XT 3g Mobile broadband slow like GPRS

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#948400 10-Dec-2013 06:32

The APN I have is wap.telecom.co.nz. I just did a speed test and got a 3.6Mb down load with a 7.2 rated device

johnr

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#948401 10-Dec-2013 06:39

scheduler: The APN I have is wap.telecom.co.nz. I just did a speed test and got a 3.6Mb down load with a 7.2 rated device

Are you using that for internet access or MMS ?

gajan

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#948403 10-Dec-2013 06:49

No it doesn't matter what APN you use for internet access. All APNs are treated the same. We recommend the use of wap.telecom.co.nz for all customers unless you have a specific application for direct inbound internet access.

My comments and remarks are not necessarily of my employer.

MikeB4

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#948412 10-Dec-2013 07:24

I had an issue like this with my S3 purchased (and used for a bit) from Vodafone. When I ported to Telecom 3G was terrible, I took the Telecom SIM out did a factory reset, put the Telecom SIM back in, waited for the Telecom set up text messages did the changes and all has been good since

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

gajan

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#948432 10-Dec-2013 07:45

Can the OP confirm a few things -
- Where was the device purchased from (Parallel imported or from a standard NZ retailer [i.e. a TNZ/Vodafone/2D].
- Are you sure it supports the Telecom UMTS/WCDMA 850Mhz and 2100Mhz network(s) ?
- As suggested a factory reset, and reconfiguring the APN settings will be worthwhile.
- Have you tried any other locations (other than Western Springs).

To answer some of the OP's questions -
- No it doesn't matter if you got a Telecom 4G SIM - it will work just fine in a non-4G device.
- The Telecom APNs will not influence the speed your getting.

My comments and remarks are not necessarily of my employer.

Kirdog

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#948686 10-Dec-2013 13:43

gajan: Can the OP confirm a few things -
- Where was the device purchased from (Parallel imported or from a standard NZ retailer [i.e. a TNZ/Vodafone/2D].
- Are you sure it supports the Telecom UMTS/WCDMA 850Mhz and 2100Mhz network(s) ?
- As suggested a factory reset, and reconfiguring the APN settings will be worthwhile.
- Have you tried any other locations (other than Western Springs).

To answer some of the OP's questions -
- No it doesn't matter if you got a Telecom 4G SIM - it will work just fine in a non-4G device.
- The Telecom APNs will not influence the speed your getting.

Hi, thanks for your response.

1) Device purchased from PBtech, brand new (not locked).
2) Yes it supports theese bands.
3) heh I have spent 6 hours to set all settings :), well I will do factory reset later on the day.
4) Will do tests today after work.

Sorry about my English guys :>

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eXDee

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#948772 10-Dec-2013 15:35

Given that it's an S3, it would support Telecom's band due to being quad band in the i9300 and i9305 variants. Even if the OP hadn't specified it was a i9300 and it had been an imported USA model for example, the T-Mobile and AT&T variants support 850mhz at the least.

Sounds like localised congestion to me. I've got some pretty slow speeds on speedtests on Telecom this year, browsing experience is generally still fine though, i tend to ignore it and only complain if i can't use data for things i need it for, which is mostly web browsing. Streaming the occasional youtube hasn't been a problem either.

Hoping as they roll out more 4G we'll see less load on the 3G network and hopefully they roll out more dual carrier sites, as well as 2100 in busy areas.

Kirdog

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#948968 10-Dec-2013 21:00

eXDee: Given that it's an S3, it would support Telecom's band due to being quad band in the i9300 and i9305 variants. Even if the OP hadn't specified it was a i9300 and it had been an imported USA model for example, the T-Mobile and AT&T variants support 850mhz at the least.

Sounds like localised congestion to me. I've got some pretty slow speeds on speedtests on Telecom this year, browsing experience is generally still fine though, i tend to ignore it and only complain if i can't use data for things i need it for, which is mostly web browsing. Streaming the occasional youtube hasn't been a problem either.

Hoping as they roll out more 4G we'll see less load on the 3G network and hopefully they roll out more dual carrier sites, as well as 2100 in busy areas.

