How to tackle poor 4G connectivity

Whilst the UK enjoys one of the best mobile networks in Europe, there are some areas that fall outside of the coverage zones and others that are within the more densely populated areas which experience slow speeds during periods of high demand. So, what if anything, can you do to improve 4G signal quality or 4G connectivity? First you will need to determine if your problem is caused by low signal or whether it is due to high network utilisation.

How do I check my 4G signal?

It goes without saying that the more signal you have then the better your connectivity will be and at the very least you will want to be maintaining a signal quality of 50%. To tackle weak signal, you should move around your property, testing your 4G device in different locations so to get an idea of where to best position your device. If you struggle to see any improvements by testing at different locations within your property, then you may need to check the signal quality outside. This will be easier with a 4G capable handheld device such as mobile phone, as it is worth testing on each side of the building. If 4G signal quality is good outside, then you can install an external 4G antenna to bring that best possible service inside.

What is a 4G outdoor antenna?

4G antennas work much like an outdoor TV aerial, boosting and bringing the signal indoors via a cable and connecting it to a router. To take advantage of a 4G outdoor antenna you will need to have a 4G broadband router with a SIM card slot. The 4G mobile broadband router connects to your 4G outdoor antenna and then uses WiFi or ethernet connections to distribute the internet to your devices within its range.

There are different types of 4G outdoor antenna, with the main types being either directional or omni-directional. A directional 4G outdoor antenna offers the best signal quality enhancement but must be more precisely aligned to connect to a 4G mast. Omni-directional outdoor 4G antennas are much easier to install and can draw signal from masts in multiple directions. This is very useful if you live in an area with numerous masts available, as it offers redundancy should one go offline. It is possible to purchase enhanced 4G outdoor antennas and 4G mobile broadband routers, these devices can be presented as either 4G Plus or 4G+.

What is 4G Plus?

Standard 4G utilises one band at a time, offering speeds up to 5 times faster than legacy 3G connectivity, whereas 4G+ utilises multiple bands to deliver even faster speeds. 4G+ not only enables consumers to achieve these faster speeds but it also increases overall network capacity for 4G+ capable masts, which in turn provides more consistent connectivity for users. 4G+ is not available throughout the UK and mobile operators do not actively publish which of their masts support it. For those that are covered, a 4G+ compatible device will be required to take advantage of the enhanced service.

How can I use 4G Plus?

Most modern 4G capable handheld devices should support 4G+ but it is recommended that you visit the manufacturers website to review the equipment specifications. When purchasing a 4G mobile broadband router you will need to look for 4G+ compatibility as it is not as widely adopted and you can expect to pay more for this additional functionality.

I have good 4G signal, but my connectivity is poor what do I do?

If you are still reading it is likely that you have good 4G signal quality, but your broadband service speeds and stability is still poor. If you are using a 4G handheld device, try disabling WiFi and repeat testing to ensure that your checks are completed using only your 4G signal. If connectivity remains poor, then your network operator’s website may provide advice regarding local mast maintenance and an expected time for resolution. It may also report that your location is a known high demand area with many reports of intermittent or consistently poor performance and should this be the case for more than a few days, then you should contact your service provider for further advice. They may indicate that there are plans to increase network capacity, though this may take some indeterminate amount of time to implement.

My 4G connection is poor what do I do?

So, your mobile operator has told you that your poor connectivity is related to high demand, they will be adding capacity or maybe another mast at some point, but you cannot wait or live with that uncertainty. Thankfully there are several solutions such as installing a satellite or fibre broadband connection which can remove your need to rely on 4G connectivity completely. Most 4G handheld devices allow you to connect to a wireless network using Wi-Fi, giving the ability to make phone calls, receive text messages and enjoy access to all your favourite apps. Some mobile operators offer 4G booster devices which you connect to a fibre broadband connection and works to create a 4G signal locally within your property.

Fibre is not available at my property and 4G is poor, what are my options?

As mentioned previously, if you have been informed that 4G connectivity is poor due to saturation you will need to seek out alternative solutions and if you are outside of ADSL and fibre coverage satellite connectivity is the answer. Satellite broadband operates independently of local infrastructure and does not require a telephone line. You can expect speeds up to 50Mbps down and 10Mbps up, with the only major considerations being latency and line of sight.

What is satellite latency?

Latency is the time it takes for data to reach a server on the internet and return to you, this is measured in milliseconds (ms). The average latency for fibre and 4G broadband connectivity falls between 8-140ms with satellite latency averaging 680ms. The higher latency of satellite is caused by the physical distance the signal must travel to reach the internet. The signal leaves a dish at your location and bounces off a satellite in space before returning to Earth, back out to the internet, with the signal then taking the same path to return back to you. The additional latency for the most part is unnoticeable but certain real time applications such as video calls and remote-control applications may evidence some delay or lag.

What is line of sight?

When line of sight is mentioned in the context of satellite broadband, we refer to the angle and direction in which the dish must be aligned to connect to the satellite in space. Whilst 4G and TV signals may be relatively forgiving with obstructions the same cannot be said for satellite broadband. Common obstructions are buildings and trees and with dishes installed at ground level you must avoid “high-traffic” zones such as driveways or carparks. Freedomsat may request photographs of the line of sight during the sales process to ensure that the planned location for your installation is suitable.

I am unsure what is the best broadband solution for me, can you help?

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