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


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Old 19-06-2016, 11:43
packages
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I think that after VoLTE is officially launched in July, 800 won't be far behind. Or EE may not actually make a big deal about it (it's not something most consumers need to know or care about) and just activate it quietly.

Coverage maps will start to show it, like Three, of course.
I think there will be something, their indoor coverage will improve massively if it's activated in quite a few urban areas too. 1800mhz at it's current power is rubbish indoors.

What is quite weird is that it doesn't look like they've been updating the 800mhz areas on the map which I thought they would have been doing with each update. The script is still showing 4G800=0 even in an area where I know the signal is/going to be very strong.
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Old 19-06-2016, 12:49
Stereo Steve
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I think they would be wise not to make a big thing of it. 3 ran into a lot of bad feeling as not many phones could use Superpump. Sure, make a big thing out of VoLTE but just crank up 800 and most people with compatible phones won't even know why their service has improved. Ultimately, it will show in the stats when networks are compared.

I'm guessing it will be handset specific, like superpimp and if you've just signed up to 24 months with a premium phone that isn't compatible, you are not going to be happy.
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Old 19-06-2016, 12:52
Pedro_C
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You generally would not need to get planning permission to change panels on a high rise block so far as I have seen. However, running fibre through the high rise to the BTS kit will likely be very time consuming and hard to organise
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Old 19-06-2016, 13:48
Skippy2005
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You generally would not need to get planning permission to change panels on a high rise block so far as I have seen. However, running fibre through the high rise to the BTS kit will likely be very time consuming and hard to organise
Bingo, this part of it has been bugging me for a while. Hopefully EE can address it soon with Virgin or BT as both have business and consumer broadband in the area and supply to the block of flats.
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Old 19-06-2016, 16:36
hammy_y
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I guess that's why there's a rooftop near the centre of Loughborough full of legacy (O2, Orange, Vodafone) masts.
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Old 19-06-2016, 17:51
jchamier
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I guess that's why there's a rooftop near the centre of Loughborough full of legacy (O2, Orange, Vodafone) masts.
In Farnborough the top of the building housing the shopping centre and cinema is the former T-mobile, now MBNL town centre mast. Back in 2010 it was the fastest 3G site in the are for both Three and T-mobile. Since then EE has upgraded this to 4G just after launch in early 2013, and its now a CA area with both 1800 + 2600 and CA. I notice that the number of panels attached to the building has increased, so I suspect CTIL have also installed here.

https://goo.gl/maps/PRcPas85oQD2
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Old 20-06-2016, 00:11
hammy_y
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In Farnborough the top of the building housing the shopping centre and cinema is the former T-mobile, now MBNL town centre mast. Back in 2010 it was the fastest 3G site in the are for both Three and T-mobile. Since then EE has upgraded this to 4G just after launch in early 2013, and its now a CA area with both 1800 + 2600 and CA. I notice that the number of panels attached to the building has increased, so I suspect CTIL have also installed here.

https://goo.gl/maps/PRcPas85oQD2
Nice. There are 2 4G+ rooftop sites in Loughborough for EE. Most of VO2's 4G sites in Loughborough seem to just be monopoles though.
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Old 20-06-2016, 12:49
DevonBloke
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I think that after VoLTE is officially launched in July, 800 won't be far behind. Or EE may not actually make a big deal about it (it's not something most consumers need to know or care about) and just activate it quietly.

Coverage maps will start to show it, like Three, of course.
This is what I have been saying for a while.
From the various tests users have been getting (and myself) we know 800 is live but running at a lower power so you can't get on it.
Actually you can now get on it in some places as Pedro said, by having a Cat 6 device and using 1800/800 CA where available. Not that many would know they were even using this of course.
But yeah, agree with you, VoLTE will be finished first I suspect so not long now, then the 800 will be brought online at some point.
How many sites are done, when exactly this will be and how it will be rolled out is anyone's guess..
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Old 20-06-2016, 13:05
DevonBloke
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800Mhz working inside pubs in Bangor, North Wales where previously there was no service or it'd drop on and off an occasionally usable 2G / 3G signal.

