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Drop in 3 (Three) network signal

According to the app I used, its the cell tower I mentioned yesterday - tower 11122 band 20
11122 is Three's eNB ID (Site/Tower ID) - EE's would be 19743 if it was indeed the same physical site.

The reason I'm asking is because if you're only able to also get Band 20 from EE, rather than Band 3, currently then the chance of a different device being able to get B3 is likely low.
 
11122 is Three's eNB ID (Site/Tower ID) - EE's would be 19743 if it was indeed the same physical site.

The reason I'm asking is because if you're only able to also get Band 20 from EE, rather than Band 3, currently then the chance of a different device being able to get B3 is likely low.
Screenshot_20221006_151144_com.wilysis.cellinfolite.webp
 
Thank you@GavinAshford...really appreciate the help and advice you are giving
Won't be that when you get the consultation fee bill in Dafaddu, he's quite expensive. ;)
 
No problem.

That is some good going to get B3, even though the metrics are pretty poor. Presumably your RUT router/antenna combination gets better metrics than your phone if/when connected to that B3? In terms of using a different router (one that is greater than CAT4) then something should be able to aggregate B3 with B20 for a small up-lift in throughput from the B20 add (assuming you connect to B3 at the moment).

I think perhaps the most limiting factor is that the site is a 2-cell site - the site antennas are focused along the road - you're pretty much perpendicular to that, meaning you're in the worst position possible where the signal levels will be the lowest.
 
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No problem.

That is some good going to get B3, even though the metrics are pretty poor. Presumably your RUT router/antenna combination gets better metrics than your phone if/when connected to that B3? In terms of using a different router (one that is greater than CAT4) then something should be able to aggregate B3 with B20 for a small up-lift in throughput from the B20 add (assuming you connect to B3 at the moment).

I think perhaps the most limiting factor is that the site is a 2-cell site - the site antennas are focused along the road - you're pretty much perpendicular to that, meaning you're in the worst position possible where the signal levels will be the lowest.
Yeah I'm amazed we pick up a signal at all to be honest!!

I think my plan of action this weekend is to fiddle around with the antenna's positioning to see if that will strengthen the signal I receive on EE (and hopefully pick up the signal from Three). I think upgrading the router is then my next step but we'll see how I go.

What limits me from going really high is the 5 meter cable on the antenna. Ideally I want the router to be fairly central as both sons are at the opposite ends of the house.

Using the surface elevation tool from the Solwise website, I'd have to go to a height of around 18 / 20 meters to get a clear line of sight to the cell tower!! I'm sure the National Park would have kittens if they saw me with a pole that big 🤣
 
Given you only have the option of a single mast, you might be best off considering a very directional external high gain router, such as the Mikrotik one: https://mikrotik.com/product/lhg_lte6_kit

It's only Cat6, but it does aggregate B3+B20 (EE current), though it doesn't support B28 (which I'd expect in the future for Three), due to its age - but its whether you're wanting to build 'for the known' now or 'plan/hope for the future' for something that might not actually happen.
As the router itself is then outside, and powered by PoE you wouldn't be as restricted with placement and/or antenna cable length or losses - you could put it wherever the (shielded?) Ethernet could reach to within ~100m or whatever PoE is rated for (not an area I'm experienced in).
 
Given you only have the option of a single mast, you might be best off considering a very directional external high gain router, such as the Mikrotik one: https://mikrotik.com/product/lhg_lte6_kit

It's only Cat6, but it does aggregate B3+B20 (EE current), though it doesn't support B28 (which I'd expect in the future for Three), due to its age - but its whether you're wanting to build 'for the known' now or 'plan/hope for the future' for something that might not actually happen.
As the router itself is then outside, and powered by PoE you wouldn't be as restricted with placement and/or antenna cable length or losses - you could put it wherever the (shielded?) Ethernet could reach to within ~100m or whatever PoE is rated for (not an area I'm experienced in).
Very interesting. I'm probably looking for a 'now solution' as opposed to 'future planning' because the long term goal is to move so we won't have to drive the kids everywhere!

Would it work if I don't have a clear line of sight to the cell tower?

Probably a stupid question but how would I share the internet throughout the house if the router was, lets say, 50 meters away? I imagine I'd need some sort of 'hub' indoors?
 
