topic Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow in Mobile Network discussions

It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

Ar5had07 — Sat, 28 May 2022 06:10:32 GMT

So I have a 5G router, Huawei CPE Pro 2 and couple of days ago I was getting good download speeds using 5G and all of a sudden the speed went down and became slow.

I checked the settings of my router to see if it's getting any 5G frequency but it's not.

The unit has full 5G 5 bars, but no frequency which means it's not getting any 5G data.

I can't upload any pictures to show you because it's not letting me add it to this post.

Are there any issues with 5G currently?

https://i.imgur.com/nRlYyHq.png

https://i.imgur.com/juZIFM0.png

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

Chris_B — Sat, 28 May 2022 06:38:59 GMT

@Ar5had07 Your images have to be approved otherwise people will post all sort.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

bristolian — Sat, 28 May 2022 06:52:09 GMT

In a 5G-NSA network it's normal for a device to be connected to 4G & 5G carriers simultaneously, as seems to be the case here.

You can check for local network issues using "check status" on the online coverage tool

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

Ar5had07 — Sat, 28 May 2022 08:10:39 GMT

It's not getting any frequency from the 5G one. I used to get around 200Mbps when 5G was conected and the frequency was at 3600Mhz. But now that the frequency is 0 which means it's not connected to 5G, I get speeds around 50-70 Mbps.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

Schockwave — Sat, 28 May 2022 12:01:57 GMT

@Ar5had07 , when you did a check, did you report it at the same time? You can then also get updates. It could be a fault where you are, so reporting it is also a good idea.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

EssexBoyEE — Sat, 28 May 2022 12:51:57 GMT

On the EE Network the Huawei 5G Router will not always connect to the 5G Layer, In fact its just not Huawei, most 5G Routers and Phones will behave in a simular fashion, its just that Huawei do tend to keep the 5G Signal Indicator as being active, so what Im saying is just because there is a good solid 5G Symbol on the Router (your Pic 1) does not mean you are Connected and able to use 5G Network Layer.

Your Pic 2, looks to me that this is a separate App LTE HManager for PC, this will report the same as the Huawei Admin Home Page as its just a snapshot of it.

In order to see your actual 5G Connection Status on the Router you need to go to the Signal Info on the Router, from memory its in Settings/System/Device Information scroll down the Page and your see the General RSRP, RSRQ etc for the Router Signal then scroll down a bit further and you will see the 5G or NR RSRP, RSRQ etc, if the later shows your Signal Reference then you are Connect to use 5G Data if it just showing a (-) or a (0) then your discounted.

If your Router is Firmware Locked Down you may not be able get to the above Setting, but you can still view it by logging into Admin Page the sending this API in the URL Section http://192.168.8.1/api/device/signal

(Note, this will time out after a while and your have to log back in again to use it)

it should return something like this - 492 3753491 -9.0dB -116dBm -87dBm -4dB 7 15MHz 15MHz PPusch:2dBm PPucch:0dBm PSrs:0dBm PPrach:2dBm mcsUpCarrier1:14 mcsDownCarrier1Code0:0 mcsDownCarrier1Code1:6 DL:522 UL:18522 1 10671 1 No1:144No2:177No3:264 23430 0 19722 21622 TM[4] 0014662 32639 32639 1972200kHz 2162200kHz 40MHz 40MHz NRmcsUpCarrier1:20 NRmcsDownCarrier1Code0:30 NRmcsDownCarrier1Code1:0 PPusch:15dBm PPucch:13dBm PSrs:20dBm PPrach:15dBm DL:646660 UL:646660 3699900kHz 3699900kHz 9dB -107dBm -10.0dB

Post up your findings

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

Ar5had07 — Sat, 28 May 2022 18:00:04 GMT

This has been working fine on 5G and getting 5G speeds for 3 weeks. And it was showing 3800Mhz frequency for 5G. Now it's just Zero. Here are the settings:

https://i.imgur.com/R5Edriu.png

https://i.imgur.com/kattFzn.png

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

EssexBoyEE — Sat, 28 May 2022 19:39:17 GMT

Both of those images only show 4G signal data,. What did the API link I sent you show, the cell mast you are logged onto is a 4G only Site near Stone Area but that should be 5G ENDC enabled, which means your pick the 5G from a different Mast Site which Transmit the 5G Layer.