Not sure if it's my phone, the network, or just low power, but I didn't think much of it. I wouldn't have realised it was 800Mhz was it not for LTE Discovery. It worked momentarily far better than an intermittent 3G signal, but whilst it could get 2 Bars of coverage on 800 it'd always drop off and cut out, just like any other weak signal.
That's because it is a weak or weaker signal than 4G1800 at the moment.
You must have caught it at a time when 1800 was switched off because the cell you were getting the 800 from should also be doing 1800 at the same power but a higher priority.
I have had two instances of this down here. Once was in Hemyock where for about half an hour the 1800 was turned off but the 800 left on. The same the other day in Totnes where both 1800 sites were off and the town was left only being covered by one 800 cell for several hours.
In full line of sight of the mast I had a signal that was the same or lower than 4G1800 would normally be.
It held up quite well really considering. I got 3.5Mbps down and 1.5Mbps up.
No idea why the 1800 was off but testing the 800 was fun!

There will be a very noticeable if not huge increase in coverage when they turn that bad boy up!
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Old 20-06-2016, 18:19
packages
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This is what I have been saying for a while.
From the various tests users have been getting (and myself) we know 800 is live but running at a lower power so you can't get on it.
Actually you can now get on it in some places as Pedro said, by having a Cat 6 device and using 1800/800 CA where available. Not that many would know they were even using this of course.
But yeah, agree with you, VoLTE will be finished first I suspect so not long now, then the 800 will be brought online at some point.
How many sites are done, when exactly this will be and how it will be rolled out is anyone's guess..
Yes it's definitely running at low power. Where I was able to pick it up at -90db, I now occasionally pick it up at the same place briefly at -137db!
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Old 20-06-2016, 20:23
djfrancis
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Looking on London Roadworks and i can see this info from Vodafone UK?

Penshurst Gardens, Edgware, Greater London, HA8 9GJ, UK
Reference: NX09578662-MJW-NETCS
Status: Works Proposed
Works owner: Vodafone UK
Street authority: Barnet
Start date: 28/06/2016
End date: 30/06/2016

Description: Civils Works - Trial hole to dig for inspection. - 1 Day Operation. Pedestrian Barriers to be installed around the work area. access for pedestrians & vehicles to be kept clear at all times.

New phone mast maybe? https://goo.gl/maps/89VoSKtUpkw currently no phone excited on this road.
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Old 20-06-2016, 22:15
_m
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800Mhz working inside pubs in Bangor, North Wales where previously there was no service or it'd drop on and off an occasionally usable 2G / 3G signal.

Not sure if it's my phone, the network, or just low power, but I didn't think much of it. I wouldn't have realised it was 800Mhz was it not for LTE Discovery. It worked momentarily far better than an intermittent 3G signal, but whilst it could get 2 Bars of coverage on 800 it'd always drop off and cut out, just like any other weak signal.
As far as I'm aware, 800 power is still limited on EE until the VoLTE rollout is complete and the restrictions on which devices can connect are in place.
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Old 20-06-2016, 22:29
jonmorris
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As people have gained access to 800 in some areas, it must be restricted to within current footprints.
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Old 20-06-2016, 22:59
Skippy2005
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As people have gained access to 800 in some areas, it must be restricted to within current footprints.
So on that assumption am I correct in guessing 800 will only be available to active 4g calling devices?
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Old 20-06-2016, 23:10
georgi_prodanov
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So on that assumption am I correct in guessing 800 will only be available to active 4g calling devices?
I think so like Three. There is no point of having 4G800 if it is not VoLTE on EE. This is just my opinion
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Old 20-06-2016, 23:54
packages
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I think so like Three. There is no point of having 4G800 if it is not VoLTE on EE. This is just my opinion
Opinion but it can't be operated any other way. Has to be for VoLTE phones only
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Old 21-06-2016, 11:44
CheshireBumpkin
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Opinion but it can't be operated any other way. Has to be for VoLTE phones only
Mobile broadband SIMs?
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Old 21-06-2016, 12:13
jonmorris
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Mobile broadband SIMs?
My EE MBB SIM can make and receive voice calls, so I expect that even they can't just work - but rather the device I am using the card in needs to be whitelisted, which could be a problem if I am using an obscure LTE enabled tablet, Mi-Fi or dongle.

