Best SIMO deals with cashback?
EE 2G/3G/4G Discussion Thread (Part 2)
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Originally Posted by _m:
“How recently? Earlier this year one of Cottingham's sites got 4G'd, Three 3G added and the power appeared to go up. Then a month ago, the other MBNL site got a backhaul upgrade and also appeared to have the power bumped a bit (also had Three 4G added). Orchard Park has had a temporary mast put up for MBNL over the last few days to go alongside the Vodafone one though we're not sure as to whether it's live yet.”
“How recently? Earlier this year one of Cottingham's sites got 4G'd, Three 3G added and the power appeared to go up. Then a month ago, the other MBNL site got a backhaul upgrade and also appeared to have the power bumped a bit (also had Three 4G added). Orchard Park has had a temporary mast put up for MBNL over the last few days to go alongside the Vodafone one though we're not sure as to whether it's live yet.”
Must be live, noticed it over the last few days. Can get a full 4G signal around there were I use to only be able to get 1/2 bars.
Endyke lane/Courtland road. Just before Cottingham.
Originally Posted by jonmorris:
“Imagine if I went and did some speed tests. They'd need even more capacity!”
“Imagine if I went and did some speed tests. They'd need even more capacity!”
I'll be doing plenty there so don't worry!
Last year was pretty shocking for speed and call starting though. I'm surprised they didn't use any 2600mhz last year.
Originally Posted by Gigabit:
“Best SIMO deals with cashback?”
“Best SIMO deals with cashback?”
Have a look at MPD.
http://www.mobilephonesdirect.co.uk/sim-only/micro
Originally Posted by Skippy2005:
“Hi bookey_uk, ive given you that nudge you asked for in PM.”
“Hi bookey_uk, ive given you that nudge you asked for in PM.
”
Carr House Flats? Any news?
Originally Posted by keithsto:
“Carr House Flats? Any news?”
“Carr House Flats? Any news?
”
No 4G yet. Just being across the road at the Pinnacle I can see anyone up there! So I'm not the only one wishing EE would sort this!
Maidstone, Kent. Getting VoLTE handoff from Wi-Fi Calling (Sometimes), also sometimes calls will begin on 4G and stay there.
Handing down to 3G from VoLTE does not work though.
I am having issues with Wi-Fi Calling handing off to VoLTE when VoLTE is not active in this area resulting in call drops. It is very much on and off.
We do have Carrier Aggregation 2600/1800 down here though, but no 800, yet.
Handing down to 3G from VoLTE does not work though.
I am having issues with Wi-Fi Calling handing off to VoLTE when VoLTE is not active in this area resulting in call drops. It is very much on and off.
We do have Carrier Aggregation 2600/1800 down here though, but no 800, yet.
Originally Posted by superleeds27:
“Must be live, noticed it over the last few days. Can get a full 4G signal around there were I use to only be able to get 1/2 bars.
Endyke lane/Courtland road. Just before Cottingham.”
“Must be live, noticed it over the last few days. Can get a full 4G signal around there were I use to only be able to get 1/2 bars.
Endyke lane/Courtland road. Just before Cottingham.”
The site behind Endyke tires appears to have been having some work done it according to EE, Three, and Vodafone so it may even be that that is live with 4G now. Next time I'm down Courtland Road I'll have a look.
One day the other networks might catch up with EE, but today for me they haven't yet.
I was sitting outside the Freeman Hospital today (only one of the major cardio-thoracic hospitals in the UK) streaming TuneIn today via my Voda sim and it started buffering, have a look and there's that "e" on the screen...
Decide to check my emails on my iPad with Three sim, only showing one bar 3G with almost no throughput, not even loading emails and a speed test failing to even start.
Pull out my personal iPhone with EE sim, 3 bars 4G, tether both the iPad and my Vodafone phone to my EE iPhone and check my emails while streaming TuneIn, no problem at all. EE speed test shows 47/24Mbps.
