LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

[radiomean-uk]

Hi, this is very strange.

I've been using cellular modems and routers for a long time and am experimenting with Quectel RM551E-GL modems.

In my Cambridge area, up until about two weeks ago I got about 800 MBit/s download on 5G-NSA.

I was connected on 5 bands - B3 primary, B3 secondary 1, B1 secondary 2, and two n78 bands.

However, B1 disappeared about two weeks ago and I only got 4 band connection, and my download speed literally halved, to 400 MBit/s.

I can't see B1 on EE anywhere in Cambridge, either on a router/cellular modem or on my phone (Fold 6). Can anyone shed any light on this? (If I change to a 3 sim, I get B1 connection so it's not an issue with my devices)

Thanks!

[bristolian]

Sounds like some local re-config has taken place.

[prophilips1]

The same situation is occurring in Coventry. Band 1 is not working!

[Christopher_G · Accepted solution]

Hi @radiomean-uk and @prophilips1 

Welcome to the community.

If you check your postcode on our Service Status Checker, it will let you know if we're aware of any problems in your area. 

If you'd like someone to look into the network in your area in a bit more detail, I recommend speaking with our Technical Support team.

Chris

[prophilips1]

I drive around the city with specialised equipment... the 2100 MHz band
1 is disabled throughout the city... I think they are doing it on
purpose... the internet speed on bands 3, 7 and 20 is very poor.

[bristolian]

B1 would generally provide 15Mhz of bandwidth, losing that should not make a significant performance difference if B3 & B7 are still available, especially if either of those are dual-carrier.

B20 will not be there for performance purposes.

[radiomean-uk]

Thanks. As I said, band 1 disappeared now about 3 weeks ago, and dropped my download speed from 800 to 400 megs. I get the same results on which ever modem I use (Quectel RM520N-GL or RM551E-GL). It's very annoying.

Thanks for confirming my measurements.

Furthermore, I've driven around in East Anglia a bit in the past two weeks and haven't seen band 1 on EE at all, so I wonder if they've 'globally' switched it off, for some reason?

[radiomean-uk]

Hello and thanks. I've used the Service Checker a number of times, and no problem is shown. I've filled in the form to report a problem but three times I have got the reply 'no problems found'. I will have to speak to the Tech team as I don't think the people on the end of the standard contact form (assuming it's not AI) understand what I am saying.

Cheers!

[bristolian]

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@radiomean-uk wrote:

Furthermore, I've driven around in East Anglia a bit in the past two weeks and haven't seen band 1 on EE at all, so I wonder if they've 'globally' switched it off, for some reason?

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it may be a regional or localised choice, B1 is still present in my corners of Bristol & Gloucestershire.

Losing that 15Mhz carrier should not cause that degree of performance drop alone. Reconfiguration of carriers is a BAU activity, you may struggle to get any traction out of CS there - but good luck with your efforts.

[prophilips1]

I think it is ‘globally’ switched off other networks vodafone o2 tree are working correctly on band 1...only ee since month limited service on band 1.... the rest of working band 3 and 7 is a total failure !!! it is time to change operator to tree ...especially that bts ...is near my house 600Mbps download 180 Mbps upload