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


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Old 04-06-2016, 13:58
kev
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i would like to know why clicking on the links lately, they go to zenaps.com or ad.doubleclick.net rather than going to the site given. links wont load unless i copy/paste. zenapps and the others are blocked for me as they are spammy ad sites.
There's a click event from skimlinks.js included somewhere along the way by DS that changes the href (link) to a scammy ad-provider which AdBlock blocks and about 300ms reverts it. Triggered by a right click too, but by the time you get to "copy link address" it's been reverted!

Note that it's NOT adblock using that iffy site, the same behaviour happens in the extensionless Edge too where go.redirectingat (dot) com is displayed in the tab title .

Alas AdBlock allows skimlinks through https://adblockplus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17098 but then blocks go.redirecting....
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Old 04-06-2016, 15:25
CheshireBumpkin
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Well, something's happened!

4G signal strength now 67%/68%, so 2 or 3 bars (-91dBm/-92dBm). Nice improvement over the 50% that I had a couple of days ago, and the very small % that I had before the water tower mast went 4G.

Speeds? 26Mbps down and 37Mbps up! This is much better (in terms of upload) and suggests that my local mast has gone 4G. Though downlink might be capped to single speed at the moment?

3G from the local mast (signal strength still nice and high) is still between 15Mbps and 20Mbps downlink, and 2.2Mbps uplink.

GSM from the local mast is now EDGE instead of GPRS, so an improvement there too, though I still won't use it!

Overall, a success! Our mast is upgraded!

Relative signal strengths:

EDGE: -69 dBm
HSPA: -81 dBm
LTE: -91 dBm
Good news! Aren't you glad you moved from Virgin now, eh!
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Old 04-06-2016, 15:46
beans0ntoast
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Good news! Aren't you glad you moved from Virgin now, eh!
Yep, definitely - over 4x the amount of data available (3.5GB on Virgin vs 16GB on EE) with 4G capabilities (Virgin don't do 4G!).

At first I was a bit surprised that the signal was showing weaker than I expected; the 3G strength is always 4 bars from the local mast, as is 2G, but 4G was barely getting 3 bars. Looking at the dBm's determined that the 4G strength is about right, actually; about 10 dBm lower than 3G.
I wonder why the "bars" reading for 4G is so much lower than 3G/2G, given similar signal strengths...

I think that the downlink is capped at the moment (until everything is sorted out, are they awaiting a backhaul upgrade?) but the uplink speed looks very promising. In fact, so long as I have enough data, I'm wondering if I could use my EE SIM as a portable hotspot, instead of the Virgin Superhub we have? As the Superhub speeds are only 30 down/2 up...
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Old 04-06-2016, 15:53
Skippy2005
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That would art I wasn't told, just that it's a complex site.
Bloody auto correct or the drink! Lol, all I know is it's a complex site.
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Old 04-06-2016, 16:33
CheshireBumpkin
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Yep, definitely - over 4x the amount of data available (3.5GB on Virgin vs 16GB on EE) with 4G capabilities (Virgin don't do 4G!).

In fact, so long as I have enough data, I'm wondering if I could use my EE SIM as a portable hotspot, instead of the Virgin Superhub we have? As the Superhub speeds are only 30 down/2 up...
You could, but it wouldn't make any sense unless you have a particular ongoing need for fast upload speeds. Your Virgin connection is more than fast enough for any online activity currently in general use, and I would expect it to be unlimited in terms of usage.

I rely on 4G for my primary internet connection, but that's only because there is no other fast technology available. Even with a good mobile data allowance you have to adjust your usage to a certain extent - don't underestimate the value of being able to consume data without a second thought. For example - 30 mins of iPlayer = c.2GB.
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Old 04-06-2016, 16:57
_m
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At first I was a bit surprised that the signal was showing weaker than I expected; the 3G strength is always 4 bars from the local mast, as is 2G, but 4G was barely getting 3 bars. Looking at the dBm's determined that the 4G strength is about right, actually; about 10 dBm lower than 3G.
I wonder why the "bars" reading for 4G is so much lower than 3G/2G, given similar signal strengths...
Bars do not directly equate to dBm values - bars take the signal quality (ECIO (3G) or RSRQ/SINR(4G)) into account whereas the dBm is just the signal strength. Moreover, the values given for 3G are not the same as those given for 4G (RSSI and RSRP respectively).

