HomeFi 3 Connection Issues

I've had 3 HomeFi for about a month now, for the first 3 weeks it was great, even with no antenna my B311 was receiving around 30/35 up and down.

I noticed a week ago that speeds dropped to 15/20 and I began having issues.

Websites would load fine but embedded video would not load/play. Twitter would load tweets but pictures and videos took an age to load. Streaming would be stuttery from various sources, iplayer, netflix etc. My cloud storage will not connect, thats from google and microsoft.

I have an ID Mobile sim for my phone which runs on the 3 network, when I switch off WiFi and use mobile data, it has no issues loading all of the above. When I turn WiFi back on, the issues return.

This had led me to think it's a router issue. It's as if there is a bottleneck in connecting to certain sites, I don't know if it's security or firewall but something is restricting connection.

I will phone 3 tonight when I am home, I did check their network connection page and it is saying 'There's a problem with the network in your area' but the fact ID mobile has no issues is confusing.

Would any of your experts on here have an ideas? Anything I can try myself before calling 3?

Have you tried putting your ID sim in to the router and see if it acts the same?

I notice on my B525 that when it first connects I get a much higher signal strength (5 bars) however performance is poor. After a couple of minutes the signal strength normally drops (down to 4 bars) however now the performance is much, much better. I think it's swapping bands and using carrier aggregation and thus the lower signal but better performance.

If using a phone plugged in to the router I find that it will not return to the 'better' band. I have to then turn the router off and sometimes that doesn't work (so i don't use a phone anymore.

I have found by logging in to the Huawei router page you can on the front screen turn mobile data off. I find that by turning data off for a minute or so, and then back on then gives the carrier aggregation back (4G+).

Must be something odd in the firmware that causes this as you would assume turning the router on and off would work better, but alas not always, so might be the same on the B311?

My 311 has been playing up too, and I was thinking it was dying. It would suddenly stop loading anything even though it claimed to be internet connected and so did all devices.


It has the SIM in that comes with it, and I have the unlimited everything SIM-only in my phone. No problems at all with the phone or with the devices if I used the phone as a hotspot for them.

I had to keep re-booting the 311, possibly three or more times a day.

Then I thought - it's in an upstairs room and my bedroom is 25-30 degrees even overnight. Not only that but my room faces north, the room the router is in faces south. So yesterday which was very hot I had the window open in the router room (not just my bedroom) and all was well.

It seems to be behaving today too. So I suspect they are very heat sensitive, as I never had trouble with DSL modems and routers.

I have not tried the ID sim in the router, I will try this tonight. If the issues continue then I will know it's the router and not the general connection from the mast.

Temperature is fine in the room.

I'll still give 3 a call when I am home to have a chat.

That was gary's suggestion. Mine was that the B311 may simply have been overheating . Is/Was it hot in that room?

My Netgear Aircard would overheat then shut down and restart, especially if lots of wireless devices were connected, so is a distinct possibility with how hot it's been recently.

Update on this.

After an hour on hold (really) I finally spoke to the HomeFi team.

The B311 is awaiting a software update which is 'coming in the next few weeks'.

The issue was the Network Search, by default this is Auto. He made me switch to 3G only. Seems there is an issue with 3G/4G switching.

This has fixed my issues but speed is reduced which I am not happy with.

I'll be contacting them in a few weeks to ask for an update as I'm paying for a 4G connection, I am within a 4G area, yet having to use 3G only.

Why not select 4G only? This is what I am using? Unless, of course it's the 4G network that is knackered.

When this happens, does it usually happen while "4g+" is active? I have had weird, if not similar issues in the past.

I tried 4G only and the above issues were present.

He was quite clear that this was a router issue.

Further Update for anyone facing similar issues.

Contacted 3 customer relations as not happy that I am stuck with 3G for the time being. They put the blame squarely on Huawei saying it's a manufacturer fault and not theirs. Fair enough but I feel 3 should be providing equipment that works as intended so should shoulder some of the responsibility.

I was offered an AI Cube as a replacement which I felt was a good offer. I have no use for an Alexa speaker but the router does have better functionality.

Should be delivered in a few days. Happy with 3s resolution but there could be many people out there having connection issues that they don't realise is down to the router.

That's a great outcome as the cube is worth lots more. I am not sure I buy their explanation though as if you have selected one service only i.e. 4G then and you have selected manual network (then selected 3 LTE (4G) then the device won't be searching for network or trying to change between 3G and 4G. It's 3 who approve the firmware, so it's likely their mess up. But yes, take the cube

Edited by gary333 (Tue 06-Aug-19 10:59:29)

Every time I've ever checked the Three network status page for my area, it always says there are problems, so I'm not sure what it reports is reliable.

