Considering returning my Verizon iPhone

[sorepheet]

I live this every day

i was waiting for post like this ... the only thing worse then an iphone with poor signal, is a slow iphone.

Still rocking a 2G iPhone... painfully slow. However the T-Zones $5.99/month Unlimited data plan helps with my patience level. If i were getting the speeds I get currently with an iPhone 4 and paying $30/month I'd be pissed
Wouldn't hurt to take it in and have the pros look at it. I'd start with Apple Store. Chances are it may be attenuation or simply VZW is buckling under the load.

 

[kicko]

mine 5 bars

ping - 196ms
down - 1.61mbps
up - 0.74 mbps

looking at older tests from my 3g on at&t i didnt get much better on the same location. So overall the speed is exactly the same.

 

[aviator85]

Same Problem in Iowa

I've been watching the forums to see if anyone else had the same problems.

The first thing I did when I got my VZ iPhone on Monday was run a speed test and I had similar results of getting 150-200k down.

Since the ATT launch, I've had an iPhone with them and also carried around a VZ datacard. ATT has great 3G in my hometown, but this is only in a few cities in Iowa thus the need for the VZ datacard.

My results so far:

VZ iPhone: 150-200K average download (was able to get 1.1 M once)
VZ Datacard: Averages about 1.2M
ATT iPhone: Average about 3M

I was hoping to do something similar - get rid of ATT for VZ's better voice service and also get rid of the datacard and just use the hotspot feature; however, I cannot use the hotspot if speeds are in the 150k range.

The frustrating part is, we know VZ's network has enough bandwidth and capacity because we are both getting good data rates on our cards, just not iPhones.

I spent an hour and half on the phone with VZ tech support yesterday and they didn't seem to know much of anything. He did tell me that smartphone data plans where throttled down so I would not get the same speeds on the phone as my datacard. When I asked him about the hotspot feature, he said that since this came from another "bucket" of data, that when using the hotspot, I would get the same speeds as my datacard. I tested this, and the hotspot is getting the same miserable speeds as the phone.

I'll wait another week or two, but may also end up having to send the phone back and stick with ATT phone and VZ card. Let us know if anyone else figures anything out!

 

[diegoesk]

Do you guys think verizon is purposely restricting data service on its iPhones? I remember them having that document in writing saying they would restrict top users, but I think they already started.

The proof was when that one guy mentioned his verizon laptop was getting good speeds but his phone wasnt. HMMMMM

 

[mpossoff]

My theory.

500k Verizon iPhones sold to existing Verizon customers only.

Data says Verizon customers are not heavy data users like AT&T users.

Now that there is 500k Verizon iPhones out on the street these 500k Verizon customers didn't use data like they did are now using lot more data because the iPhone is a data hungry device. As AT&T users defect to Verizon this can get worse.

For AT&T users 'the grass isn't always greener' it's a fact that AT&T is expanding and improving their 3G network projected to be done by March 31st. In fact people have posted that either they now have 3G and/or have experienced improved 3G.

Ok I might get 2 dropped calls a month compared to 0 dropped calls from Verizon counterparts but that's not significant. The iPhone is also a data hungry device and IMO AT&T network is best for a device like the iPhone.

 

[Applejuiced]

I get 3mbps in major city areas. On wifi, I got 11 mbps and I do get that, too. So, it is not the phone but the network. Get the 4g mifi when it comes out, if you got 4g in your area. Me too, I get wifi at work and home!!

True but not everyone would want to pay for a 4G mifi to get good speeds on their iPhone.

 

[grelcar]

Went by the Apple store after work yesterday. Seems you need an appointment with the Genius to get any real tech support. One of the employees in the store told me Verizon sucks in this area, thats helpful. The should tell that to everyone who comes in tomorrow to by a new phone on Verizon. I am going to try the Verizon store today, I doubt anyone there will tell me Verizon sucks. I don't know if there were any phones held back for replacement or not. If I am told to expect a long wait in order to have the phone replaced I will probably just return it.

I have no wifi where I work. On my wifi at home I get over 20Mbps download and over 10Mbps upload. My 3G numbers are about the same as at work. I really like the iPhone other than the unusable 3G. I have carried an iPod touch for years. This is my first smartphone. My previous phone was a 4 or 5 year old flip phone. I don't make many calls or text.

Thanks for all of the relevant replies.

Greg

 

[Pink∆Floyd]

I'll wait another week or two, but may also end up having to send the phone back and stick with ATT phone and VZ card.

