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


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Old 07-06-2016, 02:27
hammy_y
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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.
Glad you had a better experience in Quorn . Last time I tested VoLTE it was working in both Quorn and Mountsorrel, and EE's website says Leicestershire is one of the latest locations to get VoLTE, so they're currently testing it there and it's worked well for me so far. It won't be long before the whole network supports VoLTE.
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Old 07-06-2016, 14:29
Denco1
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Nice Ofcom report about 4G+ here.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/bin...annex_2016.pdf
Might have been a bit fairer if they'd used a Galaxy S5 and a Galaxy S5 Plus though?
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Old 07-06-2016, 18:10
beans0ntoast
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Nice Ofcom report about 4G+ here.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/bin...annex_2016.pdf
Might have been a bit fairer if they'd used a Galaxy S5 and a Galaxy S5 Plus though?
Don't even think there is such a thing as a Galaxy S5 Plus? The only galaxy's that have the plus options are S6 Edge? The S7 edge is the same size as the S6 Edge Plus.

They could have used a different cat6 device though as I heard before from a different site, that the signal strength, speed and connectivity was quite poor on the S6?

Edit, looks like EE did rather well on those tests, O2 was the worst, and Cat6 outperformed Cat4 on most tests. Not bad at all!
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Old 07-06-2016, 18:16
jonmorris
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Some Samsung phones have been known to have signal issues, although I doubt it will make too much of a difference. At least every network was tested with the same phone.

I was surprised O2 did so badly, so it was likely spectrum/capacity related. Much like what is causing problems for Three now.

Vodafone has certainly jumped up the league, and if it continues to refarm 1800 and 2100, as well as 3G900 for non-4G users, plus increase the use of 2600, it could actually give EE a run for its money in terms of speed.

EE caps at 150 for most users, and Vodafone doesn't, so Vodafone actually has an edge in some locations.
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Old 07-06-2016, 18:32
Denco1
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Don't even think there is such a thing as a Galaxy S5 Plus? The only galaxy's that have the plus options are S6 Edge? The S7 edge is the same size as the S6 Edge Plus.

They could have used a different cat6 device though as I heard before from a different site, that the signal strength, speed and connectivity was quite poor on the S6?

Edit, looks like EE did rather well on those tests, O2 was the worst, and Cat6 outperformed Cat4 on most tests. Not bad at all!
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsu...Europe_id62094
It was released some months after the regular S5, with snapdragon 805 and cat6 LTE. EE and Vodafone both sold it.
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Old 07-06-2016, 18:36
Denco1
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Some Samsung phones have been known to have signal issues, although I doubt it will make too much of a difference. At least every network was tested with the same phone.

I was surprised O2 did so badly, so it was likely spectrum/capacity related. Much like what is causing problems for Three now.

Vodafone has certainly jumped up the league, and if it continues to refarm 1800 and 2100, as well as 3G900 for non-4G users, plus increase the use of 2600, it could actually give EE a run for its money in terms of speed.

EE caps at 150 for most users, and Vodafone doesn't, so Vodafone actually has an edge in some locations.
I was surprised about O2 as well. It's hard to tell whether it is to do with cornerstone differences in London, spectrum or backhaul. Could do with a report which is a bit more technically detailed, although outside of Ofcoms remit really. Vodafone's cat6 speeds were confusing, while impressive, why so similar to cat4?
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Old 07-06-2016, 19:55
beans0ntoast
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http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsu...Europe_id62094
It was released some months after the regular S5, with snapdragon 805 and cat6 LTE. EE and Vodafone both sold it.
Thanks for the info, I wasn't aware that such a phone existed! Now I've seen this phone, I wonder why they didn't use it over the Galaxy S6, as a fairer comparison would have been drawn between the two S5 models. Especially seeing as the Galaxy S6 used a different design, so had different antenna performance and hence possible different speeds...

