Modern technologies in developed cities provide users with high-quality communications that usually work stably, without interruptions in data reception and transmission. However, there are situations when the Internet connection is poor, and there are no apparent reasons for this. In this case, it is useful to understand in general the principle of operation of smartphones and their in-depth settings.
The quality of communication is affected by both external conditions and internal settings of the device.
How cellular communications work: standards and frequencies
Communication in a specific territory is carried out by a system of base stations that provide reception and transmission of electronic signals. A pulse has its own wavelength, as well as a frequency, measured in hertz. A telephone or other gadget is a mini-tower that similarly perceives digital information.
Cellular communications operate within established standards:
- 2G. The basis is the CDMA and GSM protocols. This technology is considered outdated and is characterized by very low speed.
- 3G network with CDMA2000/EVDO, UMTS/WCDMA/HSPA standards. It is used by MTS, Megafon and Beeline.
- 4G is a new generation network. Data transmission occurs using LTE technology with high speed.
Note! The home modem operates with frequencies of 2.4 and 5 GHz.
The quality of mobile communications will deteriorate
Over the past few months, most cell phone owners have increasingly noted a deterioration in the quality of communication. Today, no one will be surprised by messages popping up on the phone out of the blue about the impossibility of finding a network. Or suddenly received an SMS informing that “this subscriber called you five times,” although the phone was turned on and no calls were received. Back in the summer of this year, the Big Three operators stated that the problems were temporary, related to the replacement of equipment, and the situation would be resolved literally within a few weeks. However, in reality it turns out that the problems with the quality of communication have not only not been solved, but, it seems, have even worsened.
Officially, two specialized departments are called upon to monitor the quality of services provided by cellular operators - the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications and Roskomnadzor. Moreover, all parameters of the cellular operator’s operation are specified in detail, including in the operator’s license. According to current legislation, the permissible number of unsuccessful or interrupted connections should not exceed 5%. True, the presence of these standards is hardly a consolation for the subscribers themselves: a recent inspection of the three largest domestic operators (Vimpelcom, MTS and Megafon), carried out by Roskomnadzor, did not reveal any violations.
The most unpleasant thing is that it seems that it will not be possible to solve the problems with poor-quality cellular communications in the near future. At the official level, both regulatory agencies and the operators themselves claim that there are no problems with communications in the country.
Operators claim that their internal standards for communication quality are even higher than required by Russian legislation.
“The quality of MTS communications is better in many respects than established standards, for example, in the number of breaks. Their permissible volume is up to 5%, while for MTS it does not exceed 1.2%,” the operator’s press service told Our Version. When asked how a subscriber can check the real state of affairs, representatives of cellular companies prefer not to answer. Obviously, it is assumed that complaints about the quality of connections on the part of subscribers are a rather subjective matter, and it is almost impossible to prove the guilt of the mobile operator. “In fact, now the quality of mobile communications is much better than it was 15 years ago. We have simply forgotten when mobile phones did not receive a signal at any metro station, in some basements, etc.,” notes Eldar Murtazin, leading analyst at Mobile Research Group. At the same time, the presence of certain problems is now recognized by both analysts and even mobile operators.
One of the reasons for the failures is related to the transition to a 3G network and the necessary replacement of equipment. In addition, for example, in Moscow today, far from the entire coverage area is in the 3G network, and constant transitions from 3G to 2G format and back can cause connection breakdowns. “Due to the fact that the 3G network is actively developing in Moscow, in some areas there may be some fluctuations in signal stability due to adaptation to different standards, but these are isolated special cases,” explains the MTS press service.
Indeed, a change in network format can hardly be considered a sufficient explanation for the constant disconnections or the inability to reach anywhere in principle. According to market analysts, cell phone manufacturers have contributed to the decline in communication quality; today, while offering consumers more and more complex devices with a maximum range of functions, they often forget about the main purpose of the phone - voice communication. “Many manufacturers today do not pay enough attention to the radio part, but rely on the fact that the device will work in a good network. Therefore, when such a phone encounters a difficult situation, it simply turns off to reboot,” explains Eldar Murtazin.
On this topic
744
What happens if you don’t pay a microloan?
Every person who has had to go to a bank to apply for a loan is familiar with the feeling of discomfort when you have to stand in endless lines, collect stacks of documents, and be humiliated by telling them for what purposes you need funds.
And with the “ideal” network in Moscow, obviously, there was a big problem. “Moscow is, essentially, a concrete sack. We should also not forget that different operators, as a rule, place their antennas in the same places, which also causes problems,” explains Eldar Murtazin.
Often, users themselves are to blame for communication problems. Recently, large companies have preferred to install so-called cellular network signal amplifiers in their offices - essentially, additional antennas. On the one hand, this leads to the fact that the reception in the building where such a unit is installed actually returns to normal, since it amplifies the base station signal many times over. On the other hand, the area adjacent to the building automatically becomes a zone of uncertain reception. “The effect of such amplifiers can be compared to how if you, living in a multi-story building, installed a pump to increase the pressure of water from the tap. You will certainly have water in your apartment, but your neighbors will have serious problems,” says Murtazin.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that, despite the fact that the installation of such amplifiers is considered illegal (these devices are not even certified in Russia), it turns out to be quite difficult to detect and seize them. The amplifier is a small box that can be hidden anywhere.
