EE & 4G Signal Range
 

Anyone on here using EE 4G?

I upgraded on tuesday, got myself a shiny new galaxy S4, trading in my S3 cost me £45 (£205 - £160 for S3 trade in) and that got me out of about 11 months on my t mobile contract and onto the new 4G plan (unlimites texts, unlimited calls and 3gb data) which is £39 a month (cheaper than new customer by using the upgrade discount). anyhow...

Im finding the 4G signal range isnt brilliant, I knew it wasnt great before I signed up, but knowing merseyside, staffordshire and london were covered it didnt bother me. In stafford I get 4G signal near enough everywhere, although most places its at 1 bar out of 4, except for in and around the town centre where I see 3/4 bars. Having travelled to visit my parents, I noticed I had 4g signal all the way here (to st helens) and now at my parents house Im only getting 3G.

Anyone had a similar experience with EE/4G?

---------- Post added at 14:39 ---------- Previous post was at 14:38 ----------

I should add when in signal its bloody quick, did a couple of speed tests in stafford at 30Mb+ download and 20Mb upload

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

EE 4G is 2.6Ghz and doesn't give very good indoor coverage. You should consider going onto 4G from Vodafone. They will use 800Mhz which is much better coverage indoor. Not only that but Vodafone own there fibre back bone and have full control over it unlike EE who don't.

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

Actually EE is 1800MHz, and Vodafone will be 2600MHz

I find EE signal Quite Good to be honest and in the Middle of nottingham i have got 60Mbps download and 20 Upload.

By the end of next year they will have practically everywhere covered.

When my contract finishes next year I will be moving to 3, as they will be using 1800MHz and 800MHz with unlimited 4G

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

I have noticed this since moving over a few months ago, tempted to go to someone like Vodafone if things don't improve soon.

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

sorry my mistake about EE frequency however you are still wrong Chris. Vodafone have the 800 Mhz frequency for the benefit of long range and better indoor coverage, fact. 1800Mhz is rubbish for long range and indoor coverage. Vodafone are using 2600Mhz for densely populated places like cities such as London.

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

Dont get me wrong, when it works it works well. Have attached a speed test from the trafford centre earlier where I had full signal (for the 1st time)

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

Here is one I did in April in Hull city centre.

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

EE is 1800MHz and will be 800MHz also in the future. Vodafone is 2.6GHz and 800MHz.

If Vodafones 3G is anything to go by i'd stay clear of them.

You could have waited till December and got 4G with Three for free with any of their PAYG, SIM Only or phone contracts.

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

What would coverage be like though?

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

Yes.

"Bars" is a pretty poor measure of signal strength, particularly considering there's a big difference on the S4 between how much signal constitutes a bar on 3G and 4G. In some extreme cases, one bar of 4G could be equivalent to 4 bars of 3G. 4G LTE in my experience however, performs a lot better with a weak signal than 3G or 2G. Even with zero "bars" (actually, it'd be minus 1.5 bars if the scale went that low) I'll typically get higher speeds and lower packet loss than 3G.

Put bluntly, in areas where the 4G network is "mature", 4G has better coverage and range than 3G. Outside these areas it will drop off quickly like everything else, but not as quickly as 3G would when you're moving out of 3G range.

Unfortunately though, in many cases a phone will prefer to hop onto a slightly stronger 3G signal than stay on a weaker, yet faster and more reliable 4G signal. Hence, I often find myself disabling 3G and forcing my S4 onto 4G only when I'm in an area with weak signal, because I know despite having less "bars" the 4G connection will be better.

Mind you though I find their coverage checker to be pretty accurate, and it does say St. Helens is little to no outdoor 4G coverage and no indoor coverage at all - it seems to be right in the middle of a dead spot. It'll get upgraded soon enough though (see the end of my post)

See above, the scale is massively different to begin with, and I suspect future software updates and newer phones will tune it somewhat. Remember the whole Apple shebang about the iPhone "calculating bars wrong" when people complained they didn't like the number bars they were seeing?

I typically get about 40-50 download and 30-45 upload, though occasionally it peaks up to 70-80Mb. Remember though the S4 is only capable of using 2/3rds of the network's capacity, so will be limited to approximately 100Mb, a Cat 4 device would get 50% more.

---------- Post added at 04:11 ---------- Previous post was at 04:09 ----------

Incorrect, EE is primarily 1800Mhz right now but they also own the second most 2.6Ghz spectrum.

Vodafone has the most 2.6Ghz of anybody in the country.

*Every* network will use 800Mhz.

It's also an ancient and archaic backbone with poor coverage.

---------- Post added at 04:14 ---------- Previous post was at 04:11 ----------

Also not correct.

EE is 800Mhz, 1800Mhz and 2.6Ghz.

Vodafone is 800Mhz and 2.6Ghz

---------- Post added at 04:18 ---------- Previous post was at 04:14 ----------

The coverage difference between 1800Mhz and 800Mhz is nowhere near as big as you imagine.