The only fly in the ointment was the worst-in-class signal reception. I never saw more than one bar at home, which I’ve never encountered before on any device. Even low cost phones typically give me three. Outdoors it was the same story. At various spots near Hampstead Tube station, the Galaxy S6 had dropped back to 3G, while an iPhone 6 (also on EE) registered one to three bars of 4G. This was on EE’s network, and I had two other EE SIMs running at the same time showing three bars – so it wasn’t the network.
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Old 07-06-2016, 20:08
jonmorris
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Some phones cling on to 2G or 3G too long before going back to 4G, so I wonder how this was factored in. When I did my speed testing around London, I'd wait to get 4G (and you could force the device to 4G I suppose).
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Old 07-06-2016, 21:36
beans0ntoast
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Some phones cling on to 2G or 3G too long before going back to 4G, so I wonder how this was factored in. When I did my speed testing around London, I'd wait to get 4G (and you could force the device to 4G I suppose).
I always either force 3G, or force 4G (unless I know I need to take a call, or 4G coverage is not great) because I know from experience that my S4 is a prime candidate for dropping to the wrong technology, staying on 2G until the 3G signal gets to 3 bars or more. Though it does seem rather keen to jump from 3G back up to 4G (haven't tested going from 2G up to 4G). Unfortunately, it also seems keen in going from 4G to EDGE/GPRS, and ignoring the 3G.

I do remember, from your first London speed test, that on one of the speed tests on the O2 SIM, it dropped from 4G down to 3G, then refused to work any data...
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Old 07-06-2016, 22:13
DevonBloke
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Some phones cling on to 2G or 3G too long before going back to 4G, so I wonder how this was factored in. When I did my speed testing around London, I'd wait to get 4G (and you could force the device to 4G I suppose).
Could be reselection timers. My iphone 6 will often stay on 3G for a good minute before going back up to 4G (which has been there all the time).
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Old 07-06-2016, 22:26
wrexham103.4
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Since calling over 4G has been switched on my calls seem to drop on most calls. I have an iPhone 6s. Also I'm on regular 4G plan but I'm getting speeds of 80 :/
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Old 07-06-2016, 22:30
jonmorris
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I always either force 3G, or force 4G (unless I know I need to take a call, or 4G coverage is not great) because I know from experience that my S4 is a prime candidate for dropping to the wrong technology, staying on 2G until the 3G signal gets to 3 bars or more. Though it does seem rather keen to jump from 3G back up to 4G (haven't tested going from 2G up to 4G). Unfortunately, it also seems keen in going from 4G to EDGE/GPRS, and ignoring the 3G.

I do remember, from your first London speed test, that on one of the speed tests on the O2 SIM, it dropped from 4G down to 3G, then refused to work any data...
I remember loads of problems with O2 and really must do another one soon as I hope there are some big improvements - although this Ofcom test doesn't inspire confidence.
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Old 07-06-2016, 22:39
beans0ntoast
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I remember loads of problems with O2 and really must do another one soon as I hope there are some big improvements - although this Ofcom test doesn't inspire confidence.
Especially the Kings Cross test whereby, the first time, you got EDGE - not even 3G (this was on the yellow Windows Phone you had).

The most recent two, saw Three with quite poor speeds in certain areas - having just 1800MHz as 4G, on the network with the most data hungry people (I suppose most people who use Three are into data usage, due to AYCE data) is not going to be good in terms of capacity - unless you've got a lot of spectrum and/or switched on every mast in the area to 4G, in order to densify the network and give more capacity in a given area. 3G did actually outperform 4G in some tests, suggesting a capacity bottleneck on 4G.

Nowadays, EE are doing pretty well - 20MHz of 1800MHz spectrum is doing pretty well in the speeds department in most areas I've tested, and in some cities (I know Leicester, for sure) is getting EE 2600MHz. Don't know about Vodafone, as I've not used them, but they may well be okay if they are using 2600, 1800 or even 2100, or if they are giving a dense 800MHz coverage, switching on all of the masts in a given area.
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Old 07-06-2016, 22:42
jonmorris
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I will definitely do another test, in the same locations as before for consistency. It obviously can't represent all of London but does at least show how things have changed over time.

It's worth adding that I use different devices, although I don't feel that should make too much difference.
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Old 08-06-2016, 02:16
hammy_y
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I will definitely do another test, in the same locations as before for consistency. It obviously can't represent all of London but does at least show how things have changed over time.

