Hotspot on iP5 - Connecting to iPad BT vs WiFi

[kmichalec]

I just changed my AT&T plan to support Tethering on my iPhone 5. I am attempting to connect my 3rd Gen iPad using Personal Hotspot, but I seem to be experiencing the following. Just wondering if this is normal, or if there is something I'm doing wrong?

When I connect my iPad via WiFi to the Hotspot on the iP5, I get around 14.0-18.0 Mbps dl and around 3.0 Mbps ul when running speed tests.

However, when connecting using Bluetooth, I'm getting 0.50-1.0 Mbps dl and 0.35-0.65 Mbps ul.

I understand that Tethering via Bluetooth is supposed to be slower than WiFi, but these BT numbers seem ridiculously low to me. The devices are literally sitting less than a foot apart on my desk at work, and are not being moved between BT tests and WiFi tests. I understand that environment factors could make a difference, but in looking at the other possible BT connections available (2 others around me) and possible WiFi connections available (5 others around me), I don't see what could be causing the slowdown.

Has anyone else experienced this? I would be surprised if it mattered, but my iPad is running iOS 6.0.1 and the iPhone 5 is running 6.0.2.

Any thoughts?

 

[takeshi74]

I understand that Tethering via Bluetooth is supposed to be slower than WiFi, but these BT numbers seem ridiculously low to me.

Based on what? Have you actually looked up the numbers? It sounds like you're just assuming.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1460698/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1444817/

 

[kmichalec]

Based on what? Have you actually looked up the numbers? It sounds like you're just assuming.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1460698/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1444817/

Not just assuming. The articles I was reading before posting (for example, Here) seemed to reference speeds around 1.5-3.0 Mpbs down is normal. I'm getting on average 0.50 Mbps dl, with only one time reaching the 1.0 mark. I was just thinking that 1/4 to 1/6 of the theoretical upper limit is rather low. Maybe the term "ridiculously low" may have been a little exaggerated, but was hoping to get at least 1.0-1.5 on average. That I could deal with, but 0.5 is kind of painful.

Also, Bluetooth v3.0 + HS is rated for 24 Mbit/s, so wouldn't 0.5 Mpbs seem rather low to you in comparison?