Imagining that the RSRQ and SINR are the same, a -114db signal could show as 2 bars whereas -116db could show as one bar, despite there being little difference in the signal strength so 10db could quite easily make a 2 bar difference after the RSRQ and SINR have been taken into account.
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Old 05-06-2016, 19:52
thecjgcjg
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Now got VoLTE in ME2 (Medway, Kent) - only when handing off from Wi-Fi calling - this area is also starting to get 4G-2600.

3G calls sometimes don't have audio now though - so I try to start calls on Wi-Fi and just hand them off to 4G.
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Old 05-06-2016, 20:55
beans0ntoast
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EE network performance in Quorn, Leicestershire, seemed to be much better today than in previous times I went there...

This time last year, I was still on my VM SIM, so only had access to 3G (also didn't know if the mast had been upgraded or not). The network was unresponsive, and data throughput was nil.

This year, it was much better, as I got the following results from today:

Test 1:
3G: 4.00Mbps down, 0.89Mbps up (this was in a weak-ish signal area, 1-2 bars)
4G: 31.36Mbps down, 3.01Mbps up (quite weak signal area, 1 bar)

Test 2:
3G (reasonably strong signal area, 3 bars): 12.69Mbps down, 2.27Mbps up
4G (moderate signal area, 2 bars): 32.45Mbps down, 6.24Mbps up

This time last year I couldn't even start a speed test as data throughput was nil.

Another success!
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Old 05-06-2016, 21:07
DevonBloke
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EE network performance in Quorn, Leicestershire, seemed to be much better today than in previous times I went there...

This time last year, I was still on my VM SIM, so only had access to 3G (also didn't know if the mast had been upgraded or not). The network was unresponsive, and data throughput was nil.

This year, it was much better, as I got the following results from today:

Test 1:
3G: 4.00Mbps down, 0.89Mbps up (this was in a weak-ish signal area, 1-2 bars)
4G: 31.36Mbps down, 3.01Mbps up (quite weak signal area, 1 bar)

Test 2:
3G (reasonably strong signal area, 3 bars): 12.69Mbps down, 2.27Mbps up
4G (moderate signal area, 2 bars): 32.45Mbps down, 6.24Mbps up

This time last year I couldn't even start a speed test as data throughput was nil.

Another success!
All good stuff. Assume you will be getting rid of that S4 soon then? as you will be able to also get on 800 at some point in the near future. Need VoLTE device though..
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Old 05-06-2016, 21:56
Redcoat
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I hope that the 64GB at £28 becomes a publicly available product soon. I may have a reason to need a data SIM later this year, and 64GB would be lovely.
I agree, would be good to see EE push on with mobile broadband for "fixed" use. 64GB for £28 would be a point where it can start being seriously considered in some cases against a poor ADSL line.
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Old 05-06-2016, 22:50
Cloudane
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A plain old reboot worked. Bit annoying if this is going to be happening even semi-regularly as my wife will not notice or reboot.

To be honest, it isn't a problem at home given near perfect 3G/4G coverage, but it's useful out and about (and on the Underground). She wouldn't think to check it was working, and nor would most people I expect.
Yup it's a problem at the moment. At least it's only once a week or so, unlike on the 5X where it's every day.
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Old 06-06-2016, 11:26
beans0ntoast
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I agree, would be good to see EE push on with mobile broadband for "fixed" use. 64GB for £28 would be a point where it can start being seriously considered in some cases against a poor ADSL line.
Or, in semi-urban areas, as an alternative to cable services (Virgin Media) whereby fast uploads speeds are a priority. Even the top VM broadband package has a fastest upload speed of 12Mbps, which is reduced after 2.25GB of uploads (my VM package is 2Mbps upload, which is capped to 1Mbps after just 750MB of uploading, and 0.75Mbps after 1GB of uploading) - yet 4G can often be in the double figures for uploads (my 4G mast now does about 30Mbps both ways).

