Verizon Nationwide low band 5G just got turned on today

[Mike Dee]

And the UW 5G doesn't require the update.

Not clear on what you are trying to say

 

[KPMcClave]

Not clear on what you are trying to say

We've been trying to determine if the unlocked S20 FE works with Verizon's UW 5G. There is no update required for UW 5G to work on the Verizon version of the phone. I assume that's also the case *if* the unlocked version supports UW 5G.

With that in mind, I was just adding to and clarifying what you wrote..

 

[Mike Dee]

We've been trying to determine if the unlocked S20 FE works with Verizon's UW 5G. There is no update required for UW 5G to work on the Verizon version of the phone. I assume that's also the case *if* the unlocked version supports UW 5G.

With that in mind, I was just adding to and clarifying what you wrote..

I don't know if that's the case. Until I found out that I needed an update to allow Nationwide 5G I assumed would not I would have needed one. I have the update because of the beta but I don't know what if that added UWB, needs another update, or if it was good to go out of the box.

 

[KPMcClave]

I don't know if that's the case. Until I found out that I needed an update to allow Nationwide 5G I assumed would not I would have needed one. I have the update because of the beta but I don't know what if that added UWB, needs another update, or if it was good to go out of the box.

Why would the Verizon variant work on UW 5G and, *if it is able*, the unlocked variant not work on UW 5G, given that UW 5G was rolled out (as it were) when they were released? If the unlocked version was going to work I'd expect it would work like the Verizon version at launch. There was no reason to wait.

The difference is that the lowband 5G wasn't available at launch, so the VZW version (and eventually the unlocked version) needed an update once it was turned on.

Again, we shouldn't have to be guessing.

 

[Mike Dee]

Why would the Verizon variant work on UW 5G and, *if it is able*, the unlocked variant not work on UW 5G, given that UW 5G was rolled out (as it were) when they were released? If the unlocked version was going to work I'd expect it would work like the Verizon version at launch. There was no reason to wait.

The difference is that the lowband 5G wasn't available at launch, so the VZW version (and eventually the unlocked version) needed an update once it was turned on.

Again, we shouldn't have to be guessing.

We don't know what we don't know and I'm not about to start guessing at what or why they do what they do because they do some things beyond belief.

 

[buzzy3970]

We know that UWB on the S20 variants work without needing an update. There are tons of speed test on reddit. Low band was the one needing an update.

We don't know what we don't know and I'm not about to start guessing at what or why they do what they do because they do some things beyond belief.

 

[Mike Dee]

We know that UWB on the S20 variants work without needing an update. There are tons of speed test on reddit. Low band was the one needing an update.

I'll remain skeptical of what is and isn't real until I see it. There are so many variations of what is and isn't true out there. I don't know why this 5G thing is so complicated based on the device or SIM you have when it doesn't have to be.

 

[VidJunky]

They sure are taking their sweet time pushing to unlocked devices though.

 

[Mike Dee]

They sure are taking their sweet time pushing to unlocked devices though.

Maybe it will show up with the November patch for those of us that aren't on beta. It's no big deal anyway as far as speed...might improve coverage for some.

 

[buzzy3970]

Crazy thing is I don't get 5g in any of the areas that are suppose to have UWB and the areas that don't I get low band 5g lol. Very interesting atm...

Maybe it will show up with the November patch for those of us that aren't on beta. It's no big deal anyway as far as speed...might improve coverage for some.

 

[KPMcClave]

Crazy thing is I don't get 5g in any of the areas that are suppose to have UWB and the areas that don't I get low band 5g lol. Very interesting atm...

I haven't been to the areas of my city that have UW 5G, but I also haven't seen a (lowband) 5G icon even once while out and about elsewhere. Verizon version S20 FE with the lowband firmware update.

 

[Mike Dee]

Crazy thing is I don't get 5g in any of the areas that are suppose to have UWB and the areas that don't I get low band 5g lol. Very interesting atm...

Do you have a 5G SIM? According to Verizon support I was told it didn't need one and that they would just provision it once I added 5G to my account. I have no need to add it so I don't know for sure what the truth is.

 

[buzzy3970]

I do. Been having one for months. I'm on the gUdp so no chance of ever being able to access UWB at least for now.

Do you have a 5G SIM? According to Verizon support I was told it didn't need one and that they would just provision it once I added 5G to my account. I have no need to add it so I don't know for sure what the truth is.

 

[Mike Dee]

I do. Been having one for months. I'm on the gUdp so no chance of ever being able to access UWB at least for now.

Oh, that's by choice. Thought you meant you couldn't get it.

 

[buzzy3970]

Definitely. Guess I should've been more clear. I was just saying how interesting is is that I don't get 5g low band in the area that's UWB on the coverage map, but other areas that don't have it I get low band 5g. That's what I meant.

Oh, that's by choice. Thought you meant you couldn't get it.

 

[Mike Dee]

Definitely. Guess I should've been more clear. I was just saying how interesting is is that I don't get 5g low band in the area that's UWB on the coverage map, but other areas that don't have it I get low band 5g. That's what I meant.

Got ya..... Yeah they built the low band on the LTE backbone so it's pretty much everywhere for me. I don't know off it's in areas that had weak zones but I hope that's coming.

 

[Jesus Delgadillo]

S20 doesn't require an update for 5G UWB. I have the branded Ultra and I picked up UWB out of the box. It only required an update for them to turn on the switch on Low band 5g.

 

[KPMcClave]

Got ya..... Yeah they built the low band on the LTE backbone so it's pretty much everywhere for me. I don't know off it's in areas that had weak zones but I hope that's coming.

With that in mind, should I be expecting to see 5G (at least the icon if not better spped) where I have had and currently have 4G LTE?

I havent gone all over town, but I live in a reasonably populated area and have travelled around on this side of the city and I haven't seen 5G once. I have the Verizon S20 FE and received the 5G firmware update. Based on your experience with pulling your SIM and having 5G show up, I've done that a couple of times.

I'm just wondering if I should be concerned something isn't working properly. I know it may be a careful what you wish for thing at this point.

(we also have UW 5G here but I haven't been to the spots where it's supposedly available yet)

 

[KPMcClave]

I finally saw the "nationwide 5G" icon yesterday. We were at a Walgreens not too far from where we live, but closer to the city line.



The bottom 2 LTE entires (11/10) were 4G from home.

The LTE tests on 11/11 from 4:19 to 4:37 were all with the 5G icon displayed while in the store.

The top 2 LTE entries were back to 4G on the way home in the car. We lost 5G less than a mile from the store.

At least at that location, no apparent worries about the 5G being slower than 4G. I'm just happy to know that it's working properly, not having seen the 5G icon on other trips out (to different locations).

 

[Mike Dee]

I finally saw the "nationwide 5G" icon yesterday. We were at a Walgreens not too far from where we live, but closer to the city line.

View attachment 328810

The bottom 2 LTE entires (11/10) were 4G from home.

The LTE tests on 11/11 from 4:19 to 4:37 were all with the 5G icon displayed while in the store.

The top 2 LTE entries were back to 4G on the way home in the car. We lost 5G less than a mile from the store.

At least at that location, no apparent worries about the 5G being slower than 4G. I'm just happy to know that it's working properly, not having seen the 5G icon on other trips out (to different locations).

Strange.....my speed tests say 5G when I'm on 5G.