Vodafone 4G coverage is also terrible in my experience I don't get 4G in many areas of London with it. Even in zone 1.

Thanks epyon
This new TPlink unit says it supports FDD-LTE being 800 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600

Also TDD-LTE on 2300 / 2500 / and 2600

So should be fine on Vodafone using 2600.
When I call up the web management, it tells me it's on WCDMA

Googling that is a bit unclear whether or not that is 4G.

The original unit, the ZTE MF93D supports 4G LTE FDD: 800/900/1800/2100/2600MHz

Vodafone use 800 and 2600 so the first unit should work fine.

Seems Vodafone do not have 4G coverage, which does not surprise me. In central London often I get stuck on 3G even when I know there is full 4G available, and Vodafone seemingly does not even allow me onto the 4G, then after 25 to 30 minutes I get onto the 4G and all data grinds to a unbearably slow speed.... Here, the mast is clearly at capacity (I think) and refusing me onto the site.

Thankfully my EE phone is my main driver.

The SIM may also be faulty or 4G not provisioned correctly on the account.

As for airports, in Heathrow airport I get 3G for most of my time on VF, even 2G around a lot of the airport... So that doesn't mean much.
As for the shop having a "booster" - the vodafone booster that uses WiFi is generally just 3G and requires you to be registered on the device - so that could be nonsense.

EDIT: W-CDMA is just Wideband 3G, you want to see LTE or 4G.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Tue 01-Nov-16 19:43:23)

In reply to a post by clyde123:

Googling that is a bit unclear whether or not that is 4G.

Googling will get you a lot of confusion from the USA which is different. WCDMA is 3G. You should call Vodafone customer services, or use the online chat. They may have forgotten to enable your 4G properly on that SIM / account. I had this with a PAYG data SIM in the spring. I knew there was Vodafone 4G signal as my work phone was showing it, but the PAYG data SIM in my personal iPad was refusing to connect to 4G.

Today:

Vodafone are using 800, 1800, 2100 and 2600 mhz frequencies for their 4G LTE service.
EE are using 800, 1800, 2600 MHz for their 4G LTE service.
O2 are using 800, 1800 for their 4G LTE service
Three are using 800, 1800 for their 4G LTE service.

thanks ukhardy07 for the confirmation that the ZTE unit should be fine.
Looking at Vodafone's coverage chart shows good 4G coverage around here.
In fact I have a mast just about maybe 400 metres from here . Cellmapper.net gives me the following info for it :
System Subtype LTE
PCI 216 (72/0)
Maximum Signal (RSRP) -73 dBm
Direction E (96°)
Estimated Band Band 20 (EU Digital Dividend)
Estimated Frequency 800 MHz (FDD)

and
Mobile Network Code 15 (which is Vodafone)
System Type LTE (4G)
System Subtype LTE

So that looks to me like I should be getting 4G/LTE no problem.

It's beginning to look more & more like as you say "The SIM may also be faulty or 4G not provisioned correctly on the account."

Yes thanks jchamier
I'll be getting on to Vodafone's customer services first thing in the morning.

In reply to a post by clyde123:

Yes thanks jchamier
I'll be getting on to Vodafone's customer services first thing in the morning.

The live chat on the website solved the problem for me and they're open in the evenings too

"Unfortunately none of our Advisers are available to chat to you at this time. Please try again shortly."

That means they are all watching this forum and "I don't want to handle that one!"

Follow up - Result !
At some point yesterday afternoon the 4G kicked in.
This was a few hours after I'd had Live Chat with a very helpful person from customer services.
The TP-link unit M7300 is working well, giving 4G. Last night I got a speed of 21.84 Upload from inside the venue. Same place that was getting maybe 5Mbps on EE.

However the ZTE MF93D is still only showing 3G.
I'll check it during the day in various locations when I'm out & about. If it ever gives 4G I'll update this thread.

So, many thanks to all who responded here, with some very solid helpful advices which is a hallmark of this forum.

Lesson to be learnt : buy my data sims off ebay rather than directly from the Vodafone shop. I've never had any problems with ebay supplied sim chips.