It`s been the same for me for months now

I have been directed to this thread. I am having the same issues.

I have dropped from 40mbps down to 1mbps. Sticking to 3g gives me 10mbps but not an ideal solution. Selecting 4g only gives the same effect as Auto (1mbps).

They have also offered me an AI cube but I require an external antenna port as mine is inside a metal workshop.......

If this remains the case for a month or more, I will probably just buy another 4g router.

4G from three on Band 3 has far greater bandwidth, but unless your router/device lets you fix to the band you want then 99% of the time you will be on Band 20 as it is stronger and has better building penetration. The difference for me on Band 3 and Band 20 is 40-50Mbps, B20 is terrible around me, over congested and slow.

(The Band is not the same as fixing it to 4G, 4G can have many different bands depending on network provider)

Same issues here. Had the Three 4G router Huawi for about 6 weeks now. All was well, until about 2 weeks ago. It drops the connection randomly. 1st call to Three tells me they are waiting for a router update, which will be a few weeks. - A FEW WEEKS ??
2ds call tells me I was signed up for unlimited, but my account also reads I have binge viewing for Netflix. They will delete binge on the system, that should cure it. It didn't.
3rd call - hard reset to the huawei router. Little hole in the back where you insert a pin. Nope

Read through the comments on here, so I've taken the plunge and bought a TP LINK 4G router from Amazon. It arrived today, so will set it up tomorrow. Really hope it works. I do video streaming (just a silly little chat show thing I do on you tube each morning) and its doing my head in, when you are in full flow chat mode, and the [censored] connection drops. THREE assure me is deffo not the network. We will see tomorrow.

Let me know. I am also stuck on 3g on mine still, awaiting an update.

I can only assume they rolled out an update to their kit and are now waiting on a bug fix for the B311s. 6 weeks is ridiculous. I am loathe to spend more money to fix their problem!

As I mentioned, I bought with my own cash a TP LINK 4G router to see if this cures the problem. it has so far worked. Had it since Tuesday. VERY VERY easy to set up. Took the THREE sim out of hueawi,, put it in the TP router, plugged it in, and it just worked. 3 mins to set up. That's it.HAPPY. Yes, we shouldn't have to do this, but I'm glad I did. Hasn't dropped out once.
Router purchased was TP LINK AC750. on Amazeon, About £90. Hope this helps you all.

Any updates please on this issue? I've been tearing my hair out now for 5 weeks with this issue. Used to get 35-40mb down now getting 2-4mb on occasion with constant dropouts rendering my HomeFi setup useless. Called Three on numerous occasions with excuses anywhere between "it's an area fault that's being looked at" to "Switch the Huawei to 3G only... Problem solved". I don't know what else to do? I've even purchased an external antenna to try that.

Ive cured the problem by buying a 4G router from Amazon. TP Link. Not one drop out or speed problem now in 2 weeks.

Agreed. I got a TP-Link TL-MR6400 for £70 on Amazon (B016ZWXYXG).

Seems reliable. I use it with a 24-month SIMO contract.

Much as I'd prefer a gigabit port and AC, I see this as a 12-month stopgap until 5G-and-band-43 hardware becomes available at a reasonable price.

Update: Three still claiming an update is due 28th August that will fix the issue. I'm sceptical but have ordered the TP link 4G router that other members have kindly recommended. Thank you.

Also noticed in other news that Three have announced that they are now supplying new users of HomeFi with the Huawei B525.... hmmmm I wonder why???? B311 and Three absolutely shocking now for 5 weeks...�.

My B311 seems to be working fine.

I have just signed up for a HomeFi deal where checking the coverage said i was in a great area and supervoice is available..

I set it up and the first test on the first day gave me around 12mb download.. this annoyed me but it was late at night so i left it.

the next day it was terrible around 1-2mb download and the three website said my area has issues.

today is day 3 and running multiple tests its as max of 12mb and as low as 4.


To me this is terrible as i was sold it as it could achieve up to 150mbs. They sent me the 311 and i see no update...

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Currently i am in 2 minds (ordered online) so i can either cancel the contract within the 14 days and look at my other options or speak to them to try the B525 i think it was (that was mentioned)..

What are your views and thoughts? also is location in the house important? currently its just below a window and i have no idea where the mast is to try and point it towards that in attempts to boost speed.

also i cant seem to find in the router settings anything that shows speed.. i am having to use the google speed test..

You need to know where the last is and position router accordingly, I cannot get 4g connection with router inside inside, B525 with external directional antenna pointing at mast gets 4g and 50mbps download.

