In some places they leave the Orange code live for Three users to roam onto. They can also leave the legacy Orange panels on the site because it's easier/cheaper to leave them there than take them down and it can make future planning permission easier if they want another set of panels on a site.

LTE log. Suspicion of 800mhz rising.

https://imgur.com/40JNn51

Keeps dropping to 3G so maybe they're testing or something - these things do seem to happen on a Sunday here

Nope, don't have the money for iOS devices and my S4 works fine, apart from this network issue of choosing 2G too often, even with 3G available.

Just a way of making an LTE/WCDMA mode would be fine. In fact, my old ZTE Blade 3 had a WCDMA/LTE only mode, despite it not being an LTE capable device. Any way of getting the network setting from there?

Also, I suppose you have to be rooted for this to work? My S4 is not rooted.

Rooting alone won't do it but a custom rom might have the option. I'd have a look on XDA.

Or see if under *#2263# there is an option for LTE/WCDMA only

But as far as I am aware, the Orange 2G is for voice and text only, i.e. no data at all? And wouldn't Three 3G be there if it's an upgraded site?

I assume that, in time, the Orange code would eventually get switched off.

For example, on this page here: http://pedroc.co.uk/cottingham_mast_hunt.htm (from Pedro C's website), if I remember correctly the first mast on the left hand side used to be EE 2G/3G/4G, with also the Orange 2G code active as well (so 234-30 and 234-33 from the same mast) - this was for 3 roaming. Though now, it has 3 3G too, and the Orange code is (I assume) gone. And chances are, EE would probably want all masts on the 234-30 code in the long term (so that all masts are in the same network, as Orange masts are currently not chosen unless the EE signal is substantially weaker).

Okay, I'll ask on XDA, thanks for the guidance.

I've just tried that code *#2263# but it doesn't seem to do anything when the final # is typed in (unlike the service mode, *#0011#, which I use to check if I'm on 23430 or 23433).

I haven't tested my old Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus (as it didn't have this issue, it always clung to 3G) and I know the ZTE Blade 3 (which I no longer use) had an LTE/WCDMA setting, despite it not being an LTE phone. It also had a setting for LTE/GSM/CDMA (not WCDMA, but CDMA), a setting for CDMA only, and a setting for EVDO only - and I'm fairly certain that the ZTE didn't support CDMA or EVDO. The S4 also has settings for CDMA and EVDO, and the mixed LTE/GSM/CDMA setting. So couldn't one of the settings like LTE/GSM/CDMA be changed to LTE/WCDMA? Or am I going crazy?

Trying to remember from my S2 the codes but won't apply much anyway because that obviously wasn't 4G!

It is a bit of an omission but it might not be simple oversight. If a network is set to drop down to 2G from 4G calls like is done on some on the continent then LTE/WCDMA only may cause them to fail might be one reason off the top of my head, but then why would there be LTE only instantly disproving it. Unless on •#0011# there is an RF band selection thing which has it and it's hidden, I'm not familiar with the newer samsungs thoguh looks like you're stuck with it unless you try a custom firmware out. Could also try a different modem and see if it makes a difference (http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2192025) but only do this with the most extreme levels of caution!

It'll go eventually, just not until Three's coverage is dense enough, though I have definitely noticed it going - mainly in areas with L08.

That site was originally Orange G18 and U21 on an omnidirectional flagpole style antenna then got the MBNL treatment so had the 'panels' replaced, got recoloured to the T-Mob code (though kept Orange 2G code for Three fallback as Three had to rely on 3G from a *very* congested site over 2 miles away), and gained EE L18. About a month or so after that, it gained Three U21 as well. They still have it broadcasting Orange 2G now because non 'supervoice' devices here still find themselves roaming onto it every now and again, especially in some of the old brick buildings here where G18 can just reach into, never mind U21 with its lovely breathing.

I suspect that EE want rid of the Orange code from everywhere but the monetary gains from Three likely outweigh the disadvantage of leaving it on so until Three have dense enough coverage, I see no reason of getting rid of it.

i was going to post here but censored myself right at the last moment.........
That was close.....
Phew!!

Wise. If annoying that most of the people who actually know what they're talking about seem to be avoiding the forum at the moment. No idea why.

I would agree with this. The anti-3G brigade are annoying. It's clear it is the future and should be put on all masts and even more 3G only masts should be put up as infill. I can see EE at some point re-farming all spectrum to 3G and getting rid of those other things, whatever they are. I've forgotten now.

Running the LDV on raw fish oil now as have exhausted the local chippies and curry houses. It's sort of going but smells terrible and I have to change the filters every morning. Still, it's all progress.

I know people have already mentioned this, but I have noticed that since my area got VoLTE when I'm connected to WiFi, WiFi calling doesn't always connect and it just stays using 4G for calls. On an iPhone 6.

