Faster 5G on Tracfone?

[Bitzer18]

Does anyone know if Verizon has made 5G mmW or at least mid-band 5G (C Band) available on Tracfone? If not, is there any timetable? Thanks!

[tomseys]

My TF/Verizon Pixel 6a gets 5G band n77 which is part of C-band 5G I believe. Was able to view this on the cellmapper app.

Using the Speedtest app I've seen speeds approaching 400 mbps down and 40 mbps up on it on TF/Verizon.








Usually I get at least 200 mpbs down and 50 up with the 5G phones.

I usually keep it on LTE though if device allows. Or just turn data off.

[hpham]

My TF/Verizon Pixel 6a gets 5G band n77 which is part of C-band 5G I believe. Was able to view this on the cellmapper app.

Using the Speedtest app I've seen speeds approaching 400 mbps down and 40 mbps up on it on TF/Verizon.

I'm always amazed by the high numbers of other people's speedtest results. These are the results of my S22 on TF/Verizon and they're quite low. The 4G LTE numbers are better than the 5G numbers.

[tomseys]

I just did a speedtest on a Samsung S22 and I got this.... This is on Google Fi/T-mobile-US Cellular.

[rpz1]

I'm always amazed by the high numbers of other people's speedtest results. These are the results of my S22 on TF/Verizon and they're quite low. The 4G LTE numbers are better than the 5G numbers.

But are those numbers on uw5G (mmwave or c-band) or regular NationWide (DSS) 5G which usually isn't much different then LTE ? Many areas don't have c-band yet. Pretty much all LTE areas have NW5G since it just shares LTE.

[advcomp2019]

Here is some of my speeds tests from a S20 FE 5G which only has support for nationwide 5G network. They are from a few months ago tho.

I know this should not matter, but I am using Verizon based Straight Talk SIM.

[tomseys]

I'm always amazed by the high numbers of other people's speedtest results. These are the results of my S22 on TF/Verizon and they're quite low. The 4G LTE numbers are better than the 5G numbers.

Doesn't look like you are getting a very robust signal in the image.



I usually get full bars when I've done my speedtests.

[hpham]

Doesn't look like you are getting a very robust signal in the image.

That's true. I will try again next time I am near a Verizon tower.

[Turtley]

Not too bad NW 5G speeds from Safelink on my Samsung A53 5G in rural area.

[rpz1]

Those NW5G speeds some are you are getting look good. I was going by early reports the NW5G wasn't much better then LTE.

[tomseys]

I also did a 5G speedtest with my TF/Verizon A53 5G today and it got a similar reading:



Not much data available to play with on that.

It seems of my phones, my Pixel 6a gets the best results, the iPhone SE '22 very close behind it..and Samsung in third place. I had tried it before and it was less than this.

I think some of this depends on which band you catch on to. I noticed wtih the cellmapper app it seemed to be jumping around to n77, LTE, and I think a type of 5G 5 band. Probably also depends on where and when you do it... distance and congestion/deprioritization .
I have seen lower speeds on these phones but usually signficantly higher than LTE.

The S22 I did before was using Google Fi/T-mobile-US Cellular.

[tomseys]

It seems Samsung phones have a service mode that can give you Band information.

It is accessed by *#0011#

When I do that it first shows LTE-BASIC info where it lists my usual Verizon LTE Band 66 and then below that NR information (New Radio 5G) where it shows NR Band 77.

(I have 5G data on and Wi-fi off and open a browser)


These are the 5G NR bands Verizon uses -

--






I believe I have seen n5 and n77.

[rpz1]

This is a good chart anyone with or planning to buy a 5G phone needs to keep handy.

Most early 5G phones only had the low band DSS with LTE bands which has about the same range as LTE.
From my understanding n77 (c-band) range is about 2 miles. Haven't heard anything more specific.
And n260/n261 mmWave only a couple blocks at best. (for dense urban, stadiums, etc.)

The networks don't make any differentiation and make it sound like all 5G is created equal.

[loboheeler]

Many areas don't have c-band yet. Pretty much all LTE areas have NW5G since it just shares LTE.

According to the Verizon map, the area where I live does not have anything but Nationwide 5G yet. If that is DSS with LTE, the speed will be slow. My LTE is dismal during peak hours, usually under 1 Mbps download. For that reason, I did not splurge on replacing with a 5G phone.

[tomseys]

About sub-6 GHz (which includes low band and mid C-band)




https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile...b-6-explained/





Verizon defines its 5G NW coverage as "low band spectrum" and its 5G Ultra Wideband as "mid band" (C-band) plus high band mmwave.





But its NW apparently also includes mid C- band (n77). I'm getting it and I imagine anyone with decent speeds is.

I guess technically part of the "low band spectrum" depending on how you define it but really low band + mid band I think.