But if the only "fixed" broadband was ADSL, or fiber broadband where the user lives a long way away from their local cabinet (most fiber is only FTTC), then this 64GB 4G package would be excellent.
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Old 06-06-2016, 11:33
beans0ntoast
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All good stuff. Assume you will be getting rid of that S4 soon then? as you will be able to also get on 800 at some point in the near future. Need VoLTE device though..
When it needs upgrading, and/or breaks, then yes. Though I did see Pedro_C mention of being connected to 800MHz without the use of a Volte device. Is this going to continue into the future, or is it going to be so that all devices have to have Volte to use 800MHz?

Also, don't even know if Volte has been launched in Leicestershire or not. But there will be a day when I upgrade to a VoLTE device (that hopefully supports VoLTE out of the box). Not yet though.
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Old 06-06-2016, 11:38
jonmorris
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I do wonder about 800 access. I would have thought access would be based on IMEI as even mobile broadband SIMs are enabled for voice. It's just that you pay top whack for calls with no allowance.

As such, in a phone, I'd expect it would need VoLTE support or be blocked. Or maybe EE can get around this somehow, by claiming they're not designed for voice?
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Old 06-06-2016, 13:12
keithsto
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Bloody auto correct or the drink! Lol, all I know is it's a complex site.
I noticed today that its still broadcasting 2g. It's actually a lot better that they have switched 3g off! Im guessing this one will be a 2g/4g only site soon.....
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Old 06-06-2016, 16:23
de525ma
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I noticed today that its still broadcasting 2g. It's actually a lot better that they have switched 3g off! Im guessing this one will be a 2g/4g only site soon.....
2G on the Orange code (234-33) or the EE (T-Mobile) one (234-30)?
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Old 06-06-2016, 18:19
beans0ntoast
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2G on the Orange code (234-33) or the EE (T-Mobile) one (234-30)?
I presume that, unless there is already 3G coverage in the area, the mast is likely to go 2G/3G/4G? Though I have been wrong about quite a few things on here...

There's a T-Mobile only mast close to the A1/A47 junction in Peterborough, which is 2G only (Three has a 3G site further up the A1), and I'm wondering what will happen to it. Will it go 2G/3G/4G? Or, seeing as though Three already have a mast close by, it will go 2G/4G?
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Old 06-06-2016, 18:41
ozz
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I presume that, unless there is already 3G coverage in the area, the mast is likely to go 2G/3G/4G? Though I have been wrong about quite a few things on here...

There's a T-Mobile only mast close to the A1/A47 junction in Peterborough, which is 2G only (Three has a 3G site further up the A1), and I'm wondering what will happen to it. Will it go 2G/3G/4G? Or, seeing as though Three already have a mast close by, it will go 2G/4G?
It's in a better position to cover Wansford so I hope this is favoured over the Three only one.

Three sites in my immediate vicinity left to upgrade:

Belmesthorpe pylon site (EE 2G/3G & 3 3G)
A1 Tickencote PFS (EE 3G & 3 3G)
A1/A606 Steadfold Lane (ex Orange 2G)

