Forum Discussion
Brand new to home Internet and hoping to improve speed
I read a bunch of the horror stories in here, but decided to try T-Mobile's home internet anyhow 'cause I ALSO read some of the "I get 200+ Mb/s and it NEVER drops below 100" topics. I'm in a town o...
If you get the PCI value you can search for it on CellMapper.net and locate the tower that serves that signal out. With a 4G LTE / 5G NR capable phone it should be possible to obtain the cellular metrics for both signals. The bars on the LED screen are rather generic and do not provide enough information. It does not sound like you are receiving a 5G signal with those speeds or it is a very poor signal reception.
You state you are using CellMapper on your phone so are you looking at 4G or 5G signaling or both?
With CellMapper.net in a browser you can provide your area code to get the general location and then display 4G LTE, 5G NR, or both. I find filtering for one or the other helpful. You will see more 4G LTE towers and IF the 5G cell you receive is on the map that really helps but CellMapper is not 100% as it does rely upon users using the Android application and uploading the findings to the server to have the data installed into the database. This does require an account but it does not cost anything to set up. CellMapper seems to be one of the best resources for locating the cells still. Below is a chart that will help you determine more about your cellular signals. Use the T-Mobile home internet mobile application on your phone to see the cellular metrics. Determine if you really are receiving a functional 5G signal.
I suggest you contact T-Mobile support and have them provide you with more information about the actual cell coverage in the area. They may be deploying 5G coverage but it sounds like it is not close enough to be very functional. That tower you can see might not be hosting T-Mobile cells. I know the tower that serves the cells we connect to is 5.3 miles due north and we have clear line of sight. I don't mean to be the grinch but you might be in a cellular dead zone or at the edge of a cell reach. The tower you do see downtown might be hosting T-Mobile cells but your location might still be on the edge of the Fresnal zone. The cell emits the waves in a shape somewhat like a blimp or football shape referred to as the Fresnal zone. If there is insufficient downward tilt of the cell the sweet spot of the emissions are possibly well above your gateway. Often they deploy multiple cells in a location and the signals are set to try to cover the area close and farther out. T-Mobile has the information from your SIM card that should provide them with information to determine more about the connection. Maybe they are in the process of turning up the 5G delivery in the area and have not completed their work. Contacting support and pushing for answers is probably your best course of action.