No, please stay with Verizon's crappy network, you'll be making the rest of AT&T's iPhone customers a HUGE favor

 

[doubleaa]

The first day my tests on Verizon 3G were in the 600d/300u range. Now I am consistently getting 1500d/800u. This is more than enough bandwidth for a smart phone.

 

[aviator85]

The first day my tests on Verizon 3G were in the 600d/300u range. Now I am consistently getting 1500d/800u. This is more than enough bandwidth for a smart phone.

Agreed; however, some of us are averaging 150-200 with many tests not even breaking 100k. That is not enough bandwidth for a smartphone and renders doing anything internet related (even downloading short text emails) almost impossible

 

[cdd543]

The first day my tests on Verizon 3G were in the 600d/300u range. Now I am consistently getting 1500d/800u. This is more than enough bandwidth for a smart phone.

Same for me..mine has been much improved the last 12 hours.

 

[stewart715]

This is interesting. I guess it does depend on where you live. I consistently get 1k-2k Kbps on mine -- which for me is enough to check Twitter, Facebook, basic websites, maps, etc... No issues here.

 

[Bonsai1214]

I have never had an issue with ATT when it comes to calls or data. I was curious what kind of speed i was getting while i was reading this thread. So i ran a speed test and the numbers speak for themselves. Im located in buffalo, ny.

lies! i am also in buffalo, and i only get 2.5 haha.

 

[Aviboy97]

Speed Test Results

Hi everyone,

New iPhone owner here on Verizon. I just did my first speed test, and here are the results. Can anyone tell me how they rate?

Ping: 204ms
Download: 1.09Mbps
Upload: 0.07Mbps

Second Test about 5 minutes later

Ping: 209ms
Download: 1.31Mbps
Upload: 0.11Mbps

Test was run in Danbury, CT and the server is in Clifton, NJ which is about 78 miles away.

 

[NathanA]

My theory. [...] Now that there is 500k Verizon iPhones out on the street these 500k Verizon customers didn't use data like they did are now using lot more data because the iPhone is a data hungry device. As AT&T users defect to Verizon this can get worse.

As has been said before, the OP gets great speeds (4x faster than iPhone) on Verizon in the EXACT SAME LOCATIONS with a Verizon datacard. If one device (netbook with datacard) gets consistently much better performance than another (iPhone) on the same freaking network, then logic dictates that it isn't the network!! The iPhones on Verizon are not overloading the network if other devices *on* *the* *same* *network* and *in* *the* *same* *vicinity* have no trouble getting good download speeds when the iPhone does.

*shakes head*

There is something wrong with the OP's iPhone. Either that or there is an engineering defect in the Verizon version of the iPhone that can cause it to perform poorly in certain instances (obviously not all instances as some people are reporting 1Mbps+ download rates with their VeriPhones). If the latter, Apple might possibly be able to fix in software.

OP: You would do well to take your netbook with you to wherever you end up taking your iPhone to get it looked at, and show the tech/Genius/whoever side-by-side speedtests between the netbook and the iPhone, thus clearly demonstrating that the iPhone has a problem.

-- Nathan

 

[JasonR]

Verizon / ATT iphone speeds in my area are comparable....but I get better service with Verizon.

I was shocked with I conducted speed tests with the two iPhones (one verizon, one ATT). The Verizon performed slightly better. It all depends on your area. Love the phone, though!

 

[chestvrg]

i was waiting for post like this ... the only thing worse then an iphone with poor signal, is a slow iphone.

Wao it must be the network really. On AT&T sometimes I get slow and I mean very slow 3G speeds, but at night times or midnight I get speeds of like 4Mbps. It's like a rush hour traffic Jam and I can imagine how many other people are accessing the same Verizon network at the same time you are, but maybe is not the iPhone but the network.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kicko]

mine 5 bars

ping - 196ms
down - 1.61mbps
up - 0.74 mbps

looking at older tests from my 3g on at&t i didnt get much better on the same location. So overall the speed is exactly the same.

i ran a speed test on my buddys AT&T in the same location and they got

ping - 545ms
down - 0.34 mbps
up - 0.19 mbps

so clearly this is going to vary by area coverage...not by device

 

[chestvrg]

Here is my speed with Verizon... Haha just kidding I wish. This is my speed on my home network.

