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Can't explain of Gomo/Eir suddenly bad speed.

  • 19-03-2025 09:47PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭


    Hi, I've been using GoMo (Eir) on my phone and mobile router for 2 years now and it has been good so far up until before this St. Patrick's Day weekend. It has been unstable with some good moments up to 30-40 mbps, but a lot of bad moments that it is not even 1 mbps or only just about 1-2. Tried to restart, move router, nothing. My phone shows 5G is on. My router is only 4G. It feels as if the internet itself is bad and not from my phone or my router.

    In the past these can happen just a day or so, and usually when I chat with GoMo they will tell that there is technician working on the mast. But this time since it has been 5 days now it is probably not that. Went on the chat and they said to change APN, which I have have and tried both (meteor and eirmobile). They said to turn off the phone for 10 mins and turn on again, but yeah the problem is still the same. This is around Rosscarbery in rural area, and I don't want to find another provider, or pay more for other mobile broadband since this has been work great so far.

    Tagged:


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    Sorry to say, but if trust comreg maps you unlikely can expect 5G. Also, in certain situations 4G might be much better that 5G
    According Comreg, your nearest Eir 5G mast(your precise location dependent) is in Ballyduvane and coverage(outdors) quite patchy around Rosscarbery. 5G @8km distance - highly unlikely, unless you have external antenna that work on those frequencies.
    Your town has one and surrounded by several Eir 4G capable masts - Beduf, Caherbeg. @4km distance you have good stance, but i'd still recommend external antenna.

    Locate yourself on Siteviewer map and see what mast are closest to you and what services they carry. Take it from there.

    services on masts:
    GSM=2G
    UMTS=3G
    LTE=4G
    NR=5G



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    thanks for helping. Yes I use that website as well and I am basically in the middle of the one in Rosscarbery and Caherbeg. I think Rosscarbery is a bit closer.

    Though I use CellMapper and on the phone is shows I connect to the one in Caherbeg. On that app the map does not show the mast in Rosscarbery town. I don’t know why. So I wonder if before this where the speed is decent it actually use that mast in Rosscarbery, and now that mast is gone?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    Unlikely that the only mast in town would be decommissioned, but what do i know...
    Wonderful, right in the mid of town 😊 . does it carry Eir? - no idea, check what coverage you have next time you in town.
    comreg has precise locations - gov institution after all, but might be outdated too
    cellmapper will/might lack precision due to data available from users running app and not the officials. Does not look like there are many cellmapper users in your area

    What device you have ?

    Post edited by smuggler.ie on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    I think maybe Cellmapper doesn't show the one in Rosscarbery, but actually there is one? because on the app it says in number of 42210:2 (B20 LTE). And I could not see mast with that number around me.

    It is either that 42210 is actually the one in Rosscarbery, but the map view doesn't show it? Or 42210 is just so far away that I don't even see it in the area, which I doubt because the signal is not going to go that far and why my phone would do that. If anything it should connect to the one in Caherbeg which is 43200. Or maybe I just don't know how to read these numbers.

    Another question, I have not a lot of budget and don't want to pay the external antenna price. Would this indoor booster helps you think? It is only 20 euro.

    https://www.freetv.ie/mobile-broadband-booster-antenna/

    Thanks.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    image.png image.png

    As far i am aware, eir is the only operator whos site ID nomenclature has resemblance in siteviewer and cellmapper, you can check other areas where more data available in cellmapper

    image.png

    As mentioned, cellmapper accuracy could be miles off if insufficient data provided, but with eir ID's should be easy to pin-point.
    Also, comreg site(actually both, cellmapper display dates first/last seen) could be well dated and lack of new ID's or still display ID's that no longer in service


    I am not familiar with antenna you linked, but judging by price and lack of technical info i would not touch it with stick. seem waste of 20 to me.
    At distances under 1.5-2 Km you might get some improvement with omni-directional
    Distances over that i would recommend directional antenna for best results.
    i have two sets and can confirm that they actually work great:
    Iskra P58 (4G only)
    Iskra P60 (4G and 5G)
    Other options available, but usually you get what you pay for
    disclaimer: not advertising seller, but had good interaction including replacement shipped ondamaged goods without much fuss.

    When i was using these antennas (no longer as new mast build just 1/2 mile away) i was pointing to mast ~4Km away, getting speed in excess of 250DL/50UL
    !!This does not guaranty your experience will be same!!


