EE Roaming Data Speeds Slow but Fast in UK. APN or Roaming Issue?

[chrishood]

Hi all,

I’m using a GlocalMe Numen Air 5G travel WiFi device with an EE unlimited data SIM (with roaming). It works brilliantly in the UK — I’ve seen speeds of 200+ Mbps straight out of the box, so the device itself clearly isn’t the issue (other than you can’t choose networks and it doesn’t display them either)

However, while abroad (currently on a cruise ship, docked in various European ports), I’ve noticed a big speed drop:

• iPhone (same SIM): ~20 Mbps
• GlocalMe device: barely 2 Mbps
• Both tested from the same location (balcony of the cabin) where the signal is decent.

The WiFi device is ideal for the cruise since I can leave it on the balcony for better reception and don’t have to keep sharing my phone’s hotspot, but the speed loss is frustrating.

A few things I’ve noticed:

• The GlocalMe unit doesn’t show which network it’s connected to when roaming.
• I can’t manually select a network, but I can edit or add APNs.
• In the UK, it connects fast and performs well — so I’m wondering if this is an APN issue when roaming?

Has anyone else experienced this?

Is it common for travel routers like this to struggle with roaming or network selection?

Any help or tips would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

[Michael_D]

Hi @chrishood 

Thanks for coming to the community.

It is a bit of a tricky one, as you aren't using the EE network while roaming.

If the speeds are slower, we would normally suggest a manual network selection on the device, but if there is no option for that, obviously it isn't going to work.

In terms of the APN, you shouldn't need to change anything to use a roaming network, and if it was working well in the UK, the APN would be correct. You'd only really need to change it if you had no connection, or were putting a local SIM into the device.

The EE SIM would connect to one of our partner networks but is subject to the network in that area. Without knowing which network you are connected to with the router, we can't really check to see if it is the same as when it is in your iPhone.

Michael

[bristolian]

When roaming, you're using the local operator's radio network but EE's core network retains some control - which can include speed restrictions.

Your mentuon that the same SIM behaves differently (and well under any common restrictions) in two devices is what makes this unusual.

You'd certainly need to eliminate variables, which includes the choice of roaming networks.

[Schockwave]

@chrishood , I have recently been on a Mediterranean cruise and had no issues when in on near a port, but did notice that once the ship moved out of port, still had signal, so could still use the phone, until we were too far away and had no signal at all, so depends on where you are and on the local network how good it is, but then I did not spend a lot of time using ny phone and never hotspot my iPad to use network, as was on holiday, never checked the speed either of the network, just to add.

[ukms]

I roam extensively and never achieve the same speeds that I do in the UK although typically they are acceptable regardless. I have always assumed that.local networks that you are roaming on will likely throttle speeds of the 'guest' devices using their network. 

Any speed of devices connected to your WiFi device will more often be lower than your phone simply because you have introduced a wireless element and there can also be external (enviromental) factors influencing this.  Also factor that for a variety of technical reasons a phone may perform better (antennas, chipset, band compatibility), this may be more apparent in some places more than others.