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Three & MVNO Related Posts

Weird question for you all regarding Three, I'm looking through my cell mapping for eNB 12799 and I see two different TACs: 2123 and 6120. Why is this the case?

6120 is what's displayed on Cellmapper and on other nearby masts (some of which are 2123 (seems like PoWs take 6120 from further research and non-PoWs take 2123?) but I wonder why I'm getting 2123 and 6120 on the same mast...

O2 uses 17072 from the shared site, EE uses 25171 and Vodafone uses 24723 so it's not like my phone is picking up from another network and reporting it as Three.

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The 5xxx/6xxx/7xxx TAC's on 3 ban non-VoLTE devices. EE do similar - TAC's ending with a 0 ban non-VoLTE devices.

On 3, 5-7xxx is used on B20/B28, and on B1/B3 if the site lacks 3G.

On EE, the TAC ends with a 0 on B20, and on all bands if the site lacks 2G.

CellMapper doesn't do per cell TAC's for some reason. From what I've seen, the TAC that gets shown on CellMapper is from the cell that last updated its TAC. If the TAC of the cells has never changed since it got mapped, then this should be the cell with the newest "First seen" date.
 
The 5xxx/6xxx/7xxx TAC's on 3 ban non-VoLTE devices. EE do similar - TAC's ending with a 0 ban non-VoLTE devices.

On 3, 5-7xxx is used on B20/B28, and on B1/B3 if the site lacks 3G.

On EE, the TAC ends with a 0 on B20, and on all bands if the site lacks 2G.

CellMapper doesn't do per cell TAC's for some reason. From what I've seen, the TAC that gets shown on CellMapper is from the cell that last updated its TAC. If the TAC of the cells has never changed since it got mapped, then this should be the cell with the newest "First seen" date.
That would help explain why EE is split between 25170 and 25171 as well, thank you!

25170 is on some of the micro cells and a site that I've found B20 on (although I still don't think it's accurate).
 
The transmitter at the Captain Webb in Brooklands, Wellington, Telford has finally been switched on … they only put the 5G antennas on today, so they can work fast when they want to 😃
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Much needed in that area, spent many a night in the Captain Webb and the MBNL coverage is shocking!

Let’s hope they light a few more up in Telford.
 
Pretty sure I remember seeing @davwheat having 2Gbps a while ago on a test in NSG
Yep, 2.2 Gbps :)

(Three SA) No successful connections yet though.
When you say SA, you mean some devices broadcasting an extra information block and zero SA configuration on the sites.

The same thing EE was doing at the start of 2022 on Ericsson sites (seems to be a default configuration option for Ericsson)
 
Yep, 2.2 Gbps :)


When you say SA, you mean some devices broadcasting an extra information block and zero SA configuration on the sites.

The same thing EE was doing at the start of 2022 on Ericsson sites (seems to be a default configuration option for Ericsson)
Aww you beat my best of 2.1, I might be seeing if my favourite site can get a bit more speed, not that I'm feeling competitive of course
 
Thought i'd take a look at how Three performs in a 3G switch off location as I was passing through an area like this earlier.

All in all impressive performance on b28 with n78 visible at times (n78 not usable). Most speedtests completed at ~40Mbps, but on average I was getting about 35Mbps down and 2Mbps up.

Also pictured is the EE site which was hosting 3G for both networks back in Feb '24 !
 

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For contrast I later made a quick stop at a similar MBNL site, which hosts 4G EE and Three 3G only. This way we can see what the expected performance of 3G is like vs the overlapping 4G, before switch off. Toggled airplane mode a couple of times to trigger 4G lock and I was able to compare the performance of 5MHz LTE carrier on band20 (broadcast from a site further away in Leighton Buzzard) VS 4.8MHz UMTS carrier on band1 (broadcast from a site I was stood around the corner from).

Ran a few tests and the results I got were
3G: 6-8Mbps, 8Mbps was the best
4G: 7-11Mbps, 11Mbps was the best

But let's see, can we get 5G from that 4G site in Leighton Buzzard if I walk just a bit further up the road ? yes we can, woohoo! a whole 13Mbps from n78 officially out of coverage :D

My takeaway, 3G provided a nice fallback with very good throughput performance suitable for most mobile applications like streaming music; and at all times I had a solid mobile data connection unlike 2G fallback, the transition between technologies was very smooth without data interruption. And based on the overlapping 4G performance, I am not expecting data issues in this location after the 3G is switched off.
 

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Three is in tip top shape with Seeek 😂, seems like EE B7 is a bit attractive for NetMonster network searches and O2 B8

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Wonder why I'm getting nothing from the PoW, it's within 500m away (edit: I now am getting something although B28 is the same strength as B1 from O2)
 
Three b3 from their one and only site serving Darlington town centre. I wish Three/EE would hurry up in getting their replacement sites ready as this site is beginning to show it's age given it's been served an NTQ and disconnected from mains power since May 2018.
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Yeh that defiantly is not amazing at 22Mbps, although usable :)

Looks like it is getting a bit congested. This tower in the centre of Leighton (hosting all 4 operators) was able to deliver 118Mbps with bands3+1 (on Three) at the shopping centre nearby at lunch time (busy-ish), but a 5G upgrade from any operator would definitely be welcome here!
 

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Anyone else found n78 coverage to be quite conservative on Threes map ? I am usually able to pick it up well beyond where I would expect (outdoors). I can only guess Three are applying more impairments to their link budgets (higher number of UEs connected / future tree growth, poor weather etc...).

I was able to pick up and use n78 5G quite far from this site today, and also in the past at the national trust place nearby Wing.

There is a cornerstone site next to this MBNL site, both on high ground primarily providing coverage for the trainline and canal.
 

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Anyone else found n78 coverage to be quite conservative on Threes map ? I am usually able to pick it up well beyond where I would expect (outdoors). I can only guess Three are applying more impairments to their link budgets (higher number of UEs connected / future tree growth, poor weather etc...).

I was able to pick up and use n78 5G quite far from this site today, and also in the past at the national trust place nearby Wing.

There is a cornerstone site next to this MBNL site, both on high ground primarily providing coverage for the trainline and canal.

Yes, I am officially outside of 5G coverage where I live, but am able to run my household broadband using B28 and n78.
 
I heard the default is "Network Wi-Fi" (Network being the normal network name)

UK networks on iPhone do:
EE -> EE WiFiCall
O2-UK -> O2 WiFiCall
vodafone UK -> WiFiCall
3 -> WiFi Call

I like the way Three does it, short names for both so it doesn't scroll on my lock screen unlike the others
iD > iD Wifi Call

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I've haven't tested data speed in the town centre of my place for sometime.

I hope there a fault with the mast or it must be congested.
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Did try 4G B3 + B1 no working data.
 
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Is it the April bill or May bill that increases?
I've just got my April bill in and it's still £6

Not had any notifications of the increases yet either. :rolleyes:
 
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Is it the April bill or May bill that increases?
I've just got my April bill in and it's still £6

Not had any notifications of the increases yet either. :rolleyes:
By the bill, I think they mean when your allowances refresh.

e.g. if your allowances refresh on the 19th next month, you'll pay the new price when that bill comes in
 
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