Despite the fact that 3G mobile Internet has long been replaced by faster 4G/LTE, and the launch of a completely new, significantly superior 5G is just around the corner, many still use relatively old phones, or rather smartphones. In such cases, it is not always known whether the devices support the current communication standard, and therefore it may be necessary to find out.

Almost all smartphones (not counting representatives of the lower price segment and models from some manufacturers aimed at the market of a specific country) released in 2014 and later are equipped with 4G/LTE support. There are quite a few of these among the devices of 2012-13, and it was in the latter that new-generation cellular communications began working in Russia. At the same time, you need to check the support of this technology not only in the phone, but also in the SIM card, which is the receiver of the network signal.

The most simple and guaranteed effective method for determining whether your smartphone supports Android or Apple iPhone LTE connection, you will view its technical characteristics (although with the latter it is still easier). So, if you still have the box from the device and/or the documentation attached to it, you need to look for this information there. Fortunately, this is not the only option.

iPhone

Since Apple doesn't make many mobile devices, you and I won't even need to determine whether they support 4G or not. In models released before 2012, the module required to work in networks of this generation is missing, therefore, the technology is not supported. All others, starting with the iPhone 5, released in September of the same 2012, have implemented 4G support. Here is a complete list of all models:

• iPhone 5, 5c, 5s – up to 100 Mbit/s;
• iPhone SE, 6, 6 Plus – up to 150 Mbit/s;
• iPhone 6s, 6s Plus – up to 300 Mbit/s;
• iPhone 7, 7 Plus – up to 450 Mbit/s;
• iPhone 8, 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR – up to 600 Mbit/s;
• iPhone XS, XS Max – up to 1 Gbps.

Therefore, if you have one of the above iPhones, you can be sure that it supports LTE networks. The Mbit/s and Gbit/s values ​​indicated next to each model are the maximum data transfer speed limit. But unfortunately, to a much greater extent, it depends on the quality cellular communication and operator capabilities than from a smartphone.

Android

So, you have established the exact and full name of your Android smartphone from the box and/or documentation, and you could also find out about 4G/LTE support or lack thereof. In this case, you can proceed to the next step. But if the necessary information is not received, follow the recommendations below.

1. Open "Settings" your Android mobile device and scroll through the list of sections presented there to the very bottom.



2. Go through the points one by one "System" — "About the phone".

   

   Note: On smartphones from many manufacturers, the item "About the phone" is located in the main settings menu, and not as part of the section "System".

3. The information we are interested in will be indicated in the subsection description "About the phone"(that is, it can be seen before going into it), and when it opens, we will first see "Device name"— the main, “market” name of the model, if you did not change it manually. In our example, this is the default Nokia 6.
   
   More precise information will be provided a little lower - see the section "Model and equipment"(in our example this is TA-1021). Remember, or better yet, write down this information.



4. Open any browser convenient for you (on your phone or PC) and in your preferred search engine enter a query like this:

   full name of the device (manufacturer, model) + technical characteristics.

   

   Advice: In addition to the request, you can add the name, for example, of an online store that you trust, but only if it actually indicates detailed characteristics, and not just a short description.

5. In the search results, select the most suitable one (or “walk” through several of them one by one) and follow the link.
   
   
   On the page that opens, find the section with technical characteristics- it can be called "Characteristics" or "All characteristics" and be presented in a separate tab or menu item. Also, the necessary information may be located in the block with the main description of the device.
   
   
   The information we are interested in will be in the block "Communication standard"(or something similar in meaning). It is usually indicated there "4G (LTE)", a separate item or in the general list of network types supported by a mobile device.


Once you are sure that your Android smartphone supports 4G, proceed to the next step. If this standard is not stated in its characteristics, we are sorry, but it’s time to think about buying a more modern device.

Checking the SIM card

Support for 4G/LTE in a phone is good, but if it is not equipped with a SIM, it will be of little use. You can check whether your mobile operator's card supports the current cellular communication standard using a special USSD request sent from the dialer. Here are the main ones:

Enabling 4G/LTE

After making sure that both the phone and the SIM card of the mobile operator support modern standard connection, you can safely proceed to its activation and further use for communication and access to high-speed Internet.

iPhone

Here's what you need to do to activate fourth-generation networks on Apple devices:

Android

You should act in a similar way on devices with a “green robot”.