    B3(band 3) is best runner for me at the moment, but its "mid-range" runner, where B20, B28 would go bit further however with lower speeds(seems what you get now).

    Good deal depend on router in use (brand/model you have?). CA (carrier aggregation) come to play where you can gain speeds due to ability to use several bands at same time, providing mast does have multiple bands available.
    I am currently use Huawei B818 (4G only) and ZTE 801A(5G) and… - ready… 4G beats 5G by good bit 😉, but this apply to me only due to various factors outside my control.

    hope this helps



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    Wow thanks for the info. Yeah so I suppose I am connected to the one in Caherbeg (42210). Thanks for the tip on the antenna. I suppose I might pass it for now with that price. Also I am rental and didn't want to go on the trouble to talk with the landlord to install the external antenna (they can be a bit skeptical with these technologies stuff, and they probably scuff it off and tell me to go get the mobile broadband plan, but those are 40-50 euro a month). To be honest I also skeptical myself with the 20 euro booster.

    I guess B818 is better than mine and maybe better CAT spec on B818 could help? (I have no clue). Anyway, I am cheap so I won't be getting that either soon, and I actually don't mind a good 4G. Like 30-40 mb is more than enough. Even 15 mb I could live because I don't online gaming these days.

    The internet is on and off, but still bearable for youtube, vid-call. Probably annoying when I have to download video games or something. I just hope the speed got back to where it was until then.

    So you mean if I get the strong external antenna, I might as well point it toward the closest mast with band 3, even though there is band 20,28 that are even closer?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    cellmapper list "registered" bands, comreg dont, not all masts have same bands. Make few circles around your area with cellmapper app - 1km radius from your place, 2km, … once data uploaded, might give you more info about cell/band availability in the area.
    Router does not have to be brand new - i have secondhand for last n years and no complaints. For you - dont think you need to chase 5G, not for near future as it looks.
    Eir is not the only provider for data, you know - perhaps worth a test with other providers (beware of unlocked router/phone required for testing/use)
    With huawei router you could install and run LTE H-monitor - this (free version, dont have to pay) tool allow to "lock" on desired bands(providing bands available in the area, might require re-locking once in the while). other apps available, only mention what i use/know.

    From two decades or so ago, but still valid - placing router up high with minimum obstructions might help with signal/speed - have access to the attic?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    Yeah I actually got my router second hand. I think I won't be chasing 5G because in the end a very good 4G is more than enough for me.

    About the provider, I actually did at the beginning of living here. I got another modem then and tried Three and Vodafone. Three is crap even on the phone, and Vodafone is locked to be use on router. I think Vodafone might be good. But at the time GoMo (Eir) is very good. As I said it is only started on the St. Patrick's weekend and seems to not getting so much better. But it is like, okay to stream, etc. Just that there are short period I go to speedtest.net and suddenly got 30 mbps and feel like maybe it is over, but then again it got back to 2-3 which is kind of the norm now. It used to be around 15-20. So, maybe the peak time it gets slow. But to be fair I've been using this for 2 years and it wasn't like this before.

    At the moment the router is at one of the desk next to the window. It might be just me, but if I move just 10 cm from that spot, I already get worst dBm (see on my phone though). So my phone on this router spot is around -80 dBm, so I put the router there. It is the second level, no attic.

    I just poke around with the program you mentioned. Somehow when I click find cell, it shows this area….maybe it is not the same with mast?

    image.png

    And as you can see below, the speed is pretty bad and up and down (I hope I read the graph right)

    image.png


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    Your signal stats seem OK providing distance to the mast (what is it, give or take 2Km ?)
    42210 does not seem to appear on cellmapper - did you upload data from your app?

    how much mobile data have you done in this billing period? by chance you hit the ceiling (120GB) and now throttled to 5Mbps?

    10cm is a lot ! 😊
    TBH i went through all this before i got antennas - move/turn/rotation of router on any axis could have impact of some degree.

    Now that you have Hmonitor, you can move router around and see if there is better spot
    Hmonitor display what mast(eNB ID), cell and band you actually connected with router - is it still 42210 or 43200 or different?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    Under network it says:

    Network:

    eir

    MCC-MNC:

    272-03

    TAC-CID:

    40121-10805762

    eNB Id:

    42210 (sector 2)

    UL:

    837.0 MHhz (band 20)

    DL:

    796.0 MHhz (band 20)

    Session:

    0j 8h 46m

    And I was surprised as seen on the last screenshot of the map after click "find cell", that it connect to a cell in that location screenshot. I dont know there is mast there. Could it be a mistake? It only works on cartoradio under find cell button. Cellmapper shows not found. So I wonder if this is the actual problem? that it connects to not the main mast (sorry for my lack of knowledge). But yeah on paper it says 42210.

