Forum Discussion
Why is my connection ALWAYS "weak"?
I've loved my mobile service so when I was able to sign up for home internet I jumped on it... but the speed is consistently abysmal, no matter what I do. Maddening and disappointing. I live in a big...
@Bellafortunate if you have the T-Mobile home internet service, then you must qualify for being in a 5G network area and able to receive a 5G signal from a nearby cell tower.
That said, let's try to diagnose the cause so that we can resolve your issue. Please answer a few questions that will be helpful in the diagnosing the problem.
Did you use the Placement Assistant in the T-Mobile Internet app? If not, you can access it from the app Home Screen: tap the More about connection quality link on the Home Screen > Launch placement assistant > OK! Let's do this > you can watch the video if it will help, then "skip video" which will launch the placement assistant > enter your address or share location (if you use "share location" and your address shows up then you are assured to be connected to the network). It will take 30-45 seconds to confirm your location. Use the "Camera" mode for a direct visual of where your cell tower is located to where your gateway is located in your home. Try to make sure your gateway is located in a high point of your home and clear of any obstructions. Here is a helpful video: https://youtu.be/Q-DmRbQFuo0
What are your metrics - now that you are confident your gateway is located in the best possible location, your metrics will show the quality of your connection. In your T-Mobile Internet app > tap "MORE" at the bottom of the Home Screen > tap "Advanced cellular metrics" > tap "5G" > and let us know your RSRQ, RSRP, SINR and which band you are connected to. You should be on band n41 or n71. Look at the chart posted above in this thread for. the ideal readings. to get the best readings, slightly rotate your gateway about 1/8th of a turn and then check the metrics to see if they change for the better. Repeat until you get the best metrics.
Let us know the results. I hope this helps.
T-Mobile Home Internet customers receive the same network prioritization as Heavy Data Users - specifically the lowest priority. In heavily congested/utilized areas you would experience lower speeds.
However, you specifically mention "weak" not speed in the title - I'll assume the gateway is displaying that. You might want to try moving the gateway to a different location in your residence. Signals (both wifi and cellular) can be impacted by building construction and poor building penetration dependent on the spectrum being used.
