US model Nexus 6 roaming on Vodafone AU

Forums › Mobile handsets › US model Nexus 6 roaming on Vodafone AU - no LTE most of the time

lchiu7

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#243042 24-Nov-2018 20:56

I was in Melbourne/Sydney recently using a US model Nexus 6 (flashed with Nitrogen OS which is a Android Pie based ROM).

I was roaming most of the time on Vodafone since my SIM is Vodafone NZ (though I guess I could have chosen a different carrier)

The US Nexus 6 supports the following LTE bands

LTE band 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 12(700), 13(700), 17(700), 25(1900), 26(850), 29(700), 41(2500) - XT1103

and from what I can find, Vodafone AU uses

850MHz (B5) 1800MHz (B3) 21000MHz (B1)

So theoretically I could have picked up LTE bands B3 or B5 but during my entire time there, I am sure I only saw the phone display H+. I am wondering if it's either really a phone compatibility issue or the ROM has problems with its modem.

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Aredwood

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#2133705 25-Nov-2018 10:43

Vodafone AU might be blocking 4G while roaming. As 2degrees phones can't get 4G when roaming to Vodafone NZ. And I have also experienced the same thing when traveling as well.

Get a local SIM and test again.

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lchiu7

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#2133753 25-Nov-2018 14:25

Aredwood: Vodafone AU might be blocking 4G while roaming. As 2degrees phones can't get 4G when roaming to Vodafone NZ. And I have also experienced the same thing when traveling as well.

Get a local SIM and test again.

Now that would be annoying since I was roaming on a Vodafone NZ SIM. I can't test an Aussie SIM at this time until my next trip :-)

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Linux

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#2133756 25-Nov-2018 14:36

The issue could be the chipset on the Nexus 6 does not support the complete band range! I have used VodafoneNZ roaming many times in AU on many handsets and 4G roaming worked great and in the sticks as well

I don't beleive the issue is roaming related at all

John

lchiu7

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#2134010 25-Nov-2018 21:12

Just for kicks I put my Vodafone NZ SIM into the Nexus 6 and looked at signal strength. I see this

This clearly shows 4G which I presume must be Band 3 since that is the only band that the Nexus 6 that is used in NZ.

Additionally with a Spark SIM I get the same result - 4G so the phone is certainly capable.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

hio77

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#2134015 25-Nov-2018 21:22

lchiu7:

This clearly shows 4G which I presume must be Band 3 since that is the only band that the Nexus 6 that is used in NZ.

Worth pointing out Vodafone NZ currently have

B1 (2100) B3 (1800) B7 (2600) B8 (900) B28 (700)

Per your first post 3/5 bands are supported.

It is however worth noting VF NZ don't have all bands in use, there are many places where their network is only B28.

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lchiu7

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#2134734 26-Nov-2018 17:15

hio77:
lchiu7:

This clearly shows 4G which I presume must be Band 3 since that is the only band that the Nexus 6 that is used in NZ.

Worth pointing out Vodafone NZ currently have

B1 (2100) B3 (1800) B7 (2600) B8 (900) B28 (700)

Per your first post 3/5 bands are supported.

It is however worth noting VF NZ don't have all bands in use, there are many places where their network is only B28.

That was my point. Since my phone supports band 3 and band 5 why didn't I pick up any of Vodafone Australia's LTE bands? But I can pick up band 3 from Vodafone New Zealand here.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

hio77

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#2134814 26-Nov-2018 18:16

lchiu7:

That was my point. Since my phone supports band 3 and band 5 why didn't I pick up any of Vodafone Australia's LTE bands? But I can pick up band 3 from Vodafone New Zealand here.

roaming agreement is the first likely example.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.