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AT&T's 3G Network Struggling to Keep Up?

I went to the Genius Bar at the Apple Store in Exeter, UK.

they gave me a good answer (at least for the UK using the O2 network).

sorry if I am teaching you all what you may already know (I did not know this).

there are 2 types of 3G antennae - HSDPA (the 'faster' one)
and UMTS (the 'slower' one)

the problem we have here in the South West of the UK is that the O2 mast is the slower UMTS one, so we have painfully slow 3G speed.

Maybe this is a similar problem in other countries.

Like I say, I have no real knowledge of this technology, but this seems like a plausible explanation.
 
dcdttu said:
So of all the stories to post, we post the one about low bandwidth speeds?

Shouldn't you guys have noticed that the 3G iPhone has the worst 3G reception most people have ever seen? I am in Austin, a city that is supposed to be completely blanketed in 3G, and can't get a 3G signal 80% of the time.... When I do, it's 1-2 bars 95% of the time.

Bandwidth will resolve itself over time. At this point, I have far more faith in AT&T than Apple. The reception issue is the iPhone's, as I've had my iPhone next to other 3G phones and they're getting full reception and I'm on 1 bar or EDGE. Pathetic for a phone that boasts 'better reception'

Apple better fix it quick, and I pray it's a software bug....
Click to expand...

^^totally agree and I'm having the same issue just like a lot of others. I pray it's a software issue.
 
Southern Los Angeles area, late evening:

i.dslr.net/tinyspeedtest.html results:

Edge: 168kbps
3G: 658kbps


inetworktest.com results:

Edge: 158kbps
3G: 370kbps


The numbers always seem a bit skewed in these tests, though somewhat relative. Anyway... I'm not the least bit impressed with my iPhone 3G's speed. Actually, I'm quite disappointed.
 
some good news

tested 3g out this morning and I get 1.5 mb download speeds which is great! so at least I know it is definitely not an iphone issue, just to many people on 3g I guess mid day. Ill perodially test throughout the day and see as it starts to drop speeds
 
It's amazing the rumors that get started when a bunch of BlackBerry users get onto this website. Here is evidence of what iPhone 3G reception is really like:
2687964531_0148c1b4ed_o.jpg


Just Kidding! Last week, I reported that 3G here in Irvine, CA was
564kbps. Here is what I am observing right now (2am):

i.dslr.net/tinyspeedtest.html results:
Edge: 224kbps
3G: 984kbps

inetworktest.com results:
Edge: 206kbps
3G: 953kbps

According to http://i.dslr.net/tinyspeedtest.html Statistics (which are displayed after running a test), from 2295 samples, the average 3G test has shown 797kbps.
 
OrleansMac said:
A few weeks in, how are people's 3G service working out?

Some cities reported some slow speeds the first week. Any updates to those like Chicago?
Click to expand...

I'm getting much faster 3G speeds, up around 1 Mbps. This only happened after I did a restore and got the later build 2.0 firmware, however. It also seemed to improve 3G reception here in the Boston area....:cool:
 
OrleansMac said:
A few weeks in, how are people's 3G service working out?

Some cities reported some slow speeds the first week. Any updates to those like Chicago?
Click to expand...

I would like to hear reports from Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. That is where I would use it.

I'm surprised there isn't a network speed test app that uses GPS to build a database of reports. That way, I could see the average of many users in my area. Also, an app would know what network the phone was on, EDGE, 3G, or wifi. I bet people often tap the wrong button by accident or just not knowing.
 
NeilP said:
I would like to hear reports from Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. That is where I would use it.

I'm surprised there isn't a network speed test app that uses GPS to build a database of reports. That way, I could see the average of many users in my area. Also, an app would know what network the phone was on, EDGE, 3G, or wifi. I bet people often tap the wrong button by accident or just not knowing.
Click to expand...

There is one that charts speed based on location, I think. iNetworkTest asks to report my location with every speed test result it posts.
 
I'm averaging around 1 Mbps here in the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area, it's not uncommon to get speeds at or over 1.5 Mbps, but typical is right around 1-1.2 Mbps, Edge is 250K max, so, 3G is way better in my experience and area.

PS. Broke 2 Mbps with 3g tonight. :)
 

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Megalobyte said:
I'm averaging around 1 Mbps here in the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area, it's not uncommon to get speeds at or over 1.5 Mbps, but typical is right around 1-1.2 Mbps, Edge is 250K max, so, 3G is way better in my experience and area.

PS. Broke 2 Mbps with 3g tonight. :)
Click to expand...

This is in central NJ and I've never come close to repeating it but impressive nonetheless:
 

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IDK if its just the area i'm in but I have been getting this all day long here in south florida

sig.php


EDIT: Sorry for the double post. I think it got posted twice when there was that little bit of forum down time.
 
testmyiphone.com:

3G: 1.2Mbps


and just moments later..


inetworktest.com:

3G: 364kbps


something's amiss. (i mean other than the fact that my 3G service sucks.)
 
lewisd23 said:
IDK if its just the area i'm in but I have been getting this all day long here in south florida

sig.php
Click to expand...

Does the connection SEEM like 2.2Mbps? Are you able to watch streaming video without any buffering or interruptions? Do web pages load as fast as your desktop/laptop computer?
 
Rybold said:
Does the connection SEEM like 2.2Mbps? Are you able to watch streaming video without any buffering or interruptions? Do web pages load as fast as your desktop/laptop computer?
Click to expand...

Yea it does feel like a 2 mbps connection. I watched a episode of tekzilla when I was getting those speeds and it didn't stop to buffer once.
 
Here in Southern California, speeds seem to be the same as they were a week ago. Has anyone seen an improvement, slow down, or the same as a week ago, in your own area? :apple:
 
on my EDGE model, me bieng 2 levels higher than my N router(having just the dot) i tested 4 times in like 10 seconds. and my first was like 250 KBPS, second around 500 KBPS, third 820KBPS, and 4th 700KBPS...those are estimates...in all those tests i was in the EXACT same spot, with Wi-Fi, im going to try testmyiphone.com
 
TEST MY IPHONE.COM FROZE MY PHONE!! please some1 tell me how to power off...holding JUST the power button for 30 secs isnt working...or anything along those lines!

k im good now...i tried another site, it says Wi-fi right now(me bieng farthest distance from router possible) is 2420KBPS...it feels like its like 100 KBPS
 
Actually the Edge Network isn't that Great around Memphis. 3G is way better...but WiFi will still be the Winner.
iPhone_3GNetworkSpds.jpg
All three Networks EDGE/3G/Wifi
MemphisDave
 
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