always seems to report higher signal strength than the rest of my handsets.

EDIT: BTW my Z5 always locks on to H+ / 3G and rarely locks on to 4G.
Samsung, Sony and a few others are known to have crap antennas. Motorola iPhone and blackberry are amongst the best for antennas. Motorola certainly being the dogs!!
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Old 21-10-2015, 13:35
jaffboy151
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Samsung, Sony and a few others are known to have crap antennas. Motorola iPhone and blackberry are amongst the best for antennas. Motorola certainly being the dogs!!
I second this! Swapped my galaxy note 4 for a LG g4 and immediately signal strength was higher, drop outs were fewer and 4g appeared in more places then previous. I found my old S4 to have okish reception, the Note 3,S5 and two Note 4's I've had all suffered the same poor reception and suffered hugely from the grip of death. I have a Sony for my secondary phone and this is a bit worse even still then the samsungs, it's not just a three problem, on Vodafone I found my note 4 would spend most of its time on 2g whilst my G4 finds and sticks to 3 & 4g much much more..
As a byproduct of this I find the G4 much better on battery then my note 4 despite being smaller as it's not constantly trying to keep in touch with a weak signal.
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