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Now that EE’s 4G network is now alive and kicking, we’ve finally got our hands on an LTE-equipped Samsung Galaxy S III. We’ll have a good play with it and let you know what 4G’s really like in real life a little later in the week, but for now — do you have any burning questions? Throw em in here and we’ll try and answer them all.
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is it quick
Yes. Quicker than 3G. Not blazingly fast just yet though.
What tariff are you on?
Good question. It’s from EE themselves, so who knows.
so you aren’t actually paying? Can I have it when you’ve finished with it.
Ha, no, no one can. It shall go back into the dark abyss from whence it came.
How does it compare with the o2 4G you tried?
Slower, definitely, but it’s difficult to compare a 4G dongle hooked up to a PC to a phone with 4G.
What’s the 4G coverage like when you’re out and around London?
So far, it’s good around Marylebone — will update when I venture out further afield.
First and foremost, what’s your SpeedTest png?
This.
Coming soon, just gotta set up an email account.
Just now: http://www.speedtest.net/android/279752189.png
I’ll update when I move about/it gets faster.
Still, for central London it’s not too bad.
The upstream proves the bandwidth is there, just no-one’s interested in uploading atm!
That seems about twice what I normally get on my 3G connection in central London (for downloads). If it stays that fast, then that’s a definitely a big enough improvement in my book. Of course, it will inevitably slow down a bit when more people join, and that’s the big question now.
I’m still going to give it a try though – the app that sells it to me is Spotify – I’ll finally be able to listen to high quality audio without “buffering” while out and about.
What is the carrying capacity of an unladen swallow?
When is the new Nokia launched?
You can order it today from EE. You’ll get it “in a few days”, which probably means the 9th of November, as that’s when you can buy a sim-free phone from both EE and Phones4U.
9th of November.
Does it have JB?
Yes, Android 4.1.1 on this device.
Does it have a favourite cheese?
Camembert
Can you get comments on the mobile site on that thing?
No, sorry, not yet.
Send it back. I don’t want it
Does it show you G, 2G, 3G, H, EE or whatever the hell it wants to, even though it knows and tells you, it can’t pick up a single data-stream?
Probably.
Hey Sam, what sort of speed are you getting? And have you used up the 500mb yet? :p
Currently hitting 10Mbps here in the office, but given I barely manage 1Mbps on 3G here, that’s pretty good.
Can you tell when it is on 4G and when it is on 3G?
I’m getting 8-10Mbps down at the moment on Three’s HSPA+.
Yes, has a 4G icon on the top.
Is the speed bump over 3G something you would pay extra for?
Yes, right now, it makes a huge difference. But it’s still a lot. Ask me in a week.
How much data have you used so far? It will be interesting to see how the speed will actually affect your data usage.
When can you get sim only plans?
In November.
does it blend?
In an electric-blue blaze.
vids or it didn’t happen.
Compared to 3G on the s3, do you get better signal when in your office and out and about. Does 4g go through walls better.
No, about the same so far. And as for penetration, it depends what network you’re on. EE’s 1800MHz 4G band was swapped from its 2G band — so it should be able the same as the 1800MHz 2G service was, maybe a little better because of more powerful transmitters.
If it falls from a plane into a heavily wooded area, and no one is around to hear it. Does it make a sound?
Yes, a whooshing sound, followed by a gentle flump.
Beans on a fry-up?
Definitely.
In the same location, is it faster than DC-HSPA on Three?
I can’t tell you, as I don’t have a Three SIM to hand, but if I find one I’ll let you know.
YES !! Can someone explain this theory about 4G and it not being able to go through walls ???? I heard about it today at work .. I was baffled !!!
It’s all to do with radio frequency. EE’s 4G network uses the 1800MHz, which in theory should have worse penetration than the likes of 800MHz (one of the other 4G-enabled bands to be auctioned off later this year).
It is, as Sam has said, frequency related.
To put it perhaps in a better example, if you’re stood outside a club waiting to get in and the doors are closed, all you can hear of the music from inside is the bass. That’s because the lower frequencies travel further through the building than the higher ones.
The same is true with radio frequencies, the lower frequencies travel cover longer distances and penetrate much deeper into buildings than the higher frequencies.
