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Well I didn’t expect that…

pepstar

ULTIMATE Member
In the normal Three discussion thread I’ve been ranting for a while now about an issue with a local mast since demolition of a nearby site which housed an MBNL site in Wellington, Telford .

Having got no luck with iD or Three I thought I’d escalate a bit higher, well a lot higher! I won’t say the name, but it was someone who could find out, so I emailed them with a concise but very geek heavy email about the technical issue on Monday, not expecting a response.

However, few days later I did not get a response from the person I emailed, but another person who was well suited to answer my question promising to get me an answer, and they did…

I got co-pilot AI to summarise the response below, but needless to say I’m very happy with their detailed response …

“ The temporary telecommunications site was removed after the allowed 18-month period. The new permanent site on Haygate Road is operational with EE’s service already active. The Three network is expected to launch its 4G and 5G services there within the next two weeks. There has been an unfortunate gap in service between the removal of the temporary site and the activation of the permanent one. It is anticipated that the full operation of the new site will restore high-quality signal strength and fast data speeds.“

It was a lesson to me to not always believe what cellmapper has on its site, as cell mapper was showing the new and old site 4G bands as separate locations , so I believed the new was broadcasting 4G & 5G, when actually what I can gather from the response from Three is that it was actually the temp site broadcasting it.

So yeah, in conclusion I’ll be happy when the new site is online and was really happy that Three actually gave me an honest response, even though it was via a less than conventional route! ;)
 
So on my way to work this morning I noticed they'd switched on the mast, could be co-incidence, but also might have helped getting an email sent to someone who could actually do something about it...

... In any case, happy with Three, just one more PoW to be turned on locally and I'll be in a 5G wonderland :)


Screenshot 2024-05-01 092000.webp
 
So on my way to work this morning I noticed they'd switched on the mast, could be co-incidence, but also might have helped getting an email sent to someone who could actually do something about it...

... In any case, happy with Three, just one more PoW to be turned on locally and I'll be in a 5G wonderland :)


View attachment 13778
I can’t wait for them to light up the rest in Telford. It will be one of the quickest 5G towns in the UK.

They ran VM backhaul to the new Halesfield mast a couple of weeks back. Can’t be long now surely.
 
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I can’t wait for them to light up the rest in Telford. It will be one of the quickest 5G towns in the UK.

They ran VM backhaul to the new Halesfield mast a couple of weeks back. Can’t be long now surely.
Indeed, that's good to hear about the Halesfield site, VM did something similar to the mast near the Princess Royal hospital, so I'm expecting that to be live soon (hopefully!)

They've also added the Wellington Brooklands mast to the 3 coverage map, I am surprised on how conservative they've been on the coverage, I know from experience that mast goes further than the coverage map suggests.

In any case, yeah Telford is now pretty well covered by Three & EE's 5G coverage, with more to come.

I still think it won't be too long until the MBNL mast in Shawbirch gets an upgrade, the planning for that was approved in 2022 👀 and they did a trial dig for it a month or so ago.
 
Indeed, that's good to hear about the Halesfield site, VM did something similar to the mast near the Princess Royal hospital, so I'm expecting that to be live soon (hopefully!)

They've also added the Wellington Brooklands mast to the 3 coverage map, I am surprised on how conservative they've been on the coverage, I know from experience that mast goes further than the coverage map suggests.

In any case, yeah Telford is now pretty well covered by Three & EE's 5G coverage, with more to come.

I still think it won't be too long until the MBNL mast in Shawbirch gets an upgrade, the planning for that was approved in 2022 👀 and they did a trial dig for it a month or so ago.
I think they will press on with the Shawbirch and Ironbridge park and ride site.

The one that has been left alone and has shocked me is the site on top of Frasers up town.

Both Three and EE have left it, the large Phase 7 site down by the international centre provides 5G for both networks but it is weak up towards town.

Inside the actual town centre Three is painfully slow - the only network that isn’t is EE.
 
I think they will press on with the Shawbirch and Ironbridge park and ride site.

The one that has been left alone and has shocked me is the site on top of Frasers up town.

Both Three and EE have left it, the large Phase 7 site down by the international centre provides 5G for both networks but it is weak up towards town.

Inside the actual town centre Three is painfully slow - the only network that isn’t is EE.

Yeah that Frasers site is a weird one, I agree that Three can be slow in the town centre, but still better than Vodafone as that mast near the Odeon cinema they have doesn't seem to get in the town centre itself very well.