    2 km sounds right. I asked the GoMo chat once how far is my place to the mast. They said there are 2 mast about 2 km from me. So I am in the middle of that kind of.

    About the usage, yes I did check because I happen all the time but it wasn't the case sadly. Now I want to check again because of it has been a bit while, but it shows an error at the moment under usage on my GoMo account.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    as far i can see , cartoradio covers french territories only, they don't seem to expand to other EU countries on continent or ROI

    As per table above (i take it from your router) you are connected to 42210 on B20, comreg indicate this site located in Caherbeg and i dont see reason to think different
    This is all that you know about 42210. there could be other bands on it, but unless you circle the place few times with cellmapper on your phone and upload data you wont know more.

    on Hmonitor, force your router UL band into B3, see if it get connection and if it does see what speed you get.

    image.png



    Gomo support should be able to tell you if you over limits. bit pointless troubleshoot speed issues in case you are capped by ISP.

    If you based north of Ardagh East, Rosscarbery does not look appealing even if you closer to it due to terrain.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    Thanks for the help.

    I tried to config the band as you said, but it shows blank on the dropdown list after I choose B3 (see picture). I suppose that mean it can't find any B3 to connect to? Anyway, if I click refresh, or close and open the program again, it shows back to B20.

    2025-03-24_at_17.21.34.png

    Also my usuage at this moment of checking is 100 GB, so the data usage should not be the case, since last week the usage is likely lower even.

    I was in Rosscarbery and check cell mapper on my phone. Obviously got a very good speed (pic below). Well because I am just next to the mast.

    I guess I just hope that the speed came back like before. Just don't know what happened. I have days off work and will probably see then. If I go with the external antenna route, would it make sense to try to get band 3 from the mast in Rosscarbery?

    Also, I don't think I mentioned, that there is one new neighrbor move in the room next to my place. She has the internet from Rural-wifi. I wonder if that company use the mast from Eir. I mean it is only one adding person so I think this is ridiculous theory, but just thought that it might interfere with the signal?

    Post edited by pizzacooper on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    I do not encourage you to disclose any information that might expose your personal information including your location. Should you choose to do so - PM, but even then i can't ensure it wont be read by other parties(board's admin/mods/etc/hell-know-who-else). Where i have no intentions to cause you any harm by sharing out info given to me or any other way, you should not trust random person on the internet public forum even if it would be hosted in ROI, let alone abroad. Be wise. You have one day(24h , mods help after this term) to remove data from you post and let me know (PM) you want me to cut/edit some from mine.

    Now that we done with conspiracies… :D


    You never stated brand/model of your router - are you still on tp-link mr500 ? If you are, i cant comment how software would behave even if its able to connect to it and read some info. hmonitor , according its producers, is designed to work with huawei brand only. B3 missing is not promising much, but we deal with what we have.

    Despite you have disabled/not enabled data upload to cellmapper, you now know that Rosscarbery mast ID is 43524 and this indeed correspond to comreg EIR_CK_3524, you still don't know all the bands available there. Cellmapper reads not only cells that your phone is connected to, but neighboring cells(bands) as well. Its your free choice to upload data or not .

    All below is nice presentation with images, but real life situations could prove all that wrong.
    I am not radiowave wizard, just a fella that went through same hassle back a decade ago as you are right now. Dont mind share my knowledge/experience, but it will be you to test and prove me wrong :D

    If we hypothetically take your location is rosalithr B&B(green pointer for all below), you have huge lump of rock on the way to Rosscarbery and this does not take consideration of buildings and trees.

    image.png

    Same time path to caherbeg is more/less clear

    image.png

    Where it does not eliminates your possible connection to rosscarbery, i think signal would be stronger from caherbeg.
    Benduff is an option with clear path, but double distance and without directional antenna could be overwhelmed by signal from caherbeg.

    image.png

    Note: before commitment to buy, please read mounting instruction of antenna's that have linked(or any other) - there are specifics


    As for your neighbor - congestion is a factor, but i dont think to that degree by one odd person/connection.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    Thanks for letting me know. I don't even know which part I revealed my location, so I just delete the Cellmapper image because there is a bunch of number I have no idea about that could be the coordinates? I also delete the part where I said I am located between "this" and "that".

