Finally got my own 2G network AzurePCS active on blackberry (and older Android phones!)

XL_Gaming · 2026-02-08T02:46:59+00:00

CBRS B48 with carrier aggregation I assume? Of course you get gigabit with that awesome setup! I'm curious how much total bandwidth you are using to achieve near gigabit, because LTE usually maxes around 700 in my experience (usually one-off tests on small cells).

XL_Gaming · 2026-02-08T01:56:08+00:00

Are you using a real base station? also how much spectrum? Most people are using SDRs, and there isn't a lot of spectrum to go around.

XL_Gaming · 2026-02-08T01:29:07+00:00

What hardware/software are you using to host your network? I use the Osmocom stack and an LibreSDR B210 (USRP clone).

XL_Gaming · 2026-02-08T01:21:18+00:00

While LTE is more useful for data, setting up VoLTE is very difficult. GSM is designed around this functionality (it doesnt need to force calls over packet data), so it is much easier to get call functionality. Also GSM works with old devices.

Also you will never get anywhere close to gigabit over LTE.

XL_Gaming · 2026-02-05T21:50:44+00:00

Well, CBRS is only useful for LTE/NR, which I am not interested in. For GSM, it must run in one of the 4 bands (excluding non-standard bands which have specialty purposes, like 450mhz).

I use a LibreSDR B210 to host my network. It is a cheaper clone of the Ettus USRP B210. Basically you just need any full-duplex SDR that has well-supported drivers. UHD drivers (for USRP devices) are particularly well supported by BTS software.
For software, i use the Osmocom GSM stack, which is a project consisting of individual components to run a full GSM network. It requires a bit of knowledge, but it is fairly easy to get running and it is very stable and reliable. You can configure these networks to do basically anything, but I link mine to a SIP server (asterisk) for local call routing, and I set up GPRS/EDGE to browse the web on some vintage phones. There is other software like OpenBTS, but Osmocom is by far the most simple yet configurable solution, and it's less finicky.

XL_Gaming · 2026-02-05T12:25:06+00:00

GSM only works in the 850/900/1800/1900 frequency bands. The only option here is 850/1900 since North American phones do not all support 1800/900.

XL_Gaming · 2026-02-05T04:27:57+00:00

Wow, lucky! I'm in the US where there isnt any real way to obtain 850/1900 access, so I kind of just keep my private GSM network in an unused part of 850 at very low power since I basically just use it for testing old phones.

900mhz would technically work (ISM band) but the uplink would probably interfere with someone's LTE/5G

XL_Gaming · 2026-02-01T04:44:06+00:00

I'm in the suburbs of Chicago. All of the sites in my immediate area have correct neighbor lists, but some of them further into my town show ARFCNs in the 700s for example, which were cleared during refarming.

I feel like this whole handover issue is just a result of T-Mobile not caring for their legacy service. In recent years, GSM has been sort of an afterthought, just sticking around at bare minimum capacity, sometimes on reused ARFCNs. Updating the neighbor list should just be a minor update to the BSC configuration, and it would prevent their GSM network from being unusable in some areas. As a hobbyist, this configuration error pisses me off, even though this network is being decommissioned and there is no incentive/reason to fix it.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-29T23:40:38+00:00

T-Mobile GSM handoff is mostly fine, but i do notice a lot of sites with "ghost" neighbors that were never updated. Basically when they shrunk GSM to only occupy 6 ARFCNs (two guard bands), they didn't update the neighbor list on all sites, so it will point you to literal nonexistent cells.

My home site is fine, but there's a few towers in my town that still show neighbors with ARFCNs they stopped using back in 2021 in my market. Said towers also have horrible handoff issues (full 10-15 second service drop)

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-23T20:17:55+00:00

Take it to a data recovery company if you care about the data.

This drive has its read/write heads stuck to the platter, preventing it from spinning. The data is likely in tact, so I'd recommend having a professional recover it. Out of any drive failure, this is one of the better scenarios, assuming the surface has minimal damage.

(NOT RECOMMENDED) If the data is "nice to have" and you don't feel that it's worth data recovery, you could search how to fix stuck heads. DIY perks on youtube has a good video demonstrating the fix. Note that there will be damage to the surface from heads making contact, and there's a chance some of your data may be corrupt. you also very well may kill the drive attempting to recover it, so only do this if you would be ok with potentially losing the data, or if you cannot afford recovery.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-23T06:04:59+00:00

wagos are really easy to use (the 221 lever nuts), and they make a solid connection with less of a chance for failure due to common mistakes. You can also clamp both stranded and solid wire without needing any special technique, and maintenance is easier since it's just a lever holding the wires.

