Jump to content

FYI South African base stations (Previously: Azimuth's local South Africa lte base stations)


Azimuth

Recommended Posts

Really?? What's the difference between round and square? I thought microwave always came in the form of a parabolic dish.

Just the design.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's a quick one from an outing today. The weather was very wintery and light was poor so I didn't unpack my DSLR (f/4-5.6 so best for full sun).

 

a5egaget.jpg

Located at a gas station, very popular site here.

 

raha8ute.jpg

Compact site.

 

y4usejaq.jpg

Obligatory warning signs for the people scared of cell tower radiation.

 

y8e8ebys.jpg

This base station belongs to our biggest carrier, Vodacom.

 

tyvavyte.jpg

Super neat BTS shelter.

 

y6aqehyb.jpg

The same refrigeration company as per my first photo shoot.

 

ubynu3es.jpg

I hate these 'camo' sites. You cannot see any equipment! Unfortunately all the newer, smaller sites are like this.

 

So this particular base station hasn't been upgraded to LTE. I surveyed last week and there's only 3G (rather fast 3G mind you).

 

921880426.png

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You know, I've been browsing a lot on S4GRU and seen very modest speeds for LTE. Don't worry, I know all too well the low speed posting rule!

 

I'm just trying to understand the logic of LTE that side. Is 3G so saturated and so poor that modest LTE speeds are like a breath of fresh air?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You know, I've been browsing a lot on S4GRU and seen very modest speeds for LTE. Don't worry, I know all too well the low speed posting rule!

 

I'm just trying to understand the logic of LTE that side. Is 3G so saturated and so poor that modest LTE speeds are like a breath of fresh air?

Our actual 3g that Sprint and Verizon uses caps out around 2mb down when not saturated. Att and T-Mobile use hspa+ which is faux 4g (suped up 3g), and can go up to as high as 42mb down. One main reason sprint has poor 3g some places is due to some towers not having fiber hooked up yet, and not having LTE live to off load some burden either (no fiber means no LTE).

 

Our cell sites were spaced on the needs of populations years ago and they haven't really been adding very many for capacity, especially not in more rural areas. This could be cost related or do to how big of a pain in the ass it is to get permits through in a decent time frame.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting. For a direct comparison, if there's interest, I'll post an image of base stations superimposed onto Google Maps with a scale. It'll be a good basis to compare how each country does spacing. (I'll limit this to my local area only)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting. For a direct comparison, if there's interest, I'll post an image of base stations superimposed onto Google Maps with a scale. It'll be a good basis to compare how each country does spacing. (I'll limit this to my local area only)

If be interested to see a map.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You know, I've been browsing a lot on S4GRU and seen very modest speeds for LTE. Don't worry, I know all too well the low speed posting rule!

 

I'm just trying to understand the logic of LTE that side. Is 3G so saturated and so poor that modest LTE speeds are like a breath of fresh air?

 

3G on the CDMA side (the core technology that Verizon and Sprint use) is based on EVDO-RevA, which has a theoretical maximum speed of 3.1mbps on the downlink. There was a standard created for CDMA, EVDO-RevB, which would increase that speed exponentially, but was never deployed. 

 

The rest of the world uses HSPA and HSPA+ for their 3G/4G base, which offers significantly faster speeds when not on LTE.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Azimuth, on 12 Aug 2014 - 2:22 PM, said:

Interesting. For a direct comparison, if there's interest, I'll post an image of base stations superimposed onto Google Maps with a scale. It'll be a good basis to compare how each country does spacing. (I'll limit this to my local area only)

EDGXjZK.jpg

 

My fixed LTE connection is to GC2772, 1622m away.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I already had suggested that and it is in the planning stages. Robert has agreed and will eventually create a totally new section for Overseas topics of deployments, sites pics, and other topics dealing with Japan, South America, Africa etc. Basically a Softbanks' World Domination plan section.   :D

 

Once the section is created, we'll start moving the threads etc.

 

TS

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have topped out at 2.41 Mbps down and about 1.39 up on 3g at my home about a month or so ago.  Thats the fastest I have seen for 3G.  LTE on the other hand I topped out this last weekend at about 71 down and 14.74 up.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, your LTE result must be some kinda record there? All I've read so far is people getting 8/3 kinda speeds.

That's about the highest a Sprint user can get on LTE here and that's with Sprint Spark (i.e. 20 mhz TDD-LTE carriers) with a theoretical max of 101/14.7 mbps DL-UL speeds. 