1800MHz is great if you have huge numbers of users over a small area (a city) but, the 800MHz band, the one which O2 and VF are bidding on is the frequency that analogue TV used to use, and works over a huge range with great building penetration.
A gross oversimplification but, in theory, with enough transmitters, everywhere that you used to be able to receive analogue TV you’ll be able to receive a 4G mobile signal on O2 or VF.
So while everyone is up in arms that EE have launched 4G first, personally I’m not fussed because from my perspective they’re launching on the wrong frequency.
tl:dr – 1800MHz not as good indoors as 800MHz. O2 & VF ftw!
Well put
AHHH YES !! That makes sense. thank you dudes !
Three use 2100 so generally no good unless you’re less than 500m from the mast
o2 seem to be spamming 3g Pole masts (masts are hidden inside the top of the pole to keep the health “natives” happy or more so unaware that its an mobile mast) all over the place as they have 3g900 now as well as 1800 (this is around cheshire thought)
Yup! Not too great near a badly shielded microwave either!
Though they’re getting a chunk of the EE 1800MHz band for 4G, so coverage should actually get slightly better.
The question is whether they’ll push through with re-branding to ’4′
Right now, 3G is more than adequate to my usage – it’s not higher bandwidth I need, it’s unlimited!
Boxers or Briefs?
Whats the top speed you have got? And as stated before is the ping faster?
What type of connector does the phone have?
micro usb, it’s an S3!?
What? Still only a micro usb? I think it needs it’s own article.
There was one, about 6 months ago.
But no one read it.
What size is the battery? How long does it last?
Same as the normal Galaxy S III — 2100mAh.
As for how long it lasts. It’s doing pretty well considering I’m hammering it this afternoon, but I can’t tell you precise figures.
He fell for it.
How quickly can it download Jedward’s 2011 album ‘Victory’, compared to 3G..
I tried, and it said ‘No. No thank you’.
In your personal opinion, EE or the others?
Depends if you’re desperate. 4G now or 4G about the middle of next year. I mean, a 12-month contract would see you into the first throngs of the rest of the 4G launches.
Will it blend?
Dam you Apple!!!! So customers that want the better 800mzh band can’t use it as it won’t work with the iphone 5, yet three uk and ee customers can only use the 1800mzh band! Looked forward to the better coverage until now
three use 2100 band for 3g so even if the phone supports 4g1800 you have no service on the iPhone 5 as 3g needs to still work for voice/text
messed up there (most 3g devices supports 900/1800/2100 so it would work ….) ignore me
Seeing as how it’s plastic how is a playa supposed to get it gold plated?
Please don’t tell me I have to only get it diamond studded?
Unfortunately. Mind you, you can gold plate some plastics, so you might be in luck.
Do you yearn for simpler times?
Definitely. Errr, wait, what am I saying? HELL NO!
Will it be a substitute for real relationships with other human beings? will it fill the hole in your being that is modern life?
Yep
It’s the answer to all your problems.
Why the S3 and not an iP5? Surely 2 magical technologies deserve to be together?
We should have a 4G iPhone 5 soon. It’s on the list.
Hi, Im stuck. I’m at the end of my orange contract right now. I’m about to upgrade to another 24 month contract with Orange (because i want the S3 cheap through upgrade). Once I do that should I consider moving to EE or should I stay with orange?
If I move to EE, should I get the 12 month contract? If so, please tell me why.
Another Question, I live in London but I work in an area that does not have 4g coverage. When I go to work outside of the 4g coverage, do you think it will just turn into a normal S3 3G phone (besides the 2gb ram)?
My main reason for the question is battery life, I heard that even though you decide to use just 3G on the LTE phone, the LTE chip will drain the battery quicker.
To be honest actually, the thing that is attracting me to EE is the 12 month contract.
What is the battery life compared to the 3G S III? It any other way apart from connection speed is the phone different to the 3G model?
I’m thinking about getting a S III and wasn’t sure if I should grab a 4G model or not
I called Vodafone yesterday and was told my handset was 4g capable already. I find that hard to believe. How do I check this?
yes it supports 4g but when vodafone gets 4g your phone Must support the 4g Band that they get (they be getting 800/900 so it not work with iphone 5 )
Thx