2 Degrees 900 MHZ UMTS

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276 posts

Ultimate Geek

#737370 26-Dec-2012 14:22

Hi, I'm the author of map.geek.nz. If you go there and click on the KML link you'll get a break-down of the 900mhz sites.

With 2D things are a little tricky to break down between 900mhz 2g and 900mhz 3g. Basically there is no way to tell for sure but pretty much non-AKL/WEL/CHC/QTN sites have 900mhz 3g.

As for Dual Channel, there's no way to tell from the radio licence info. They have applied for license to use both of their 5mhz channels at all sites, so thats no help.

I believe 2D did a HSPA+ rollout last year to give their sites a speed boost upto 21mbps but as to how extensively this was rolled out I have no idea. Logic would suggest doing this in the densest locations first, ie cities.

I applaud 2d if they do upgrade their original 4 cities to 900mhz 3g. This is why XT still wins for being the best network as XT has complete (100% sites) 850mhz 3g coverage even in cities where 2d/voda are using 2100mhz 3g.

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#737400 26-Dec-2012 15:36

Publius:
I applaud 2d if they do upgrade their original 4 cities to 900mhz 3g. This is why XT still wins for being the best network as XT has complete (100% sites) 850mhz 3g coverage even in cities where 2d/voda are using 2100mhz 3g.

Vodafone have also started rolling out 900 3G into Metropolitan areas that were previously 2100 only.

Publius

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Ultimate Geek

#737883 27-Dec-2012 23:09

@sbiddle, im not saying i disagree with you, but do you have any links to back that up? im interested to know more.

sbiddle

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#737891 27-Dec-2012 23:30

Publius: @sbiddle, im not saying i disagree with you, but do you have any links to back that up? im interested to know more.

It isn't a big secret but there is nothing more than I would post publically.

What is public however is the massive network upgrades that are occuring, the hardware upgrade of 400 sites in Auckland started at the end of November and was supposed to have been completed by Xmas but has been delayed slightly. These upgrades might also be delivering a new technology also!

KiwiSurfer

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#745819 16-Jan-2013 17:05

This is why XT still wins for being the best network as XT has complete (100% sites) 850mhz 3g coverage even in cities where 2d/voda are using 2100mhz 3g.

Telecom has quite a few 2100mhz only sites in service so not 100% of their site provides 850mhz 3G coverage. These sites doesn't really make much of a differnce to the overall 850mhz coverage however.

I'm not convinced that just having 850mhz coverage is enough. I was in Wellington recently and was surprised at the poor quality of Telecom's 850/2100mhz coverage down there. Telecom might have a signal in more places (though I'm not entirely sure of this) but the strength seemed to be on the low side in most places I went to.

2D/Vodafone has significally more sites in Wellington than Telecom which I have noticed results in a surprisely good 2100mhz coverage even compared to Telecom's 850mhz coverage. At various places I observed signal strength, I noticed Telecom would have coverage from a 850mhz site but usually at much weaker signal strength than 2D/Vodafone at 2100mhz.

I suspect having the safety net of a 850mhz network encourages network engineers to be more conservative in how many sites should be built. Can be a good and bad thing depending on what sort of outcome you want!

richms

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#746038 16-Jan-2013 23:34

Not sure how it goes at home now, but previously downstairs was 2100 only on telecom, and not a lot of it at that, upstairs has more 2100 than 850, but that was when I had an old USB stick to test it on. Now I have cut my sim down I cant really try it easily again.

Richard rich.ms

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#746061 17-Jan-2013 05:49

2100 and 850/900 really are solutions for different problems.

In an urban environment 2100 for capacity makes huge sense. The fact radio waves don't travel as far also makes network design a lot easier.

richms

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#746146 17-Jan-2013 09:30

Well to get coverage into malls and houses and similar structures the lower freq's do a much much better job, will be interesting to see if I get vodafone signal in the foodcourt of the glenfield mall after VF get some 900 up and running.

Is it ironic that you cant use the network while eating a burger when the VF retail shop is in sight?