    My modem is locked to Eir Hauwai B628-265 I got from CeX. As I said it was quite good before and now at the time of writing maybe a bit better. But it always just many moments that the internet just fall down from 10-12 mbps to 0.5-2 mbps. I mean maybe that's normal, but now I look at it constantly so I see the problem more. But it is totally better than when I started this thread for sure, probably not back to where it was though I think.

    That radio path is awesome explanation. I actually wonder then if I have the antenna to point at Caherbeg to boost it make sense. I just hope it is not that the signal is stronger yes, but the internet speed is the same. Would stronger signal means faster internet?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    Did you try stick your router out the window?

    Check and ensure router not set for external antenna

    Record eNB and cell ID's, might become handy later.

    Go closer to caherbeg or even all three sites and see if you able to register B3 or any other bands. Problem is that you dont know what tower and cell(band) you were connected while you had good/better speed



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    I haven't yet. Just a phone. With phone stuck outside the open window, the dBm is similar to the spot where is the best signal strength in the house.

    I wonder now that I use H-Monitor, which one is the dBm of my router? I guess the RSRP? because RSSI show -65 dBm and with my understanding that is really good signal then (pic below). I might try to move router. I just put it there using my cellmapper on phone as a guide. But I bet nothing gonna beat the current spot anyway.

    image.png


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    They all important, see here, search web for more info, perhaps here
    signal metrics could be , how to put it …
    I would accept compromise in some instances - say you could have average/poor signal metrics on B3 (as long you can maintain that connection ), but your speed could be higher than with better signal metrics on B20/B28

    BTW, disregard signal "bars" on the phone - those are controlled by ISP and ISP decide to show 2-3-4 bars within their firmware. dBm are real values , just not simple to interpret.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    Thanks. Maybe it is a bit too deep into the topic for my brain. But I understand your explanation that B3 lower signal might be faster than B20 with good signal.

    I wonder, if there is a way to set my router to try to get the signal from the mast in Rosscarbery, just to see if that would help with the situation. I remembered you showed me that it the radio path might be worst. But if there is a way, it is worth a try.

    I don't think contact GoMo will help either. I could see they will just say "turn the phone on and off", etc. But this is really weird because as I said, after St. Patrick's weekend just like that they are bad. My phone uses GoMo as well, and it is bad too. Maybe I should still contact GoMo and mentioned that something must be wrong with that mast in Caherbeg. I got a colleague and she uses Eir and it has been bad as well, though she lives in Leap. I also started to think if I was connect to the one in Rosscarbery all along before all this, but somehow now my router/phone decided to use the one in Caherbeg. All the theory and I even think I might just invest in Starlink and done…(don't want to support that company though).



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    Without antenna - dont see how this could work.

    With antenna - trial-and-error, still dont like that hump on the way to Rosscarbery. Router decides what cell to connect based on signal strength. With some software(like hmonitor) you have ability to force specific band(cell) , but this providing that that signal is present - you say B3 not an option for you.
    Also, not enough data on cellmapper to confirm that there is B3, caherbeg 42210 (EIR_CK_2210) is missing altogether.

    try hmonitor again, reload if needed , see if settings you have are right, try different. Mine looks like this(note list of bands under upload). I am forcing UL to B3, DL is selected to B1,3,20,28 - most common, but not all sites might have all of them .

    image.png image.png

    Observe events tab - logs would indicate if your router switching between cells/masts. record info(export) as its cleared once app closed.

    Also, try to run x5 tabs of speed test at the same time or download big file (2-4GB). I noticed that my "casual" speed could sometime settle to DL40/UL60 and boost up 180/60 if i apply "load" (this where CA kick-in)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    Thanks. I did the band selection again, and as usual when I select B3 under upload band and then click save, it revert back to B20. Under the download bands I select B1,3,20,28 as you mentioned. Well the internet at the moment might be that moment of the day that is not so bad (6-15 mbps) but usually pre this, a good time of day I could get up till 30-40.