I was sitting outside the Freeman Hospital today (only one of the major cardio-thoracic hospitals in the UK) streaming TuneIn today via my Voda sim and it started buffering, have a look and there's that "e" on the screen...
Decide to check my emails on my iPad with Three sim, only showing one bar 3G with almost no throughput, not even loading emails and a speed test failing to even start.
Pull out my personal iPhone with EE sim, 3 bars 4G, tether both the iPad and my Vodafone phone to my EE iPhone and check my emails while streaming TuneIn, no problem at all. EE speed test shows 47/24Mbps.
Originally Posted by _m:
“The site behind Endyke tires appears to have been having some work done it according to EE, Three, and Vodafone so it may even be that that is live with 4G now. Next time I'm down Courtland Road I'll have a look.”
“The site behind Endyke tires appears to have been having some work done it according to EE, Three, and Vodafone so it may even be that that is live with 4G now. Next time I'm down Courtland Road I'll have a look.”
There's two separate masts there now. Pretty sure there only use to be one?
Originally Posted by d123:
“One day the other networks might catch up with EE, but today for me they haven't yet.”
“One day the other networks might catch up with EE, but today for me they haven't yet.”
My experience has been quite the opposite, I was staying at a hotel last week in the cotswolds. 3 & EE not a sniff of any signal despite their coverage checkers claiming solid coverage. The only networks that showed up in a search were o2/VF. I'm on Vodafone so it was a case of me having to enable personal hotspot for people to use the 3G I had.
My experience after having spent 2 years on EE and now 6 months on Vodafone is that I'm much more likely to have no service on EE indoors than I am on Vodafone. I've also only seen GPRS once on Vodafone since I joined on one stretch of road.
Originally Posted by andyukguy:
“My experience has been quite the opposite, I was staying at a hotel last week in the cotswolds.
.”
“My experience has been quite the opposite, I was staying at a hotel last week in the cotswolds.
.”
Difference being I wasn't in the middle of nowhere, I was parked outside a nationally significant hospital less than 2 miles from the city centre of the biggest city in the north east...
Originally Posted by andyukguy:
“
My experience after having spent 2 years on EE and now 6 months on Vodafone is that I'm much more likely to have no service on EE indoors than I am on Vodafone. I've also only seen GPRS once on Vodafone since I joined on one stretch of road.”
“
My experience after having spent 2 years on EE and now 6 months on Vodafone is that I'm much more likely to have no service on EE indoors than I am on Vodafone. I've also only seen GPRS once on Vodafone since I joined on one stretch of road.”
This will probably always be the case until EE rollout 800mhz, then I would expect EE to have good 4G coverage in the Cotswolds. I've also found EE coverage in the Cotswolds very hit and miss although where I have been the coverage checker is usually accurate.
I've finally decided that 3G only will be the future of my phone unless I need 4G speeds, if someone over at XDA can't make a 3G/4G mode.
Tried testing the phone (S4) again. This time, the phone dropped to EDGE twice - once was near the railway bridge at Irchester (Northamptonshire), and the other time was on the main road into Rushden/Higham Ferrers.
The first time was completely unnecessary - right next to the railway bridge is an Orange 2G/3G mast, that is still broadcasting 3G under the Orange code. Why on earth did it ignore the 3G, and go to 2G? The 2G was EDGE, so probably from the recently upgraded water tower mast in Rushden, which I assume is where the 4G for the area is coming from.
Second time, again jumped to EDGE from 4G. Why it did this, I do not know, because there was clearly an MBNL 3G signal from the Higham Ferrers mast! By that time I'd had enough and forced the phone to WCDMA only... surprise surprise, 28% (8ASU) 3G signal.
So why on earth is this phone preferring 2G over strong 3G signals? It was bad enough when the phone dropped from 1-2 bars 3G (or ignored said signal), but ignoring strong 3G?
I'm asking XDA Developers if they can get a 3G/4G mode for me. And if I can get said 3G/4G mode, then that will be used permanently. And the day that the UK switches off 3G (which will probably be after my phone has given way) will be the day that the S4 will not be able to take a voice call.
