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


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Old 19-08-2016, 14:45
jonmorris
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I wonder why EE have specifically chosen not to show the 4G+ icon in their firmware/csc :/
I believe EE doesn't want people to start thinking that 4G is somehow inferior, moaning that they only get 4G+ in a handful of places.
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Old 19-08-2016, 16:25
ryan125hst
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I believe you'll get full access to sites/bands as anyone - but the speed will be throttled.

If EE restricted access, you might find speeds slower as a result of that, not a cap.

EE has lifted the cap for existing double speed users from 100 to 150 to 200. Now it will just set a cap on a tariff basis.

I do worry that given Three set a precedent that out of contract you can be told to accept significant changes with no way to refuse (refusal means leaving) and existing customers like me could find the speed cap is applied, with just 30 days notice.

I hope that won't happen, but it's a great way to get people to pay more by not really having a choice. No longer will you just be able to say 'I'm fine as I am thanks'.
Okay, thanks for that info, and it's a bit off that they have gradually increased the cap and now only a select few will have access to the full network speed. Their website goes on about them being the fastest network. This is all well and good but if you are throttled it doesn't make a blind bit of difference. I got 63 Mbps on a speed test in Retford town centre the other week on Three. I think the fastest I have got on Three is about 65 Mbps. The other thing is that Vodafone users have got speed tests in excess of 200 Mpbs, giving the impression that they are the fastest. EE could do better than Vodafone if they allowed their users to. In real world usage on a mobile, it won't make a difference, but a lot of people do speed tests and questions will be asked if people on other networks are getting faster speeds than on EE. I do like them as a network and that's why I'm moving to them, but this latest move has disappointed me. By all means cap those on the lowest tiers, but 60 Mbps on 4GEE vs a speed of "Faster 4G Speeds" as it says on the 4GEE Max plans, where speeds faster than 60 Mbps aren't available everywhere is misleading in my opinion.

I hope speeds of existing customers aren't slowed too. At least I will expect a 60 Mbps cap.

Mind you, what worries me more is this tendency towards a two or three tier network. EE already had cheaper single speed tiers and have now made more of a gap between their top and bottom tiers. Three have also introduced a two tier system with their Essential and Advanced plans, albeit with no speed restrictions as yet. How long before Three impose speed restrictions on their Essential plans and how long until Vodafone and O2 also start doing this? It'll get to a stage where you can have the latest phone and a few GB of data for a reasonable (but not cheap) cost but you can't really take full advantage of it unless you pay a fortune for faster speeds and big data allowances on all networks.
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Old 19-08-2016, 16:28
ryan125hst
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Just remember that the Samsung EE firmware doesnt ever display 4G+ when it is indeed 4G plus, change to BTU (Non Branded) firmware and it will display 4G+.
I didn't realise that was the case. Are there any apps which show when carrier aggregation is in operation.

I believe EE doesn't want people to start thinking that 4G is somehow inferior, moaning that they only get 4G+ in a handful of places.
If they feel like that, it's surprising that the data symbols haven't just been replaced by a D for data (2G excepted perhaps). After all, a good 3G signal can give speeds equal to a weaker 4G signal quite easily.

You'd have thought they'd want to show of 4G+ really as it's coverage is expanding all the time. Another strange decision from EE.
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Old 19-08-2016, 16:48
jaffboy151
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I think the dropping of 4g+ indication is part of the move towards the capped speed for cash model away from the flat rate system where EE was keen to show how much it had in the bag.. Wonder if we could see a move away from zero rated root matric data, as speed capped accounts will now give a handicapped view of network speeds, then again they could just make that data not only zero rated but free from a cap too.
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Old 19-08-2016, 17:04
jaffboy151
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I presume the intent is that stationary emergency service vehicles will become wireless repeaters of some sort, either rebroadcasting the 800/1800MHz signal or the newer 1900MHz. Or it may just be to allow vehicles to keep a 4G connection where it would not have been possible with a lower uplink power.
I'm not sure about the present system but I know vehicles used to be used as relays on the old NFM system, rebroadcasting short range handheld radios back to the control centre, if I recall correctly the uplink was a separate frequency between the main control and the car/officer (at least for the police). ALL other users, including the one talking to control listened to a higher power TX signal, and couldn't hear each other unless they requested talk through to another officer.. You just got the beeps between TX calls from control, talk through was great when listening to police car chases back in the 80s and 90s..
Just realised I've totally gone off on a nostalgic, Hazey trip down memory lane, quite alot of scanning fun vanished when tetra came along, but it was much safer...
Anyway back to EE screwing everyone for more money....
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Old 19-08-2016, 17:16
Everything Goes
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http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/bin...nsultation.pdf
Submission to Ofcom allowing them to use 10MHz of Band 33 4G TDD spectrum, and also for the transmit power of special ESN gateway devices to be raised from 23dBm to 31dBm on bands 3/20 while stationary.