1. Open "Settings" and go to section "Network and Internet".
   

   On older versions of Android, you need to select a section in the settings "Mobile networks".



2. Select an item "Mobile network", and then expand the subsection "Additional functions".
   
   

   Again, on older versions of Android the required item is called differently - this "Network mode".



3. Tap on an item "Network type" and in the pop-up window select "4G"

   
   or LTE- the name depends on the version operating system and features of the branded shell.

Although all the advantages mobile communications Until recently they seemed fantastic; today this no longer surprises anyone. Therefore, communication and exchange of huge amounts of data requires new standards for information transfer. Now such opportunities exist. They are called 4G, that is, the fourth generation of cellular communications.

4G allows you to transmit both voice data and multimedia information over mobile networks. high speed, up to 100 Mbit/s for subscribers on the move. The data transfer speed to landline subscribers is an order of magnitude higher. Megafon is actively implementing 4G and 4G+ technologies. Therefore, today 4G Internet Megafon is one of the most popular offers.

What is 4G Internet from Megafon?

The cellular communication company Megafon today offers a data transmission service in mobile networks with enormous speed, it is called 4G+ from Megafon. By connecting 4G+, especially with support for LTE-Advanced technology, you can watch any photos and videos, listen to music on your mobile device without delays. Even FullHD videos will download in a few minutes. This becomes possible thanks to high speed - up to 300 Mbit/s.

You can take advantage of fast mobile Internet in 77 regions of the Russian Federation if you connect to 4G+. When using 4G+ with LTE, the coverage area is smaller - 23 regions. Although 4G+ with LTE support provides greater speed, in some cases 4G+ is preferable, since the number of devices capable of working stably on 2G, 3G and 4G networks is still greater.

If you live in Moscow or the Moscow region, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Chelyabinsk, Krasnoyarsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Ufa, Perm, Yakutsk, Lipetsk, Sochi, Sakhalin, Vladivostok, Tula, Ivanovo, Rostov, then you can connect 4G Internet from Megafon with support for LTE-Advanced technology. Full list cities in which this service is available can be found on the official website of Megafon. There is also a coverage map there.

How to find out if Megafon's 4G Internet works for you?

To do this, you need to make sure that your mobile device works on the Megafon 4G+ network. You can do this from your smartphone by dialing the combination of numbers: *507# and pressing the call button. You can also go to Megafon’s website at: http://moscow.megafon.ru/internet/4g/#check4g

You need to enter your phone number in the verification form and click the “check” button. After this, a message will be sent to your phone number, which will indicate whether your mobile phone and a SIM card standard 4G+ Internet from Megafon.

If the SIM card does not work with the fourth generation of mobile communications, it can be replaced with another one that can work in 4G+. This can be done by visiting any Megafon company salon. The replacement service is completely free. If the 4G+ standard is not supported by the smartphone, there is only one way out - to purchase a new mobile phone.

How much does 4G+ internet from Megafon cost?

Different Internet packages are available for different mobile devices, such as a smartphone or tablet, as well as for modems or routers. For example, there are now three tariff packages for smartphones: “Internet S”, “Internet XS” and “Mega Unlimited”.

The subscription fee for “Internet S” is 350 rubles per month, and the amount of information is limited to 3 GB. You can use the Internet in this package throughout Russia. The Internet XS package costs 7 rubles per day, with a traffic limit of 70 MB per day. “MegaUnlimit”, according to its name, allows you not to limit yourself in the information you receive. The monthly fee depends on the tariff plan.

How to connect 4G+ Internet from Megafon?

There are several ways to do this. For example, directly from your smartphone. To do this, enter the combination *105*1153*# and press the green call button. You can also order an Internet connection by sending a blank SMS to the number 05001153. On the Megafon website you can connect 4G+ as follows: personal account, available after authorization, and in the form of a quick connection. To do this, you need to enter your phone number in the form and click the “connect” button. After this, a code will be sent to your number with which you can confirm the operation.

Mobile High-Definition Link or MHL is an interface standard that combines the functionality of the MicroUSB connector and the HDMI interface. What is it for? Allows you to connect mobile devices to monitors or TVs, displaying the picture in excellent quality. So if you are going to connect your smartphone to your TV to display the image from the first to the last, the best option is to use MHL technology.