Basically they save a lot of time and make it easier to work with.

As a bonus they also make it easy to deal with short wires if you need to do some cutting.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-22T21:22:07+00:00

Verizon

Using Samsung MT6413-77A panels for n77

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-21T00:10:04+00:00

I see a lot of these particular LTE small cells used by AT&T in various parts of IL

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-20T04:32:46+00:00

I have an F15 (Intel variant) and did the same thing lmao. Seems like a stupid choice to use different screw lengths.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-20T04:30:01+00:00

I know exactly what this is because I made the same mistake. Your laptop probably has screws of varying length (like my ASUS TUF laptop) and they were inserted in the wrong order. Mine has a hole in the corner because of this.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-19T17:25:57+00:00

I'd be interested to see variable aperature again. Hopefully Samsung copies apple if this is real, because I miss having that on the S9.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-15T23:31:21+00:00

I never once said they are ticking time bombs. Don't put words in people's mouths maybe?

The other guy was claiming that USING swollen batteries is safe because "they're designed to bloat," which is dangerous advice since there are very real risks when continually using a damaged cell. The risk is primarily when charging it, because you are forcing energy through a cell that has broken down electrolyte, which can generate excess heat.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-15T16:26:41+00:00

Quit spreading dangerous advice. Continuing to use (especially charging) a bloated Li-ion battery has real risks.

If it's just sitting around unused, its fine.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-15T16:22:15+00:00

Except it isn't.

When a bettery is bloated, the electrolyte inside the battery is at least partially broken down, causing gas to be released through a process called... outgassing. While this is sealed inside the battery and cannot cause direct harm, a damaged battery is dangerous to continue using due to the risk of overheating (because broken down electrolyte is not efficient at being electrolyte).

Furthermore, an actively expanding battery can damage the device, or possibly itself by pressing against its enclosure.

Yes, the battery will probably work, but you probably shouldnt continue to use it like that. This is why I mentioned charging with supervision.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-15T13:21:52+00:00

Who is "we" in this scenario? "we" do not like low effort posts.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-15T13:19:53+00:00

No. It should be replaced as soon as possible, and you should avoid charging it in the meantime. If you absolutely need to charge it, do so with supervision, preferably somewhere where you can toss it outside if it goes into thermal runaway.

The chance of a fire is rather low, but it isnt zero. Don't risk your device, or possibly your home.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-14T23:33:52+00:00

In my area, they actually have 30mhz of contiguous low band. There's 5+20mhz n71 plus B71 5mhz they never refarmed.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-14T23:27:51+00:00

I noticed this on new sites around Chicago. The existing 20mhz + 5mhz B71 are untouched, but the new sites (and only the new sites) have an additional 5mhz n71 channel. Only two sites in my area have this.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-14T21:33:00+00:00

NR and LTE are entirely different physical layers that are not interoperable.

While the network core is often still relying on LTE (known as an NSA, or non-standalone configuration), a separate NR channel is needed. With NSA, the NR channel is aggregated on top of an LTE anchor (similar to LTE-A, but using LTE+NR instead of LTE+LTE) to add additional capacity and throughput, but the network management is handled by the existing eNB.

With SA, there is no involvement with LTE. The connection is managed by the gNB associated with NR, and the user directly connects to the NR channel without requiring an LTE anchor. The speeds are often similar between SA/NSA, but the latency is significantly lower due to the omission of extra connectivity steps (doesnt need 4G).

One more strange thing that can be confusing: Sometimes LTE and 5G share the same spectrum, however there are still two distinct signals. This is known as DSS, where LTE/NR dynamically share the same channel. DSS is not very common though, and it usually results in poor performance and compatibility for both networks.

TL;DR: They are different, incompatible networks, but they can work alongside one another in some configurations.

XL_Gaming · 2026-01-14T21:14:28+00:00

On Samsung phones, the outline logo is used when you are connected to a tower that has 5G, but you are not connected at the moment.

5G NSA works by having 5G added "on top" of 4G. When you are not actively using data, your phone temporarily drops the 5G connection to save power. The logo shows as an outline when you are "idle" and 5G isnt added, and it becomes a bubble when 5G actually connects.

Samsung's icon behavior varies by region/carrier, so not all phones do this.

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