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Everything posted by Azimuth
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Configuration-wise I'm not worried. Is my idea sound? Does an "overloaded cell" automatically affect all carriers operating on the tower or, as per my thinking, do separate backhauls for each carrier sort that out? What will be a fiddle is fitting in two LTE CPE's into the current shelving scheme without creating an eyesore. A second outdoor antenna won't be a problem as I can remove the UniFi Outoor+ AP to make space on the mast. Can anyone comment on SON as an aside? P.S. The Peplinks are so damn fine... Another case for this whole idea is that I will no longer have to switch SIM cards. (20GB pm with the larger carrier, 10GB pm with the smaller carrier)
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No WiFi needed! I have multiple Ubiquiti UniFi APs doing those duties. I'd naturally locate the load balancer in my office where my ToughSwitch Pro sits, so getting network cables there isn't a problem. I'm not a huge fan of TP-Link but the price makes everything more affordable. The Peplinks just come so highly recommended ... but do affect the project feasibility.
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Context: I use a fixed LTE service at home instead of DSL ie. I make use of a LTE CPE and it's the Internet part of my home network. This then feeds into my Ubiquiti ToughSwitch Pro. Would it be feasible to install a load balancing device and use two LTE carriers at the same time? With their own separate backhauls and subscriber base, the larger carrier presumably gets much more overloaded than the smaller carrier. I'm specifically talking about two carriers on the *same* tower. I've just tested and the smaller carrier is running much quicker on downloads during peak times. Larger carrier, off-peak: Larger carrier during peak time: Smaller carrier during peak time: The larger carrier uses FDD-LTE, as can be seen by the upload speed, while the smaller carrier uses TDD-LTE. I could possibly use the one for upload and the other for download, since upload is almost never affected (for the larger carrier the upload speed is significant). I have a friend that employs a Peplink Balance 20 but he uses DSL and LTE. Any thoughts? The Peplink is really pricey which makes the idea more a nice-to-have than anything else. I've read about Self-Organizing Networks (SON), where the overloaded cell offloads to neighbouring cells, but I have no idea if this tech is used in our country hence the idea of load balancing myself.
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An introduction to South African carriers
Azimuth replied to Azimuth's topic in International Networks
Quoted you Robert but moved it here. We have a government deadline of 2018, I think, to reach certain milestones in broadband. There was a huge push a couple years ago where they were laying fiber in every damn street I drove in. It's such a pity I wasn't into cellular back then, or I would've taken a boat load of photos. FTTH, MSANs and LTE are all that matters here now. The former two have nothing to do with cellular of course. The race is now last mile and LTE site upgrades (typically 30Mbps sites are upgraded to 100Mbps). So tell me: is LTE that side for mobile phone use only? No "fixed broadband" home use like here where a LTE CPE is pushed in instead of an ADSL router?- 28 replies
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An introduction to South African carriers
Azimuth replied to Azimuth's topic in International Networks
That's where we fall off. 1Gbps? Our FTTH is coming in at 100Mbps. Sigh. One day. Pretty stoked about LTE still.- 28 replies
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Information about S4GRU Sponsorship levels and how to become a Sponsor
Azimuth replied to S4GRU's topic in Important Threads
Thank you Robert, appreciate the sentiment. -
An introduction to South African carriers
Azimuth replied to Azimuth's topic in International Networks
On the subject of roaming, my call plan is with Telkom Mobile but they don't have coverage everywhere. They're in an agreement with MTN to allow their customers to roam on MTN when out-of-coverage. I get a measly 150MB which I really have to treasure. 1500 minutes is unbelievable! Luckily with Telkom Mobile, TM to TM calls are free. Really enjoying this. We've recently had a major shake-up in the industry with mobile termination rates (inter-network). This has triggered a price war and MTN have just posted lower profits as a result. Edit: 12GB!- 28 replies
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Right, another site I photographed and which I detailed from the consumer side here I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't take in the whole tower...zoomed all the way out to 75mm was still too close! I've learnt my lesson to cart my 17-55mm with next time. So this site had three carriers operating on the tower. A reminder that I intro'd these here. This is MTN. Quite a mix of antennas plus microwave. I see a real small directional panel antenna as well. A closer look... I don't know if it's just me but the cabling is rather messy on this tower. Powerwave label visible. The microwave dish is pretty small - is this the standard size? Any way to tell if this is for backhaul or to feel other cells? My lens is just a bit short of reach to read the labels; perhaps I should have used my tripod to stabilise and make the writing clearer. In any event, the images here obviously are short of resolution compared to the originals. Looking up into the belly of the beast. Cell C carrier. I personally haven't used this carrier yet. I've use the other three daily. Huawei RRU. Not sure what this little guy is for but it's an Ericsson antenna. If I'm not mistaken the label has fallen off here. Powerwave I think? The last operator, "8ta", which was rebranded about a year ago as Telkom Mobile. People incorrectly shorten it here as "T-Mobile" which is one of your carriers. This is the carrier I was looking for and would be connecting to from 806m away. I obtained a symmetric 9Mbps down/up connection with a LOS install at the consumer side. I know I can get at least 30Mbps so I've reported this site to Telkom Mobile.