I wonder why MBNL haven't done anything with that site, could it be they're looking for a better location? Or maybe rather than paying Telford Town Centre rent to be on the top of the car park, they move it somewhere else nearby maybe?
 
Yeah that Frasers site is a weird one, I agree that Three can be slow in the town centre, but still better than Vodafone as that mast near the Odeon cinema they have doesn't seem to get in the town centre itself very well.

I wonder why MBNL haven't done anything with that site, could it be they're looking for a better location? Or maybe rather than paying Telford Town Centre rent to be on the top of the car park, they move it somewhere else nearby maybe?
Vodafone and O2 are shocking in the town centre. I switch over to my RWG sim before I go in. The pole outside the cinema simply cannot cope. It doesn't have enough bandwidth on it.

Three did work the last time I went up, albeit painfully slow.

The original MBNL site was on the old T&W Civic offices council building and they moved over to Frasers when they demolished the building in 2013. EE have Band 3 and Band 7, Three have Band 1 and Band 3 so they been upgraded at some point, just no NR as of yet.

The POW down by the International Centre has 1,3,20+N78 on Three and 1,3,7,20 and N78 on EE which eases the strain on town.

I noticed some panels on Darby House the other day but they look like old Three UMTS panels. That would be another great site for any network.
 
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Vodafone and O2 are shocking in the town centre. I switch over to my RWG sim before I go in. The pole outside the cinema simply cannot cope. It doesn't have enough bandwidth on it.

Three did work the last time I went up, albeit painfully slow.

The original MBNL site was on the old T&W Civic offices council building and they moved over to Frasers when they demolished the building in 2013. EE have Band 3 and Band 7, Three have Band 1 and Band 3 so they been upgraded at some point, just no NR as of yet.

The POW down by the International Centre has 1,3,20+N78 on Three and 1,3,7,20 and N78 on EE which eases the strain on town.

I noticed some panels on Darby House the other day but they look like old Three UMTS panels. That would be another great site for any network.
I always used to remember years ago there was a big o2 transmitter on Darby house, but it’s been removed years ago.

I agree, if they could get Darby house that would be great for a MBNL mast, or maybe somewhere near the police station… it does seem though that the lack of upgrades at the Fraisers site that they maybe looking for a new location

Normally when I’m in the town centre I get about 5/10mbps which is okay, but could be better for sure! My OH gets hardly anything on Vodafone and since the 3G switch off a fair bit of edge.

Actually it is crazy how bad Vodafone have got since the 3G switch off, which is a shame as I like Vodafone as a network, but I did see the new mast of on the Wrekin has been approved, hopefully that will fill in a few gaps!
 
So on my way to work this morning I noticed they'd switched on the mast, could be co-incidence, but also might have helped getting an email sent to someone who could actually do something about it...

... In any case, happy with Three, just one more PoW to be turned on locally and I'll be in a 5G wonderland :)


View attachment 13778
I'm just waiting on Three and Vodafone to finish their 5G rollout locally here as O2 is more or less complete while EE is a close second.

Still O2 has a monopoly on 5G across all three towns but more so in Dunstable.

Just hoping one day to get a POW around here.
 
I always used to remember years ago there was a big o2 transmitter on Darby house, but it’s been removed years ago.

I agree, if they could get Darby house that would be great for a MBNL mast, or maybe somewhere near the police station… it does seem though that the lack of upgrades at the Fraisers site that they maybe looking for a new location

Normally when I’m in the town centre I get about 5/10mbps which is okay, but could be better for sure! My OH gets hardly anything on Vodafone and since the 3G switch off a fair bit of edge.

Actually it is crazy how bad Vodafone have got since the 3G switch off, which is a shame as I like Vodafone as a network, but I did see the new mast of on the Wrekin has been approved, hopefully that will fill in a few gaps!
I’m glad you said that about Darby House because I thought I had imagined it.

Just looked at some older photos of Darby House and it was a decent multi sector site, I wonder why that had to end. Most probably related to the council taking the building over. O2 and Vodafone could both do with it back.

I agree with Vodafone, they have a lot to resolve until I return and it’s the same reason I will be letting my O2 contract roll month to month at the end of the year. It wouldn’t shock me if they have the same issues.

I have noticed since the 3G switch off today I think Three have adjusted their selection parameters. My phone cannot wait to get back onto 4/5G even if it is incredibly weak…..this is in an area where 3G is still broadcasting because it is a 3G only site. I used to see 3G for long periods in Shifnal for example.
 
I’m glad you said that about Darby House because I thought I had imagined it.

