New "Essential" Android Phone - Compatible with NZ networks?

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anandpatel18

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Master Geek

# 214843 31-May-2017 09:45

Looking at the tech specs of the new android phone announced by Andy Rubin - https://www.essential.com/, looks like it's fully compatible with NZ networks even though its US release only. Just wanted to check my understanding was correct since it's so confusion that they use bands sometimes or frequencies and aren't some of the LTE bands different in terms of numbering and frequency globally?

Essential Phone Network / Bands

UMTS/HSPA+: 1, 2, 4, 5 6, 8 (Spark, 2Degrees and Vodafone 850, 900 and 2100, which are bands 5, 8 and 1 respectively)?

GSM: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz (2Degrees and Vodafone 900 and 1800)

CDMA EV-DO Rev. A: 0, 1, 10 (N/A)

LTE

FDD-LTE: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66 (Spark, 2Degrees and Vodafone all operate 4G networks in LTE band 3, LTE band 7 and LTE band 28)

TDD-LTE: 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 (N/A)

TD-SCDMA: 34, 39 (N/A)

Just wanted to check.

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# 1792169 31-May-2017 09:48

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VodafoneNZ uses 4 4G bands right now and soon will become 5

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Edit: VodafoneNZ no longer uses GSM 1800Mhz as this is used for LTE band3

anandpatel18

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# 1792172 31-May-2017 09:53

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Linux: VodafoneNZ uses 4 4G bands right now and soon will become 5

Linux

Edit: VodafoneNZ no longer uses GSM 1800Mhz as this is used for LTE band3

Vodafone uses 4 different LTE bands and moving to use 5 bands total? You know which ones? Site only shows three.

4G - 700MHz (Band 28)
4G - 1800MHz (Band 3)
4G - 2600MHz (Band 7)

http://help.vodafone.co.nz/app/answers/detail/a_id/21804/~/vodafone-nz-mobile-network-frequencies

NikT

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# 1792397 31-May-2017 15:13

Yeah the Essential phone is 100% compatible with NZ networks as of right now (assuming it does support the full band 28).

As for which 4G bands Voda is using, writing is on the wall when you look at what's used globally vs. their spectrum holdings and what can be refarmed from their 2G and 3G networks, but that's for them to announce or not.

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# 1792465 31-May-2017 17:05

Add 4G on the 900 and 2100Mhz band as well

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# 1792473 31-May-2017 17:26

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Band 3 & 28 for 4G are the most widly used across NZ

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berjjj

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# 1985447 29-Mar-2018 15:04

Just want to update this regarding network compatibility.

Spent over an hour on the phone with Spark NZ troubleshooting and confirmed that you won't get calls working on their Network.

Unsure what the exact issue is, as the bands seem to match according to data sheets.

Unlocked phone, tried various network settings, no dice. IMEI is rejected on their system (this is true for all PH-1).

Working fine on Vodafone though.

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# 1985482 29-Mar-2018 16:09

Where did you buy the phone from?

My technology disclosure | Digital Transformation | Enterprise Content Management | Customer Relationship Management | Data Insights, Business Intelligence and Advanced Analytics

NikT

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# 1985578 29-Mar-2018 18:34

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berjjj: Just want to update this regarding network compatibility.

Spent over an hour on the phone with Spark NZ troubleshooting and confirmed that you won't get calls working on their Network.

Unsure what the exact issue is, as the bands seem to match according to data sheets.

Unlocked phone, tried various network settings, no dice. IMEI is rejected on their system (this is true for all PH-1).

Working fine on Vodafone though.

Another one! Interesting indeed.

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 and Razer Phone exhibit exactly the same symptoms on Spark/Skinny. If you want to receive calls, you have to lock the devices to 3G only, otherwise they will be sent straight to voicemail and you'll get a missed call text. They do not attempt to negotiate back to 3G when a call comes in (Circuit-Switched Fallback, AKA CSFB), but this ONLY occurs on Spark and does not occur or 2d or Voda, both of which also use CSFB because VoLTE isn't a thing in NZ yet.

I believe this is due to the unique makeup of the Spark network, having used different vendors for 3G and 4G. There is an interconnect layer between the two networks and for whatever reason these specific devices are not able to or configured to utilise it. It is a great illustration of the important testing and optimisation work that our telco device teams do, band support alone is not enough to ensure network compatibility and this will only get more complex going forward.

