Forum Discussion
Data service signficantly decreased for the last week - can't use channel B66 anymore
We've been at our current location with T-Mobile for over 2 years and rely on the data service for internet service (we have almost no other options.) In the last week, the service has really nose dived. Speed is ¼ what it used to be, and worse is latency has skyrocketed.
Before, I had set all devices to band lock to B2 and B66. This combination by far gave the best service. When I checked the settings on our devices after it suddenly got much worse, I noticed it refuses to let any device use B66 anymore. I normally have 2 and 66 set, but any device with those two set only use 2. If I try to use just 66, I can't connect to the network. With any device. B66 suddenly not working has severely degraded service - is T-Mobile suddenly no longer allowing this channel?
If 66 is available and working through another device in the same location. Are you sure the issue isn't with your device? Have you tried performing a network reset on the device and powering it off for at least 5 minutes to allow it to refresh its connection to the T-Mobile network?
Have you tried filing a ticket? Indoors im hitting decent service on b66 20x20
They're all set right now to use 2, 12, and 13. I also get internet service through a secondary provider on TMobile, so I can see it on the router - if I lock it to 2 and 66, it only connects to 2, if I try just 66, won't connect at all.
It’s made working from home atrocious.
My B66 signal strength is oddly low today (-108- -112dBm, averaged over a few minutes), too, given that two nearby (0.5mi, 2.5mi) towers seem to be connecting fine with reasonable service (couple of tests at about 80/20, latency in the 30s).
I wouldn't lock the bands like that, either, how will you know if something being worked on is fixed or similar, are you constantly scanning? If you put most Android phones into Battery Saver mode, it'll often default to LTE anyway, since it's more power-efficient at this point, but you won't be locked out of 5G, necessarily. Your example of having been locked to 2/66 is a good demonstration here, how in the heck are you going to know if the B66 signal is back? Some apps are decent for this, like Network Cell Info Lite (no relationship other than using it for quite a few years now) are set-able to monitor/notify you, but they're tough on mobile battery, in that mode, IME.
syaoran wrote:
Why not just let your devices choose what is best? Band locking takes away from carrier aggregation doing its thing. 5G is the priority now. Maybe it's time to stop locking your devices into bands for LTE and let the connect to the best possible connection they provide.
Because it's objectively worse by every measure. Which I already said.
On 2 and 66 - 80 Mbps down, 6 Mbps up, low latency, typically under 100ms
Now with 66 gone, using 2 and 12 - 15-20 Mbps down, 3 Mbps up, 200-900 latency (high jitter.) If I turn off band locking, I get worse, especially on the upload and latency.
5G - 5-6 Mbps down, 0.1Mbps up (often just fails, and often even slower than this), 900+ latencyB66 disappearing has severely reduced service, and not sure why it suddenly disappeared, and turning off band locking only makes things worse.
formercanuck wrote:
True. In most instances, my devices typically use 5g SA only, and if weak enough, it will drop to 5g NSA with LTE. If you're in a fringe area, LTE B12 or B71 may be it. This might be more of an issue with capacity/spectrum/coverage in your area
Been using B2 and B66 for over two years. Suddenly last week B66 disappeared. 5G has been terrible since we moved to this location, and is no better today.
True. In most instances, my devices typically use 5g SA only, and if weak enough, it will drop to 5g NSA with LTE. If you're in a fringe area, LTE B12 or B71 may be it. This might be more of an issue with capacity/spectrum/coverage in your area
Why not just let your devices choose what is best? Band locking takes away from carrier aggregation doing its thing. 5G is the priority now. Maybe it's time to stop locking your devices into bands for LTE and let the connect to the best possible connection they provide.
formercanuck wrote:
Maybe its been converted to 5g
I hope not - the 5G here is atrocious. I've turned it off on devices that support it. It's still even worse than the degraded 4g LTE without B66.
All bands are working normally here in SoCal
B2 15x15 (75Mbps)
B66 20x20 (110Mbps)
B12 5x5 (15Mbps)
B71 10x10 (40Mbps)
And 5g
N25 20x20 (105Mbps)
N41 100+90 (+500Mbps) (tower only serves uptp ~750Mbps
N71 15x15 (10Mbps) !?
Note n25 is SA only.
2g still exists.. 90kbps
lost b66 yesterday as well. can only get b12. so can not get n71 5G. so if they don't fix soon, I'll have to cancel and get something else that works.