Tried testing the phone (S4) again. This time, the phone dropped to EDGE twice - once was near the railway bridge at Irchester (Northamptonshire), and the other time was on the main road into Rushden/Higham Ferrers.
The first time was completely unnecessary - right next to the railway bridge is an Orange 2G/3G mast, that is still broadcasting 3G under the Orange code. Why on earth did it ignore the 3G, and go to 2G? The 2G was EDGE, so probably from the recently upgraded water tower mast in Rushden, which I assume is where the 4G for the area is coming from.
Second time, again jumped to EDGE from 4G. Why it did this, I do not know, because there was clearly an MBNL 3G signal from the Higham Ferrers mast! By that time I'd had enough and forced the phone to WCDMA only... surprise surprise, 28% (8ASU) 3G signal.
So why on earth is this phone preferring 2G over strong 3G signals? It was bad enough when the phone dropped from 1-2 bars 3G (or ignored said signal), but ignoring strong 3G?
I'm asking XDA Developers if they can get a 3G/4G mode for me. And if I can get said 3G/4G mode, then that will be used permanently. And the day that the UK switches off 3G (which will probably be after my phone has given way) will be the day that the S4 will not be able to take a voice call.
As you know, some new sites are being given 2G and 4G only. As such, you'll fall back to EDGE and then jump back to LTE. No 3G, as there isn't any - and a 3G site may be more distant.
So that's your answer.
Many phones let you go into the INFO menu and select LTE/WCDMA which solves your problem, as in it will cling on to LTE that big longer - but then fall back only to 3G. If you're on a site with no 3G then you'll end up with no service.
Most new phones seem to get back to 4G as quickly as they can. If your phone doesn't, I suggest changing it or looking for a custom ROM.
So that's your answer.
Many phones let you go into the INFO menu and select LTE/WCDMA which solves your problem, as in it will cling on to LTE that big longer - but then fall back only to 3G. If you're on a site with no 3G then you'll end up with no service.
Most new phones seem to get back to 4G as quickly as they can. If your phone doesn't, I suggest changing it or looking for a custom ROM.
4G calling (VOLTE) now working in and around Ipswich, tried it it in 4 different locations. (IPhone 6)
Originally Posted by beans0ntoast:
“So why on earth is this phone preferring 2G over strong 3G signals? It was bad enough when the phone dropped from 1-2 bars 3G (or ignored said signal), but ignoring strong 3G?”
“So why on earth is this phone preferring 2G over strong 3G signals? It was bad enough when the phone dropped from 1-2 bars 3G (or ignored said signal), but ignoring strong 3G?”
The "strong 3G" may be under a lot of load, and the network itself pushed your phone from 4G to 2G and then back to 4G. You may find the "strong 3G" doesn't work or performs incredibly badly (or by the mast letting you use it, other people get worse service). Its not necessarily your phone on its own.
Originally Posted by jonmorris:
“As you know, some new sites are being given 2G and 4G only. As such, you'll fall back to EDGE and then jump back to LTE. No 3G, as there isn't any - and a 3G site may be more distant.
So that's your answer.
Many phones let you go into the INFO menu and select LTE/WCDMA which solves your problem, as in it will cling on to LTE that big longer - but then fall back only to 3G. If you're on a site with no 3G then you'll end up with no service.
Most new phones seem to get back to 4G as quickly as they can. If your phone doesn't, I suggest changing it or looking for a custom ROM.”
“As you know, some new sites are being given 2G and 4G only. As such, you'll fall back to EDGE and then jump back to LTE. No 3G, as there isn't any - and a 3G site may be more distant.
So that's your answer.
Many phones let you go into the INFO menu and select LTE/WCDMA which solves your problem, as in it will cling on to LTE that big longer - but then fall back only to 3G. If you're on a site with no 3G then you'll end up with no service.
Most new phones seem to get back to 4G as quickly as they can. If your phone doesn't, I suggest changing it or looking for a custom ROM.”