What happens if you do a high Data Dump (Ooka Speed Test should do it) does the 5G Signal kick in half way through the Download Test.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

Ar5had07 — Sat, 28 May 2022 20:41:19 GMT

This is the API call - https://i.imgur.com/oJxn4z6.png

Speed Test from Ookla - https://i.imgur.com/ZaatEuD.png

No it doesn't pick up 5G half way through the Speed Test.

I used to get 300Mbps + on the download and same upload speed as above on 5G and stable connection. Now on 4G the connection is NOT stable and my TV Streaming keeps cutting off (BT Sport App Streaming).

I have 3 external antennas connected to the Huawei CPE Pro 2. 2 x 4G (Poynting directional antenna) and 1 x 5G (Bluespot directional antenna) if that helps.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

EssexBoyEE — Sat, 28 May 2022 23:05:59 GMT

Your first image tells me the Signal API request failed because you either didn't Login to the Routers Admin Home Page (192.168.8.1 then user and pasword) first before sending the Signal API Request, or, you did Login but it timed out before sending the API Request.

Your Router and Aerial Set Up is a bit confusing to me, in as much the Huawei Pro 2, I'm fairly sure does not have external antenna ports, it's one of the only Huawei 5G Routers that doesn't, so can you confirm the exacr model number, from memory the Pro 2 is 112-373? so we can move forward on the Antenna Port config.

Also your Aerial Setup, 3 x 4G Antennas and 1 x 5G? How and why is that plugged in all together? hopefully your not using T Pieces or Cable Spliters or has the Router been modified.

You mentioned these Antennas are directional, where are they pointing to if poss what are the Model Numbers of each Antenna,also ideally a rough idea on your Location (please don't post up your Address or Full Postcode, if you prefer you can PM any Info) but a rough idea of where you are (assuming Dartford Area)

It could be that something has changed or failed in your setup or EE have changed the Configuration in your Area that is causing you not being able to actually connect to the 5G layer even though your in 5G Coverage?

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

Ar5had07 — Sat, 28 May 2022 23:54:28 GMT

Here you go, sorry. https://i.imgur.com/6To1qML.png

And you are correct, this is the CPE Pro 2 Modified with 8 antenna ports. So I have 2 x 4G Antennas (for CA) and 1 x 5G antenna connected.

the 2 x 4G antennas are XPOL-2-5G (Poynting XPOL-2-5G Antenna: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo), and the 5G one is Bluespot Mini (Bluespot Mini: a compact, highly-sensitive 5G MIMO broadband internet antenna for the UK, SMA connections, indoor and outdoor, 3200Mhz - 3800Mhz for 5G networks, pole mount: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo)

I'm using those antennas for better performance. Without the external antennas and the modded router, I was getting around 40Mbps on both 4G and 5G. And with it (previously) I was getting 300Mbps+ download on 5G and around 80Mbps on 4G.

Here is a pic of it - https://i.imgur.com/r52S1ow.png

And yes, Dartford Area. Postcode starting with DA1, so right in the middle.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

bristolian — Sun, 29 May 2022 07:17:57 GMT

Do you have a 5G phone with which to compare?

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

Ar5had07 — Sun, 29 May 2022 07:42:52 GMT

I have but how can I check if I’m downloading on 5G and not 4G? Because using phones I don’t get fast speeds so it might using be either 4G or 5G so I won’t know. That’s why I use external antennas with my CPE PRO 2.

With either 4G and 5G on my phone I get around 40Mbps.

my Huawei CPE PRO 2 is in the loft connected to 3 external antennas to get the fastest speed as possible. I was getting 300Mbps + before this issue occurred.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

Schockwave — Sun, 29 May 2022 11:40:50 GMT

@Ar5had07 ,You will see it on your phone where it shows your signal strength it should show 5G if you do not have 5G, it should show 4G. You can also get an app like Speedtest by Ookla, which you can download from the App Store.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

Ar5had07 — Sun, 29 May 2022 11:53:36 GMT

That’s the same thing that’s happening in the router. It’s saying 5G but not actually downloading from 5G. If there was no 5G on the router, it will just show 4G.
Showing 5G and full signal means it’s connected to a 5G mast but not actually doing anything.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

bristolian — Sun, 29 May 2022 14:05:00 GMT

Unfortunately it's not true to say that a 5G indicator on your screen automatically means you are using 5G - there are circumstances where it can mean 5G is available but your phone uses 4G for some services.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

bristolian — Sun, 29 May 2022 18:54:49 GMT

I've now seen the question from the OP asking how to tell on a phone, whether you're using 4G or 5G.

