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EE 2G/3G/4G Discussion Thread (Part 2)


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Old 15-04-2016, 11:04
jchamier
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I know this is a dumb question but when I manually choose network on my phone I get 2 EE choices. One is EE and the other is EE (3G). I'm guessing one is an old orange mast and the other an MBNL. Which is which?
This is how iOS copes with showing two names the same, as it doesn't show the PLMN/MNC code.

I believe the top one is your 'home' network, and the lower down one is the "other" network. If you have an EE or legacy T-Mobile SIM then your home network is the former T-mobile code - if you have a legacy Orange SIM then your home network is the former Orange code.

These go in time ; my home area has only one EE (t-mobile code) now for over 12months.
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Old 15-04-2016, 11:15
packages
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This is how iOS copes with showing two names the same, as it doesn't show the PLMN/MNC code.

I believe the top one is your 'home' network, and the lower down one is the "other" network. If you have an EE or legacy T-Mobile SIM then your home network is the former T-mobile code - if you have a legacy Orange SIM then your home network is the former Orange code.

These go in time ; my home area has only one EE (t-mobile code) now for over 12months.
Yea EE (3G) is code 33. I wish it did connect to this mast though as it gives good speeds whereas the 30 mast is on copper back haul and are lucky to get any throughput during the day
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Old 15-04-2016, 11:29
jchamier
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Yea EE (3G) is code 33. I wish it did connect to this mast though as it gives good speeds whereas the 30 mast is on copper back haul and are lucky to get any throughput during the day
Interesting as that's backwards to most places where the Orange (234-33) code is typically on a 2mbps connection and the MBNL (Tmobile 234-30) site is on fibre. I wonder if the MBNL site is faulty.
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Old 15-04-2016, 13:53
packages
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Interesting as that's backwards to most places where the Orange (234-33) code is typically on a 2mbps connection and the MBNL (Tmobile 234-30) site is on fibre. I wonder if the MBNL site is faulty.
I'm not sure the site has been MBNL'd though. The three coverage checker makes it look like it isn't.

Also asked bookey and he did say it's an old orange mast too.
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Old 15-04-2016, 15:30
Broken Hope
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That was happening in the areas I was finding VoLTE on Tyneside over the last few few weeks, as of a couple of days ago the areas are now fully VoLTE live.

I suspect you might find it changing to proper VoLTE in the near future.
Some masts seem to be fully enabled as I can switch my phone to aeroplane mode and off again and it immediately allows me to tap carrier to see IMS status, most masts however only seem to be set up to allow a 4G call to be passed over to it though.
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Old 15-04-2016, 15:57
moox
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Yea EE (3G) is code 33. I wish it did connect to this mast though as it gives good speeds whereas the 30 mast is on copper back haul and are lucky to get any throughput during the day
Since using what's left of the Orange network would technically be "roaming" to an EE/T-Mobile SIM, surely the phone should be trying to get onto 234-33 at any cost?

It's similar to the problems 3 customers still have in areas where 2G backup continues to exist - the network can't push the phone back onto the 3 network AFAIK, it happens when the phone decides to do it
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Old 15-04-2016, 19:43
de525ma
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Since using what's left of the Orange network would technically be "roaming" to an EE/T-Mobile SIM, surely the phone should be trying to get onto 234-33 at any cost?

It's similar to the problems 3 customers still have in areas where 2G backup continues to exist - the network can't push the phone back onto the 3 network AFAIK, it happens when the phone decides to do it
It did not work this way when I was on my t-mobile legacy sim. It would pick the network with the strongest signal and use that. Always used to switch to an old Orange 3G mast on the way to work despite the MBNL mast covering the area, but from a more distant location.

My EE sim avoids Orange at all costs.
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Old 15-04-2016, 21:05
red_snow
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My EE sim avoids Orange at all costs.
My EE SIM also seems to avoid EE at all costs!
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Old 15-04-2016, 21:47
rasseru16
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My EE SIM also seems to avoid EE at all costs!
Different story for me im afraid, round where i live and work in Norfolk & Suffolk theres still plenty of Orange 2G masts that my phone ends up connecting to because its the strongest network available along the road i travel to work each day.

And on that note, there is still Orange 3G sites live even in Great Yarmouth where EE 4G is well rolled out.
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Old 15-04-2016, 23:13
thebennyboy
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Still two old orange mast here, one legacy 2G site that covers a large segment of the valley and another 3G site covering Conwy and the northern parts of the valley. Both still using crappy backhaul and the 3G site typically delivering 0.5Mbps speeds. Three have since hopped on the orange 3G site but speeds have often been 0.25Mbps at times, hasn't even been touched since Three hopped on.

Hopefully both will be properly MBNL'd soon enough. The networks got a good briefing in the papers regarding the generally crap coverage here. There was an application for the old legacy 2G site but there have been issues with it as the mast itself is on a pylon, which is also in Snowdonia National Park.
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Old 15-04-2016, 23:15
lee18xx
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Different story for me im afraid, round where i live and work in Norfolk & Suffolk theres still plenty of Orange 2G masts that my phone ends up connecting to because its the strongest network available along the road i travel to work each day.