The connection is made using an MHL adapter. Here is one example - the company kebidu:

Most adapters require additional power, although there are some that work without additional power.

Adapters are inexpensive and can be purchased at many electronics stores. But is it worth it? The fact is that not all Android smartphones support MHL technology. Question: How do you know if your device supports this technology?

Some users refer to the MHL website (mhltech.org/devices.aspx?tid=1), where you can see a list of devices that support MHL. However, at the time of writing, there are not many on the list modern models smartphones that definitely support MHL. What should I do?

You can try installing MHL checker, that is, an application for checking MHL support. Open Play Market.

In the search you write mhl checker, click on the search button.

Choose from the list, let it be Checker for MHL (HDMI). Install.

You launch it. Click on the Check MHL (HDMI) button.

See whether your device can support the technology or not. In our example it can.

However, in reviews of such applications you can find messages that they are wrong. Whether this is true or not is difficult to say, so it’s up to you to decide. In our opinion, the only one the right way To check if your smartphone supports MHL, use an adapter and connect your smartphone to the TV.

When choosing an amplification system, it is extremely important to know two parameters: the generation of the mobile network (2G, 3G or 4G) whose quality you want to improve, and the frequency at which it operates.

The fact is that all the main components of amplification systems - antennas, repeaters, modems and routers - are created for specific frequency ranges and very rarely support all existing standards in the world at once. In other words, you can buy a booster kit “for 4G Internet,” but if it includes an antenna designed for a frequency range that your operator does not operate in, the money will be wasted.

Let's give an example. Most often, 4G Internet is provided at a frequency of 2600 MHz, and most 4G booster kits are designed for this frequency. However, increasingly, domestic operators are starting to use additional frequencies of 1800 and 800 MHz. If this is the network in your location, then a kit designed for a frequency of 2600 MHz will be useless.

So, to choose a kit, you need to know which technologies you want to amplify and in which frequency ranges they operate. The easiest way to do this is using a smartphone running the Android or iOS (iPhone) operating system.

Defining a generation cellular network

Determining the generation of a cellular network using a smartphone is usually very easy. In most modern operating systems, the data technology is indicated in the status bar next to the cellular signal strength. The technology can be specified directly (2G, 3G or 4G) or using one of the abbreviations. The most common designations are:

• 2G, GPRS (G), EDGE (E) - traditional 2G technology, which runs standard GSM voice communications and slow mobile Internet;
• 3G, UMTS, HSDPA (H), HSPA+ (H+) - the third generation of cellular communications used for calls and access to broadband mobile Internet;
• 4G, LTE (L) - the fourth generation of cellular communications, currently used by domestic operators only for access to high-speed mobile Internet.

For example, on Xiaomi smartphones with dual SIM cards, the status bar looks like this:

It is easy to determine that the first SIM card of the MTS operator is currently operating in 4G mode, and the second SIM card of Tele2 is in 3G mode.

What frequencies do operators operate on in Russia?

It would seem that once you know what communication standards are available in your location, you can start choosing an amplification kit. However, there is one significant problem: the same communication technology can operate at different frequencies.

Each communication standard (2G, 3G and 4G) contains many substandards. In order for the amplification system to work correctly and amplify exactly the frequency range in which your operator is working, you must first know this frequency range.

The following cellular communication standards are currently available in Russia:

Generation	Frequency ranges	Standard name
		GSM-900, EGSM, GSM-E900
		GSM-1800, DCS-1800

Unfortunately, finding out what frequency your operator operates on is no longer so easy. The developers of the Android and iOS operating systems considered that this information would not be useful to ordinary users, and hid it in a special service menu. Below we will tell you how to call up the hidden menu and find out the frequency used by the operator. But before that - one more important step!

If your smartphone defaults to the network you want to strengthen, no additional action is required. But there are situations when you need to determine the frequency range of another network. For example, you want to find out the 2G frequency, but your smartphone automatically connects to 3G. Another example: you need to strengthen your voice communication, and your phone is connected to a 4G network, in which only mobile Internet is available. To measure the desired standard, force your smartphone into the appropriate mode.