It is strange anyway, 3 towers (Vodafone/2Degree/Telecom) just 200-500 meters away, and vodafone has 9-10 Mpbs down and 2.4 up, and Telecom has maximum 2 Mbps down and 0.3 Up.

I have done factory reset - no difference.
I have tried other phone - same speeds.
I have done speed checks over the city, and i can get 8 Mbps if i will just will be 5-20 meters from the tower or the cell antenna.

Other speed tests looks like this:

1) Download: 2.65 Mbps // Upload 0.91 Mbps // Ping 104 // Signal strength: 3 from 4
2) Download: 3.10 Mbps // Upload 1.20 Mbps // Ping 66 // Signal strength: 3 from 4
3) Download: 0.21 Mbps // Upload 0.67 Mbps // Ping 104 // Signal strength: 4 from 4
4) Download: 2.33 Mbps // Upload 0.88 Mbps // Ping 77 // Signal strength: 4 from 4
5) Download: 4.33 Mbps // Upload 1.02 Mbps // Ping 64 // Signal strength: 3 from 4
6) Download: 3.01 Mbps // Upload 1.01 Mbps // Ping 71 // Signal strength: 2 from 4

Other phone has the same speedtest results.

Vodafone speed-tests shows just 8-12 Average at every place.

Sadface.

I will stay with telecom for now, and hope that speeds will be increased.

Sorry about my English guys :>

eXDee

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#949393 11-Dec-2013 14:17

I've got a real fun one for this thread today. All images resized and click for big. My device is a LG Nexus 4 running the latest Android 4.4 Kitkat and the latest radio firmware. The device supports Dual-Carrier HSPA+, of which the fastest i've managed to speedtest was nearly 18 megabit.

Lets start with Hamilton Central. I'm in centre place, which is a couple of buildings from the Alcatel Lucent/Telecom building which is transmitting 850 and 2100mhz. Standing outside.

Acceptable in that its functional, my data seemed to be working okay, and its just coming up to lunch time so this is fine.

Head to the Base, via te rapa, making a stop at the Te Rapa exchange, telecom tower in sight. This one is a 850mhz only site, and the majority of the area around here is industrial/commerical.

But the speed is shocking:

And yes, I am right next to the tower with a nice strong signal:

No idea why this ones so slow.

Move on to the base. And things get worse. Far far worse. The furtherest i can get is attempting to test ping. No IM messages are going through.

Not a good start. Tried several times. Went and did some shopping.

Tower is in the middle of the shot, just above the white car. Unfortunately afaik this is an 850mhz only tower. It is multi carrier like most of telecoms urban towers however.

Come back after some shopping, still not working. Think i'll give the helpdesk a ring to log a fault and help them out.

Oh dear. I managed to get one call through but it dropped during the voice menu. You can see a failed text message there too. Nothing is going through, even after a couple of phone restarts. I also briefly hear someone swear at their phone as they walk past complaining, wondering if they are on telecom too.

Upon heading out, the data session comes up again so as i head closer to the tower and stop, i attempt another speedtest, but theres zero connectivity to anything.

And i'm now this close to the tower:

It's always been pretty terrible at times at the Base, its one of the most popular shopping centres in the country and can get thousands of people on site at any one time. You can buy a telecom phone in the dick smith there but have service drop as the signals too weak (lots of concrete and positioning of tower). And service is usually slow but usable. Never seen it this bad though, especially for a weekday let alone the weekend - and every time i tested i was outside with a line of sight to the tower.

I've logged speed issues before for it but i don't believe anything is going to be done unless someone takes a special look at it or it eventually gets an upgrade. On telecoms coverage maps it looks fine from an aerial view but theres definite realistic signal and capacity problems there imo. All people need to do is actually go on site during a weekend and try using their phone as they go through the mall, particularly the north end of it where there are signal issues.

This place is going to be as fast as gridlocked traffic at Christmas, and last year they estimated there were up to 50,000 shoppers through the doors on boxing day. 41500 was the estimate the year before that.

