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3G - What's the maximum speed?

E

enigma2k

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 12, 2010
189
58
Hi,
I am from Europe using an US iPad. I have used the program speedtest.net (iPhone version) for a speedtest for 3G and Wlan.

For 3G I got 5.9 Mbps down and 0.3 Mbps up
For WLan I got 10 Mbps down and 0.8 up

So I am really satisfied with the 3G speed here but I am wondering what the theoretically limit would be for 3G. Does it make use of HSPA+?
 
You are lucky.. Here in US AT&T advertised was 7.2mbps but most of us getting the maximum of 2.5mbps
 
enigma2k said:
Hi,
I am from Europe using an US iPad. I have used the program speedtest.net (iPhone version) for a speedtest for 3G and Wlan.

For 3G I got 5.9 Mbps down and 0.3 Mbps up
For WLan I got 10 Mbps down and 0.8 up

So I am really satisfied with the 3G speed here but I am wondering what the theoretically limit would be for 3G. Does it make use of HSPA+?
Click to expand...

I'm sure the fastest offered 3G at the minute here in the UK is 7.2mbps
 
Doesn't it depend on where you live, how many other people are using it, and a lot of other factors. I not got a 3G iPad but on my iPhone I get about 3-4mbps when out and about in Liverpool town centre.
 
Here in the US, the maximum speed on AT&T's network is TOO DAMNED SLOW! I bought a WiFi iPad for now. Maybe if the 4G networks here ever catch up to Europe I'll snag an iPad with a cellular radio. For now it's just an exercise in frustration coming from a WiFi + Broadband connection.
 
I don't know what the iPad's hardware theoretical max speed is for 3g, but AT&T's max speed is more likely the limiting factor in the U.S.

For the record, my personal speedtest x results are typically between 1.2Mbps and 1.7Mbps, most often around 1.4Mbps. I am in northern Virginia, US. Faster is always better, but I'm satisfied.
 
I was wondering if the 3G iPad could handle HSPA+ as well. However, I think Jobs and AT&T would have made a big deal about that if it were true when it was launched in the U.S. Also, my next iPad will be fully 4G so who cares? :)
 
http://www.apple.com/ipad/3g/

7.2mbs is the max throughput for the ipad 3g.

Though most 3g networks are actually capable of 14Mbs down & 5.8Mbs up before moving to 4g.

But to answer the op the receivier in the ipad is only able to offer upto 7.2 Mbs
 
I just did a test with Speedtest HD in London on O2 and got 9.6Mbps

Um..... Wha? Not that fast in normal web usage though
 
phjohnst said:
I just did a test with Speedtest HD in London on O2 and got 9.6Mbps

Um..... Wha? Not that fast in normal web usage though
Click to expand...

That just means the speedtest was not accurate for some reason. You can't get higher than the hardware is capable of :)
 
Harmush said:
Doesn't it depend on where you live, how many other people are using it, and a lot of other factors.
Click to expand...

It depends on where the phone is at in relations the the cellular towers rather than where you live. Cellular service does not care where you live.
 
TNSF said:
That just means the speedtest was not accurate for some reason. You can't get higher than the hardware is capable of :)
Click to expand...

I'm getting a sustained 10Mb with my S3, which i find laughable since the piece of crap copper wire in my house from BT cannot even deliver 2Mb reliably. This and an unlimited data plan from Three and I'm very happy !
 
In Australia, 4 bars signal, iPhone 5 (LTE turned off, using 3G) am getting around 10Mbps down and 1.2Mbps up. seems more than the max of 7.2?
 
Wow old thread to update for the iPad3 up to 21.1 Mbps with HSPA+ and up to 42 Mbps with DC-HSDPA.3

How times change
 
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