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Is your service worse with the iPhone 5?

trlyka

trlyka

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 26, 2011
539
7
I noticed I am on Edge quite a bit while I am at work, or no service at all. It is a bad area to begin with but my 4 would show 3G more often then not. I also notice less signal and calls drop or won't connect even leaving my work area when I drive away. My 4 was a little trooper! Always seemed to try really hard even in the worst signal areas.

Does having 4G mean the new iPhone 5 won't revert to 3G? Or is it only 4G or Edge and that's it? I leave LTE off because it is not available in my area.

I have AT&T
 
I get better LTE service on verizon with my iPhone than I did with my previous Android LTE phone, and better service than I got with my iphone 4 on verizon.
 
darster said:
I get better LTE service on verizon with my iPhone than I did with my previous Android LTE phone, and better service than I got with my iphone 4 on verizon.
Click to expand...

AT&T said I don't have LTE in my area and I should leave it off to save on battery life.
 
I work in the 7th level of a 8-story garage. When i had my iphone 4, i would get decent edge signal at work. But with the iphone 5, im almost always with "no service."

I'm with at&t
 
Coming from an iPhone 4 (ATT) to the iPhone 5 (ATT), quality has improved. I get less dropped calls, the signal strength is a little stronger, but most importantly, call quality has vastly improved (probably more down to the noise cancellation earpiece than anything else).
 
iBaloney said:
I work in the 7th level of a 8-story garage. When i had my iphone 4, i would get decent edge signal at work. But with the iphone 5, im almost always with "no service."

I'm with at&t
Click to expand...

^Right....So if anyone knows....Since the 5 has 4G, can it also use 3G? I don't ever actually see '3G' on the phone, so I can't tell if it's backwards compatible.
 
trlyka said:
^Right....So if anyone knows....Since the 5 has 4G, can it also use 3G? I don't ever actually see '3G' on the phone, so I can't tell if it's backwards compatible.
Click to expand...

4G on the iphone 5 is technically 3G. This is how it works:

iPhone 4: 3G > Edge
iPhone 5: LTE > 4G > Edge
 
stonyboys said:
Wait so the iPhone can't use 3G at all :confused:
Click to expand...

well, 4G is just a marketing hype for carriers. It's not really up to par with what actual 4G speeds need to be. At&t's 4G is HSPA+, which is just an upgraded 3G network.

So, since you technically are using 3G (HSPA+), just with the "4G" moniker.
 
iBaloney said:
well, 4G is just a marketing hype for carriers. It's not really up to par with what actual 4G speeds need to be. At&t's 4G is HSPA+, which is just an upgraded 3G network.

So, since you technically are using 3G (HSPA+), just with the "4G" moniker.
Click to expand...
Oh I see, thanks. But the fact that they're pretty much false advertising their network is even worse than if it couldn't get 3g, lol.
 
stonyboys said:
Oh I see, thanks. But the fact that they're pretty much false advertising their network is even worse than if it couldn't get 3g, lol.
Click to expand...

haha seriously. These marketing scams lure in ppl who don't know about this caveat. Good thing we're on this forum eh? lolz
 
I've swapped sims and still only manage 2-3 bars most of the time regardless of LTE being on. AT&T's network in Northern Virginia is just mediocre or I've had multiple bad phones and sims.

Not that it's that big of a deal(I can still make calls) but it drains my battery quicker and its noticeable.
 
4G on the iphone 5 is technically 3G. This is how it works:

iPhone 4: 3G > Edge
iPhone 5: LTE > 4G > Edge
Click to expand...

iBaloney said:
well, 4G is just a marketing hype for carriers. It's not really up to par with what actual 4G speeds need to be. At&t's 4G is HSPA+, which is just an upgraded 3G network.

So, since you technically are using 3G (HSPA+), just with the "4G" moniker.
Click to expand...

Forgive my ignorance. But is my phone even trying to use 3G or is it ONLY 4G and Edge which once was the 3G service and now just renamed? I leave LTE off because of availability.

I guess I'm asking for more clarity because my service seems more spotty then before and I am seeing Edge more too.
 
trlyka said:
Forgive my ignorance. But is my phone even trying to use 3G or is it ONLY 4G and Edge which once was the 3G service and now just renamed? I leave LTE off because of availability.
Click to expand...

On AT&T, "4G" on your iPhone is for all intents and purposes, the same as 3G.

It's not about what your phone is trying to do. AT&T just renamed the 3G HSPA+ network "4G" on the iPhone.
 
I'm in NY, and I get soooo much better service now with LTE. I think once everyone migrates to the 5 (or other LTE phones) it will get worse again, but for now I'm totally loving it. -- AT&T
 
I actually get better service. I swear when I had my 4S if I wans't "holding it right" I would drop calls. Since getting the 5, I have had zero issues :)
 
scaredpoet said:
On AT&T, "4G" on your iPhone is for all intents and purposes, the same as 3G.

It's not about what your phone is trying to do. AT&T just renamed the 3G HSPA+ network "4G" on the iPhone.
Click to expand...

But don't forget you will never drop to 3G. even if you're on HSPA, the indication will still say "4G".
 
I'm now on VZW (was on ATT with the iPhone 4) and my signal strength has improved in some areas. Where I was only getting 1 maybe 2 bars in my office, I'm pulling in 3 to 4. Generally the signal strength is nearly the same but I live in an area where ATT and VZW have good coverage.
 
This seems like an issue with At&t in your area.

I am on verizon and on the rare occasion that I don't have 4g LTE service I only bounce down to 3G.

Which is part of the reason I left At&t.

----------
QuasarZ said:
I've noticed worse signal. Mine bounces from the 3G icon to the circle a lot.
Click to expand...

Isn't that when you are on a call?

----------
iBaloney said:
I work in the 7th level of a 8-story garage. When i had my iphone 4, i would get decent edge signal at work. But with the iphone 5, im almost always with "no service."

I'm with at&t
Click to expand...

wow....glad I left At&t. Got sick of there crabby service.
 
people can bash the price of Verizon all day every day... fact is, I've NEVER had problems. Should an emergency arise where I need to communicate using my phone, that extra $20/month premium I pay for a reliable network will pay for itself 10x
 
The US networks seem to have managed quite well in messing with the established terms.

There is only 3G and LTE (which is effectively 4G).

What the US networks call 4G isn't that at all, UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA, HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA are all 3G.

GPRS and EDGE are both 2G.
 
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