My area hasn't even got VoLTE properly yet, you can only handoff from Wifi to 4G and my phone constantly does this. It doesn't go back to Wifi Calling mode for ages, hours sometimes.

I don't know how to break this to you, but I suspect diesel is cheaper than fish oil per litre .

And you're always complaining about being a country bumpkin, where's all the cheap red diesel?

PS

3G is a dead technology...

Shouldn't do, because all of my calls go through 3G on the WCDMA Only mode. And if I got a call whilst being on LTE/WCDMA mode, the mast would switch to 3G. The only issue would be with the weird masts, like the monument mast on the A11, which are 2G/4G - in which case, the call would indeed fail, and although it would be good to be able to make/receive calls anywhere I go, data reliability is my no.1 priority. Who knows when I might need to use tunein or spotify, or any other music app. But it'll be quite regularly. And none of those apps like 2G.

If 2G was able to do 1-2Mbps, I wouldn't have an issue - as it'd still run basic streaming services. But it tops out at about 150kbps, which is barely adequate. Yeah, that's one of the reasons I didn't choose LTE only, as my S4 certainly doesn't do VOLTE at the current time.

I'll ask XDA, see what they think. Though it's strange that my ZTE Blade 3, which didn't support LTE, had an LTE/WCDMA mode!


Aah, thanks for the explanation. I suppose that Three are aiming for coverage density before the Orange 2G gets switched off in certain areas. Though saying that, I thought that Three were turning off the Orange fallback when they thought their own 3G was good enough?

Also, I thought that 2G roaming didn't occur unless there was no Three 3G available? Certainly in buildings whereby 3G can't penetrate, but 2G1800 can, there'd be roaming, but otherwise it would go 3 3G?

Chances are, if and when that mast goes 3 L800, the Orange 2G would definitely be switched off.. though I thought EE's long term plan was to eliminate the Orange 2G/3G code anyway.

And 2G is hopeless for streaming media.

Though I suppose, if 3G did go, and 4G was turned up in power, my S4 would stay on 4G1800 all the time, unless there was a call - in which case I'd then drop to 2G.

With regards to the 2G/3G debate, there's one person that I phone every so often, that has a basic 2G only phone, and runs on BT (so EE). I can always tell the difference in sound quality from this 2G only phone, and more modern 3G/4G devices that I ring. So 3G to 3G/4G calling is definitely better than any type of 2G calling.

Oh look, circles...

Big circles, but some people don't notice humour and satire in a post.

I must have misinterpreted the smilie...

I tried haha the other night to make it obvious. Unfortunately I don't think I managed the humour bit.

Ohhh a little bit of humour makes the world go round i say

Actually your handset switches when it gets the incoming paging signal over the current connection be it GSM, WCDMA, or LTE.


You're deliberately hobbling your phone by turning off 2G. This is a very odd thing to do if you need to make or receive phone calls.


then can I suggest you get a MiFi for data, WiFi to your phone, and reset your phone to being a phone, instead of crippling your phone.

You really should stop talking about this topic, you've been told by people who work for networks, and those of us who have read up on the topic, that 2G is not going to go. Phones are not perfect and are not calibrated scientific equipment. Your phone is perhaps £700 unconnected brand new, compared to the £1.5million or so a 2G/3G/4G transmission mast, cabinets, and antenna cost. It will often do what you don't want - and you may find other makes of Android, or other handsets (e.g. WinPho, Symbian, iOS) handle the switching better for your requirements.

3G/WCDMA/UMTS is going first, but it may be 10 years away, it may be 2 years away. Nobody can tell; it will depend on the quantity of LTE capable phones (User Equipment) sold and in use, and the networks have this information I would assume its commercially sensitive. At the moment they are all building wide ranging (physical coverage) and dense (reliability) networks. Its still early days for the UK LTE market.


This is purely a commercial decision for Three, and unless you know someone who works for them who can comment, nobody really knows. We are guessing. It may be due to cell breathing or backhaul cost that Three have decided cheaper to pay EE to run the Orange fall back. They could have no registered customers in this area. (Recall Three only has approx 10million customers).


Three commerical decision. They have no 2G roaming anywhere I've been in the south east and south west recently. They did have in Scotland last time I was up that way.


Won't be EE's call if Three want to pay them for the service, EE will retain the service. Look up 'Software Defined Networking' for some background.

Just found this planning app for a mast. You would think that EE would put 800mhz onto any 3 800 mast but obviously not.

I wonder why not?

http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/planning...-applications/

Application No:
161042

Maybe EE don't think there is a need with their dense 1800 plan. Three may be saving money and using less masts so more need to be 800 enabled.

Teo companies with different objectives.

Trouble is we bought some red diesel trees years ago but you have to wait 4 years to get any fruit and it turned out they were white so we had to pay duty on the diesel grapes.

VoLTE seems to be completely live in Nottingham today, I can toggle aeroplane mode and it will reconnect to the IMS server within seconds.