    Under events, there is nothing at all. Just one entry say that "the program started". Anyway, I think if I can't bare it, maybe invest in antenna would be something. I mean, my neighbor using Rapid Internet, Rural Wi-Fi and essentially it is the same idea right? An antenna install outside to get a good signal that transfer to the wi-fi router inside.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    If your router does not stick to forced B3 (or any other B*) and roll back to B20 - the band is just not available or signal to weak
    If there is no entries in the log - router didnt even "grip" on any other band/cell.
    Me trying to force-connect to other cell(on different mast) few years back - roll-back as signal was not strong/steady enough

    image.png


    R WiFi(other) - idea the same, different setup/equipment/control.
    It depends - some dont care/dont want to care, as long there is internet… until when there isn't and you stuck.

    Your neighbor is in contract(as everywhere - T's&C's/caps/FUP) for at least a year and cant terminate/switch without fees, service still depend on third parties like mobile providers, etc. Controls might be limited as they do not owe gear.

    With unlocked router i have options to chose ISP and switch at will, with PAYG plans available dont have to "lock" myself into contract and i control/manage the equipment i owe. Suite me, might not work for everyone.

    Your situation is what it is and it will take you to decide - R WiFi/satellite/other - whatever works best to get result that is best at your circumstance. Investment in to gear is risk, especially where you have no assurance of outcome.
    This why i suggest to investigate nearest sites for band availability (cellmapper/other) before commitment. 2km from mast is not big factor - i was running ~250/50 for several years from mast 4km away(external antenna, B1/3/20/28 available on the mast). ISP change their gear on masts too(might be Eir "killed" B3 or fault ?) - once in the while might be worth to get 3/VF SIM for a change, again - unlocked router needed.
    BTW , is you B628 locked? is it labeled with Eir/has Eir logo in the GUI(web interface) ? did you attempt to install 3/VF SIM into it ? after all it might be not locked - worth a shot to test(if you have someone with other provider phone ask them for a cup of tee/coffee/pint and …… )




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    Thanks. Yeah my B628 is eir. Long story short, I used to have TP-Link something, and I made a mistake restarting it while the firmware was updating. So, I just rush to fix the problem by buying cheap on CeX so I didn't care if it is unlock because when I had the TP I tried all provider. Three was crap, Vodafone doesn't work because somehow they know when I put on the mobile router, so the internet doesn't work, only work on phone. I tried GoMo and it was really good. As I said before this around the house I'd get 10+ at least if not 30-40.

    Maybe there is a way to make Vodafone sim works? Yeah I also have Three sims from the testing phrase I had. Guess I could put 20 euro on Three sim I have and see if it is better (Gomo is only 15). And I don't remember the fair use limit on Three. But I remember that whne you go over, the speed is total crap. Gomo when I go over it comes down at around 5-6 which is still nice. If it works as it should. So I won't need to ask someone for a tea/coffee/pint and ….)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    not tracking T&C's on three currently so dont know if there is such thing, perhaps some new introduced. ISP's print those in amount we would not have enough a**** to wipe.

    Always was under impression there is non with three, I use to do ~1TB for months and never had any issues/restrictions, but i am on "legacy" SIM, might be different

    If you still have three SIM - stick-it-in , as long its still active (<180d since last top-up/use) even if you have no credits, you will see if it register on the network or fail



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    I forgot that my router is lock to Eir. I wonder if there is anything to do to unlock it that it is not too complicated to my okay tech skill.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭smuggler.ie


    If its truly locked, i would not be good adviser how to unlock. I have done it to two devices and was in luck, but i had accepted the risk of "bricking" it before-hand and had "backup" device in place.
    It takes some research and might involve paying third party to get unlock code or soft to generate one.
    I think it works "cheaper"/less hassle to get unlocked device in first place, especially with sellers that can be trusted with warranty/return (like CEX), unless you into it…

    Post edited by smuggler.ie on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭pizzacooper


    Yeah, I wouldn't want to risk that because I kind of "bricking" my TP-Link before got the Huawei.

    Anyway, I read somewhere about mobile internet on rural Ireland, and one person comment on using 3G which for that person is good enough since 3G signal would be more stable. I tried this and I get a constant 9-10 Mbps. Yes, it is very slow for my liking, but at least it is stable to deal with the problem for now.

    I did chat with GoMo agent online, when I said the issue, and also mention about the mast in Caherbeg, the response was that that mast is due to have technician look over the next day, which I feel it is a bluff. 2 days passed, still crap. So, for now I just tell my router to use 3G only.



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