User Profile
jonnyphone
SMARTY Commentator
Joined 4 years ago
User Widgets
Contributions
PoW Paint Job
Greetings, I have spotted a Three phase8 monopole site outside Westcott innovation centre (near Aylesbury) with the paint pealing off. This got me thinking, maybe we could get some of the three poles painted in interest colours/styles related to the local community. Or simply a way to report this to Three so it can get a repaint, maybe is Green to match the trees or Blue to match the sky.1.2KViews2likes0CommentsRe: Very poor indoor signal at home
Just updating my previous wiki with more recent information: Current Band1 Configuration: band 1 (2100MHz) : 3G/UMTS (4.8MHz Down 4.8MHz Down) + 4G/LTE (10MHz Down 10MHz Up) OR (interim configuration on some 5G capable sites): band 1 (2100MHz) : 3G/UMTS (4.8MHz Down 4.8MHz Down) + 5G/NR (10MHz Down 10MHz Up) -Band 1 originally used to be all 3G, and was the first band Three way back to launch their network in 2003. 2/3 of this spectrum was previously refarmed to 4G/LTE whilst maintaining 1/2 3G, but the LTE portion is now being further refarmed to 5G/NR on newer sites which have 5G equipment. After the 3G switch off, all of threes spectrum on band1 will become 5G/NR on a site with 5G equipment (gNB): band 1 (2100MHz) : 5G/NR (15MHz Down 15MHz Up) I believe three have chosen this band because - it works very well with n78 to boost upload speeds in NR CA (for handsets that support FDD + TDD NR CA) - cross-site and cross-RAT interference (interference between a band1 LTE mast and a band1 NR mast) can be managed well with power levels. - many handsets are now 5G capable and when in range of band1/3, are usually are also capable of picking up n78 5G from the same site, meaning band1 LTE becomes underutilised, and therefore it no longer makes sense to keep this in an LTE configuration. -Three may also deploy 5G solely on this band on more rural / less loaded sites, since it provides reasonable performance on its own. Other operators are doing something similar, 2024 is turning out to be quite good news for mobile coverage and performance. * All the above information is formulated based on my own scans of the network in recent months and observing and analysing patterns in changes on different types of sites. I don't have any inside information from Three and plans could also change. I also work in the telco industry with extensive knowledge in frequency planning and RAN deployment.10KViews1like0CommentsRe: Why not Up your game @Smarty. physical SIM cards to eSIMs be introduced to Smarty's serv
indeed the iPhone 15 models sold in the UK and Europe (International Version) still support physical SIM cards - but for how much longer ? with two generations in the US now without a physical SIM card tray (14 and 15), the writing is on the wall for physical SIM card support on the International Version, maybe as soon as the 16 later this year. Operators have had enough time to implement this. Do three PAYG support eSIM now ? I think VF enabled this recently for PAYG customers, that's a stepping stone. Naturally there are concerns about supporting this feature, but in the end it can all be done from the SMARTY app with zero touch from support desk. EDIT: from three site: Can I get an eSIM on Pay As You Go? Yes, eSIM is available on Pay As You Go. New and existing customers can get it by calling our Contact Centre or visiting one of our stores. You can see if your current device is compatible by checking our device support page. Wonder if it's worth getting an eSIM pack from a Three store and porting your SMARTY plan to it. might not work, but some trick like this works for VOXI customers using a Vodafone PAYG eSIM pack.4.6KViews0likes0CommentsRe: 3G switch off
just curious, because I think it would be fine for 3G to be switched off in my area, I hardly see 3G these days. I was also wondering if the 4G speed bandwidth will increase immediately following 3G switch off in any particular area, or if the whole country will have 3G switched off first and then the 4G bandwidth is increased nationwide (to avoid 3G/4G cross interference between masts).10KViews0likes1CommentRe: Data connectivity terrible currently
I've found the connection to be quite good around Milton Keynes on SMARTY, certainly better than EE! all the trees don't help though. Three have install a new 5G pole in Water Eaton (as you enter Bletchley from Stoke Road), which will cover Newton Leys when activated. It could be testing/installation of this pole is currently impacting service in that area. The other mast you may be picking up service ins the one leaving far Bletchley towards newton longville, which might have an issue (near the access area for East West Rail). This one has 5G on it.3.8KViews0likes1Comment