4G (lack of) in Tauranga

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › 4G (lack of) in Tauranga

rendezvous

194 posts

Master Geek

#175451 30-Jun-2015 12:44

Hi

I'm using an iPhone 5S with a 2 degrees prepay SIM and I'm having issues getting 4G, up to date with iOS 8.3. I can get 4G in other places, such as Rotorua, Auckland etc, but not in Papamoa/Mount Maunganui/Tauranga. When at work, down Hewletts Road at the Port end, I get little reception. A couple of bars of 3G, but often have issues loading stuff using data. Away from there, in town and at home in Papamoa, the reception stays at 3G! The 2Degrees coverage map suggests that it shouldn't.

Any ideas to remedy this?

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5288 posts

Uber Geek

#1334079 30-Jun-2015 12:49

Tauranga is left behind by the major cellular companies.

Spark doesn't even do 4g over the whole of tauranga, just a few spots if you have a recent cellphone and fewer if an older one (like iphone 5s).

Not sure why, fastest growing city in the country, and pop around the size of dunedin.

My 'guess' is that there are no big companies in tauranga so the lucrative commercial income is not there for the telcos.

rendezvous

194 posts

Master Geek

#1334080 30-Jun-2015 12:50

That's true, but the 2 Degrees coverage map suggests that most of the area should have 4G

Link to 2 Degrees Coverage Map

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#1334088 30-Jun-2015 12:54

rendezvous: That's true, but the 2 Degrees coverage map suggests that most of the area should have 4G

Link to 2 Degrees Coverage Map

So, there is a difference between what marketing are saying and reality :)

You are right though. Tauranga and the mount look completely covered although the strongest areas seem to be at sea ha ha.

2degreesCare

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2degrees

#1334107 30-Jun-2015 13:36

Is your Carrier settings in Settings > General > Carrier 19.1?

Tried rebooting or popping the SIM in another 4G device to see if you get the same issue in the same places?

Hewletts Road looks pretty much covered as are parts of Papamoa.

If it's still an issue please pop into one of our stores either at 2 Devonport Road or the Bayfair Mall one on the corner of Maunganui & Griven Roads to check though that should not make a difference to the signal.

^POB

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#1334124 30-Jun-2015 13:56

Or perhaps the 5S doesn't support the 700MHz band needed...

2degreesCare

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2degrees

#1334141 30-Jun-2015 14:20

Our 4G in Tauranga is 1800MHz at present. We do have plans to roll 700MHz in Tauranaga and already have it on some towers across the network.

However MHz capability could be a factor.

To the OP - Where/who did you get the iPhone from?

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#1334179 30-Jun-2015 15:03

freitasm: Or perhaps the 5S doesn't support the 700MHz band needed...

When i bought my 5s from telecom the sales guy was saying how i needed 5s to get 4g in tauranga.

As it eventuated , it has never worked in tauranga properly because telecom provide 4g over a rf band not supported by the 5s.

It was deceptive sales practice although I'm guessing the sales guy was probably ignorant of this too.

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bigreddog

197 posts

Master Geek

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#1334185 30-Jun-2015 15:12

Probably is your device - No problem getting 4G across the majority of Tauranga for me (Windows Phone).

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#1334189 30-Jun-2015 15:14

Tauranga 4G is getting better.

At home and work I get decent 4G from Spark.
Arround Tauranga & Mount townships I get good 4G coverage on Vodafone, and almost (if you hold it the right way) 4G at home. Not at work.
The missus has 2 Degrees iPhone 5, but I've never seen it show 4G. Will check again.

rendezvous

194 posts

Master Geek

#1334469 30-Jun-2015 21:25

Hmm thanks for your replies. I just tried the SIM card in another iPhone. 4G! More investigating required.

tripper1000

1617 posts

Uber Geek

#1338165 6-Jul-2015 21:45

Not all iPhones are the same. Possibly your one lacks correct 4G band.

Check your model number on the Apple site:

http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

old3eyes

9119 posts

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#1411492 23-Oct-2015 08:08

I asked to have this unlocked before I saw it was a 2D forum rather than Spark as it was about 4G in Tauranga. However I’m down here this weekend and on Spark and have no LTE on 3G On my Mi4i and M-in-Laws Galaxy S4 but my wife’s new Samsung Tab A has it so I guess Tauranga is covered by 700 Meg band 28 and has no 1800 band 3..

Regards,

Old3eyes

Behodar

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#1411493 23-Oct-2015 08:10

http://www.spark.co.nz/coverage shows no 1800 MHz coverage in Tauranga, only 700 MHz.

old3eyes

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#1411494 23-Oct-2015 08:15

Behodar: http://www.spark.co.nz/coverage shows no 1800 MHz coverage in Tauranga, only 700 MHz.

Yes I found that..

Regards,

Old3eyes

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#1411495 23-Oct-2015 08:17

That is correct, Spark was pretty late to 4G in Tauranga, and for whatever reason its 700mhz only. The plus is that their coverage seems to be better than the other carriers 4G here.

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