To do this on Android devices go to Settings > Other networks > Mobile networks > Network mode and select the required communication standard. Depending on the smartphone model and operating system version, the path to the section Network mode may vary slightly.

Apple smartphones, unfortunately, do not support manual mode switching. Thus, iPhone users can only determine the frequency of the standard in which the smartphone operates automatically.

How to find out the cellular frequency

As we said above, to get information about the frequency at which your smartphone is connected to the base station, you need to go to a special service menu. On Android devices it is usually called Service Mode, on Apple smartphones- Field Test. To call up the corresponding screen, just dial a specific number from your phone.

Important! Depending on your device model and operating system version, the instructions in this article may not work. In this case, entering the code will do nothing. Also, on some smartphones the menu may look different, and network information may be in one of the submenus. You may have to search through the menu subsections before you find the mobile connection information page you're looking for!

Before testing the frequency, turn off your WiFi connection. If your phone has two SIM cards, it is recommended to remove the unnecessary card and leave only the one that needs to be tested. This way you can avoid unnecessary confusion and get accurate information about the current connection.

How to call the service menu on Android

Depending on the Android versions The service menu is opened using one of the following codes:

• *#0011#
• *#*#4636#*#*
• *#*#197328640#*#*

After entering the last character, the hidden menu should open automatically; you do not need to press the call button. On Samsung smartphones You will immediately be taken to a screen with information about the network status. On devices from other manufacturers, you may need to go to the “Phone Information” subsection or another that contains information about your mobile connection. Unfortunately, on some models of Android smartphones this menu may not be available at all.

On Samsung smartphones, to get network information, just dial *#0011#

To obtain network information on Xiaomi smartphones, you need to dial *#*#4636#*#*, go to the “Phone Information” section and scroll down the page. On devices with two SIM cards there will be two “Phone Information” sections.

As you can see, the hidden menu provides a lot of technical data. We won’t need most of this information, and we’ll tell you what exactly you should pay attention to below.

How to call the service menu on iPhone

On Apple smartphones, the service menu is called up in a similar way, but using a different code. After entering, you must press the call button:

• *3001#12345#*

To get information about your cellular connection, you will need to find the desired submenu item. Depending on your current communication standard, go to:

• for 2G: GSM Cell Environment > GSM Cell Info > Neighboring Cells > 0

• for 3G: UMTS Cell Environment > Neighbor Cells > UMTS Set > 0

• for 4G: Serving Cell Information

Determining the frequency of the 2G network (GSM)

To determine the frequency at which the GSM network operates, a special radio frequency channel number is used - ARFCN. Essentially, this is an identifier that indicates which radio frequency band your smartphone is currently operating in. On the service menu page, the identifier is usually indicated after the designation ARFCN, RX, Rx Ch, Freq, BCCH or other similar abbreviation.

Less often, smartphones in 2G mode immediately display the name of the standard (for example, GSM-900) or the operating frequency. If your smartphone displays the name of the standard ready-made, consider yourself lucky. Otherwise, determine which standard the specified ARFCN belongs to using the table below.

	2G standard	frequency range
0–124 975–1023

For example, this is what determining the GSM frequency looks like on Samsung smartphones (left) and iPhone (right):

If a smartphone shows several ARFCN values ​​listed in a column, then the active network is usually the first one in the list.

Determining the frequency of the 3G network

The situation is similar with frequency determination in 3G networks. Here the channel identifier is called differently - UARFCN. Unlike 2G networks, two UARFCN values ​​can be specified: one to identify the data channel (DL) and another to indicate the data channel (UL). The name of the standard or its special serial number may also be indicated - the so-called “band” (from the English band).

			3G standard	frequency range

Thus, in the service menu you can find either the UARFCN value or the serial number of the “band”: for example, Band 1. UARFCN is usually indicated after such abbreviations as RX, CH DL and others. On iPhone, the 3G frequency identifier is called Downlink Frequency or dl_freq.

If a smartphone shows several UARFCN values ​​listed in a column, then the active network is usually the first one in the list.

Let's give an example of determining UARFCN on modern Xiaomi (left) and Samsung (right) smartphones. In this case, the frequency of 2100 MHz is used:

Determining the frequency of the 4G network

The situation is similar with 4G networks. The “band” or channel identifier - EARFCN can be specified here. On an iPhone, the easiest way to determine the 4G frequency is by the “band” specified in paragraph Frequency Band Indicator or freq_band_ind. If a smartphone shows several EARFCN values ​​listed in a column, then the active network is usually the first one in the list.