Assuming two transmitters in the exact same place transmitting at the same power, you'll get about 6dB difference in received signal, which equates to one third of a bar of extra signal. However since EE have twice as much 1800Mhz dedicated to LTE than any network even owns in 800Mhz, you'll get double the speed on 1800Mhz, even discounting for the increase in capacity.

So is EE.

---------- Post added at 04:30 ---------- Previous post was at 04:18 ----------

And 2.6Ghz.

Correct, though they have the option of 900Mhz and 1800Mhz as well. While Vodafone has the potentially the most 4G spectrum of all, owning more spectrum does not mean a better network. It's what you do with it that counts. As demonstrated by the fact that Vodafone's got the slowest and least reliable 3G network with joint worst coverage despite having the most 3G spectrum.

Exactly. In some ways the auction turnout was a shame, as I'm particularly disappointed by O2's takings. I'd have preferred Vodafone to end up with less and O2 with more, simply because O2 have demonstrably been exceptionally good at putting spectrum to use efficiently in the past. The only saving grace though is that Vodafone's network in Scotland will be operated by O2 anyway.

I'm not particularly optimistic about 3's 4G offering. They have been quite vocal in the past about a conservative rollout, and they also have very little spectrum to run it in. Offering the cheapest tariffs, along with unlimited data with very little network capacity is not a good combination. 3 has less than half the 4G spectrum of Vodafone and a third the amount owned by EE. They'll also have the lowest speeds of anyone but O2 due to having the smallest contiguous blocks.

---------- Post added at 04:32 ---------- Previous post was at 04:30 ----------

Depends, if 3 continue aggressively network sharing with EE it should be pretty good.

In the long run though, who knows how it'll turn out. EE has far superior coverage at the moment, yet O2 has a formal obligation to provide far more. But with each of the four operators in one of two giant network shares of similar size across the UK, it'll probably not differ a whole lot in the end.

Mind you EE did state they plan to upgrade every single 2G transmitter of theirs across the UK to 4G by the end of 2014. That's a huge commitment, considering after ten years, there's still only around half as many 3G transmitters as there are 2G. On the other hand it's a lot easier, one benefit of running 4G on the same frequencies as your existing 2G network is that it makes for a very simple drop-in upgrade with no exterior changes. In theory, that means 4G coverage will become equal to or better than 2G ever was, and in just a over a year you'll be able to get 4G reception everywhere you can get 2G now. This has actually borne out in practice in some cities already, and considering they've already extended their 3G network to the northernmost coast of mainland Scotland - where a few years ago you couldn't even get 2G - it's almost believable. Also, it runs on Huawei kit, which I personally quite like.

Now all I'm waiting for is VoLTE to roll out and then I can finally switch off that dratted 2G completely.

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

Vodafones 3G is crap its 4 weeks and they not sorted problem out you just need to read there customers feedbacks on facebook or there Eforum. i for one will be leaving them in march they cant sort there 3G out god know how they going manage 4G

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

Whats the difference between 4G and 4G LTE? I am on EE 4G and i have a Sony Xperia Z1 so is it 4G or 4G LTE?

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

I'm holding off until the data cap gets a bit more real, it's like giving someone a ferrari then saying 'oh by the way' there's only enough petrol in it to do 20 miles this month'

Hopefully once it becomes more covered & mainstream the data caps will go & it will be more like how it's advertised.

(Admittedly I haven't rechecked the latest contracts, so it's possible the data caps are better now than 9 months ago)

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

My data cap is quite a bit. I have 10GB data allowance. So far i have only used about 3GB of it in just over 2 weeks

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

That's interesting, are you a heavy user? I'm quite heavy with things running that connect to the internet. How much /what is your contract?

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

I am and im not, depends on how bad public transport is too and from work, also when i go visit my family i use it alot then. Contract is unlimited texts, unlimited mins, 10GB of date, its £47.99 a month but i get a 40% a month discount as a retail channel partner as the company i work for have a deal with them which if my maths is correct works out at about £28.80 a month

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

Yes good break on the discount, but otherwise that's quite hefty, especially as I'm currently on a £11/mth sim only 12 mth contract 2g/3g. I'll revisit the 4G stuff when this contract expires, I prefer to buy the phone outright & go sim only, rather than having to be locked into a 2 yr contract.

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

The discount is the only reason why i choose i higher rate tariff tbh

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

When I bought my new phone I rejected the 4G because of the carp data limit.

I went for unlimited, it just means it takes longer to download and I used 1.2GB average per month.

Part of me thinks I should have gone for 4G as i can get carp signals at both work and home on 3G/HSPA.

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

4 weeks? Pfft. Try 14 months.

---------- Post added at 18:37 ---------- Previous post was at 18:36 ----------

There is none, unless you're in the US.

In the UK, LTE == 4G.

---------- Post added at 18:38 ---------- Previous post was at 18:37 ----------

Define "real".