Just looked at some older photos of Darby House and it was a decent multi sector site, I wonder why that had to end. O2 and Vodafone could both do with it back.

I agree with Vodafone, they have a lot to resolve until I return and it’s the same reason I will be letting my O2 contract roll month to month at the end of the year. It wouldn’t shock me if they have the same issues.

I have noticed since the 3G switch off today I think Three have adjusted their selection parameters. My phone cannot wait to get back onto 4/5G even if it is incredibly weak…..this is in an area where 3G is still broadcasting because it is a 3G only site. I used to see 3G for long periods in Shifnal for example.
Haha, you’re defo not going mad, it was there… or less the rent was too high, I can’t imagine why they got rid of it!

Funny enough I did a run in Shifnal on Sunday and I was on 3G for the most part while I was in the town centre.

But I’ve seen the same as you, I travel by a 3G only mast at Hodnet and it used to always go to 3G around there, now it clings to 4G and only occasionally will it go to 3G on that mast. There was a 3G switch off around a lot of Telford in mid April, I haven’t noticed much change on the coverage checker, but I used to see 3G sometimes in my house, now I don’t, so I guess it has been turned off.
 
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Haha, you’re defo not going mad, it was there… or less the rent was too high, I can’t imagine why they got rid of it!

Funny enough I did a run in Shifnal on Sunday and I was on 3G for the most part while I was in the town centre.

But I’ve seen the same as you, I travel by a 3G only mast at Hodnet and it used to always go to 3G around there, now it clings to 4G and only occasionally will it go to 3G on that mast. There was a 3G switch off around a lot of Telford in mid April, I haven’t noticed much change on the coverage checker, but I used to see 3G sometimes in my house, now I don’t, so I guess it has been turned off.
Possibly rent related, it’s usually that or landlord access issues!

According to the coverage checker Three until today had only turned off a couple of 3G sites around town and one towards Hadley / Trench. I think they have done some more today - Redhill being one.

Unfortunately my Redmi will not allow me to force 3G on Three!
 
Possibly rent related, it’s usually that or landlord access issues!

According to the coverage checker Three until today had only turned off a couple of 3G sites around town and one towards Hadley / Trench. I think they have done some more today - Redhill being one.

Unfortunately my Redmi will not allow me to force 3G on Three!
Yeah when you look at the wider coverage map it appears we’re a testing area as they don’t appear to be switching many sites off elsewhere on the wider coverage map.

I have no problem with them switching off 3G where 4G is available, it’s just places like Shifnal where they really need to convert their 3G only sites before switch off. It has surprised me they haven’t put a PoW in Shifnal.

Actually the more I look, it looks like they’ve switched off all 3G sites in North Telford, but left on Redhill and the 3G only mast near Telford United football ground, which suggests they might leave 3G only sites on for now maybe.
 
Yeah when you look at the wider coverage map it appears we’re a testing area as they don’t appear to be switching many sites off elsewhere on the wider coverage map.

I have no problem with them switching off 3G where 4G is available, it’s just places like Shifnal where they really need to convert their 3G only sites before switch off. It has surprised me they haven’t put a PoW in Shifnal.

Actually the more I look, it looks like they’ve switched off all 3G sites in North Telford, but left on Redhill and the 3G only mast near Telford United football ground, which suggests they might leave 3G only sites on for now maybe.
Didn't know there was 3G-only sites over in Shifnal, would make a good argument for a PoW there if only because of the Wolves to Shrewsbury line that runs through
 
Yeah when you look at the wider coverage map it appears we’re a testing area as they don’t appear to be switching many sites off elsewhere on the wider coverage map.

I have no problem with them switching off 3G where 4G is available, it’s just places like Shifnal where they really need to convert their 3G only sites before switch off. It has surprised me they haven’t put a PoW in Shifnal.

Actually the more I look, it looks like they’ve switched off all 3G sites in North Telford, but left on Redhill and the 3G only mast near Telford United football ground, which suggests they might leave 3G only sites on for now maybe.
Three had a 1st May switch off notification for the TF2 postcode yesterday. It could have been Redhill but as that serves Shifnal, I think that they may have left that on.

Prime candidates for switch off would be the large N78 macro site in Oakengates on the EP bridge and the N78 macro in Donnington Wood by the Asda and down in Donnington by the Aldi - both in TF2.