@Dafaddu a directional may not be best for you, you would need to put the mikrotik in IP passthrough mode and use another router behind it.

That's a lot of cost for something temporary.

A ZTE mf286d is around £40 to £69 though and as it's cat12 it could aggregate b3 twice or something similar.
 
Have you tried locking the RUT to Band 3? Three could have introduced a carrier policy to give priority to Band 20. You find these strange policies when on the edges of a particular cell.

Follow these instructions and put it in Manual and untick Band 20

 
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Have you tried locking the RUT to Band 3? Three could have introduced a carrier policy to give priority to Band 20. You find these strange policies when on the edges of a particular cell.

Follow these instructions and put it in Manual and untick Band 20

Thanks for this... I'll give it a try. Just a quick question - which sim card should I have in the Rut when doing this? The working EE or the Three?
 
Which product code is your rut240?
Going on your instructions, I singled out B3 (with the EE sim inserted) and lost signal. Unticked B3 and singled out B20. Signal came back. Decided to do a speed test out of interest... 7mbps! I have never tested over 3.75mbps with the EE sim!! Am going to do the same with the Three sim inserted now... I'll keep you posted. BTW... B28 was also on the list although I have no idea what this means
 
Very interesting. I'm probably looking for a 'now solution' as opposed to 'future planning' because the long term goal is to move so we won't have to drive the kids everywhere!

Would it work if I don't have a clear line of sight to the cell tower?

Probably a stupid question but how would I share the internet throughout the house if the router was, lets say, 50 meters away? I imagine I'd need some sort of 'hub' indoors?
I'm afraid I had forgotten you said you didn't have clear LoS and so it might not be the best choice unless, probably through trial and error, the perfect angle for reflection/refraction could be found.

Yes, internally some kind of hub would be required to take the incoming ethernet and convert that to whatever your devices use - a 'standard' router that is suitable for Cable (ethernet WAN) connections would do that, or perhaps even your current RUT could if one of its ethernet ports can be set to a WAN configuration
 
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Going on your instructions, I singled out B3 (with the EE sim inserted) and lost signal. Unticked B3 and singled out B20. Signal came back. Decided to do a speed test out of interest... 7mbps! I have never tested over 3.75mbps with the EE sim!! Am going to do the same with the Three sim inserted now... I'll keep you posted. BTW... B28 was also on the list although I have no idea what this means
B28 is a new frequency that has been deployed this year, it's far reaching and your rut240 may support it if you have the global version.
 
Ahh right... I don't think I have the global version but I'll check. BTW... Nothing doing with the Three sim. Still not picking up a signal no matter which band I try
 
In my experience Three NEVER update their network status tool. It's as useful as an ashtray on a motor bike going at 160mph.

I also noticed a drop in service to a static antenna set-up (Mikrotik dish pointing directly at the mast) back in January 2022, literally over night the "noise" on Band 3 made my speeds drop like a stone. This summer, I was out in a field (which is about the same level of my antenna) and noticed I was getting speeds averaging about 40mbps on a 5G phone, yet was only getting 2-4 via the Mikrotik. I then purchased a Huawei 5G Outdoor CPE and get same 40mbps on it, same height and fixed location. It is connected to the same cell Primary: Band 3 CA : Band 20 as before, just getting better speeds from some reason. There is no 5G anywhere near me either.

I really don't know what Three are playing at or how the 5G router can get better speeds than my 4G equipment. I tested a Huawei B535 (came with my contract), Mikrotik LHGG LTE6 and a Teltonika RUT 950 all of them have dropped to 2-4mbps.

Another odd thing is that on the 4G equipment my uploads were constantly in the region of 20-30mbps, yet using the 5G router I can never get past 10mbps. You can see from my Speedtest results when I swapped to the 5G router!

View attachment 3648
Had the same issues with them there currently telling me there no 5G in the area but my router tells me different lol. I also had a 4g router from them when I swapped it out for the 5g Pro I got better 4g speeds I'm just waiting for an ISP to install FTTP so I can get away from Three. They did some work on a tower of late and my speed are unstable as well as the flip flopping between 4g and 5g 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
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