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VZW LTE is a scam?

sulpfiction

sulpfiction

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Aug 16, 2011
3,077
603
Philadelphia Area
I know this has been talked about around here but I hadn't experienced it. Today I activated LTE on my iPad. I literally did 2 (impressive) speed tests, and then I was on MR for a total of 5 minutes. I read a few posts and sent 1 reply. After that I went in and checked my data usage and saw that I had received 28mb and sent 8. This cannot be correct, can it? I've had my 4S since launch and i just hit the 2 gig mark. I don't understand it.

My question is...Can Verizon control how the "cellular usage" tab in settings displays data usage? Or is that recorded by the actual amount of data coming in and going out of the device? Is there any other apps u can recommend to track actual data usage. It's not a huge deal for me as I don't think I'll hit 2gig anyway (I'm just about always in wifi). But these cell companies are scum bags and I want to be sure that I'm not getting ripped off anymore then I already am.
 
Last edited:
Dweez said:
Have you contacted Verizon?
Click to expand...

Nah... I literally just activated it 1hour ago. Just thought it was strange that it sucked up 28mb in the first 5 mins. Ive been browsing for the past 30 mins on MR, FB, etc. and i am still under 30mb. So maybe the initial activation was to blame.
 
Each speed test downloads 10MB of data so if you did a couple of tests that would explain the usage.

I use MyDataUsage app and it seems to be very accurate.
 
That's why I posted. I wanted to see if that seemed normal. I didn't know speed tests take 10mb. I did 2 so that would explain it.

The title of my post should have had a question mark at the end of it. I'm not calling it a scam, I'm asking if it's a scam.

But like I said, I've been browsing for about 30-40 minutes since I've posted and have yet to hit 30. So I feel a little better. I'm new to capped cellular data on the iPad...and Verizon as well. So I'm just trying to figure it all out. My iPhone has yet to hit 2gig total and I've had it since launch. So 30mb in less then 5 mins of web browsing scared me a bit.

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ea9 said:
Maybe you forgot the speed tests.


Wow
Click to expand...

Since I mentioned the 2 speed tests I dont think I forgot about them:rolleyes:. What I didn't know was that they are 10mb each. Learn something new everyday.
 
sulpfiction said:
That's why I posted. I wanted to see if that seemed normal. I didn't know speed tests take 10mb. I did 2 so that would explain it.

The title of my post should have had a question mark at the end of it. I'm not calling it a scam, I'm asking if it's a scam.

But like I said, I've been browsing for about 30-40 minutes since I've posted and have yet to hit 30. So I feel a little better. I'm new to capped cellular data on the iPad...and Verizon as well. So I'm just trying to figure it all out. My iPhone has yet to hit 2gig total and I've had it since launch. So 30mb in less then 5 mins of web browsing scared me a bit.
Click to expand...

And yet not knowing for sure didn't stop you from calling them a scam before you have all the facts.

Nice.
 
So your question is whether your usage is normal, not that you think Verizon is scamming people?

Kind of a sensationalistic title for a pretty mundane question. You in the news business perchance?
 
I thought the same way at first until I realized speed test uses a lot of data.

I made the mistake by running speed test like 10 times within an hour -_- .... Yea
 
You should be aware by now that there are no government standards on 4G LTE. Each wireless provider has the freedom to set up and maintain it anyway they see fit. Until the government steps in and regulates it much the way they do the pharmaceutical, produce, and meat industries, there will always be inconsistencies among providers and even day to day usage.
 
sulpfiction said:
But like I said, I've been browsing for about 30-40 minutes since I've posted and have yet to hit 30. So I feel a little better. I'm new to capped cellular data on the iPad...and Verizon as well. So I'm just trying to figure it all out. My iPhone has yet to hit 2gig total and I've had it since launch. So 30mb in less then 5 mins of web browsing scared me a bit.
Click to expand...


Also your phone will be using much less data compared to the iPad because of the screen size.
 
dukeblue91 said:
And yet not knowing for sure didn't stop you from calling them a scam before you have all the facts.

Nice.
Click to expand...

If u read the quote of mine u posted u would have noticed that I wasn't calling it a scam, I was asking. I've read numerous posts saying the exact same thing. And when I saw the 30mb in 5 minutes I didn't think it was realistic. It turned out to be the speed tests, but I didn't know they suck up 10mb each.

Just for the record, VZW, and all other carriers are a scam. That's not news, is it?
 
EDH667 said:
Also your phone will be using much less data compared to the iPad because of the screen size.
Click to expand...

In general this is absolutely untrue. One of the only cases in which this could be true is if you're streaming video, and you're watching a higher resolution video on your iPad than your iPhone. Or if you're downloading an iPad-only version of an app since it has higher-resolution graphics.

Otherwise, your e-mail, web browsing, music streaming, speed tests, etc. use the exact same amount of data regardless of the device.
 
mikes63737 said:
In general this is absolutely untrue. One of the only cases in which this could be true is if you're streaming video, and you're watching a higher resolution video on your iPad than your iPhone. Or if you're downloading an iPad-only version of an app since it has higher-resolution graphics.

Otherwise, your e-mail, web browsing, music streaming, speed tests, etc. use the exact same amount of data regardless of the device.
Click to expand...

On the Speedtest.net app for the iPhone data use on average is 8.1 MB per test and on the iPad it is on average 10.3 MB per test. Both using the same server etc.
 
It would be nice if the carrier which you're using would have a FREE (no data consumption) speed test app that you could use. Other than streaming video and music, the speed tests probably use more data that anything.
 
Are you seriously complaining ? When you use speed test it rates how fast you download data and how fast you upload it. Obviously it's going to consume data. That's actually minimal amount of data.

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Blorzoga said:
It would be nice if the carrier which you're using would have a FREE (no data consumption) speed test app that you could use. Other than streaming video and music, the speed tests probably use more data that anything.
Click to expand...

Ya that way people would consume 2GB a month on speed tests.....
 
Blorzoga said:
It would be nice if the carrier which you're using would have a FREE (no data consumption) speed test app that you could use. Other than streaming video and music, the speed tests probably use more data that anything.
Click to expand...

Then don't run speed tests frequently over cellular data. To be honest, you don't need to know that your LTE connection is currently running at 35Mbit speeds instead of 5Mbit. You should be able to get a general idea of how your speeds are running just by browsing.

Of course, what would REALLY be nice would be if carriers continued to offer unlimited data plans. But whatever, I've got mine and I'm holding on to it.
 
You will eat through your data plan fast, no doubt about it. With the release of the new iPad, normal people are starting to see what an issue data caps are.
 
mikes63737 said:
In general this is absolutely untrue. One of the only cases in which this could be true is if you're streaming video, and you're watching a higher resolution video on your iPad than your iPhone. Or if you're downloading an iPad-only version of an app since it has higher-resolution graphics.

Otherwise, your e-mail, web browsing, music streaming, speed tests, etc. use the exact same amount of data regardless of the device.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. The iPhone loads mobile sites. The iPad loads the tablet site. Try CNN on your iPhone and then your iPad. Big difference.
 
sulpfiction said:
If u read the quote of mine u posted u would have noticed that I wasn't calling it a scam, I was asking. I've read numerous posts saying the exact same thing. And when I saw the 30mb in 5 minutes I didn't think it was realistic. It turned out to be the speed tests, but I didn't know they suck up 10mb each.

Just for the record, VZW, and all other carriers are a scam. That's not news, is it?
Click to expand...

Really?
Look I don't want to get in an argument here but you thread title is pretty conclusive of what you said and how it can be interpreted.
 
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