 

Lucky individuals may reach the 100 mbps theoretical area for a single carrier from the Sprint 8T8R equipment in the future (whenever they're activated) since that equipment is more capable than the ones being used right now (Huawei & Samsung dual mode TDD-LTE / Wimax RRHs) but as of right now a lot of Clear sites have a giant ? for the backhaul which leaves a wide range of speeds for those connecting to currently live B41 sites. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's what our distribution looks like for the luckiest LTE users in SA:

 

TDD-LTE

 

1. Hyperbole - 85.74Mbps - Pretoria Gardens, Gauteng

2. Fifaguy - 77.54Mbps - Cape Town, Western Cape

3. jacqueso - 76.06Mbps - Centurion, Gauteng

4. Biggles190 - 74.89Mbps - Northwold, Johannesburg, Gauteng (Poynting XPOL-0001)

5. Azimuth - 73.76Mbps - Helderkruin, Roodepoort, Gauteng (Poynting LPDA-0092's)

6. jcheek - 73.03Mbps - Faerie Glen, Pretoria East, Gauteng (Poynting LPDA-0020's)

7. Marakker - 70.59Mbps - Cape Town, Western Cape

8. kurtg - 65.77Mbps - Greenstone, East Rand, Gauteng (Poynting LPDA-0092's)

9. rpm - 49Mbps - Johannesburg, Gauteng

10. oomdomy - 39.32Mbps - Pretoria North, Gauteng

11. saliehendricks - 38Mbps - Cape Town, Western Cape

12. Nobby - 29.68Mbps - George, Western Cape

13. rustyb1968 - 27.15Mbps - Bellville, Western Cape

14. neetz108 - 24.78Mbps - Randburg, Gauteng

15. Lord Farquart - 24.29Mbps - Centurion, Gauteng

16. RichardG - 22.69Mbps - Centurion, Gauteng

17. Gaz{M} - 22.50Mbps - Rooihuiskraal, Pretoria, Gauteng

18. DA-LION-619 - 22.03Mbps - Durban, KZN

19. gauravgupta - 19.3Mbps - Constantia Kloof, Roodepoort, Gauteng

20. Dirk44 - 18.66Mbps - Honeydew Ridge, Roodepoort, Gauteng

21. Grasmuis - 15.34Mbps - Wilgeheuwel, Roodepoort, Gauteng

22. cavedog - 15.13Mbps - Birdswood, Richards Bay, KZN

23. Teejaybee - 11.69Mbps - de Tyger, Cape Town, Western Cape

 

FDD-LTE

 

1. Voldemort - 70.71Mbps - Johannesburg, Gauteng

2. ECape - 68.41Mbps - Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

3. torgo - 59.74Mbps - Johannesburg, Gauteng

4. Azimuth - 49.49Mbps - Sandown, Johannesburg, Gauteng

5. Firetelkom - 45.6Mbps - Key West, Krugersdorp, Gauteng

6. Biggles190 - 42.79Mbps - Northwold, Johannesburg, Gauteng

7. cavedog - 34.47Mbps - Richards Bay, KZN

8. jcheek - 27.86Mbps - Faerie Glen, Pretoria East, Gauteng

9. blunt - 16.12Mbps - Cape Town, Western Cape

10. eehellfire - 14.82Mbps - Johannesburg, Gauteng

11. acidrain - 12.89Mbps - Cape Town, Western Cape

 

People back home don't hold much regard for upload speeds so only download speeds were recorded.

 

Typically:

 

- TDD-LTE uploads are at 8Mbps

- FDD-LTE uploads are at 19Mbps

 

esu9yhe5.jpg

 

The colours on the map have no correlation to the speed tests

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Js8D0mG.jpg
This is a base station approximately 1700m from my house.  I only have partial LOS.  The tower is
35m high.
 
LY5nMK0.jpg
The infamous "camo" sites that just started popping up a few years ago. This site went live on or after

4 December 2011.
 
QHZs6nJ.jpg
One can just see a few sector antennas and a single microwave antenna. (Please correct me if I refer

to these incorrectly?) :rasp:
 
imKtn0X.jpg
Up close.  I was able to get even closer. :tu:
 
TxjZsjI.jpg
Apparently the "branches" can be easily removed to add more antennas.
 
o9OzqGf.jpg
Very neat site, bar a bit of trash on the ground. :angry: I couldn't identify the manufacturer of the BTS
shelter...
 
6ASZBdF.jpg
This site belongs to "No. 3" of the Big Four.  No-one else shares the site.  Cell C currently only offer
2G and 3G.  While they ran LTE trials, they've never gone live.  They use 2100MHz for 3G. I've never
personally used this carrier.
 
TT5WQOn.jpg
Local company that does the camo work.
 
rxFq6CG.jpg
Local company that do the sectional poles.
 
bzDY99U.jpg
A better look at the BTS shelter and the power distribution cabinet. Power supply is usually 380V. For

home owners, our power supply is 220V.  Generally our factories also have 380V supply.
 
