New 5G Home Broadband - Upload speed query

[craigs85]

Hi everyone.

New customer on the 5G Home Broadband service here, just wanting to ask a few questions.

I was amazed when the website told me I could get 5G in my area, so had to give it a try. Currently coming to the end of my Plusnet landline broadband, and don't want to commit to 18 months or more as FTTP is meant to be available soon, so thought I would try Three's offering.

I am blown away by the download speed. 300mbps+ some times.

However, the upload speeds are more worrying and possibly the deal breaker for me.

Sometimes I get a 4 or 5mbps upload speed, which compares to what I get down the landline with plusnet (but i only get 27mbps download on the land line, as opposed to 300mbps+ at the best times on three).

Throughout the day though, the upload speed drops to less than 2, which gives me some issues.

I have just now ran a speed test and here are the results, and the info from the Cellular page of the Hub iself.

Speedtest: The download was 280, upload was 1.79.

Cellular Tab: 

• Access Technology - NR5G-NSA
• Band - B1,B3,n78,n78
• RSSI - -96
• Cell ID - 815689
• Physical Cell ID - 238
• UL Bandwidth (MHz) - 10M,100M
• DL Bandwidth (MHz) - 10M,15M,100M,30M
• RFCN - 99,1392,640548,632666
• RSRP - -110
• RSRQ - -14
• SINR - -3
• RSRP-NSA - -99
• RSRQ-NSA - -2
• SINR-NSA - 17
• TAC - 2102

I have moved it to an upstairs window sill that I think gives the best placement. Would I benefit from an external antenna? The thing that puzzles me is that I can get 5mbps upload speed at certain times, so I think the placement is ok..

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Craig

[sc1999]

Check with Plusnet as BT will upgrade you to fibre as part of your current contract. 

[Anvil_Iron]

I've found the Three 5G Broadband app useful in determining the best location for the router. It provides live signal strength. Connect your phone to the router via Wi-Fi. Move the router to different locations to get a better signal. Lower the RSRP value... better the signal strength.

[asmm65]

SINR value is worth noting aswell. I used the external omni antenna, while it improves signal strength and RSRP value, it gives me poor SINR value compared to built in antennas hence awful upload speeds.

[craigs85]

Appreciate the replies everyone.

Regarding Plusnet/BT, FTTP isn't available in my area yet. Only FTTC which I currently have (although its coming to an end in 30 days). They won't offer rolling monthly contracts (unless I pay double the price), hence me trying this as an alternative.

In the exact same spot, sometimes I get up to 5 download, which will be fine for me. But other times, I get less than 2 which does cause an issue. So I don't think its entirely down to the location of the hub, as that hasn't moved.

Does the upload get throtted at certain times?

I'll still have a walk around with the hub and see where I get the best results. So lower RSRP = better, and lower SINR = better?

I could sacrifice some download speed for a bit better upload if this is possible 🙂

[bulldog555]

It's happen to me as I ended up put the 5G Hub in the loft as the upload getting better now

Before was: 450 to 625 / 5 to 8

Now in loft was: 525 to 700 / 11 to 20

[bulldog555]

You need to read below

[lakhash]

How did you pull out cellular tab?

[craigs85]

Think I just copy and pasted it from the hub login, why?

[martcoug1]

The issue is, you need a good 4g signal too, it uses this for upload unless you can cell lock... Three 5g uses NSA not SA... yet