Caution: long reply...
Using HuaCtrl app, I've done some testing today and got nowhere.
On Auto my router connects to Band3 and 20, the F/TDD is reported as 800+1800 (which I presume is 1800mhz for B3 and 800mhz for B20). I ran a test just now, got 20Mbps.
This is above the max theoretical of B20, so it must be B3.
If I connect to band 1 and band 20, my F/TDD is reported as 800+2100 but it looks like only band 20 is connected. This provides no difference in bandwidth when tested.
It is definitely connected to B1? Is there a different CellID to the CellID when connected to B3? If so then the speeds might well be similar, 10Mhz of B1 (75Mbps max) over a greater distance may result in 20Mbps to you.
Trying Band 1 and Band 3 together, the F/TDD states 1800+2100, it states its connected to band 3 only however, so again no improvement.
This will likely be connecting to your 'home' mast on B3 again as it will have the strongest signal. This is assuming it doesn't have B1 broadcast from it - if it did have B1 enabled then it
should be aggregating with B3.
Band 32 appears to be not available.
Expected, there aren't many places with it, yet.
Specifying all these bands does nothing, The Apps specified "width" remains at 15mhz and my router just displays 4G without the + sign.
So even though it's set to do CA I don't believe the router is actually connecting to more than one band at a time.
As above, it will only aggregate if both bands are coming from the same mast. If the mast definitely has both bands then there does feel like something odd is happening.
The annoying thing is I was getting 70Mbps this morning until around 9am, which should mean I'm getting CA at that point, but I've never seen it show up. The mast is literally 300 yards from my house as the crow flies with it's antenna directed pretty much directly at my upstairs window level. Weirdly If I put my router in the window I get a worse signal than if I put it against the chimney breast in the bedroom.
70Mbps is well within reach of B3 15Mhz assuming the mast is gets low useage - I consistently got 65-75Mpbs before my mast was upgraded and gained B1.
My mast is 450m (~470yds) from my house, with the antenna also directed pretty much in my direction.
When you say worse signal, is that reported signal (bars) or the data speeds. Signal (bars) may drop at your window as there could be other masts in the area causing interference - putting it in the window the router sees those other masts better so the SINR may drop. It depends how weighted the SINR metric is in the bars calculation as to what effect that has on the reported signal level though.
Where are you looking to see aggregation in play? In the top right of the HuaCtrl app or on the router UI itself?
I don't have the B535, rather a H112-370, but I see the following in the HuaCtrl app:
- Shows LTE+ in the top right - I know its definitely aggregating B3+B1.
- Band is B3-1800Mhz - this is the primary cell band, and the band used for upload)
- Width is 15Mhz - we know Three's B3 is 15Mhz wide.
- Ignore the F/TDD value, this appears to be junk as the app isn't developed with the configuration of my router, but is actually the 'raw' value that the router API reports for the combination of the bands it has enabled.