M6us9WL.jpg
 
 
MtV9C4U.jpg
If I'm not mistaken that's a plug to connect a portable generator to should the site "go dark".
 
cmiBlRx.jpg
I'm not sure what the "2 share" part of the label is.  I'm pretty sure only one carrier is on the site but
maybe I'm wrong?
 
yUeRTwk.jpg
Triplexers and feeder cable "hangar".
 
EFj6evg.jpg
Kathrein triplexer double unit. Port 1 is GSM 900 (380-960MHz), Port 2 is GSM 1800 (1710-1880MHz),

Port 3 is UTMS (1920-2170MHz). All three ports are combined into Port 4 at the top.
 
v9Tmxdn.jpg
 
 
Y4e4tUP.jpg
Arrrg trash obscuring the beautiful equipment. :angry:
 
tXOl007.jpg
To be honest I'm not sure what they are...are they ground radio units?
 
iga0o8g.jpg
 
 
NzhEIlB.jpg

All the feeder cables running underground to the tower.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The first few images were taken with an iPhone 5S, the rest - as with the others - were taking using a Canon 550D (think it's called a Rebel something or other in the US) and 75-300mm lens.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The first few images were taken with an iPhone 5S, the rest - as with the others - were taking using a Canon 550D (think it's called a Rebel something or other in the US) and 75-300mm lens.

Just didn't know what phones were prevalent there.  Much Android support?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Android is huge here, especially the Samsung phones. iPhone is more niche. There are also quite a few BB users as well!

 

We have a few carrier phones too which are the cheap android variety.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • large.unreadcontent.png.6ef00db54e758d06

  • gallery_1_23_9202.png

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • In the conference call they had two question on additional spectrum. One was the 800 spectrum. They are not certain what will happen, thus have not really put it into their plans either way (sale or no sale). They do have a reserve level. Nationwide 800Mhz is seen as great for new technologies which I presume is IOT or 5g slices.  T-Mobile did not bite on use of their c-band or DOD.  mmWave rapidly approaching deadlines not mentioned at all. FWA brushes on this as it deals with underutilized spectrum on a sector by sector basis.  They are willing to take more money to allow FWA to be mobile (think RV or camping). Unsure if this represents a higher priority, for example, FWA Mobile in RVs in Walmart parking lots working where mobile phones need all the capacity. In terms of FWA capacity, their offload strategy is fiber through joint ventures where T-Mobile does the marketing, sales, and customer support while the fiber company does the network planning and installation.  50%-50% financial split not being consolidated into their books. I think discussion of other spectrum would have diluted the fiber joint venture discussion. They do have a fund which one use is to purchase new spectrum. Sale of the 800Mhz would go into this. It should be noted that they continue to buy 2.5Ghz spectrum from schools etc to replace leases. They will have a conference this fall  to update their overall strategies. Other notes from the call are 75% of the phones on the network are 5g. About 85% of their sites have n41, n25, and n71, 90% 5g.  93% of traffic is on midband.  SA is also adding to their performance advantage, which they figure is still ahead of other carriers by two years. It took two weeks to put the auction 108 spectrum to use at their existing sites. Mention was also made that their site spacing was designed for midrange thus no gaps in n41 coverage, while competitors was designed for lowband thus toggles back and forth for n77 also with its shorter range.  
    • The manual network selection sounds like it isn't always scanning NR, hence Dish not showing up. Your easiest way to force Dish is going to be forcing the phone into NR-only mode (*#*#4636#*#* menu?), since rainbow sims don't support SA on T-Mobile.
    • "The company’s unique multi-layer approach to 5G, with dedicated standalone 5G deployed nationwide across 600MHz, 1.9GHz, and 2.5GHz delivers customers a consistently strong experience, with 85% of 5G traffic on sites with all three spectrum bands deployed." Meanwhile they are very close to a construction deadline June 1 for 850Mhz of mmWave in most of Ohio covering 27500-28350Mhz expiring 6/8/2028. No reported sightings.  Buildout notice issue sent by FCC in March 5, 2024 https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/letterPdf/LetterPdfController?licId=4019733&letterVersionId=178&autoLetterId=13060705&letterCode=CR&radioServiceCode=UU&op=LetterPdf&licSide=Y&archive=null&letterTo=L  No soecific permits seen in a quick check of Columbus. They also have an additional 200Mhz covering at 24350-25450 Mhz and 24950-25050Mhz with no buildout date expiring 12/11/2029.
    • T-Mobile Delivers Industry-Leading Customer, Service Revenue and Profitability Growth in Q1 2024, and Raises 2024 Guidance https://www.t-mobile.com/news/business/t-mobile-q1-2024-earnings — — — — — I find it funny that when they talk about their spectrum layers they're saying n71, n25, and n41. They're completely avoiding talking about mmWave.
    • Was true in my market. Likely means a higher percentage of 5g phones in your market.
  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...