Even just having the SIM in a phone to use as a hotspot likely won't work.

I am not sure how Three does things, but it does have a list that shows a number of Huawei mobile data products and so perhaps they'll allow 800 access... but I don't know if anyone has tried?
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Old 21-06-2016, 12:19
moox
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I am not sure how Three does things, but it does have a list that shows a number of Huawei mobile data products and so perhaps they'll allow 800 access... but I don't know if anyone has tried?
Three's list did (maybe still does) list some non-huawei mifi devices that supposedly have 800 access. I have a Netgear one that is on the list, and there wasn't any 800 access even with a mobile broadband SIM
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Old 21-06-2016, 12:48
LegendaryAced
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My EE MBB SIM can make and receive voice calls, so I expect that even they can't just work - but rather the device I am using the card in needs to be whitelisted, which could be a problem if I am using an obscure LTE enabled tablet, Mi-Fi or dongle.

Even just having the SIM in a phone to use as a hotspot likely won't work.

I am not sure how Three does things, but it does have a list that shows a number of Huawei mobile data products and so perhaps they'll allow 800 access... but I don't know if anyone has tried?
Maybe Three filters the devices with their IMEI.
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Old 21-06-2016, 13:25
jonmorris
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Maybe Three filters the devices with their IMEI.
Yes, but it is unlikely it has everything listed so you may end up out of luck.
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Old 21-06-2016, 14:45
Skippy2005
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A current EE/3 upgraded site is getting some TLC today men up the mast, I hope it's some 800 loving as it is already broadcasting 1800/2600. Their now appears to be two RRU's a small and large. I'll post a link to the site shortly, there is two Redhill Networks vans in the car park too. The site is the police HQ grounds Wakefield city centre WF1 3QS. I do believe it's an Arquiva site.

Edit... Photos as promised

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/cvobs0zl3...XrteNsMHCzBoUa
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Old 21-06-2016, 15:24
Skippy2005
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A current EE/3 upgraded site is getting some TLC today men up the mast, I hope it's some 800 loving as it is already broadcasting 1800/2600. Their now appears to be two RRU's a small and large. I'll post a link to the site shortly, there is two Redhill Networks vans in the car park too. The site is the police HQ grounds Wakefield city centre WF1 3QS. I do believe it's an Arquiva site.

Edit... Photos as promised

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/cvobs0zl3...XrteNsMHCzBoUa
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/cvobs0zl3...XrteNsMHCzBoUa
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Old 21-06-2016, 15:35
packages
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Hi everyone,

I'll be heading off to Glastonbury in the early hours so will see what the speeds are like this year. Unfortunately I only have an iPhone 6 so won't get max speeds (although I bet you'll never be able to hit them anyway)

55mhz of bandwidth (), VoLTE and a 6th mast is being deployed on site so I'm hoping a reliable service will be at play as last year was pretty bad.

Is there a permanent area in the UK with that much bandwidth at hand?
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Old 21-06-2016, 15:38
Denco1
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Hi everyone,

I'll be heading off to Glastonbury in the early hours so will see what the speeds are like this year. Unfortunately I only have an iPhone 6 so won't get max speeds (although I bet you'll never be able to hit them anyway)

55mhz of bandwidth (), VoLTE and a 6th mast is being deployed on site so I'm hoping a reliable service will be at play as last year was pretty bad.

Is there a permanent area in the UK with that much bandwidth at hand?
Parts of Wembley and Canary Wharf I think.
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