			4G standard	frequency range

Note that the last standard cited does not specify different EARFCN values ​​for send and receive. This is not at all accidental. The fact is that in the LTE Band 38 standard, data reception and transmission occurs in the same frequency range, but alternately (TDD technology). A special repeater may be required to amplify this standard.

Below is an example of determining EARFCN on Xiaomi smartphones (left) and the latest iPhone versions(on right).

On Android devices, you can determine the 4G frequency more easily by using free application CellMapper. CellMapper displays information about the cellular network, including the current band. Unfortunately, it cannot be used to determine the frequency of a 2G or 3G network.

Always determine the frequency at the point where you plan to install external antenna amplification systems. If the operator uses several frequency bands simultaneously, the smartphone can use one standard outdoors and another indoors. This is due to the fact that more low frequencies penetrate into rooms better and, as a rule, they electronic devices give preference.

For example, if your operator provides 4G Internet simultaneously in the frequency ranges of 800 and 2600 MHz, then indoors the smartphone can select the slower LTE800 standard, and switch to the faster LTE2600 outdoors.

In addition, it should be taken into account that the simultaneous use of two 4G bands opens up the possibility of frequency aggregation for the operator. Aggregation is a function of LTE-Advanced networks, in which subscriber devices use several frequency bands to achieve maximum speed. Today, this technology is just beginning to be implemented by cellular operators, but in the foreseeable future it can significantly improve the performance of the mobile Internet.

If you determine that in your location the telecom operator works in two “bands” simultaneously, it makes sense to think about purchasing a dual-band amplification system.

The company introduces USSD codes with which you can check whether your phone and SIM card support the 4G standard.

4G will open up even more opportunities for mobile Internet users: data transfer speed is ~6.5 times higher than in 3G networks, the waiting time for opening Internet pages is 2.5 times less, ~10 times less more capacity networks, etc. But in order for subscribers to take full advantage of all the benefits of fourth generation communications, they need smartphones that support data transfer technology (4G/LTE) and special SIM cards (USIM).

Therefore, from December 11, 2017, Kyivstar introduces USSD codes, with which subscribers will be able to prepare for 4G. To check:

• Will the SIM card work on a 4G network, you need to dial the code *245*4#
• does the phone support 4G - dial *245*5#

To find out more, go to.

Subscribers can replace their old SIM card free of charge in Kyivstar branded stores with a USIM that supports the 4G standard. In addition, the company's stores have wide choose 4G smartphones. Thus, from December 5, 2017 to January 31, 2018, Kyivstar stores are hosting a large-scale New Year's promotion: when buying a smartphone mobile operator returns 20% of the cost to the subscriber’s mobile account or pays 2 installment payments for the subscriber.

“At the moment, 40% of smartphones with 4G/LTE support are registered in the Kyivstar network. But in order for all our customers to experience the benefits of high-quality ultra-fast mobile Internet from the very first day of the commercial launch of 4G, we made SIM card replacement free of charge and launched promotional offers for 4G smartphones,” – comments Pavel Daniman, Marketing Director of Kyivstar.

We remind you that a tender for radio frequencies in the 2600 MHz range should begin in January 2018, which will kickstart the development of 4G/LTE technology in Ukraine. Kyivstar is already preparing a network to provide high-speed data services using this technology, and has also updated 100% of its radio equipment to be ready to provide 4G communication services at 1800 MHz frequencies.

Information about Kyivstar

Kyivstar is a Ukrainian telecommunications operator that provides communication and data services based on a wide range of mobile and fixed-line technologies, including 3G. More than 26 million subscribers use the operator’s services.

Kyivstar shareholders are the international group VEON Ltd, office in the Netherlands. The Group's shares are in free circulation on stock exchange NASDAQ, New York and Euronext, Amsterdam.

Kyivstar has been operating in Ukraine for 20 years, is one of the largest taxpayers and one of the best employers, as well as a socially responsible company. During its work in Ukraine, Kyivstar transferred more than UAH 52 billion in taxes to the country’s budget, and also invested more than UAH 35 billion in the development of telecommunications.