Just to confirm, I bought the S5 and there is no way to force it onto 800Mhz only.

What is this horrible black bar at the top of the forum now - yuck

Three 3G working quite nicely in Hampshire today. Speeds good enough for browsing and streaming.

I noticed when I updated the firmware to enable 800mhz on my S5 it started to freeze and sometimes the home button wouldn't work

We carried out essential works in your area recently. We're really sorry if you couldn't use all your services. Good news - everything's working fine now. Got a signal problem right now? Check out network support

Yeah, I've got a signal problem 3. You've carried out 'essential works' on my postcode about 20 times in the last year bugger all changes. Why don't you just post a message saying 'We hate you and wish you were dead. The end'.. At least that would be honest. Upgrade the mast you pricks.

Are you a SIM only customer? Tempted to give this a go myself.

Yesterday, the coverage checker for 3 showed that my area has an excellent signal indoors and out for 4G and everything else. Since September when they added Volte in my area it has just been good, although I still only got one bar of volte for a few seconds at a time.

Bloody liars! I am lucky if I get one bar where I live.
3 should be prosecuted for lying!

What's the VOLTE reception like in Canterbury? My coverage has just went from good to excellent but I'm on an iPhone so can't test it.

I have only experienced volte in Canterbury at the university of Kent and it is a very poor and very intetmittemt service on my S6 zEdge.

Just my luck, I was hoping for good things! Looks like my issues won't change even with access to VOLTE. With any luck they'll ramp up the power and strengthen the signal. I can't but wait and see..

There's a fine line between getting the 800/2100 thresholds right (so people actually see the new service) and making sure you parade a stupid bloody purple puppet about while telling everyone just how crap you are....
It's a tough one to balance......

Make the network better or do pointless shit?
See it's not that easy is it!

Perhaps Three should try to Be a bit more More Bacon and a little less Muppet!
It's an idea that might just work.

Especially mid rollout, they are clearly holding back 800 to make sure that it gets slowly introduced which is sensible, rather than rushing in causing widespread issues for users that don't even know what frequency a network works on or care.

I see P3 reported that Three has the best call success rate of any network, lets keep it that way. It only launched a few weeks ago, it will role out but we need patience.

I was surprised to see that VoLTE even works on PAYG with Three.

This is the network that has let you use such fancy features as call hold and conference calling on PAYG that no other network does.

So it's not surprsiing

True, but with all the limitations imposed on VoLTE I didn't expect to see it working.

We carried out essential works in your area recently. We're really sorry if you couldn't use all your services. Good news - everything's working fine now. Got a signal problem right now?

Yes, you haven't put 800 on it. DO IT NOW.

I am a SIM Only customer but it does require a lot of steps for the whole process. You will need Ubuntu as well as being able to do hex editing. If you're alright with being prepared to spend two hours for the whole process and understand the risk of bricking your phone you should be fine.

I have exactly the same in my area checker today.

Nothing has changed though, I still only get a few seconds of volte at a time.
Mostly normal 4G or 3G with a maximum of 2 bars, often no signal at all.

Yet the coverage map is now showing that my area has excellent coverage of the new volte service. It is a blatant lie as wherever I go in my local area, I do not get more than 2 bars of volte and then only for a few seconds before it's lost again.

I am leaving 3 when my contract expires as I have had more than enough. I would be happy to have a regular signal so I can use my phone at home, but I often have no signal.

Three 3G has definitely improved in coverage on the M3.

Updates to both maps
24th Oct vs 4th Nov
1800: http://gdurl.com/ky2E
800: http://gdurl.com/kRjX

It's slow progress. Where are those extra 1700 masts? The 25 mile (40km) radius of 800MHz fill up the map, shame there aren't many phones to actually use it.

I am sure I'm being silly but how do I compare the old and new maps?

Click the map to zoom in. The updates are the red bits.

As Devon says, look for the red patches. Much easier to see on 800 than 1800 due to the large areas that can cover - compare the new Great Yarmouth mast coverage on both, for example.

I had a read up on XDA and saw the HEX edits. Hopefully Ubuntu will work on a Virtual Machine enough to do what it needs to, otherwise I'll have to dig an old PC out that is no longer used.

I gather that it needs access to the hidden menu as well? I saw a report that that menu disappears once the Marshmallow update is applied.

You weren't, I didn't get it until it was explained. You're not the only one!