I suppose... bring on 4G then?

wongtop

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#949425 11-Dec-2013 15:04

From memory Telcom have 15 MHz of 850 spectrum and 15 MHz of 2100 spectrum. This would give them enough spectrum for six 3G carriers. It looks to me like they might have to fire up some more 2100 sites in high traffic areas.

I can't see significant traffic moving onto 4G quickly as the 4G handset penetration is not there at the moment.

Kirdog

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#950679 11-Dec-2013 21:56

I have noticed that signal strength with vodafone is a -78dBm (9.5 Mbps data speed) and with telecom is -98dBM(1.04 Mbps data speed) at the same phone location, cell towers located at the same position (vodafone and telecom), but signal strength difference is huge.

Something wrong here, is it "green" cell tower with reduced power usage? :D

Sorry about my English guys :>

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coffeebaron

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#950691 11-Dec-2013 22:20

Kirdog: I have noticed that signal strength with vodafone is a -78dBm (9.5 Mbps data speed) and with telecom is -98dBM(1.04 Mbps data speed) at the same phone location, cell towers located at the same position (vodafone and telecom), but signal strength difference is huge.

Something wrong here, is it "green" cell tower with reduced power usage? :D

I thing someone must have wired the master filter round the wrong way :)

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Kirdog

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#951125 12-Dec-2013 17:30

coffeebaron:
Kirdog: I have noticed that signal strength with vodafone is a -78dBm (9.5 Mbps data speed) and with telecom is -98dBM(1.04 Mbps data speed) at the same phone location, cell towers located at the same position (vodafone and telecom), but signal strength difference is huge.

Something wrong here, is it "green" cell tower with reduced power usage? :D

I thing someone must have wired the master filter round the wrong way :)

Ahah i see, can you fix it, please? :))))

So one more report of slow 3G speed on Telecom.

My boss today become angry after web page loadings failing on ipad2.

Problem can be fixed just switching Cellular data ON and OFF many times but problem appears again after 4-8 minutes. Speedtest shows 0.16 Mbps with excellent signal.

We have tested Vodafone sim and it was fast and good, speedtest 8.87 Mbps. That means device is working fine.

Telecom, do something please.

Sorry about my English guys :>

ajw

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#951137 12-Dec-2013 17:53

Unlimited on-net calls and calls to landlines until 31 January will also be causing overloading on the XT network. A friend called me this afternoon from Queensgate mall mobile to mobile and the call dropped.

eXDee

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#951151 12-Dec-2013 18:11

Last night i stood by the telecom building in town in the evening.

And got this:
https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/a/672709153
9Mbps Down, 0.68 Up

Which shows what the network is easily capable of when not overloaded.

In contrast, went on a bus past the base today and as soon as it handed over to that tower, data became unusable. IM messages severely delayed, things not loading or taking ages etc.

johnr: @eXDee have you tired Vodafone in the same locations?

Unfortunately i don't have a vodafone test sim, though it'd be nice I only pay one telco. Friends on vodafone at The Base used to drop to GPRS in some locations as there was only 2100 there, but the signal was always good due to the tower position. I'm unsure if this site is 900 3G now, it's probably been upgraded since then. So i can't speak for them or the speeds there.

wongtop: From memory Telcom have 15 MHz of 850 spectrum and 15 MHz of 2100 spectrum. This would give them enough spectrum for six 3G carriers. It looks to me like they might have to fire up some more 2100 sites in high traffic areas.

I can't see significant traffic moving onto 4G quickly as the 4G handset penetration is not there at the moment.

Yes i believe this is right. And agreed.
I'll have a 4G handset next month so we'll see how we go with that (Nexus 5).

Kirdog: I have noticed that signal strength with vodafone is a -78dBm (9.5 Mbps data speed) and with telecom is -98dBM(1.04 Mbps data speed) at the same phone location, cell towers located at the same position (vodafone and telecom), but signal strength difference is huge.

Something wrong here, is it "green" cell tower with reduced power usage? :D

-98 isnt very high signal.

Guesses:
-You aren't associated with that tower and are connected to another
-You could be on 2100mhz on telecom and 900mhz on vodafone, and the signal is therefore weaker on telecom
-The panel directions dont like up with your location on telecom but they do on vodafone.

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