Who told you you'd get 150mbps?

supervoice just means they have the low band enabled typically, which is actually the slowest for data. Lower band penetrates walls e.g. concrete better so is great for voice calls

Where I am in London I can only get onto band 20 (low band) and my speeds are like 1Mbps on 3. Each area is different, you are just in a spot where you are likely stuck on the low band and/or usage is high.

If you have an Android 4G phone and put the or a Three SIM in it, the App LTE Discovery will point at the mast it connects to, and lots of info about the signal. It's possible of course at different parts of the house it would choose a different mast if things are as bad as you say.

I expect Apple have a similar app.

There are no third party apps on iPhone that can do that (apps just don't have access to any details on the mobile connection on iOS).

However there is the builtin field test mode, accessed by dialing *3001#12345#*

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

If you have an Android 4G phone and put the or a Three SIM in it, the App LTE Discovery will point at the mast it connects to, and lots of info about the signal. It's possible of course at different parts of the house it would choose a different mast if things are as bad as you say.

I expect Apple have a similar app.

Indeed they do.
Open Signal has a locator along with coverage maps and a speed tester
Just follow the white arrow on the "find signal" tab

The App tells me that my Local Cell id is 10372305 and the Location Area Code is 1118 - located west of my current location.

In reply to a post by warweezil:

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

If you have an Android 4G phone and put the or a Three SIM in it, the App LTE Discovery will point at the mast it connects to, and lots of info about the signal. It's possible of course at different parts of the house it would choose a different mast if things are as bad as you say.

I expect Apple have a similar app.

Indeed they do.
Open Signal has a locator along with coverage maps and a speed tester
Just follow the white arrow on the "find signal" tab

The App tells me that my Local Cell id is 10372305 and the Location Area Code is 1118 - located west of my current location.

The Open Signal app on iPhone does not know which mast you are connected to. It is just showing you the closest tower it knows about. It is not doing the same thing that LTE Discovery does.

If you want to know which mast you are connected to you need to use the builtin field test mode.

http://osxdaily.com/2018/05/02/use-field-test-mode-i...

The data in Open Signal, around me at least, isn't good either.

It shows masts where I know there are no masts. And the mast I know I'm connected to doesn't have the right info for cell id etc that my SXT shows when connected.

Post deleted by jchamier

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

the App LTE Discovery will point at the mast it connects to

Even outdoors on a Google Pixel or Moto E handset, the arrow is ALWAYS pointing in the wrong direction. I know, because I can physically see the two EE network cell sites near me. (one is right next door), and Cellmapper gets it right. I'm not sure you can trust LTE Discovery.

Cellmapper is a much better app. Sadly Android only (also Windows Phone I think).

Apple's security doesn't let apps talk to the hardware. The hidden Field Test mode is the only way. (Many Android phones have similar service modes, including Samsungs).

For those with rooted Android phones using Qualcomm cellular modems, look at Network Signal Guru for more technical detail about 2G/3G/4G than you'd ever want!

Edited by jchamier (Fri 30-Aug-19 16:58:54)

I find opensignal wrong in many instances too. Overall though it's probably 80 to 90% good.

can anyone confirm if there is an option within the HomeFi (B311) to check connection speed?

most other routers i have had show this but this is my first mobile broadband router...

also i tried many of those apps and they didn't really help me locate a better position for signal and speed.... reading information from downdector it seems three had had issues for 2 months and its caused by the 5g? if this is true i will cancel my contract as im still in the 14 days cool down

There's no such thing as "connection speed" on mobile broadband as in synch speed that you have on landline broadband.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

There's no such thing as "connection speed" on mobile broadband as in synch speed that you have on landline broadband.

Technically with LTE your best equivalent is the number of channels and the width of each channel, and the capability of your user equipment (ie, modem, usb stick, phone etc).

Devices that support upto 150 Mbps generally support 1 channel at a time.
Devices that support upto 300 Mbps generally support 2 channels at a time.
Devices that support upto 450 or faster support 3 channels at a time.

In many areas Three has multiple channels transmitting:
1 x 5 Mhz Band 20
1 x 15 Mhz Band 3

So with a 300Mbps of faster device with 2 channels and "channel aggregation" working, then 20mhz of LTE could be being received. This gives a theoretical maximum.

However mobile broadband is similar to US cable networks, where you share with everyone else connected to the same cell. This is why you want THE best receiver, with the most number of channels aggregated to give you the best capabilities.

Some android phones will show you what is being received in your area. The Cellmapper website often reveals the information from people whom have rooted their Android phones.

Edited by jchamier (Sat 31-Aug-19 18:20:45)

That too .