Thank you, I posted in a few places, and yours is the only reply that explained a bit about whats going on.
So if I understand correctly DSS is still moving things around, but it avoids having to move the entire spectrum, and it is dynamic so can be adjusted based on demand. So it still is taking 4G spectrum, just not the entire spectrum.
Another interesting thing from the DSS document I read (which may possibly explain my observations) is some LTE devices do not support DSS, those devices will simply be unable to use any spectrum that has DSS enabled as if it wasnt there.
Have I understood that correctly?
Since I didnt put it in my OP which was more of a rant, I will go into a bit more detail.
Previously prior to 5G rollout I consistently got good although not great performance from EE on LTE technology.
In the last 1-2 years this has declined quite sharply, up until the point I have less bandwidth than O2 during peak hours.
However the configuration of the phone does impact the results.
In its default mode which is 5G enabled and Smart 5G also enabled, the performance is mostly poor 24/7, not even clearing 30mbit off peak but it will occasionally be fast off peak. In 4G only mode, its the same except its always poor, no occasional bursts of speed.
Using Netmonster reveals 4G mode on the phone now only ever uses 800mhz band, this happens to the be the non DSS band.
Netmonster also reveals if Smart 5g is enabled, then 5G mode will not connect to NSA most of the time. As such stays restricted to 800mhz on 4G.
If I have 5G enabled, and Smart 5G disabled, NSA will connect and more bands will appear. Outside of peak hours I then get much higher download speeds which can exceed 100mbps like the 4G only days, although upload speeds remain really bad, no more than a couple of mbps. Peak speeds are really bad regardless of 5G configuration.