That is some fast home Internet. I get 6Mbps on AT&T DSL. do you have cable Internet or fiber optics or a T3 connection?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[grelcar]

I spoke with verizon customer support. They said that I should be getting the same 3G speeds on my Verizon iPhone as I am getting on my Verizon netbook. I was transferred to someone else in technical support and sitting on hold for about 10 min when I had to hang up to take a work call on my desk phone. I will call back when I get off work and have more time.

Hopefully I can get something resolved before they get overloaded with new iPhones tomorrow.

 

[aviator85]

I spoke with verizon customer support. They said that I should be getting the same 3G speeds on my Verizon iPhone as I am getting on my Verizon netbook. I was transferred to someone else in technical support and sitting on hold for about 10 min when I had to hang up to take a work call on my desk phone. I will call back when I get off work and have more time.

Hopefully I can get something resolved before they get overloaded with new iPhones tomorrow.

Please let me know if you figure anything out!

 

[kdarling]

Hmmm.

Makes me think that the phone's PRL (preferred roaming list) is out of date. That could cause it to prefer connecting to a more distant or less equipped cell.

Isn't there a *2xx number to update that on Verizon?

I suppose it's also possible that the OP is pretty far from a cell, and the netbook's modem can transmit/receive with fewer errors. (Actually, the netbook's speeds aren't that great, either.)

OP, have you tried different locations by now? I mean miles apart.

 

[zenio]

Tried it in hand and on desk, no difference.

Let's be honest, it's an iPhone 4 what did you expect? The rest of us with this issue are being drowned out by the denying "Apple is Perfect" Fanboys.

Welcome to the Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field". You will never forget it

Remember it's just another phone. Lower your expectations

 

[patp]

As has been said before, the OP gets great speeds (4x faster than iPhone) on Verizon in the EXACT SAME LOCATIONS with a Verizon datacard. If one device (netbook with datacard) gets consistently much better performance than another (iPhone) on the same freaking network, then logic dictates that it isn't the network!! The iPhones on Verizon are not overloading the network if other devices *on* *the* *same* *network* and *in* *the* *same* *vicinity* have no trouble getting good download speeds when the iPhone does.

*shakes head*

There is something wrong with the OP's iPhone. Either that or there is an engineering defect in the Verizon version of the iPhone that can cause it to perform poorly in certain instances (obviously not all instances as some people are reporting 1Mbps+ download rates with their VeriPhones). If the latter, Apple might possibly be able to fix in software.

OP: You would do well to take your netbook with you to wherever you end up taking your iPhone to get it looked at, and show the tech/Genius/whoever side-by-side speedtests between the netbook and the iPhone, thus clearly demonstrating that the iPhone has a problem.

-- Nathan

the only criteria missing in this thesis is time. did we ever give the network time to sort itself out after a major product launch with many folks activating and testing all at once?

I am already seeing posts about how the speeds have improved in the last 12 hours. The early adopters are probably getting poor speeds, then seeing some improvement.

VZW will probably never reach AT&T network speeds. As long as I can hit around 1.5-2.0 mbps, I can live with that.

I think making final judgment now is a little premature. Now the AT&T fanboys love this VZW network being slow business.

Let's see what happens. If no improvement across the board at all in 3 weeks, well I'll be singing a different tune.
We shall see.

 

[manueld]

As has been said before, the OP gets great speeds (4x faster than iPhone) on Verizon in the EXACT SAME LOCATIONS with a Verizon datacard. If one device (netbook with datacard) gets consistently much better performance than another (iPhone) on the same freaking network, then logic dictates that it isn't the network!! The iPhones on Verizon are not overloading the network if other devices *on* *the* *same* *network* and *in* *the* *same* *vicinity* have no trouble getting good download speeds when the iPhone does.

*shakes head*

There is something wrong with the OP's iPhone. Either that or there is an engineering defect in the Verizon version of the iPhone that can cause it to perform poorly in certain instances (obviously not all instances as some people are reporting 1Mbps+ download rates with their VeriPhones). If the latter, Apple might possibly be able to fix in software.

OP: You would do well to take your netbook with you to wherever you end up taking your iPhone to get it looked at, and show the tech/Genius/whoever side-by-side speedtests between the netbook and the iPhone, thus clearly demonstrating that the iPhone has a problem.

-- Nathan

And someone also did post that verizon would/could be throttling data on smartphones..I wonder if they're doing this in certain areas to reduce congestion especially at launch. I would suggest to the OP finding someone with a verizon iphone in his area and do the test at the same time. If his their phones aren't on par with download/upload speeds then it can definitely be a phone issue.