It does certainly intrigue me that the three known devices which exhibit this behaviour use the Snapdragon 835 platform. I'm looking forward to testing 845 devices to see if they behave in the same manner.

That said, was one of the network settings you tried locking it to 3G only?

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KiwiSurfer

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# 1985600 29-Mar-2018 19:11

Linux: Add 4G on the 900 and 2100Mhz band as well

Do they have any sites live now with LTE in 900 MHz? Last time I looked VF had 2x5MHz 3G carriers and whatever scraps of spectrum left over was used for 2G. I'd imagine they'd either just leave it as it or or swap a 3G carrier out for 5MHz of LTE?

berjjj

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# 1985909 30-Mar-2018 13:07

Bought from Amazon US.

Hmm the symptoms match what you describe NikT. I didn't lock to 3G as when attempting to make a call the notification bar did show a switch to HSPA, probably a bit too trusting of the display. It wasn't suggested by the service staff either, everything seemed okay at their end bar the IMEI not passing their check. Saying that, I don't know how detailed their diagnostic info is.

In summary:

Outgoing calls - stalls for about 10 seconds then drops the line, no ringing tone, no missed call sms or notification on the other end. Shows a switch to HSPA, after line drops completely there is no service at all for about 10 seconds then comes back to LTE.
Incoming calls - goes straight to voicemail, I receive a missed call sms after a few minutes.

Data works, texts work. Oddly enough I had two calls work in the first hour after putting the sim card in, nothing since.

I've since switched to Vodafone, but will try get my hands on a Spark SIM to test locking to 3G.

33coupe

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# 2006399 2-May-2018 09:29

I have recently bought an Essential phone and switched from Vodafone to Spark (spotify) and am having same issues!

I can make and receive texts, use mobile data, but not receive or make phone calls.

I tried live chat a couple of times before seeing this thread, will try 3g tonight. Has anyone else found a fix?

Thanks

dafman

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# 2006430 2-May-2018 10:40

So berjjj and 33coupe - how are you finding the phones in general. Reviews I have read refer to random freezes and stuttering, but this may have improved with updates and move to Oreo?

Also, how is the camera?

I need to replace my S7 at some point in the future, but don't want to increase the physical size of the handset - the Essential is pretty much the only bezel-less android that is not a phablet!

33coupe

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# 2006652 2-May-2018 17:51

Ok so I can confirm changing it to 3g works.

Anyone know what kind of difference it will make?

dafman:b I'm loving this phone. But to be honest i came from a pretty old headset (lg g pro 2) so I might not be the best person to ask an opinion on.
No freezing or issues for me.

Im a bit gutted it doesn't have sd slot but that's the compromise I made (and got Spotify).

The camera is good enough for me. I've only seen I phone x pictures which are a lot better, but that's comparing apples and oranges, due to price difference.
I downloaded an apk and it's much better for low light situations.

For me the deciding factor was almost bezel less (so might not look too outdated in a couple of years) and price.
I got mine for $399 from Amazon, so much cheaper than any equivalent phone on the market.

Overall I'm very happy.
Any other questions let me know.

dafman

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# 2006661 2-May-2018 18:02

33coupe: Ok so I can confirm changing it to 3g works.

Anyone know what kind of difference it will make?

dafman:b I'm loving this phone. But to be honest i came from a pretty old headset (lg g pro 2) so I might not be the best person to ask an opinion on.
No freezing or issues for me.

Im a bit gutted it doesn't have sd slot but that's the compromise I made (and got Spotify).

The camera is good enough for me. I've only seen I phone x pictures which are a lot better, but that's comparing apples and oranges, due to price difference.
I downloaded an apk and it's much better for low light situations.

For me the deciding factor was almost bezel less (so might not look too outdated in a couple of years) and price.
I got mine for $399 from Amazon, so much cheaper than any equivalent phone on the market.

Overall I'm very happy.
Any other questions let me know.

Thanks - was it US$399 or US$499? I've never seen it on Amazon for under $499 - however, if it has been on special, maybe I should wait for a repeat?

33coupe

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Ultimate Geek

# 2006663 2-May-2018 18:13

Just checked and was definitely $399. It has been that price in the past (last year I think).

I would have thought it will drop again as their working on the ph2.
Rumors of a July release date, but could all be wrong.

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