And on that note, there is still Orange 3G sites live even in Great Yarmouth where EE 4G is well rolled out.
Great Yarmouth I can confirm. 3 customers can still roam into these orange sites too
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Old 16-04-2016, 10:24
Pedro_C
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With all the nice EE 800MHz vibes, I made a video: EE 8000MHz 4G/VoLTE. Masts+technical discussion
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Old 16-04-2016, 11:21
Stereo Steve
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This is sort of EE related and may depend whether I sign up with them. I live in a pit and only 800 will get here reliably. But, Wifi calling would work in the depths. Say I got some really good kit and put external wifi on top of my house / barn and assume line of sight is OK, how far away will an iphone work on that wifi? I think my local IT expert told me that it's device limited rather than pumping power into the wifi itself.
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Old 16-04-2016, 11:34
moox
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This is sort of EE related and may depend whether I sign up with them. I live in a pit and only 800 will get here reliably. But, Wifi calling would work in the depths. Say I got some really good kit and put external wifi on top of my house / barn and assume line of sight is OK, how far away will an iphone work on that wifi? I think my local IT expert told me that it's device limited rather than pumping power into the wifi itself.
The problem with wifi is that it is bi-directional by its nature, so you need to also worry about whether the iPhone's signal can be picked up by the wifi equipment at the house. Usually, long range wifi links only work because both ends have decent equipment and proper aerials

How far do you want it to work?
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Old 16-04-2016, 12:55
packages
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With all the nice EE 800MHz vibes, I made a video: EE 8000MHz 4G/VoLTE. Masts+technical discussion
I know it's broadcasting in some areas without VoLTE currently and letting any device that supports 800mhz connect to it, but are we sure it this will be the case when it is officially launched? Surely there would be lots of cases where there would only be 800mhz coverage and so no fallback for non-VoLTE devices and therefore wouldn't be able to make a call>
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Old 16-04-2016, 17:36
jonmorris
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I know it's broadcasting in some areas without VoLTE currently and letting any device that supports 800mhz connect to it, but are we sure it this will be the case when it is officially launched? Surely there would be lots of cases where there would only be 800mhz coverage and so no fallback for non-VoLTE devices and therefore wouldn't be able to make a call>
It should be done by IMEI, so devices that are data only can be whitelisted. The problem then, I assume, is that obscure devices may never make the list.

Is there any other way for a device to 'announce its capabilities' to a network when registering?
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Old 16-04-2016, 18:42
aldoH82
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The latest update for the unlocked s7 edge enables WiFi calling on EE. One less reason to get the branded handset and suffer the slow updates. Not sure if it enables voLTE as well. I assume not although seen a comment from someone elsewhere using an unlocked handset on three and seeing voLTE pop up so you never know
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Old 16-04-2016, 19:19
rasseru16
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Great Yarmouth I can confirm. 3 customers can still roam into these orange sites too
Yep that's a weird one isn't it even though 3 are generally well established coverage wise in Yarmouth now
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Old 16-04-2016, 20:02
jonmorris
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The latest update for the unlocked s7 edge enables WiFi calling on EE. One less reason to get the branded handset and suffer the slow updates. Not sure if it enables voLTE as well. I assume not although seen a comment from someone elsewhere using an unlocked handset on three and seeing voLTE pop up so you never know
Operators should be giving manufacturers the necessary settings to include in all software builds, like a phone detecting your network and asking you to select the right APN settings without needing OTA updating.

Every operator must want users with 4G phones using VoLTE as soon as possible.
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Old 16-04-2016, 20:55
keithsto
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Volte workIng well in Leeds centre this evening. No signs of 800 though.
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Old 16-04-2016, 21:09
japaul
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It should be done by IMEI, so devices that are data only can be whitelisted. The problem then, I assume, is that obscure devices may never make the list.

Is there any other way for a device to 'announce its capabilities' to a network when registering?
Yes, all devices have to announce their capabilities so the network only issues relevant instructions to them. There are a few that are required for volte but as Peter says in his video, 800 is working for devices without volte anyway.
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Old 16-04-2016, 21:12
Skippy2005
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Volte workIng well in Leeds centre this evening. No signs of 800 though.
I'm guessing it'll only switch to 800 if you go out of 1800/2600 reach?
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Old 16-04-2016, 22:17
jonmorris
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Yes, all devices have to announce their capabilities so the network only issues relevant instructions to them. There are a few that are required for volte but as Peter says in his video, 800 is working for devices without volte anyway.
This must be an error and something that will be fixed, or 800 is usable because there's other 2G or 3G coverage available from another location?
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Old 16-04-2016, 22:56
uno
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I have been into Leicester today shopping still no sign of VOLTE yet but does weirdly hand off from wifi to 4G on a few masts on the outskirts of the city.
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Old 17-04-2016, 19:37
DevonBloke
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I have been into Leicester today shopping still no sign of VOLTE yet but does weirdly hand off from wifi to 4G on a few masts on the outskirts of the city.
That will work here but I can't set up a VoLTE call.
I think VoLTE is now live over the entire network but only certain cells will let you set up a call.
Once a call is set up though it will handover to any 4G cell from either VoLTE or WiFi.
I could be totally wrong on that but that's how it seems to me.
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