Using a Stella Doradus repeater to boost LTE (B20) and 3G (B8)

dollylama

I intend to purchase a Stella Doradus repeater and have done some homework on what bands are in use for each network at my location.

I'm hoping to boost LTE and 3G for voice if VoLTE is not in use. I'm not too bothered with 2G/GSM. I can access a good signal for each MNO on each service in the location I will be placing the antenna but I'm a little confused about the frequencies I'm seeing and how how a Stella Doradus unit handles these.

I'm seeing the following:

LTE: Band 20 for all operators (837 - 857 for TX and 796 - 816 for RX)

3G: Band 8 for all operators (887 - 907 for TX and 932 - 952 for RX)

2G: E/P-GSM 900 (883 - 903 for TX and 928 - 956 for RX)

If I were to purchase the likes of Stella Doradus model SD-RP1002-LG which is B20/B8 (800/900Mhz) but labelled as for boosting GSM Voice & 4G LTE, would this also boost 3G in the 900Mhz bands or am I misunderstanding how 3G operates?

(https://stelladoradus.com/product/stellahome-family/) ... (https://www.novatel.ie/gsm-voice-4g-800mhz-signal-booster)

I'm going to contact reseller Novatel tomorrow but hopefully one of the tech heads here can give some insight.

Thanks

The Cush

A repeater repeats the frequency/band and therefore whatever that frequency carries, basically it's blind to the content carried.

B20/B8 (800/900 MHz) carries 4g/2g,3g services respectively

Is B1/B3 (2100/1800 MHz) available in your area? This is a unit that covers the 4 bands - https://stelladoradus.com/product/lcd-repeater-kit/

Your list of frequencies isn't correct, you can find all the frequencies used by the mobile network operators here - https://www.comreg.ie/industry/radio-spectrum/licensing/search-licence-type/mobile-licences/

dollylama

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119242383#Comment_119242383

Thanks for this. I had an inkling my frequencies were off but I did pull them from the cellmapper app, one sim at a time and locking the phone to 2G, 3G and LTE for each SIM and noting the bands displayed in app.

3 flashed up with UMTS / Hx on band 1 on the old o2 identifier but there was also a slightly weaker 3/o2 UMTS signal on band 8, as per all the other networks. I suspect the phone or app is identifying the band 8 signals as 3G when in 3G mode but do they supply 3G data or does the phone kick up to band 1 or band 3 networks when data calls? I'll redo my checks later and try push some data over each connection while watching what the cellmapper app records

dollylama

I'm still confused about the Band 8 900Mhz I'm seeing on 3G mode and having a look at Cellmapper data, the country is covered in Band 8 (E-GSM 8 FDD) sites showing subtypes of UMTS, HSPA and HSPA+

Example: https://www.cellmapper.net/map?MCC=272&MNC=3&type=UMTS&latitude=53.34785579808826&longitude=-6.25327472697762&zoom=16&showTowers=true&showTowerLabels=true&clusterEnabled=false&tilesEnabled=true&showOrphans=false&showNoFrequencyOnly=false&showFrequencyOnly=false&showBandwidthOnly=false&DateFilterType=Last&showHex=false&showVerifiedOnly=false&showUnverifiedOnly=false&showLTECAOnly=false&showENDCOnly=false&showBand=0&showSectorColours=true&mapType=roadmap

Is this some form of idle 3G where phones actually sit on the GSM network until a data session opens? I cannot find any information online about Band 8 being used in 3G yet as above, Cellmapper data would imply otherwise

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119246550#Comment_119246550

I don't fully understand your question and I'm not too familiar with cellmapper.

I use Network Cell Info Lite (raw data tab) to see what band is in use and what bands are adjacent.

Upstairs here it's mostly Band 8 3g (mixed UMTS, HSPA and HSPA+) with occasional Band 28/20 LTE, downstairs it's Band 8 2g.

Band 8 3g is both voice and data, Band 2g is voice. The phone selects the best available service when in use.

I also use the Network Signal Info app for current band info.

smuggler.ie

@The Cush as you have experience with both, is stella repeater good for 4G re-transmission compare to external antenna+router to serve for data?

Uncertain what expectations and goals OP has, but as he/she "not too bothered with 2G/GSM " might assume(potentially wrong) more for data than just voice boost.

The Cush

I don't have a repeater or 4g router myself but will probably be going the repeater route in due course. So I don't have direct user experience of using a repeater or 4g router.

My two brothers have repeaters, one a 900 and the other an 800/900.

As you know, my brother with the 900, has the B818 router with external aerial, very happy with its performance. My other brother is thinking of, at some point going the fixed wireless route too and dropping the crap landline.

Comparing the 800 MHz repeater against the B818 router, basically the 4g router outperforms the repeater but there is an issue of obstructing trees there.

smuggler.ie

Thanks.

My assumption would be, repeater might be fine for light mobile data, mainly for voice usage, but would not provide enough for moderate/heavy data consumption. I guesstimate they dont support CA or do they?

https://www.repeater24.com/media/pdf/85/a7/01/eng_brochure_1002-LG-4PYow7ftyNjg105.pdf

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119247911#Comment_119247911

No, but of course that's not how they work. They simply pull the raw frequency band from outside, amplify it, and retransmit it inside, ignoring any content carried, your phone does the rest.

heavydawson

@dollylama The 700Mhz spectrum is coming online (and is already online in many areas). Particularly if you're in a rural area, I'd recommend getting a repeater that covers that for future proofing.

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119289084#Comment_119289084

Cost will be an issue here. Stella Doradus has only one repeater with 700 MHz, a 5 band unit costing almost €1,700.

A 3 band unit might be a cheaper compromise for rural areas, covering 700-900 MHz.

Maybe once the band is auctioned and operational there could be an incentive to have different variations of 700 band repeaters.