Strange: why are 2 SIMs behaving differently in the same router?

[littlesheep]

I have 2 different EE 5G SIMs. One is a prepaid Scancom EE SIM. The other is the SIM in my iPhone.

When I put the prepaid SIM into my Huawei 5G router it only gives me 4G and reports the connection as "BT".

When I put my phone SIM into the Huawei to test it, it gives me 5G and reports the connection as "EE". I get a strong 5G signal.

But here is where it gets really weird. If I put the prepaid SIM into my phone, it gives me 5G. So I know 5G is enabled and working on the prepaid SIM.

If I look at the network list on my router, using the phone SIM I get:

• EE 4G
• vodafone UK 4G
• O2 - UK 4G
• 3 4G
• EE 4G

(There are 2 different EE towers in range)

The network list for the prepaid SIM is:

• BT 4G
• vodafone UK 4G
• O2 - UK 4G
• 3 4G
• EE 4G

One of the EE towers seems to be labelled as "BT" but only when using the prepaid SIM.

I realise that BT now own EE. But why would 2 SIMs behave differently like this? There must be a reason why one SIM reports a given tower as "BT" and my phone SIM reports that same tower as "EE"?

Anyone have any clues what might be happening here? 

[XRaySpeX]

EE's PAYG (prepaid) SIMs only do 4G but what's Scancom?

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@littlesheep wrote:

When I put my phone SIM into the Huawei to test it, it gives me 5G and reports the connection as "EE".

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contradicts:

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@littlesheep wrote:

If I look at the network list on my router, using the phone SIM I get:

• EE 4G
• vodafone UK 4G
• O2 - UK 4G
• 3 4G
• EE 4G

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[bristolian]

EE's radio sites are labelled with the MNC/MCC combination of 234-30, which is the old T-Mobile code. EE SIMs then map that to "EE"

Individual SIMs have their own mapping table, and label networks accordingly. This is how MVNO's know to identify their host network as "Tesco Mobile" or whatever else.

[littlesheep]

I believe the 5G network here is deployed in NSA (non-standalone) mode, so the towers are still listed as 4G. 

[littlesheep]

Ah OK that makes sense. Explains why one SIM reports the tower as EE and one as BT. Could it be that newer EE SIMs are re-branding as BT now? Either way it seems that this should not affect the band or network speed, right?

[bristolian]

The radio technology in use (2G, 4G, 5G) doesn't factor in the MNC/MCC broadcast.

Neither does any speed issue feature.

[littlesheep]

Actually I now think it's just random: sometimes it finds 5G and sometimes it doesn't, not related to which SIM. Perhaps just a fluke that over about 6 tests it was always the phone SIM that found 5G and the Scancom SIM that didn't, causing my mind to see a pattern that isn't there.

[elixier22]

I am late to the party but usually this is because you're paying for one of of your SIM card to have priority access to the network. Depending on what tariffs you have on your SIM card and if you're paying for the maximum unlimited data unlimited calls unlimited text Data Package you will get priority access to 5G and the lower paying versions of unlimited don't get priority access to the network so you don't always get 5G and I found that bad way. EE charge you extra if you want priority access to the network. If you're paying 35 pounds or more for your mobile broadband you should have priority access to the network but if you're on a basic tariff with none of those add-ons or anything just basic on limited data then they just give you 5G but don't expect anything well don't expect much because you don't have priority everybody else does the higher paying tier tariffs get priority over you basically and that's very likely what's going on here. Also that includes access to 5G standalone the lower tariska access to standard 5G when they feel like giving it to you in a busy area they will simply demote you down to 4G or 4G Plus or if you do get the 5G there will simply give you 5G NSA which is not standalone but again the higher paying customers will get standalone 5G or 5G SA. I do agree with what EE are doing but I think it can be quite complicated and if you do have exactly the same tariffs on both some cards then disregard this but this has been my experience I've got a lot of contracts of EE and I know for the experience that a bunch of them act very differently from the high higher price ones and when you read the small print you'll find out why. 

[bristolian]

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@elixier22 wrote:

I am late to the party but usually this is because you're paying for one of of your SIM card to have priority access to the network. .... you will get priority access to 5G and the lower paying versions of unlimited don't get priority access to the network so you don't always get 5G

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To the best of my knowledge, the "Priority network access" should not be dictating the choice of radio access technologies ("G" in basic terms). This is set by the signalling blocks, and thus applies to all users idling on a particular site/sector.

The impact should be on available speeds.