First Time I Got Skunked

[Gizmo]

I'm in Davenport Fl and the best cell speed rating I can get is 0.7 on T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. AT&T I'm getting 4 bars and 5G and T-Mobile I get 3 bars and 5G. I just placed an order for Starlink and then talked to a guy in the campgrounds and he says he can 5 on speed test and dead during prime time. Campground WIFI I can 20 on speed test and can stream.

 

[jbh]

If you can, test individual bands and you may find something that works. I suspect your device is choosing the strongest band signals just like everyone else in the county. For example, for me in Alabama Band 66 has the strongest signal but a speed of maybe 250k while if I select Band 4 I get a slightly weaker signal but a solid 20Mbps+ for months.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

If you can, test individual bands and you may find something that works. I suspect your device is choosing the strongest band signals just like everyone else in the county. For example, for me in Alabama Band 66 has the strongest signal but a speed of maybe 250k while if I select Band 4 I get a slightly weaker signal but a solid 20Mbps+ for months.

^^^^^
I have found this to be true also.

 

[Gizmo]

I run through the Verizon bands without much of a difference still less than 1.0 on the speed test but I haven't tried the T-Mobile bands yet. My AT&T is in my iPhone 13.

 

[Neal]

Sometimes a reboot of your phone (or cycle airplane mode) or router if using a Pepwave, etc. can help re-establish towers and make a difference.

 

[docj]

AT&T I'm getting 4 bars and 5G and T-Mobile I get 3 bars and 5G.

I wish people would understand that the bar display on their phones is a very crude representation of signal strength and tells you practically nothing about the speeds you will measure. Modern cell phones are usable over a signal strength range of >50db which is a factor of 100,000. There's no way that a simply bar display can come close to depicting that range. The bars, pretty much, are there just to show that you have a signal. Furthermore, with digital devices, such as phones, the strength of your signal has very little to do with your speed, anyway.

 

[Gizmo]

I wish people would understand that the bar display on their phones is a very crude representation of signal strength and tells you practically nothing about the speeds you will measure. Modern cell phones are usable over a signal strength range of >50db which is a factor of 100,000. There's no way that a simply bar display can come close to depicting that range. The bars, pretty much, are there just to show that you have a signal. Furthermore, with digital devices, such as phones, the strength of your signal has very little to do with your speed, anyway.

Yes, I fully understand that probably better than you. I owed my own ISP business for 6 years and three DS3 and SWB put in fiber cabinet in my business and MUX out T1s into 24 phone lines using Ascend Terminal servers and ISDN lines and configured DSL services. I also service several other ISPs with internet services and I even owned two Class C. My SWB bill was over $80,000.00 a month. Sure glad I have an advanced CAT20 modem and band lock capabilities and am able to use my 43.00 per month 5G service

Neal- I used my Pepwave to band lock and restated during high traffic and little find another tower but no luck. Last night I had my T-Mobile M2000 hotspot get over 280 on speed test but today it is down to below one but the upload is above 40 which shows how congested the tower is. My Calyx connection TOS says I have to use the M2000 but I may try it in my Pepwave BR1 5G. My AT&T phone was so bad that I was getting a fast beep busy signals with means there no avaliable service on the tower. I get this at home during home football games.

 

[jbh]

US-27 in that area is one of the heaviest-used highways in central Florida, of course along with I-4. That's a lot of devices connected.

 

[Gizmo]

US-27 in that area is one of the heaviest-used highways in central Florida, of course along with I-4. That's a lot of devices connected.

That is a true statement. Waze said that 11.5 miles and took us 50 minutes to get there on I-4. I guess there isn't any incentive to upgrade towers in the area wihen all three carries are congested. I just hope it clears up after school starts or atleast get a little better.

 

[Neal]

Cellular sucks and I can't wait for Starphone.

 

[redbaron]

Cellular sucks and I can't wait for Starphone.

That will suck too.

I have found that Starlink has become highly unusable in most areas. I am on the commercial plan now just to maintain a 10Mbs connection up/down and even that is highly problematic. Until the density issue is resolved, this will continue to be a problem.

I keep starlink for 2 remote areas that I visit frequently, that have 0 options otherwise for communication. Whats amazing about those locations is that I can get 200Mb + and maintain it, because there are fewer than 50 people within 50 miles. Its becoming much harder to find isolation like this, but I do enjoy it when I can get there.

 

[Gizmo]

I moved my Calyx SIM to my Pepwave BR1 5G and came right up without any problems. I check bands it was on band 41 for 5g and band 66 for LTE. I disabled both band 41 and 66 and I get no connection. I disabled all LTE bands except LTE 71 and still and enabled band 41 5G and still no connection. Seems that the only bands on T-Mobile that I can get to are bands 5G 41 and LTE 66. Verizon I was able to disable bands but didn't do any good.

The campgrouds WIFI has given me two day of streaming and NO buffering. I ask at the office if streaming is allowed and they everyone using campgournd WIFI since cell service is so bad and recommend that I do WIFI calling to get reliable phone service. As bad as i hate to see goverment stick thier nose in how business service thier customers I think it maybe need sometimes.

Neal, I'm waiting for your review of StarPhone. I watched several YouTube videos about the features but nothing being said about using it as a hotspot.

 

[Gizmo]

That will suck too.

I have found that Starlink has become highly unusable in most areas. I

I have talked to two Starlink users and both are saying they get around 5 on off-peak hours and zero during high-peak hours. I have Starlink on order with a 13-19 Jan ship date before I knew about the poor connections. Now I'm debating if I want to cancel or not.

 

[Neal]

I was just kidding regarding Starphone. I think much of this could be mitigated if campgrounds would offer ethernet ports at the pedestal and they would be smart to do so and sell the service like hotels. They also have to get beyond thinking 5 MB/s will suffice for 100 customers over Wi-Fi.

I know I know...I shouldn't be on Internet while RVing

 

[Neal]

I have Starlink on order with a 13-19 Jan ship date before I knew about the poor connections. Now I'm debating if I want to cancel or not.

It has been very good for me and preferred connection in several locations. I maintain that since getting my Pepwave in Nov of 2018 I have never been without connectivity, it's which is best at the location.

I have to remind myself, I really think Starlink is still a beta service. I don't think it's ready for production prime time worldwide use. I'm sure they needed to start generating revenue but the system still has a long way to go. I'm still a proponent of it and recommend it.

 

[docj]

I think it's important for everyone to acknowledge that there are several "tiers" of Starlink service. I have residential Starlink at our home base in TX and rarely see any speed test less than 50 Mbps. Admittedly the maximum speeds have been reduced to <100 Mbps.

As, I think, everyone knows, Starlink for RV is the lowest tier of service and is always deprioritized compared to the residential plan. What seems ridiculous to me is that Starlink is charging $2500 for its "in motion" dish even though you are required to use the RV plan. You would have thought that the expensive dish would at least come with a "high priority" data plan?

 

[Gizmo]

After doing a bunch of switching between SIM A and SIM B there is a setting to "Both Sims". I know the BR1 Pro 5G only has one CAT 20 modem so what does the "Both SIMS" setting do?

Edit: I see it set up a fall over to the other SIM. I didn't notice the additional menus that appear when you select "Both SIMS".