Richard rich.ms

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#746153 17-Jan-2013 09:36

KiwiSurfer:
This is why XT still wins for being the best network as XT has complete (100% sites) 850mhz 3g coverage even in cities where 2d/voda are using 2100mhz 3g.

Telecom has quite a few 2100mhz only sites in service so not 100% of their site provides 850mhz 3G coverage. These sites doesn't really make much of a differnce to the overall 850mhz coverage however.
!

I don't think it's a case of "a few 2100 MHz only sites in service" (have you checked the cell site maps?) but rather coverage not overlapping and cell breathing happening at the same time.

Telecom 2100 MHz is infill only. If 850 MHz have too many active users and coverage is reduced some may end up connected to the 2100 MHz cell site nearby because the handset can't "see" the 850 MHz site or the signal is stronger.

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#746222 17-Jan-2013 11:04

richms: Is it ironic that you cant use the network while eating a burger when the VF retail shop is in sight?

Too much cheese on the burger perhaps? :D

But seriously and sorry if I'm repeating myself, our new build sites outside of our initial build sites in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown will have 900Mhz UMTS deployed on them as will some new fill in sites in the above.

Another update, New Plymouth has been turned on and is our newest MBB zone, the map will be updated soon. We've also just cleared some more 'small island' areas that you can use your MBB data packs in -

Waihi, Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Opotiki, Tokoroa, Paeroa

Cheers
^POB

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#746417 17-Jan-2013 15:44

I don't think it's a case of "a few 2100 MHz only sites in service" (have you checked the cell site maps?) but rather coverage not overlapping and cell breathing happening at the same time.

I'm not sure if you're reading my post right -- I was not saying that Telecom only has a few 2100mhz sites. I was saying Telecom has a few sites in service which only provide 2100mhz (and which therefore does not do 850mhz). Just pointing that out because an ealier poster stated that all Telecom sites did 850mhz which is not true.

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#746420 17-Jan-2013 15:48

Yes, I read that right. My point is that some sites may provide only 2100 MHz but still close enough to a 850 MHz site so they overlap at times... While at other times, thank to cell breathing the overlap doesn't happen.

Not a big deal because almost 100% of 3G handset do use 2100 MHz anyway, regardless of model/sourcing. It's only a problem if indoor coverage is compromised, but as said the number of 2100 MHz sites only is not that large.

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#746552 17-Jan-2013 20:20

richms: Well to get coverage into malls and houses and similar structures the lower freq's do a much much better job, will be interesting to see if I get vodafone signal in the foodcourt of the glenfield mall after VF get some 900 up and running.

Is it ironic that you cant use the network while eating a burger when the VF retail shop is in sight?

You can go to Te Awa, The Base in hamilton and buy a telecom handset from the dick smith there where theres almost no telecom signal, definitely more than one sort of ironic coverage situation.

Looking forward to seeing both 2degrees and Vodafone bringing more 900mhz coverage in, its definitely needed!

Fordman

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Wannabe Geek

#846782 28-Jun-2013 15:19

Our area Mid & South Canterbury has had many new 2D-Cell sites commissioned since Xmas, the tech's told me.

Metro/Urban Sites have both 900 & 2100 mhz UMTS/HSPA+,whole of Timaru city has oursome coverage now.

Rural sites only have 900 Mhz UMTS/HSPA+ coverage, ie Pleasant Point,Ealing,Hinds,Mayfield,Mt Hutt.

We have been getting very satifactory DownLoad (up to 12 Mbps) & 1.2 Up Load speeds with good ping using our locally developed 3G Cellular Broadband-Internet Routers.

Contact me if any one needs further assistance.

Fordman (comtecfone)

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Wannabe Geek

#846786 28-Jun-2013 15:28

Forgot to mention that our 3G Cellular Broadband-Internet Routers have an externally mounted SMA connector to allow a high-gain GSM Antennae to boost preformance, the router also has an embedded 3G Modem/Module (just insert the sim-card)

The local president of Federated Farmers (ivan) has a 2D- 3G Rural Broadband connection now, and he is wrapped with its preformance in comparision to other systems he has had in the past.

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