It is noteworthy that such signal amplifiers are becoming increasingly popular today. Thus, according to market participants, in Moscow alone at least two to three hundred such devices are sold every month. “This means that, for example, this month at least 200 buildings in the city experienced communication problems that did not depend on a particular operator,” says Murtazin.
Another problem for mobile operators has become, oddly enough, technological progress. Ten years ago, when cell phones essentially only performed voice communication, networks were barely loaded, but today most mobile services (like the Internet) have proven to be too much for them. In addition, the vast majority of smartphones constantly make so-called service calls to the network, that is, there is a load on the network, even if a person is not using his device at a particular moment.
As a result, networks require enormous capacity in order to “clear” resources for voice communications. However, in practice it turns out that cellular operators do not have time to increase capacity in time. “Today networks are growing slower than subscribers. For example, in February of this year, communications were slightly better because operators installed new base stations. But by June, new capacities were selected, and everything returned to normal,” says Eldar Murtazin.
Therefore, it seems impossible to expect that, for example, Roskomnadzor will look for illegally installed signal amplifiers. It is also clear to everyone that no one - neither cell phone manufacturers nor consumers themselves - will refuse more and more complex devices that are entering the market. This means that the capacity of operator stations will still not be enough.
One cannot expect angry protests from consumers, which would be followed by serious sanctions for cellular companies. However, even if it can be proven (which in itself seems very doubtful) that the operator does not meet the parameters established by law for a 5 percent number of unsuccessful connections, the company will only be brought to administrative liability. Such a “misdemeanor”, according to current standards, is punishable by a fine of 10 to 20 thousand rubles.
Mobile network speed and methods for measuring it
Checking the connection speed on a smartphone is possible through applications such as:
- Speedtest.
- Speed Meter Lite.
- Internet Speed Test.
- Simple Speed Test.
Working with Speedtest
After the utility has been downloaded, you just need to open it and click Check.
The following information will be displayed on the screen:
- About the speed of transmitted data.
- Connection stability.
- Results of current and previous diagnostics.
- Suitable for Android and iOS OS.
Free Speed Meter Lite App
Benefits of the program:
- Constant traffic monitoring.
- Control of consumed megabytes.
- Access information at the top of the display.
Internet Speed Test Features
In addition to free use, you can highlight:
- Receive detailed materials about connection.
- Comparison of test results and publishing them on the Internet.
- Selecting a server for analysis.
- Ping check.
- Adjusting parameters for the current connection.
Simple Test program for Android
There are obvious advantages:
- Convenient data presentation.
- Availability of a separate high-speed diagnostic server.
- Tests for downloading files.
- Storing information in an archive.
In Russia, 5 frequency ranges are allocated for operators’ work
Clear cache, change network settings
Let's look at two more methods that will help you increase the speed of your mobile Internet.
The first one is clearing the cache:
- In the “Settings” tab, find the “Smart Manager” column and select the RAM line.
- A list of all programs that consume traffic will appear here. Near applications that are not used, the slider is turned off.
- After this, go to the “Memory” section, where information about the occupied and free space in the phone’s RAM is indicated.
- The line “Unnecessary data” will appear at the bottom of the window; here click the “Delete” button, and then check how much space is freed up in the device’s memory.
The second method involves the Network itself. In some cases, changing its settings helps speed up the mobile Internet. To do this, in the main menu of the device, find the “Mobile networks” tab and select the “Network mode” line. Among the proposed values, set “Auto LTE/WCDMA/GSM”. Thanks to this option, the device will automatically connect to the network with the best signal quality.
The main reasons why the Internet on your phone is slow
There are several main factors:
- Low connection speed from this provider or in the current tariff.
- Several gadgets operating from one Wi-Fi source in the apartment, each of which takes part of the total Internet speed.
- Communication channel congestion: the same channel can be used by different users by default.
- The presence of serious obstacles (for example, thick walls of a house) between the router and the mobile phone, which creates a weak signal.
- Geographical distance from a cell tower is a common problem that occurs in villages and villages.
Phones from the Middle Kingdom
With the advent of access to the World Wide Web, every resident of Russia has the opportunity to buy cheap phones through Chinese online stores. It is worth noting that the difference in price is significantly different, but there are also more risks. By purchasing a phone from an authorized sales point, the buyer can inspect the gadget, try it in operation, and also receive a guarantee that provides free service for a certain period.
What do shops in the Middle Kingdom offer? You can judge the phone you are purchasing only by the picture. It is not always possible to find out the exact characteristics, so some buyers are faced with the problem that the phone does not support the Russian cellular communication standard. In this case, the user will no longer be able to do anything.
What can you do if you have poor internet reception on your mobile phone?
It often happens that cell phone reception is poor outside the city; providing Internet to the private sector is an expensive pleasure.
So, if the Internet at your dacha is weak, what should you do? Buy an external antenna. It will act as an amplifier and stabilize the impulse from the mobile tower. To connect an additional device indoors, you need a PC with a modem turned on, which will distribute Wi-Fi to your phone. The antenna is combined with a computer.
Important! When choosing an amplifier, it is necessary to take into account both the operating frequencies and the signal level at the location of the smartphone. Priority should be given to the standard that works with 4g communications.
