topic Re: 4 g on new phone. in Pay as you go

4 g on new phone.

antighsiothail1 — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 16:24:59 GMT

My wife and I both have PAYG phones. Hers is a very basic Alcatel, hers show 4g connection. I have just bought a new phone a Samsung Galaxy A15. Mine doesn't show any option for 4g. Connections-mobile networks, shows LTE/3g/2g (auto connect), 3g/2g (auto connect), 3g only, 2g only. no 4g option at all. Any ideas where it might be? Got a new sim to fit this phone old phone didn't support 4g.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

azumirm212 — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 17:13:06 GMT

Did you buy the phone from a reputable dealer? Those shady used phone shops sometimes sell foreign models. In which case you won't get a 4g signal. I've been ripped off with a fake Samsung charger that damaged my battery from one of those places. Now I always buy from a phone provider retail store or large electronics chain store.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

antighsiothail1 — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 17:21:14 GMT

Bought it direct from Samsung UK.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

bristolian — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 19:52:32 GMT

@antighsiothail1 wrote:

Connections-mobile networks, shows LTE/3g/2g (auto connect), 3g/2g (auto connect), 3g only, 2g only. no 4g option at all

LTE is 4G.

The reference by another poster to foreign models would only be relevant when the source country's networks use different 4G bands to the UK.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

azumirm212 — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 20:06:20 GMT

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a halfway point between 3rd generation and 4th generation. It is categorically not the same as 4th generation. LTE-A (advanced) is not the same but can achieve the same potential speed as 4G but not 4G+ due to carrier aggregation allowing multiple bands to be used at the same time.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

bristolian — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 20:24:14 GMT

You're correct that LTE is not strictly 4G. But in layman's terms, given the original question posed, the LTE menu options refer to 4G.

Any carrier aggregation is invisible to most end users and only those with some RAN understanding would need to know.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

EssexBoyEE — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 22:20:15 GMT

As @bristolian points out LTE and 4G are from a Phone User point of view the same thing, as is 4G+ and LTE A pretty much the same, LTE as you correctly say Long Term Evolution started with 4G (4th Generation) it is intended to be a Protocol that can be improved with time without having to jump to another Generation Level when improvements were devised and put into use.

In theory, early 5G is still LTE, the improvements over time that are really important to LTE is the LTE Catogary, known as CAT (Number), which starts at CAT0 up to its present Evolution, this is a more prescice Technical Description as to both the User Device and Base Station caperbilities in terms of Speed, Carrier Agregation and Number of Bonded Bands, MiMo caperbilities and QAM Specifications.

For a more detailed technical discription of each CAT can be viewed on the 3GPP Website.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

antighsiothail1 — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 09:43:22 GMT

Thank you for all your help, explaining what LTE etc is. Although that still doesn't answer why a 4g enabled phone doesn't show 4g. Yesterday my daughter, son-in-law and grandson came round, all of their phones had the 4g icon, as does my wife's. I'm now wondering if it's because my wife's EE account is a lot newer than mine. I just found a text from the middle of last year which said I wouldn't be able to use data after November last year. I have had the PAYG account for a good few years now. I may get a second sim from another provider and see if that shows 4g. I might check if my wife's sim will fit my phone and vice versa, to see if that changes things.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

Leanne_T — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:53:14 GMT

Hi @antighsiothail1

Thanks for coming back to us 🙂

I would suggest giving us a call on 150 and the team can check the account to see what is needed to get this sorted for you.

Leanne.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

antighsiothail1 — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 12:56:40 GMT

As an update, swapped sims with my wife's and no difference so somehow, I think, it must be the phone. Going to contact Samsung.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

Leanne_T — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:26:51 GMT

Thanks for coming back and letting me know @antighsiothail1

Hope this is sorted soon for you 🙂

Leanne.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

EssexBoyEE — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:43:42 GMT

LTE/3g/2g (auto connect) is the correct one, ie this is 4G, 3G and 2G Auto.

Or as a temporary test you could try setting it to LTE Only.

There are secret Codes to access Network Band settings on Android but being a Samsung it will probably be locked out.

Is your Device a Dual SIM?, if so make sure your SIM Card is in the first SIM Slot labelled either 0 or 1.

Did you buy this Device from new in the UK/EU or is it from a previous User or from a different Country Region.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

antighsiothail1 — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:05:11 GMT

Yes it's a dual sim and yes it's in the first sim slot. Also purchased direct from Samsung U.K.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

EssexBoyEE — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:10:38 GMT

Ok, so within the Settings do you have the option to switch to LTE Only, if so try that and does it then display LTE or LTE+ or LTE A on the Signal Status.?

Re: 4 g on new phone.

antighsiothail1 — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:19:53 GMT

Hi. I don't have the option for LTE only. Now, if I switch off wifi, on the signal status I get the bars with a question mark. Thank you for your help, but I think I'm going to just get on with the phone as is.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

EssexBoyEE — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:44:57 GMT

Don't give up now, go to the Play Store and download an App called Netmonster and run it, it will slow you a String of Info up at the top like in my Pic, feedback what yours is showing.

Example, mine is showing -

Voda 4G LTE A 2600+800+2100

Also what is your eNb and RSRP showing in the first top block of Info.

Switch OFF WiFi when your doing all this.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

antighsiothail1 — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 09:53:28 GMT

ok I'll give it try.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

antighsiothail1 — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:09:23 GMT

It shows --EE 2g edge 1800.

Only things below that are CID-ARFCN-LAC-RXL-BSIC- and TA. No eNB or RSRP

Re: 4 g on new phone.

EssexBoyEE — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:26:58 GMT

Ok, well that's not good news, your not going to be able to live with that.

I assume this is with the Network Settings set to LTE/3G/2G Auto?, if so then the Sammy has either misconfigured itself or your have a fault with the phone, is it still under guarantee?.

On Netmonster there are three dots at the very bottom right, if you select this menu does it bring up "Phone Info" or you could try ringing *#*#4636#*#* on the Phones Dailer to get to Phone Info, but being a Samsung it's probably been Locked Out.

If you put your Sim in your Wife's Phone or another Device do you definitely get 4G or LTE Signal indication.

Re: 4 g on new phone.

bristolian — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:51:09 GMT

@antighsiothail1 wrote:

As an update, swapped sims with my wife's and no difference

Let's be more specific about what "no difference" means.

Your SIM in a known working phone - what result?

A known working SIM in your phone - what result?