All the Stamford sites now have 4G.
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Old 06-06-2016, 19:10
Skippy2005
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I noticed today that its still broadcasting 2g. It's actually a lot better that they have switched 3g off! Im guessing this one will be a 2g/4g only site soon.....
Hey 3G back on now and also the same poor speeds 0.5mb down. I do hope it gets some TLC soon it's badly letting EE down in Wakefield.
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Old 06-06-2016, 19:50
KesterK
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Hey 3G back on now and also the same poor speeds 0.5mb down. I do hope it gets some TLC soon it's badly letting EE down in Wakefield.
When I was on Vodafone about 4 years ago, all I could get in Wakefield centre was GPRS most of the time, when I did get 3G, data wouldn't work. It must just be something about Wakefield!
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Old 06-06-2016, 20:48
de525ma
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Hey 3G back on now and also the same poor speeds 0.5mb down. I do hope it gets some TLC soon it's badly letting EE down in Wakefield.
It was presumably just a fault then.
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Old 06-06-2016, 20:55
Skippy2005
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It was presumably just a fault then.
Yeah i guess so
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Old 06-06-2016, 21:53
beans0ntoast
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It's in a better position to cover Wansford so I hope this is favoured over the Three only one.

Three sites in my immediate vicinity left to upgrade:

Belmesthorpe pylon site (EE 2G/3G & 3 3G)
A1 Tickencote PFS (EE 3G & 3 3G)
A1/A606 Steadfold Lane (ex Orange 2G)

All the Stamford sites now have 4G.
And the area on the A1 to the immediate south/south-east is quite a poor spot for EE 3G. That mast would cover it very nicely. I don't know about Three coverage there, as Three have got their own mast further up the road, close to a decommissioned Orange mast (I think it's decom).

From what I can see, there will be one of four outcomes:
1) A1/A47 mast gets MBNL 3G + EE 2G/4G, Three only mast gets left to rot (unless Three upgrade it) or decommissioned.
2) A1/A47 mast gets EE 2G/4G only, Three use their own mast further up the road for 3G. EE users like myself get left out in regards to 3G, as there are still a number of 3G only users (still can't believe that weird A11 monument mast)
3) A1/A47 mast gets EE 2G/3G/4G, but Three isn't added. Three use their own mast for 3G and upgrade it for their own 4G in the future.
4) Three only mast gets EE 2G/3G added to it, possibly with a 4G upgrade for both companies. Goodness knows what happens to the TM 2G mast.

Speaking of Stamford, on the A1, close to Burleigh Park (the junction before the main A1/A43 junction?), there is an old Orange 2G/3G mast. When I was in that area last year, and there was a traffic jam in the area, my S4 jumped to it, and believe me, it is in urgent need of upgrading. Old copper backhaul rated at 2Mbps which gave about 0.2Mbps speeds.
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Old 06-06-2016, 22:16
ozz
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My iPhone always ignores 3G from that Orange mast favouring the more distant MBNL mast at Easton On The Hill then on to masts at Wittering or Stamford (depending on direction of travel). 2G however switches to it every time.
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Old 06-06-2016, 22:34
beans0ntoast
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My iPhone always ignores 3G from that Orange mast favouring the more distant MBNL mast at Easton On The Hill then on to masts at Wittering or Stamford (depending on direction of travel). 2G however switches to it every time.
Yep, usually my S4 ignores that Orange mast as well - especially when travelling along the At at 60-70mph (national speed limit). However, when in a standstill queue, the phone had more time to look for stronger masts, and hence latched on to said Orange mast for 0.2Mbps 3G.

The big tall mast at Wittering, for EE and 3 3G, is quite impressive in terms of performance, and is usually at least 10Mbps downlink. Think I got almost 20Mbps once from it when testing a 3 321 SIM.
Until you said just now, I didn't realize that there was an MBNL 3G mast at Easton - but I know it goes on to the Stamford ones further north on the A1.

On a related note, the mast between Tickencote and Stretton, also on the A1 (and quite close to an ex-O2 mast) has had 4G fitted to it, and I got in excess of 90Mbps on the 4G on that mast - which is the 2nd fastest speed I have recorded. (The fastest speed was at Carlton Colville, near the tram museum, where there is a 4GEE mast, and I got close to 95Mbps. My phone supports 100Mbps.) The O2 mast in the same location (on the A1 near Stretton) has also been upgraded, and has the long, wide dual bands for 2G/3G/4G by 900/900/800 (I think!).
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