The answer partly depends whether you're using Android or iOS, but fundamentally a third-party app giving you the active radio-info is the only reliable method.

For Android, Cellmapper is an excellent solution, you can also contribute to the crowd-sourced data. Otherwise Netmonitor is as good as any.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

EssexBoyEE — Sun, 29 May 2022 22:59:28 GMT

On the Huawei Rooter side of things the seperate API link I posted up earlier is pretty much a bullet proof way of telling you whether you are actually connected to a 5G Layer or not rather than the Signal Bar Status.

If the API response reports back a connected Signal State, then yes you will work with a 4G and NR Band or 4G+ CA and NR Band connected Data, if the API reports Back with No 5G Signal State then you will not be connected to any 5G NR Layer, irrespective of what the Front Panel 5G Connected LED light and the Admin 5G Signal Bar Level is telling you.

As for Phones (I Don't do iOS) for Android there are only 3 Apps that I use that will tell you whether you have a valid 5G NR Connected State Layer over your 4G Connection (I'm always open to suggestion of others), and these do work differently on the individual UK Networks in how it is reported as both Vodafone and O2 do not currently support 5G NR ENDC where as EE and Three do.

Free Apps for Android -

Netmonster

G-MoN Pro

Signal Check Lite

In the ideal world we would all be using the excellent Network Guru App but at 50 Quid a pop per Month, or what ever they charge these days and your Phone needs to be Rooted puts this App out of scope for most.

Netmonster is probably one of my favourites, purely because it tells you, in addition to the Signal Info, includes your Carrier Aggregation State, and what CA Bands are, and what's available to your device, as well as whether you are Connected or Disconnected to the 5G NR layer.

G-MoN Pro same deal but will also give you NR PCi Info and NR Bandwidth but the info just disappears if the 5G NR is not truly connected.

Signal Check Lite or Pro same as G-MoN but it doesn't seem to to like the EE NR ENDC setup, but this is probably the way the Android Device reports the Signal info.

Netmonstor is the only App that I know of the shows the NR ENDC state as either Connected or Discounted, but, on the EE Network you sometimes have to pull in a heavy Data Dump for it to kick in as Connected (a few 100mbs should do it) or just do a full Ooka Speed Test, on a good 4G+ or 5G that's normally pulls in around or at least 500Mbs of Data.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

EssexBoyEE — Sun, 29 May 2022 23:16:12 GMT

@Ar5had07 I haven't forgotten about you, been out and about this weekend, got some ideas to post up tomorrow which may have some use with your issues, let's see.

Re: It says 5G but no 5G frequency which means it's downloading from 4G and slow

Ar5had07 — Mon, 30 May 2022 09:33:20 GMT

Thanks, really appreciate it.

Quick Update: I just bought a PAYG sim to test and see if it's account related. To my surprise, 5G doesn't even come up on the router nor on the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

So the Pay Monthly sim comes up with 5G but doesn't download from 5G (it's like a false positive) and the PAYG sim doesn't even come up with 5G (just 4G). So the issue is the signal I guess or the mast.

I rang up EE to ask about this issue, telling them it was working fine over 5G 2-3 days ago hitting speeds up to 350Mbps off peak and around 280 Mbps peak time. But they said there are no issues in my area and there is nothing they can do.

I have invested so much money in these equipment just to get fast speeds (because my house is fully smart, everything requires internet connection. I currently have 150 devices connected on my network, including spot lights and whatnot). ADSL can only get me 32Mbps down and 7 Mbps up.

Okay let's say there is nothing I can do about the 5G, as it's out of my hands. Surely with 4G+ I should be getting over what I'm getting right now, which is around 80Mbps. @EssexBoyEE said with 4G+ I should be getting around 500Mbps. I'm getting nowhere near that. I even modded the CPE PRO 2 with 8 connectors at the back (i'm only using 6 though). 2 x 4G antennas and 1 x 5G antenna. Not getting any faster. The 4G antennas are pointing directly to the mast (according to cellmapper). The 4G antennas are directional.

The antennas are outside the house above it, connected the router inside the loft, which is then wired to a TP-Link enterprise grade router, which then connects the whole house via WAPs, several switches, etc.

I have an iPhone so I can't really download those apps to check.