3G/4G at Le Mans
Discussion
Does anybody who been in previous years have any recollection of connectivity to 4G etc whilst at the circuit?
I've found, and it gets worse each year interestingly, that any big-ish event in the UK the network completely collapses once it starts to get busy (in terms of volume of people). I wonder if that's because of the faster speeds we have now. Presumably somebody must be getting connected for it to buckle under the strain, but it's never me!
At Goodwood MM, so not a huge crowd, connecting used to be fine. This year even sending a WhatsApp was hard work. I then went to Supercar Fest last weekend, less than 10k people but by 10am again you could forget doing anything other than sending a text in WhatsApp. I know everyone else I spoke to had the same problem, so not an issue specific to my phone/provider.
I've found, and it gets worse each year interestingly, that any big-ish event in the UK the network completely collapses once it starts to get busy (in terms of volume of people). I wonder if that's because of the faster speeds we have now. Presumably somebody must be getting connected for it to buckle under the strain, but it's never me!
At Goodwood MM, so not a huge crowd, connecting used to be fine. This year even sending a WhatsApp was hard work. I then went to Supercar Fest last weekend, less than 10k people but by 10am again you could forget doing anything other than sending a text in WhatsApp. I know everyone else I spoke to had the same problem, so not an issue specific to my phone/provider.
One of the biggest issues is the increasing amount of crap phones 'talk' over your data connection - at least by default.
Lots of usage/location tracking, things randomly checking for updates, and one of the real killers for things like the start/end of the 24hrs, constant backing up to cloud services. It will be bad before but you can expect a real flat spot right after the cars cross the start line...as 10,000 people stop recording videos and their phones try to back them up to the cloud for example.
In my experience they do quite a good job of intelligent, dynamic data throttling. Try to share a video of the start on WhatsApp during lap #1 and you'll tend to struggle. Hit refresh on the WEC app to see latest positions and gaps (a small download as just the data being slung) and it will still be reasonably quick.
Size of event will also be a factor, though not the way you might first think. Both the UK events you describe sound like 'small'/'minor' ones so you're looking at a reasonable extra number of people using the exact same cell infrastructure that's in place to handle demand the other 360 days of the year. Big events like Le Mans/Glastonbury/etc will see the mobile network providers installing temporary cell towers to add capacity and handle the temporary spike. They cost money though so don't get rolled out unless theybare seen as worth the effort.
Lots of usage/location tracking, things randomly checking for updates, and one of the real killers for things like the start/end of the 24hrs, constant backing up to cloud services. It will be bad before but you can expect a real flat spot right after the cars cross the start line...as 10,000 people stop recording videos and their phones try to back them up to the cloud for example.
In my experience they do quite a good job of intelligent, dynamic data throttling. Try to share a video of the start on WhatsApp during lap #1 and you'll tend to struggle. Hit refresh on the WEC app to see latest positions and gaps (a small download as just the data being slung) and it will still be reasonably quick.
Size of event will also be a factor, though not the way you might first think. Both the UK events you describe sound like 'small'/'minor' ones so you're looking at a reasonable extra number of people using the exact same cell infrastructure that's in place to handle demand the other 360 days of the year. Big events like Le Mans/Glastonbury/etc will see the mobile network providers installing temporary cell towers to add capacity and handle the temporary spike. They cost money though so don't get rolled out unless theybare seen as worth the effort.
Edited by //j17 on Friday 3rd June 11:59
I’ve found in the circuit has been much better in recent years and I’ve not had too much of an issue with data, 4G! I rely on my old school fm radio for Radio Le Mans whilst in the grandstand though.
I streamed Sky Go via tethering for Eurosport back at camp in Bleu Nord. I’ll try again this year but think I’ll need a VPN for Sky to work.
I streamed Sky Go via tethering for Eurosport back at camp in Bleu Nord. I’ll try again this year but think I’ll need a VPN for Sky to work.
I had issues at the Nurburgring 24hr last weekend.
Vodafone (usually a sponsor the event in some way) didn't cover this year's event so only limited additional masts went up.
Once the "pattern was full" you were stuck with intermittent and slow connectivity.
I doubt this will be the case at LM though tbh, I've never struggled for signal there and have streamed RLM via data happily.
One tip, turn off your 5G connection within your phone, if you have it. Latency is shocking on 5G unless you are stood beside a mast. Unless of course you can find a decent 5G mast, in which case stay there.
Vodafone (usually a sponsor the event in some way) didn't cover this year's event so only limited additional masts went up.
Once the "pattern was full" you were stuck with intermittent and slow connectivity.
I doubt this will be the case at LM though tbh, I've never struggled for signal there and have streamed RLM via data happily.
One tip, turn off your 5G connection within your phone, if you have it. Latency is shocking on 5G unless you are stood beside a mast. Unless of course you can find a decent 5G mast, in which case stay there.
It might be worth buying a Starlink dish (Elon Musk) as you just plug the damned thing in and it finds the satellites automatically regardless of location. You get 200MB down and around 90MB up. Ok if you already have a contract as you just unbolt and set up at the other end. No roaming charges either. It needs something like to job the system into reality and out of extortion.
Point worth noting the Ruskies are thinking about deleting the satellites as they orbit above Russia.. sure the Americans will love that!
https://www.starlink.com/
Point worth noting the Ruskies are thinking about deleting the satellites as they orbit above Russia.. sure the Americans will love that!
https://www.starlink.com/
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