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An introduction to South African carriers
Azimuth replied to Azimuth's topic in International Networks
What is 'unlimited' there? Here they use the word liberally but place a limit on it - advertising board hadn't nailed them yet.- 28 replies
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Information about S4GRU Sponsorship levels and how to become a Sponsor
Azimuth replied to S4GRU's topic in Important Threads
Done. -
An introduction to South African carriers
Azimuth replied to Azimuth's topic in International Networks
Going with the current exchange rate of USD10.735:1ZAR - $56pm for my calling plan with Telkom Mobile, including 5GB mobile data, 10GB WiFi hotspot data, 100 minutes and an iPhone 5S 32GB. - $46pm for my home "fixed broadband" LTE which gives me 20GB. An ISP called Afrihost resells mobile data for MTN. They basically have their own APN and it can only be used for data, not calls. - $15pm for 3GB data on my iPad 4. This is a Vodacom offering. I therefore spend $173pm (two calling plans in the family) for 33GB carrier data per month.- 28 replies
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Temporary Tower at GMO Site
Azimuth replied to AppleFanBoy's topic in Network, Network Vision/LTE Deployment
Ain't that a fact. Seems I will have to donate for this alone! My head is spinning and my mind is ticking at a furious rate. Things are starting to make sense now. -
Temporary Tower at GMO Site
Azimuth replied to AppleFanBoy's topic in Network, Network Vision/LTE Deployment
I must just say, finally having answers to questions like these is like having the flood gates open. Thanks lilo and all the guys in the know that share their knowledge. In this one thread I've learnt more than I have in the past month. -
Temporary Tower at GMO Site
Azimuth replied to AppleFanBoy's topic in Network, Network Vision/LTE Deployment
I don't know these things and where better to ask: how close does microwave get to fiber? Also, why would my base stations at home have multiple microwave dishes if it's an old, fixed site that surely has a fiber backhaul? Is this for *separate* backhaul for the other carriers? -
Temporary Tower at GMO Site
Azimuth replied to AppleFanBoy's topic in Network, Network Vision/LTE Deployment
What speeds do your backhauls typically run at? Fiber vs Microwave vs T1 vs Satellite? -
Temporary Tower at GMO Site
Azimuth replied to AppleFanBoy's topic in Network, Network Vision/LTE Deployment
That's a Cell On Wheels!? It sure looks permanent. We don't have COW's in South Africa at all. The only saving grace for high contention is the launch of LTE and subsequent channel separation. At our "fairs" or exhibitions, with only 3G the service pretty much died. Now there's light. -
For the record this info is wrong. /reminder to self to find out more WiMAX isn't very big back home which seems a great pity from what I've read.
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An introduction to South African carriers
Azimuth replied to Azimuth's topic in International Networks
Definitely not a WISP. I'm a carrier subscriber. We have WISPs here but they typically offer uncapped services at speeds of 2-10Mbps with super low pings. They install their own premises equipment, typically a 30dBi Ubiquiti RocketDish and a Cisco switch. They manage your whole service and you aren't in control.- 28 replies
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