Galaxy S6 signal bands / advice from those in the industry 2Degrees/Vodafone

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GeekyMcGeekface

22 posts

Geek

#173610 29-May-2015 11:46

Hi,

I'm wanting to buy the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. It's expensive everywhere obviously, but about $170 cheaper currently if I buy a parallel import model. I'm aware of the warranty implications associated with this and am willing to take that risk.

Background:

The version of the S6 Edge being sold by most NZ retailers (eg. Vodafone, 2Degrees etc) would appear to be the SM-G925I. The parallel imported model is SM-G925F. From what I can gather online the I model is for some of the americas, and Australia (and presumably NZ) amongst others. The F model is described as being the 'global' model, sold in lots of places. I currently use an international model Galaxy S2 which has done the job for the past few years.

I am a 2Degrees customer so using their network (which uses Vodafone's network as their backup if I understand things correctly). I live in suburban Auckland near cell towers but travel to less populated areas sometimes, though not often. Overseas travel is not a factor to consider for me.

SM-G925F has the following signal bands:
Infra: 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, 4G LTE FDD
2G GSM: GSM850, GSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900
3G UMTS: B1(2100), B2(1900), B5(850), B8(900)
4G FDD LTE: B1(2100), B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B12(700), B17(700), B18(800), B19(800), B20(800), B26(800)

(source: http://www.samsung.com/my/consumer/mobile-devices/smartphones/galaxy-s/SM-G925FZDAXME)

SM-G925I has the following signal bands:
Infra: 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, 4G LTE FDD, 4G LTE TDD
2G GSM: GSM850, GSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900
3G UMTS: B1(2100), B2(1900), B4(AWS), B5(850), B8(900)
4G FDD LTE: B1(2100), B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B12(700), B17(700), B18(800), B19(800), B26(800), B28(700)

(source: http://www.samsung.com/in/consumer/mobile-devices/smartphones/galaxy-s/SM-G925IZDAINS)

I have bolded the differences between the two models.

My question is as follows:

What, if any, difference is it going to make to my phone signal and usage experience if I buy the SM-G925F model rather than the SM-G925I model? Looking for unbiased advice by people not trying to sell me a phone :)

Thanks!

Edit: typos etc.

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264 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1314030 29-May-2015 12:08

My Undertanding which will need to confirmed is that 4G LTE being deployed in New Zealand is 700MHZ Band 28. The New Zealand spec model (I) supports this but I do not see it supported on the (F). The effect of this is that when you travel to the less populated areas you talk about you will not receive 4G

Shoes2468

785 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1314031 29-May-2015 12:09

I think you will find this means you wont be able to get band 28 4g which will become the standard for 4g outside of suburban areas

Edit: ^^ what he said

johnr

19282 posts

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#1314033 29-May-2015 12:10

Band 28 700Mhz 4G is gettng deployed along side band 3 1800Mhz

Shoes2468

785 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1314034 29-May-2015 12:11

johnr: Band 28 700Mhz 4G is gettng deployed along side band 3 1800Mhz

Even on 2d and Spark?

If you are buying a phone which you will keep for a year or more you should be aiming for the "I" variant for better 4g performance in the long run

knoydart

904 posts

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#1314045 29-May-2015 12:30

Yes, both Spark and 2Degrees have spectrum for band 28 as well, and are rolling it out nationwide

GeekyMcGeekface

22 posts

Geek

#1314155 29-May-2015 14:44

Thank you all for your replies.

johnr: Band 28 700Mhz 4G is gettng deployed along side band 3 1800Mhz

Am I understanding correctly that the towers would therefore be sending out both bands of signal? I.e. does this mean both phones will have 4g functionality in those areas given they both have band 3, even though one phone doesn't have band 28?

scheduler: My Undertanding which will need to confirmed is that 4G LTE being deployed in New Zealand is 700MHZ Band 28. The New Zealand spec model (I) supports this but I do not see it supported on the (F). The effect of this is that when you travel to the less populated areas you talk about you will not receive 4G

But I would still have 3G (or at worst 2G) signal, right? Is the 4G signal band in city areas different to less populated areas (in which case, presumably, the F model should have perfectly good 4G signal at my house in Auckland still)?

timmmay

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Lifetime subscriber

#1314162 29-May-2015 14:57

Don't forget GST and customs fee when you look at parallel import cost - sometimes this is something you have to pay yourself, sometimes it's included.

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johnr

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#1314168 29-May-2015 15:03

You want a New Zealand provided Samsung S6 for a start they are CAT6 next they will have the correct bands,

grant_k

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#1314173 29-May-2015 15:12

johnr: Band 28 700Mhz 4G is gettng deployed along side band 3 1800Mhz

Is this at all sites, or will some have 700 and some 1800?

Of the three 4G sites near here, two have 1800 only (near Russell & Opua) and one has 700 only (near Kawakawa).

GeekyMcGeekface

22 posts

Geek

#1314179 29-May-2015 15:18

johnr: You want a New Zealand provided Samsung S6 for a start they are CAT6 next they will have the correct bands,

Why would the other phone not be CAT6?

Shoes2468

785 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1314229 29-May-2015 16:18

freddy123:
johnr: You want a New Zealand provided Samsung S6 for a start they are CAT6 next they will have the correct bands,

Why would the other phone not be CAT6?

I think that was a sales pitch, but even if 1800mhz is being deployed alongside 700mhz, 1800mhz will have a far smaller reach due to higher frequency, and I dont think all carriers will be deploying 1800mhz with 700mhz

grant_k

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#1314235 29-May-2015 16:24

Shoes2468: ...
even if 1800mhz is being deployed alongside 700mhz, 1800mhz will have a far smaller reach due to higher frequency, and I dont think all carriers will be deploying 1800mhz with 700mhz

That's what I've found in practice. 1800 seems to only go for a few kilometres at best, with poor penetration into buildings, whereas 700 can go for 20km or more, depending on the terrain.

muppet

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#1314504 30-May-2015 10:14

If you are going to some a lot of money on a new phone and LTE is important to you, you'd be silly to NOT buy a phone that supports 700Mhz LTE (Band 28)

Yes, some towers are both 1800 and 700, but 700 has more range as it's a lower frequency.

If the maximum possible LTE coverage isn't a deal breaker for you, the cheaper non-700 LTE phone will be fine.

As I said though, for future proofing you want Band28(700Mhz) support.

Audiophiles are such twits! They buy such pointless stuff: Gold plated cables, $2000 power cords. Idiots.

OOOHHHH HYPERFIBRE!

johnr

19282 posts

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#1314505 30-May-2015 10:17

freddy123:
johnr: You want a New Zealand provided Samsung S6 for a start they are CAT6 next they will have the correct bands,

Why would the other phone not be CAT6?

Look at the Note 4 some are CAT4 and some CAT6 depending on market

johnr

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#1314507 30-May-2015 10:20

Shoes2468:
freddy123:
johnr: You want a New Zealand provided Samsung S6 for a start they are CAT6 next they will have the correct bands,

Why would the other phone not be CAT6?

I think that was a sales pitch, but even if 1800mhz is being deployed alongside 700mhz, 1800mhz will have a far smaller reach due to higher frequency, and I dont think all carriers will be deploying 1800mhz with 700mhz

This is where you are incorrect, VodafoneNZ has single sites that are 700 , 1800 and 2600 even here on the North Shore

Many sites are 700 and 1800 or 1800 and 2600 or 700 and 2600

John

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