I presume the intent is that stationary emergency service vehicles will become wireless repeaters of some sort, either rebroadcasting the 800/1800MHz signal or the newer 1900MHz. Or it may just be to allow vehicles to keep a 4G connection where it would not have been possible with a lower uplink power.

If I'm not mistaken this will be the first time 1900MHz TDD has been used outside of China.

On top of that EE has also asked Ofcom to vary its 800MHz and 1800MHz licences so that they can provide a backhaul (network capacity supply) path to connect mobile base stations, which they claim will also be used by the emergency services in the 1899.9 – 1909.9MHz band. So far Ofcom appears to have no firm objections.



http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/newre...ply&p=83650429
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Old 19-08-2016, 17:29
Denco1
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On top of that EE has also asked Ofcom to vary its 800MHz and 1800MHz licences so that they can provide a backhaul (network capacity supply) path to connect mobile base stations, which they claim will also be used by the emergency services in the 1899.9 – 1909.9MHz band. So far Ofcom appears to have no firm objections.



http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/newre...ply&p=83650429
I think we're talking about the same thing, albeit yours is worded much more clearly. I don't think they have to ask for permission to use the 800/1800MHz for backhaul, as that's essentially what they're already doing. But they do have to ask for the increase in Rx power from 23dBm to 31dBm.
From rereading the document and what jaffboy151 has said it does indeed sound like the mobile base stations most likely in vehicles will broadcast Band 33 TDD for short range handheld devices. When the ESN handheld devices are out of range of the Band33, they will probably just fallback onto B3/7/20.
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Old 19-08-2016, 18:14
de525ma
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I didn't realise that was the case. Are there any apps which show when carrier aggregation is in operation.
*#0011#
Look at the CA line, if it says added, you're on 4G+.
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Old 19-08-2016, 18:58
beans0ntoast
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You're never going to give up on this, are you?

Maybe in 5 years time, when every decent smartphone has VoLTE and these 2G/3G only devices have been upgraded to 4G/VoLTE devices, but until then, 3G is still useful (especially since the 4G rollout is still incomplete at the moment).

I do believe that 4G is the way forward and that 3G will be irrelevant one day (and thus 3G will be switched off, likely before 2G being switched off), but that day isn't yet.
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Old 19-08-2016, 19:05
rasseru16
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*#0011#
Look at the CA line, if it says added, you're on 4G+.
Exactly, it also shows the CA Frequency and Bandwidth, one reason for staying on BTU is my beloved 4G+ icon
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Old 19-08-2016, 20:25
ryan125hst
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Exactly, it also shows the CA Frequency and Bandwidth, one reason for staying on BTU is my beloved 4G+ icon
But presumably BTU means no WiFi calling and no VoLTE when it's switched on for the phone?

I've found a video showing a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge on 4G+ on EE. I see that, like for 3G, it seems to idle showing 4G and only switches to showing 4G+ when data is being transferred. It's a shame they've got rid of it. Hopefully they'll choose to display it again as 4G+ coverage improves.

The video is here by the way for those interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXubwzknc1k
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Old 20-08-2016, 07:02
wb9999
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But presumably BTU means no WiFi calling and no VoLTE when it's switched on for the phone?

I've found a video showing a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge on 4G+ on EE. I see that, like for 3G, it seems to idle showing 4G and only switches to showing 4G+ when data is being transferred. It's a shame they've got rid of it. Hopefully they'll choose to display it again as 4G+ coverage improves.