Many 4G plans give you far more data than similarly priced 3G plans.

That's like giving someone a ferrari and then saying "Oh by the way the petrol tank is twice as big as your old car".

---------- Post added at 18:39 ---------- Previous post was at 18:38 ----------

The average user uses 600MB on 3G and 1.2GB on 4G. So yes, he's technically heavy.

However I'm also a very heavy user and use less than 1GB (speedtests aside). Heavy use in terms of how much you use your phone is completely different to heavy use in terms of data allowance.

---------- Post added at 18:47 ---------- Previous post was at 18:39 ----------

Not really.

The 10GB plan is £32.99 with a handset depending what handset you get. That's the full, undiscounted price for new customers, including unlimited calls while abroad in many countries.

Well if you want to go cheap Tesco Mobile do 4G for £10 a month on a 1-month contract.

Remember most of EE's 4G contracts come with unlimited call and text allowance as well, the 4GB DS ones and above also include unlimited calls and texts while abroad. Comparing it to similar unlimited minutes 3G tariffs from the main networks and EE 4G often ends up cheaper.

3 also do not charge extra for 4G so you can get unlimited 4G data once it's available for £12.90. O2 do SIM only 4G starting at £21.

---------- Post added at 18:48 ---------- Previous post was at 18:47 ----------

Why waste money on unlimted when barely use enough to go over the second lowest tariff on 4G?

Sounds like you're one of the overpaying majority who spend far more than they need to just to avoid ever paying a small fee for going over your allowance - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12996175

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

Why am I wasting money on unlimited day? I go over the minimum 4G 1GB data and pay a lot less.

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

:gpoint:

That's quite informative thank you.

Though in my case I'm quite hampered by the fact only T Mobile (EE) actually get a signal to me that's usable)

I'll give you the fact that I haven't checked the latest data cap rates on 4G recently, I DO know though that when I last did, the data cap was in the region of 1GB/Month, which given that 4G is touted as basically wi-fi speeds out in the street, would be eaten up in a matter of days. The fact that they throw in all sorts of talk time/unlimited SMS etc etc is irrelevant. If all people cared about was basic telecoms we would all be quite happy on 2 or 2.5g phones.

Fact is however, in my case I use a smartphone & I utilise it to its full data capacity, so when the tech comes along (4G) which is all great and whizzy, my comparison of having a ferrari with a meagre fuel ration rings true.
Just checked my android wi-fi usage stats: 20 days - 28 GB (granted outside of the house I wouldn't be needing quite that much capability...)

I'll be very happy when the day comes that:
The country is fully 4G covered (or at least to current 2g/3g rates)
The data cap is removed or set sufficiently high that I can use data in the same way I use my wi-fi currently.

I reckon it'll be another 12 months before I'm happy in those regards.

--------------

Actually (and I haven't checked yet) I estimate a 10GB/Month cap would be fine.


Wonder how long it'll be before that translates to a £11/month sim only plan :LOL:

Re: EE & 4G Signal Range
 

Well I have news for you. 4G will have more coverage from all networks than any networks' current 3G coverage, and every networks' 3G coverage will also be expanding.

Well, to be fair I started off paying £41 for 1GB and I can now get 10GB for £32.99 on the same network. However at the time 8GB was the max, and in fact on some networks 1GB is the absolute lowest package you can get on 4G.


Indeed, the main thing I dislike is how it's being charged as a "premium" product by forcing you to pay for unlimited calls when, well, put bluntly you can't make phone calls on 4G.

However 4G represents the biggest investment in mobile networks across the decade and a total refresh across all operators of up to 20-year-old 2G and 3G equipment. It's not cheap.

Well it all comes down to the person. Recent stats suggest the average user only consumes ~600MB of data per month on 3G and 1.2GB on 4G. If you consume 28GB you're way way above average and not representative of the typical user networks are going after.

Bit longer unfortunately, that day will happen in 2015.

All networks are planning to exceed their current 3G coverage with 4G by the end of 2015. Vodafone currently have 88.6% 3G coverage. 3 and EE have around 98%.

Vodafone and O2 expect 98% indoor 4G coverage by 2015, EE and 3 are both predicting over 98% outdoor.

On the pricing/data caps side - you can already get data allowances up to 50GB on certain networks, as well as 3 launching unlimited data 4G in the next few months for as little as £12.90 a month. However, their coverage is, and will remain the lowest for now.

Even at 10GB you'd be eight times higher than the average user. 4G doesn't make you use more data. Doing more things makes you use more data.

However like I said, EE already offer a 20GB phone plan and up to 50GB internet-only, and 3, among lots of MVNOs, will be offering unlimited data 4G plans early next year.

We're pretty close already.

3's cheapest unlimited SIM only is £12.90 a month, and while 4G isn't available yet, once it comes out in "Q1 2014" it will be a free upgrade. Tesco's cheapest overall 4G plan is £10 a month.