Does anyone know who provides faster service in the DC area? My iPad will be mostly used for streaming video and web browsing. I bought the AT&T version but I want to be sure before I open it
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AT&T Vs Verizon iPad for Washington DC Area
- Thread starter jbrady3324
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AT&T has the best speed in the area, imo.
Verizon has coverage, but its not really that big of a difference.
DC is pretty well covered by all the majors, luckily.
Verizon has coverage, but its not really that big of a difference.
DC is pretty well covered by all the majors, luckily.
Do you know what transfer rates you usually see with AT&T vs Verizon? What about metro coverage in stations and tunnels?
I'd go Verizon.
I have an AT&T iPhone, but am looking for a Verizon iPad 2. I was told by an Apple guy that if I cracked it open, played with it, and didn't like it, I have 14 days to return it and exchange for an AT&T model.
Verizon works on the Metro, which is pretty cool. I think it also has better coverage around the DC area, though it won't be as noticeable with an all-data device because it will just stall a download rather than hang up a call. I think AT&T is theoretically faster, emphasis on theoretically. My AT&T iPhone 4 drops calls with surprising regularity. It's a good thing I don't really use it as a phone much.
I have an AT&T iPhone, but am looking for a Verizon iPad 2. I was told by an Apple guy that if I cracked it open, played with it, and didn't like it, I have 14 days to return it and exchange for an AT&T model.
Verizon works on the Metro, which is pretty cool. I think it also has better coverage around the DC area, though it won't be as noticeable with an all-data device because it will just stall a download rather than hang up a call. I think AT&T is theoretically faster, emphasis on theoretically. My AT&T iPhone 4 drops calls with surprising regularity. It's a good thing I don't really use it as a phone much.
Tests generally always show AT&T to be faster, but from my experience AT&T is pretty crappy in this area. I had the AT&T iPhone4 for about 2 weeks then returned it because of bad service, now I have the vzw iPhone and have no problems.
Does it work in the tunnels?
Was the data service crappy or just voice?
I believe Verizon does work in the Metro tunnels. AT&T works in some, but not all, of the stations, and no tunnels.
In terms of speed, lets just assume AT&T is faster.. will I see a difference when streaming netflix?
My thinking is, I'm going to be on WiFi most of the time. Verizon will give me a good signal most of the time in DC. If I can't get a Verizon signal, I can fire up my iPhone hotspot (mywi) and suck some AT&T data over.
Thread is for "IPAD" not "IPHONE" Voice doesn't matter. Data only (unless skype.. but that's data)
So I am taking it as the speed difference between AT&T and Verizon is not significant enough in DC.
Probably none of us know that for sure. My guess, though, is that Verizon's better wireless coverage makes up for AT&T's theoretically faster throughput.
You're not seeing the point of AT&T is so bad that voice doesn't even work in most areas, so there is no chance of data working
I think voice and data are two different radio networks, which is why you can do both simultaneously on AT&T. So there's probably some correlation between crappy voice signal and crappy data signal, but I don't think one determines the other.
And as I said above, a data connection that drops out for a moment or two is not a big deal -- everything just chills out until you get signal back -- but with voice, your call gets dropped.
And as I said above, a data connection that drops out for a moment or two is not a big deal -- everything just chills out until you get signal back -- but with voice, your call gets dropped.
I can't stand AT&T but the service in DC is quite good. 3g data speeds are very solid within the city and are ok in Arlington or other areas right outside
You can't go wrong with either, imo
DC is covered well by both
You can't go wrong with either, imo
DC is covered well by both
I have an iPhone 4 on AT&T, and I'm definitely getting a Verizon iPad 2. I've been traveling a lot recently (Boston, NYC, Philly, Chicago), and I've had absolutely terrible service with AT&T. Data is very fast with great coverage, but this is rare.
More often, even with 5 bars of signal, I'll get unusably slow data speeds. Sometimes, EDGE is even faster than AT&T's supposed "3G" in the major cities. Plus, Verizon has much wider 3G coverage anyways.
More often, even with 5 bars of signal, I'll get unusably slow data speeds. Sometimes, EDGE is even faster than AT&T's supposed "3G" in the major cities. Plus, Verizon has much wider 3G coverage anyways.
I have both AT&T and Verizon for personal and business use respectively and both carriers, IMO, are almost identical in the D.C. area. Any difference is marginal at best. However, if you travel often, I would get Verizon because their coverage is much better nationwide, especially in rural areas.
I, myself, plan on getting a Verizon iPad because although I live in the D.C. area, I travel to the country quite often to visit family where cell towers are scarce, and if you don't have Verizon you're pretty much screwed.
I, myself, plan on getting a Verizon iPad because although I live in the D.C. area, I travel to the country quite often to visit family where cell towers are scarce, and if you don't have Verizon you're pretty much screwed.