It's worth adding that I use different devices, although I don't feel that should make too much difference.
Looking forward to it!
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Old 09-06-2016, 16:07
Smurf001
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I have heard a fairly definite rumour that O2/Vodafone have applied to put a mast in my local church spire. If they do, is it normal that once one network has the others, such as EE, will follow?
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Old 09-06-2016, 17:45
hybridtheory
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I have heard a fairly definite rumour that O2/Vodafone have applied to put a mast in my local church spire. If they do, is it normal that once one network has the others, such as EE, will follow?
Hi

o2 put up a mast outside my local church quite a few years ago, can't comment on VF but EE/Three didnt follow suit.

Take from that what u will :-p

Baz
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Old 09-06-2016, 19:36
Smurf001
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Hi

o2 put up a mast outside my local church quite a few years ago, can't comment on VF but EE/Three didnt follow suit.

Take from that what u will :-p

Baz
That's a shame. Will have to wait and see what happens then consider a move to 02/ Vodafone because they would then be the only network with a signal for a several mile radius and they are already better than EE in the surrounding towns.
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Old 09-06-2016, 20:05
Caspa_The_Ghost
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I remember loads of problems with O2 and really must do another one soon as I hope there are some big improvements - although this Ofcom test doesn't inspire confidence.
Work phone is O2 and it hasn't improved in London as dropped calls and poor data speeds are the norm for me. My personal EE line is so much better, only issue I have is with 3G which doesn't perform the way it should a lot of the time (but we've exhausted that conversation and I'm definitely in the kill 3G with fire camp!)
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Old 09-06-2016, 20:14
de525ma
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That's a shame. Will have to wait and see what happens then consider a move to 02/ Vodafone because they would then be the only network with a signal for a several mile radius and they are already better than EE in the surrounding towns.
Yeah I was stuck on Vodafone for 6 years cos they were the only provider with service where I lived. Thankfully, I moved.
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Old 10-06-2016, 19:37
Skippy2005
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Hi chaps, I'm wondering if anyone knows when EE 4G800 is likely to start light use around the country. I like many others no doubt suffer quite bad from 4G1800 indoor coverage. Also my local mast still hasn't been upgraded so as it stand currently 4G800 would be a great help. 3G is at full strength but I get no more than 0.15mb at best.

Thanks.
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Old 10-06-2016, 20:36
de525ma
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Hi chaps, I'm wondering if anyone knows when EE 4G800 is likely to start light use around the country. I like many others no doubt suffer quite bad from 4G1800 indoor coverage. Also my local mast still hasn't been upgraded so as it stand currently 4G800 would be a great help. 3G is at full strength but I get no more than 0.15mb at best.

Thanks.
I think its more likely that your local mast will be upgraded before 800MHz is live.

1800 is not the problem.
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Old 10-06-2016, 20:46
Skippy2005
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I think its more likely that your local mast will be upgraded before 800MHz is live.

1800 is not the problem.
I know 1800 isn't the problem being in the city centre I'm in a 4G hole, all the sites around me have been upgraded. The power level of 1800 is the problem. I'm hoping it's not going to be much longer. I'm guessing it's getting the site fibre back hauled which is the delay as its on top of a residential tower block and running ex orange 2mb copper. As a temporary fix 800 would be marvilous.
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Old 10-06-2016, 23:05
de525ma
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I know 1800 isn't the problem being in the city centre I'm in a 4G hole, all the sites around me have been upgraded. The power level of 1800 is the problem. I'm hoping it's not going to be much longer. I'm guessing it's getting the site fibre back hauled which is the delay as its on top of a residential tower block and running ex orange 2mb copper. As a temporary fix 800 would be marvilous.
Could also be an issue with the landlord. I don't think we will see 800 until VoLTE is enabled for more handsets.
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Old 11-06-2016, 14:51
DevonBloke
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Could also be an issue with the landlord. I don't think we will see 800 until VoLTE is enabled for more handsets.
I don't see what the amount of enabled handsets has to do with it. In fact it might be better to have less handsets initially. Easier to test. Less to go wrong.
It's my guess that 800 will come on first where all surrounding 1800 sites with unique coverage have been upgraded.
This will prevent 800 from having to cover 1800 holes where it might get swamped.
So 800 could be on quite soon in some places.
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