The video is here by the way for those interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXubwzknc1k
EE WiFi calling does work on the unbranded Galaxy S7.
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Old 20-08-2016, 12:52
rasseru16
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EE WiFi calling does work on the unbranded Galaxy S7.
With BTU Samsung S6 firmware I have lost Wi-Fi calling and potentially VoLTE, which I would probably get back both if I switched back to EE firmware but I want my 4G+ icon, also EE firmware removes the 2G/GSM Only option aswell.
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Old 21-08-2016, 16:52
ryan125hst
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With BTU Samsung S6 firmware I have lost Wi-Fi calling and potentially VoLTE, which I would probably get back both if I switched back to EE firmware but I want my 4G+ icon, also EE firmware removes the 2G/GSM Only option aswell.
Really? As much as seeing a 4G+ icon would be nice, I won't risk changing the firmware to BTU if I will end up loosing WiFi calling and VoLTE. I thought there was a 2G option on EE's phones. It is a bit daft to get rid of it as I imagine it can be a useful battery saver and a useful mode in areas with poor 3G coverage.

Can anyone confirm that a Samsung Galaxy S7 running EE's firmware doesn't show the 4G+ icon and doesn't have a 2G only mode?
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Old 21-08-2016, 17:07
CheshireBumpkin
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Can anyone confirm that a Samsung Galaxy S7 running EE's firmware doesn't show the 4G+ icon and doesn't have a 2G only mode?
I can confirm that there was no 2G only mode on the EE branded S6, if that helps...
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Old 21-08-2016, 17:12
rasseru16
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I can confirm that there was no 2G only mode on the EE branded S6, if that helps...
Do you get VoLTE on your EE S6?
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Old 21-08-2016, 18:14
wb9999
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Really? As much as seeing a 4G+ icon would be nice, I won't risk changing the firmware to BTU if I will end up loosing WiFi calling and VoLTE. I thought there was a 2G option on EE's phones. It is a bit daft to get rid of it as I imagine it can be a useful battery saver and a useful mode in areas with poor 3G coverage.
I don't know about VOLTE but the S7 BTU still works with EE WiFi calling. I purchased my S7 direct from Samsung and WiFi calling on EE definitely works.
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Old 21-08-2016, 21:52
beans0ntoast
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Evening, I have a question:

Does the LG G4 support 4G Calling either natively, or via EE firmware? Will it support 4G calling in the future, if it doesn't already now?

Reason why I am asking is that I am thinking of upgrading my 3 year old S4 to a LG G4, since the G4 is cheaper than the G5, yet outperforms the S4 in virtually all areas and has the field test mode and LTE/WCDMA mode that I require.

Thanks!
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Old 21-08-2016, 22:35
mrMick
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A lot of things out perform the S4 now, it's a fairly old phone in smartphone terms.
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Old 21-08-2016, 22:41
CheshireBumpkin
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Do you get VoLTE on your EE S6?
I ditched it a while ago, but I don't think EE have made VoLTE available to any (many?) Android devices yet. The S6 hardware is capable, but it could take a very, very long time for EE to roll out the necessary updates.
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Old 21-08-2016, 23:30
Pedro_C
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Beans0ntoast- supports WiFi calling but need an EE ROM'd version
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Old 22-08-2016, 08:07
sills
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Can anyone confirm that a Samsung Galaxy S7 running EE's firmware doesn't show the 4G+ icon and doesn't have a 2G only mode?
I can confirm it on the S7 edge, I'd assume the S7 is the same.
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Old 22-08-2016, 09:17
daveyfs
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I ditched it a while ago, but I don't think EE have made VoLTE available to any (many?) Android devices yet. The S6 hardware is capable, but it could take a very, very long time for EE to roll out the necessary updates.
They've now rolled it out to the Sony Xperia Z5, and it works very well. Have to say I'm surprised it's not yet available on the Samsung S6/7.
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Old 22-08-2016, 10:02
beans0ntoast
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Beans0ntoast- supports WiFi calling but need an EE ROM'd version
Thanks for the info. I suppose flashing the ROM to EE won't be that difficult.

As for VoLTE, I assume not yet, but it will eventually get it? As when I upgrade my S4, I need to get something that will definitely support VoLTE and L08. And not a Samsung, due to the weird "let's drop to 2g" thing (and I like the field test that you did a video about in the LG).
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Old 22-08-2016, 11:54
CheshireBumpkin
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As for VoLTE, I assume not yet, but it will eventually get it? As when I upgrade my S4, I need to get something that will definitely support VoLTE and L08.
I wouldn't bank on it to be honest - it's not the latest model and I don't think the LG range has ever been popular in a mainstream sense.

I may well be wrong, but I'd say it's far from definite it will get it.

I still think the only way you can be sure of reliably getting current and future network features is to get an iPhone - rightly or wrongly...
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