As for Shifnal, there seems to be a reluctance to upgrade the panels on the MBNL site on top of the Telephone Exchange. EE are still running their legacy 1800Mhz panels and Three have always been 3G only. Both sets of panels have gone yellow they're that old. EE in fairness have doubled up so it's dual carrier 1800Mhz but the coverage compared to CTIL isn't great. The indoor coverage in Shifnal on Three and EE is poor compared to O2 and Vodafone.

The site up on the bridge by the train station in Shifnal was originally O2 but Vodafone are on it too. Vodafone ended up switching off their lattice tower further on down the railway line. The shared site has had recent upgrades by Vodafone with Band 1 and 8 being added. O2 have had Band 1 added.

I am intrigued to see what EE and Three do with that site on the exchange. Will they upgrade it or will they put a new build application in.

An SRN application went in at the top of Shifnal by the M54 and the locals have gone mad so we're unlikely to see that one............
 
Didn't know there was 3G-only sites over in Shifnal, would make a good argument for a PoW there if only because of the Wolves to Shrewsbury line that runs through
Yeah Three have never had 4G there - they just rely on the overspill from the Redhill mast.
 
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Three had a 1st May switch off notification for the TF2 postcode yesterday. It could have been Redhill but as that serves Shifnal, I think that they may have left that on.

Prime candidates for switch off would be the large N78 macro site in Oakengates on the EP bridge and the N78 macro in Donnington Wood by the Asda and down in Donnington by the Aldi - both in TF2.

As for Shifnal, there seems to be a reluctance to upgrade the panels on the MBNL site on top of the Telephone Exchange. EE are still running their legacy 1800Mhz panels and Three have always been 3G only. Both sets of panels have gone yellow they're that old. EE in fairness have doubled up so it's dual carrier 1800Mhz but the coverage compared to CTIL isn't great. The indoor coverage in Shifnal on Three and EE is poor compared to O2 and Vodafone.

The site up on the bridge by the train station in Shifnal was originally O2 but Vodafone are on it too. Vodafone ended up switching off their lattice tower further on down the railway line. The shared site has had recent upgrades by Vodafone with Band 1 and 8 being added. O2 have had Band 1 added.

I am intrigued to see what EE and Three do with that site on the exchange. Will they upgrade it or will they put a new build application in.

An SRN application went in at the top of Shifnal by the M54 and the locals have gone mad so we're unlikely to see that one............
Yeah I’d agree those sites would change things when they switch 3G off there, I sometimes pick up that site EP site on B28
In Wellington!

I guess time will tell about Shifnal, but it is strange MBNL haven’t invested in Shifnal or Newport for that fact.

I’m still confused why three have a planning application on the old A5 near overley not far from an existing site, bringing 5G to a bunch of farmers fields, seems crazy to me 👀
 
Yeah I’d agree those sites would change things when they switch 3G off there, I sometimes pick up that site EP site on B28
In Wellington!

I guess time will tell about Shifnal, but it is strange MBNL haven’t invested in Shifnal or Newport for that fact.

I’m still confused why three have a planning application on the old A5 near overley not far from an existing site, bringing 5G to a bunch of farmers fields, seems crazy to me 👀
I think EE have done recent work to the MBNL site in Newport centre, the one on top of the nightclub, there was a planning app in not long back although CellMapper is saying it is still Band 3. Three haven't touched it, it's still 3G.

I think that site near Overley is to provide infill coverage to the railway line, M54 and mainly The Wrekin walkers. O2 and Vodafone aren't the best on that stretch of the M54/A5.

MBNL have a similar large macro in Rushton up on a hill and on EE it provides mega speeds - yet is / was pretty crippled on Three.
 
I think EE have done recent work to the MBNL site in Newport centre, the one on top of the nightclub, there was a planning app in not long back although CellMapper is saying it is still Band 3. Three haven't touched it, it's still 3G.

I think that site near Overley is to provide infill coverage to the railway line, M54 and mainly The Wrekin walkers. O2 and Vodafone aren't the best on that stretch of the M54/A5.

MBNL have a similar large macro in Rushton up on a hill and on EE it provides mega speeds - yet is / was pretty crippled on Three.
Oh right I hadn’t thought of the railway line or indeed the new development on the old sugar beet factory, wonder if it will get that far?

As for rushton, I went to a wedding at the wroxter hotel and that mast provided me with decent signal on 3 but only about 10mbps, friends with EE we’re picking up 5G so yeah EE defo had the upper hand. My friends on voda/o2 had nothing, so something is better than nothing I guess!

Shows three have plenty to do with their 3G only sites in Shropshire still… but I still think their network is decent around Shropshire, enough for me to stay with them :).
 
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