topic Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower in Archived Posts

Bandwidth to a specific tower

Walmyster — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:48:49 GMT

Hi all,

I use 4GEE for my home broadband having tried many services over the years it has proved to be the best both in speed and in reliability. Except that.... the variation in download speed over the day is massive. I have seen over 50 Mb/s in the early hours of the morning but this can drop as low a 2 Mb/s during the day. I don’t know what else uses that specific tower during the day, perhaps the local college/students or a local school or business but this is too much of a variation. It’s clear that that particular tower needs more daytime bandwidth. Perhaps load balancing could be adjusted or something?

Anyway, I’ve tried to get a sensible conclusion from EE but I can’t get to a decent technical conversation from the EE help desk, Level 3 or whatever. I keep getting stuck at “reboot your server” etc. My system has proven that it can run close to the practical maximum speed. What I need is wider bandwidth at the tower.

Has anyone managed to get through to decent technical support? Any ideas?

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

Chris_B — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 16:06:33 GMT

@Walmyster In the day people are awake using their devices. More load on a mast will effect networks speeds.

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

Walmyster — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 16:10:38 GMT

Yes, exactly. My point is though that it may be fixable, as long as the laws of physics aren’t broken, by adjusting the load balancing on the network to reflect the actual load on that tower during the day. I can’t get through to anyone to have a conversation about it though.

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

bristolian — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 16:39:30 GMT

Hi @Walmyster

I see that @Chris_B has already advised you that varying speeds on any mobile data connection are often symptomatic of varying traffic levels and data load at a given time and are not, of themselves, a fault.

Unfortunately, adding bandwidth to any network site is a more complex process than just enabling a software option. Sometimes, additional carriers is a simple task, and in these cases it can be done in a short timescale. Quite often, it can mean more extensive works or perhaps reconfigurations are necessary - either physically onsite or elsewhere in the network.

Capacity & performance enhancements are ongoing across the EE network.

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

Walmyster — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 16:45:15 GMT

Absolutely but how do I get EE to look at this particular tower (which does not seem to be configured right). Dropping from 50 megs to 2 megs isn’t right surely.

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

bristolian — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 17:47:57 GMT

The speed drop you mention is a particularly extreme one, but if you are getting 50Mb/s at particular times, then that would suggest the regular speed that you're likely to receive.

You've mentioned that you've already spoken to EE's tech agents, that would be the correct way to have issues investigated, alongside using the "report a problem" link on the coverage & status checker . Unfortunately, with an increase in the number of home workers, some variance in daytime data speeds is to be expected, and in some cases it may take time for individual sites to have the necessary performance improvements.

Out of interest, does your router software give you any info on "connected cell" or "eNB ID"?

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

Walmyster — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 18:12:16 GMT

Yes,

CELL_ID:	4909570
RSRQ:	-10dB
RSRP:	-107dBm
SINR:	2dB
PLMN:	23430

when I built the system I used a couple of apps which identified all the towers near here.

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

EssexBoyEE — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:27:11 GMT

Your SINR is too low, quiet poor in fact, does this figure move around much or tie up with your Speed drops.

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

Walmyster — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:32:58 GMT

No it’s pretty consistent and the best I could do. I have 2 x 23 dB antennae just to get that. Deep valley in Cornwall.

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

EssexBoyEE — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:43:32 GMT

Ok, where are the Antennas, if they are 23db and doing what they claim they must be very directional.

What's the Antenna and Router make.

Using external Antennas is a plus move if you in Fringe Coverage, but this is Restricting down to 2x2 Mimo against s possible 4x4 within the Router (assuming it's a fairly recent one)

Any 5G involved here, guessing not.

How many Cell Towers around you.

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

bristolian — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:46:53 GMT

I'm tended to agree that those look like fairly cell-edge figures to me, the cell-ID unfortunately isn't much use without the corresponding eNB ID.

Assuming that you are on the edge of coverage, then the bandwidth available on that cell (which, in a rural area, could potentially be limited spectrum 800Mhz) is only part of the equation.

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

Walmyster — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:48:26 GMT

On a hill behind the house. Single tower about 3km away.

Huawei B618 2020- Unlocked 4G/LTE 600 Mbps Mobile Wi-Fi Router

Theta Communication Omni Directional 4G 3G LTE MIMO External Antenna Aerial Signal Booster 46dbi

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

Walmyster — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:50:03 GMT

Indeed. I don’t think the tower is even in LoS. Still gets 50 meg in the early hours though...

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

EssexBoyEE — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:57:25 GMT

3km inst that far especially if your using external Antennas. Where are they mounted and how far apart, presumably there 180 degree with a 45 degree offset. ?

Is the Site line of sight. Can you see it

What's the Amp your using here and why, what Bands does the Amp have

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

Walmyster — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 20:04:01 GMT

The antenna is a single one with two “poles’ and it’s on a 15 ft pole attached to a garden shed.

not LoS.

the amp is part of the router I think.

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

bristolian — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 20:15:10 GMT

Does the software have any reference to "LTE Carrier ID" or EARFCN?

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

EssexBoyEE — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 20:22:07 GMT

I don't know the Antenna, any Web Links on it or a Picture of your setup.

If the Router is 600mbs rated then Cat11 or 12 from memory, so will have 4x4 Mimo.

Still not sure about this Amp your using, how many feeders from and to the antennas and the Amp, how long is the feeder cable and what type.

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

bristolian — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 20:34:40 GMT

If you have an EE mobile, what sort of speeds are you getting from that?

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

EssexBoyEE — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 20:53:15 GMT

If you got another Phone put the SIM in that then do some Tests near the Shed where you antennas are.

Download Netmonster from the App Store, that will tell you info like Log On Band. Carrier Aggregation, CI, EARFCN, eNBID plus more on the Phone,then Post up so that @bristolian can look up other Cell Info near you.

Alternatively, if no Phone I did post up an Huawei API Command Post recently on here, regarding getting Info from the Router directly but can't seem to find the Post at the moment.

Re: Bandwidth to a specific tower

bristolian — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 23:00:59 GMT

By means of "stepping back" a little, here...

This post was started by @Walmyster commenting on perceived variable data speeds. Those data speeds can be impacted by many factors, but signal quality and the amount of traffic on the local network can all make a difference.

The RSRP figures that've been posted, suggest to me that this device is being used on the edge of coverage, and this will certainly have some impact.

An EARFCN or eNB-ID will help enable identification of what 4G-carriers are in-use, and therefore how much bandwidth is ordinarily available.

Testing using another EE phone will be a good check of whether this is an issue with the router or not.