Hi,
I'm fully aware that some masts are going 2G/4G, which is what happened with said weird monument mast, but I know that it (the Orange mast at the railway bridge) was broadcasting 3G earlier this morning (I almost always connect to said Orange mast), and it hasn't had any new panels put up yet. It seems strange that they would get rid of Orange 3G kit anyway, if they don't want Three to use the 3G then just use 23430 3G (without 3's 23420) or keep 3G as Orange!
LTE/WCDMA Only mode would be absolutely perfect for me, as it would use 4G, then drop back to 3G, and there are very few areas that don't have either 3G or 4G. On said 2G/4G masts, it'd drop to no service, but would then find 4G again (and would use that). The only issue being that no one will be able to ring me - and I don't make/receive phone calls too often, anyway.
Btw, would changing the ROM require rooting the phone? As my S4 is not rooted.
Originally Posted by packages:
“This will probably always be the case until EE rollout 800mhz, then I would expect EE to have good 4G coverage in the Cotswolds. I've also found EE coverage in the Cotswolds very hit and miss although where I have been the coverage checker is usually accurate.”
“This will probably always be the case until EE rollout 800mhz, then I would expect EE to have good 4G coverage in the Cotswolds. I've also found EE coverage in the Cotswolds very hit and miss although where I have been the coverage checker is usually accurate.”
Problem here in Cotswolds is terrain, thick walled buildings,AONB and general opposition. I don't see 800 making a massive difference here without extra masts, there was tremendous problems getting any MIP masts built resulting in delays and now nothing, still it's nice to be out of the loop .
Originally Posted by Neilgcal:
“Map has been updated!!”
“Map has been updated!!”
Just noticed that, thanks! It pretty much confirms that the water tower mast in Rushden has been upgraded to 4G, as well as possibly the mast closest to Asda, Rushden (the main mast that also does the High Street etc).
We have 4G progress!
Originally Posted by Neilgcal:
“Map has been updated!!”
“Map has been updated!!”
So it has, confirming my suspicion that my nearest town (Ely, Cambridgeshire - OK OK, it's really a small city..) now has 4G. Excellent.
Originally Posted by beans0ntoast:
“The first time was completely unnecessary - right next to the railway bridge is an Orange 2G/3G mast, that is still broadcasting 3G under the Orange code. Why on earth did it ignore the 3G, and go to 2G?”
“The first time was completely unnecessary - right next to the railway bridge is an Orange 2G/3G mast, that is still broadcasting 3G under the Orange code. Why on earth did it ignore the 3G, and go to 2G?”
Because in this case your mobile is selecting the access technology based on network PLMN code.
if your mobile is currently connected to EE/T-Mobile (23430) then it will hang on to that PLMN for dear life until there are no more base stations transmitting 23430 visible and the signal completely vanishes. Only then will it search for alternative operators and find the Orange (23433) code. Any active calls or data sessions drop during operator reselection.
The same is true in reverse. Once your mobile has connected to an Orange 23433 site, then it will remain on that PLMN until it completely loses sight of any other 23433 sites. Only then will it search for alternative operators and find EE/T-Mobile on 23430.
This explains why you can be right next to an Orange mast pumping out 3G, but your mobile is still hanging onto a weak 2G signal from a remote T-Mobile site.
EE did implement a feature called "PLMN equivalence" to instruct mobiles that PLMN codes 23433 and 23430 are the same network, but in my experience very few mobile implement this feature, and even where they do it still results in dropped calls and data sessions as the mobile switches codes. It's not a seamless transition.
I agree it's a pain, but once all the old Orange sites are upgraded to the 23433 PLMN then the problem will go away.
The issue Beansontoast is having seems to be specific to Samsung devices though, I have a Moto X Play and an S7 both with EE SIMs and they behave very differently. The Moto will switch to 3G as soon as it detects even the weakest of 3G signal and will hang onto it for dear life, the S7 will refuse to switch to 3G until the signal is very strong, there's nothing wrong with the S7 antenna, in terms of dBm it performs the same as the Moto.
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