Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Jay724

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 28, 2011
30
0
Does anyone have a Sprint Iphone 5 that doesn't suck? This is for the people that don't have LTE available yet. I can't do anything on it without being on Wifi. 3g speeds are god awful. I'm in Los Angeles and supposedly 3g is enhanced now, but I'm not experiencing that all. I have 8 days left before I'm stuck with Sprint, but I heard LTE will be hitting Los Angeles real soon. I don't know if I should take the risk and hope that their LTE will solve these issues or just switch to Verizon.
 
They just started Network Vision in LA. It should be ready along with LTE at the end of the year.

What speeds are you getting on 3G?
 
At work in Culver City I get pretty good speeds, about .70-1.0 mbps, but everywhere else is god awful like .02-.40 mbps. I first heard the Network Vision was suppose to be launched in Sept and now I hear it's Oct. When I checked their coverage map it said I had best coverage. That was obviously a lie.
 
If you just started your contract with Sprint, I would seriously consider switching to Verizon.

Verizon LTE coverage in OC and LA is amazing.

This is the Sprint iPhone 5 on 3G vs the Verizon iPhone 5 on LTE in Orange County.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0045.PNG
    IMG_0045.PNG
    315.3 KB · Views: 125
  • IMG_0046.PNG
    IMG_0046.PNG
    328.1 KB · Views: 136
It's not the iPhone 5 that sucks in this case. It's the network you're on. So, technically, just about all Sprint iPhone 5 units that aren't in an LTE area are going to "suck." And the moment the non-"sucky" iPhone 5s move out of Sprint LTE coverage, guess what? They're gonna "suck."
 
It's not the iPhone 5 that sucks in this case. It's the network you're on. So, technically, just about all Sprint iPhone 5 units that aren't in an LTE area are going to "suck." And the moment the non-"sucky" iPhone 5s move out of Sprint LTE coverage, guess what? They're gonna "suck."

Yeah I know that. Sorry I should've made my title more clearer.
 
I'm having a similar problem. I haven't had too much problem with data but my both my and my wife's phones have had bad battery life. Like 4:30 usage. I think its because we roam occasionally. I really don't want limited date though...
 
There's really no point in having Unlimited Data if you can't use it.
 
If Houston didn't have LTE, I probably would have stayed with ATT and my Iphone4 and continued to get throttled....Pretty happy with Sprint so far with my Iphone5. Have been on LTE the entire time and everywhere I've driven around Houston so far. Good speeds anywhere from 4mb-20 mb down and 3-10 up.
 
I have Sprint. My LTE is fast as hell. My 3G is about 4 times faster than it was on my iPhone 4. I am happy.
 
I have Sprint. My LTE is fast as hell. My 3G is about 4 times faster than it was on my iPhone 4. I am happy.

You're one of the lucky ones then. What speeds are you getting 3g and LTE? And where are you located?
 
If Houston didn't have LTE, I probably would have stayed with ATT and my Iphone4 and continued to get throttled....Pretty happy with Sprint so far with my Iphone5. Have been on LTE the entire time and everywhere I've driven around Houston so far. Good speeds anywhere from 4mb-20 mb down and 3-10 up.

How's LTE indoors?
 
I just checked my data usage over the past year and a half with AT&T unlimited. Apparently I've only eclipsed 1gig three times in 17 months and 1.8 is my max. LTE on Verizon my increase those numbers a bit but I think my wife and I will be ok sharing 4gigs.
 
Here's a speed test from this morn...In a skyscaper in downtown Houston (metal/concrete structure) 65 floors up.

And your happy with that?

Here is my AT&T speed test result from yesterday in a Data Center in the middle of a re-enforced building in central Florida.

413976_3725747389195_240095315_o.jpg


Ditch Sprint while you still can.
 
Here's a speed test from this morn...In a skyscaper in downtown Houston (metal/concrete structure) 65 floors up.

Thanks. I read that Sprint's LTE won't penetrate that good, but it looks like it's working well for you.
 
There's really no point in having Unlimited Data if you can't use it.

That's why I would not go with Sprint. Their concept is great but their network needs a lot of work. Being from San Diego, SoCal has a much better Sprint network then the rest of the nation. As scary as that sounds it is true
 
And your happy with that?

Here is my AT&T speed test result from yesterday in a Data Center in the middle of a re-enforced building in central Florida.

413976_3725747389195_240095315_o.jpg


Ditch Sprint while you still can.

Yeah, I'm happy with it...My Verizon Ipad LTE is giving me like 2-3 MB from the same office....Also, i've used 2 GB since Monday...Don't really see a need for 50 MB downloads....at 4-20mb (what Sprint has given me consistently the past 3 days) you can view Netflix videos in HQ, listen to Spotify at the highest bit rates, and load most websites in 3-4 seconds....Incremental real world difference between 4-20mb and 10-50mb on ATT. Would rather have the unlimited and not get throttled 2 weeks into the month like I was with ATT. Now if I was traveling quite a bit, it would be annoying not having Sprint LTE and having to use 3g...Lucky for me, whenever I travel the company fits the bill for my Ipad's data so I can just tether my Iphone5 to it if I feel that Sprint is too slow and use Verizon.

----------

i know you say you are in a metal structure but damn.. full service on lte and only 4 down.

Yeah, I'm not sure if LTE works the same way as 3g, but from my experience it seems like the signal strength doesn't really effect data rates...Noticed this with my Verizon Ipad LTE speed tests. Seems to depend more on load on the tower etc.
 
There's really no point in having Unlimited Data if you can't use it.
You made the same mistake a lot of people do. You went hook-line-and-sinker for Sprint's marketing claims without doing the basic research on their network quality in your area.

Take heart that you are not alone.

What you should have done is ask the people around you about cellular network quality. Not the people here at MacRumors, but literally, the people who are near you (your next door neighbors, work colleagues, people at any schools you attend, etc.).

I suggest you return your iPhone 5 to Sprint, cancel your Sprint contract, and select a carrier that doesn't suck so much based on personal conversations with people who use the exact same celltowers as you for most of your mobile use.

Good luck.
 
You made the same mistake a lot of people do. You went hook-line-and-sinker for Sprint's marketing claims without doing the basic research on their network quality in your area.

Take heart that you are not alone.

What you should have done is ask the people around you about cellular network quality. Not the people here at MacRumors, but literally, the people who are near you (your next door neighbors, work colleagues, people at any schools you attend, etc.).

I suggest you return your iPhone 5 to Sprint, cancel your Sprint contract, and select a carrier that doesn't suck so much based on personal conversations with people who use the exact same celltowers as you for most of your mobile use.

Good luck.

Good advise...I spoke with neighboors and even tried out an EVO LTE for a little while before I decided to give up my ATT unlimited plan...Really depends on your individual situation. If you're not a datahog like me or don't live in an LTE city, I would avoid Sprint. Only get it if you are consistantly throttled and live in an LTE city.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.