Signal Priority of PAYG vs PAYM vs MVNO

[H90]

I have just got a EE PAYG sim to test whether the signal is better than Vodafone in my 4G router.  We are very rural and I found there is a 800Mhz mast covering us so I thought that would help.  Does the restriction on using this signal on PAYG apply to data via a router or just to voice? Thanks.

---

[bristolian]

Hi @H90 

Welcome to the community

Firstly it depends whether your serving site is solely carrying a B20 800Mhz service, or is also equipped with, say, a B3 1800Mhz layer. If the latter is the case, it may render your query moot if the B3 coverage is sufficient.

PAYG phone SIMs are restricted from using VoLTE & therefore the 800Mhz layer.

I am unsure whether this applies to PAYG data-only SIMs.

[EssexBoyEE]

If it's proper EE Network SIM rather than an MVNO Sim then it should work on EE 800mhz, but it's not always true to say a better Signal is going to give you a better Speed.

Different Networks have different Bandwidths across the various Bands, and Carrier Aggregation, if any, can work differently across each Network especially in Rural Areas, for example Vodafone can have up 20mhz Bandwidth on there 800mhz Band so they will fair better in Speed than EEs 800mhz 5mhz Bandwidth in standalone mode, but having said that EE generally have better Carrier Aggregation, say 800mhz+1800mhz even in some Rural Areas so it can be a bit confusing at times especially when doing Signal Vs Speed Tests. 

Whos 800mhz Mast did you find near you and how do you know it's 800mhz

[bristolian]

EE PAYG SIMs cannot use VoLTE and are restricted from using the 800Mhz layer, there may be an exception for data-only SIMs of which I'm unsure.

In terms of spectrum holding, VF & O2 only have 10Mhz of Band20 capacity using EARFCN 6300 & 6400.

Carrier aggregation is an entirely valid point where speeds are concerned, hence querying whether the OP's serving site is purely a B20 one, or also has B3/1800Mhz service.

[H90]

Thanks both, I used ‘cellmapper’ to find the masts, and this showed my the band coverage from EE of both 800 and 1800 MHz.  I do get a signal, presumably just from the 1800MHz but it’s much slower than Vodafone.

I’ll have to think whether it’s worth trying a PAYM sim, and cancel if it doesn’t work. I’ll wait til nearer the end of my Vodafone contract as it may be the better 4G router I got recently makes it good enough. 

[EssexBoyEE]

Out of interest what's the Router you have and is it Network Free or has it been Unlocked from a Network.

[EssexBoyEE]

Cell Mapper is good, infact a really good tool, but you need to be a little bit carefull with it in Rural Areas, as Cell Mapper can miss Record info from Dual SIM Phones, in particular with Carrier Aggregation Bands and or 5G when Cell Mapper is running with 2 different Network Sims in the same Phone.

For this reason I always advise keep CM Software up to date, run your own CM Coverage to the Data Base and if using Dual SIM, only Run one Network SIM at any one time when uploading or recording on CM

[bristolian]

Out of interest, what's the eNB of the site?

There's 2 possible scenarios here...

1: If, as I suspect, your device is not attaching to the B20 layer then you're getting service from B3-alone. In which case the B20 would certainly improve your signal strength but the speed advantages would probably be marginal.

2: Your device is using the B20 layer, and this would aggregate with B3 where that is usable, or being "flying solo" if not.

If your router software can identify an EARFCN, that would be the easiest way of checking which scenario is applicable.

[H90]

Its an TP link Archer MR400, bought as a stand alone, unlocked device based on reviews and cost. It doesn't have carrier aggregation, which I didn't think was available in rural areas.    I previously just had a simple Vodafone R218 which showed me that 4G was better than broadband, but didn't have the wifi power round the house.  I'm a bit lost on all the detail in some responses but thanks for all the contributions!

[bristolian]

---

@H90 wrote:

It doesn't have carrier aggregation, which I didn't think was available in rural areas.    I

---

The other network guru on here, @Peter_C , is a little more familiar with some of the specifics in this area, but...

EE do generally carrier aggregate whenever a site has multiple carriers deployed.

For example, when B20 is available, it will still often aggregate as a second carrier if you have overlapping B3 coverage, for example. The speed benefit is marginal, and the cell will prioritise users for whom B20 is the primary server - because in those instances, B20 could be the only coverage that user has.

The config in rural areas is often different to urban areas.

I'd be interested to look at the config on your specific site, if you're able to (and comfortable) sharing the eNB-ID.