Why are 3G speed tests so slow?

[mrvirginia]

posted above #34, you need to get your MSL first, but since you have been changing your PRL guessing you already have it, if not dial *2 to get it, i just asked and they gave it, just say you don't want to reprogram with them, that you want to do it yourself. Its a dix digit pass-code.

yeah i have all that. i think you may have misunderstood me. i want to edit the current updated Sprint PRL and change the SID in it. although, i would think that the PRL should already have the correct SID for my area, right?

 

[CPR]

I would blame the Speedtest app. I've always gotten flaky results on different phones and networks (iPhone and Evo).

 

[Jonhern]

J

yeah i have all that. i think you may have misunderstood me. i want to edit the current updated Sprint PRL and change the SID in it. although, i would think that the PRL should already have the correct SID for my area, right?

Sorry, no idea how to do that.

 

[Rigmaster]

Speedtest app might not be the issue. It's definitely getting it right when I test my wifi speed. Then when I test 3G, it's showing the drop in speed that I expect. Only weird thing is I'm getting faster upload than download times. I think I believe that though because everything I send goes immediately but incoming items seem to hang just a little on 3G.

 

[Headcase_Fargone]

At this point I'm wondering if it's simply a backhaul issue on Sprint's network. That doesn't really explain other Sprint smartphones getting faster transfers. Absolute worst case scenario is an Evo-specific hardware problem, ie poor quality antenna or something. That would suck royally.

 

[Yankees368]

Speedtest app might not be the issue. It's definitely getting it right when I test my wifi speed. Then when I test 3G, it's showing the drop in speed that I expect. Only weird thing is I'm getting faster upload than download times. I think I believe that though because everything I send goes immediately but incoming items seem to hang just a little on 3G.

I am seeing the same exact thing here

 

[Rigmaster]

I should add though that there are times when I get nearly identical 850-950 MBPS both up and down while at others I get 425 down and 900 up. Best average I've seen has been 900 down and 1.2 up.

 

[sshams95]

I guess I am relieved that others are having the same issues as
I am. I only started to notice when I downloaded the slingmobile app and used it in the car. Very choppy play. I did numerous speedtests and it showed similar results others are reporting here. I am torn now. Strongly considering the droid x.

 

[heavychevy]

I'm getting 793 down and 547 up on 3g (laying in my bed). Is that good? What is good for 3g? What is tops for 3g?


FWIW the highest I've gotten driving through a 4g area is 602 down and 989 up. No profiling done.

 

[Headcase_Fargone]

I'm getting 793 down and 547 up on 3g (laying in my bed). Is that good? What is good for 3g? What is tops for 3g?


FWIW the highest I've gotten driving through a 4g area is 602 down and 989 up. No profiling done.

As I mentioned in a post above, I was getting 1.2-1.5mb (that's 1200 to 1500kb to compare with your numbers) on AT&T and my co-workers are now getting 2500 to 3000 on their new iPhones.

I wouldn't even consider 800kb a useable 3G signal, much less the 500 I'm seeing on mine.

 

[probinson]

My 3G is pretty bad too. 4G is ok and wifi is fast. I can get done what I need to do, but it would be nice if it worked like it is supposed to.

 

[Jonhern]

At this point I'm wondering if it's simply a backhaul issue on Sprint's network. That doesn't really explain other Sprint smartphones getting faster transfers. Absolute worst case scenario is an Evo-specific hardware problem, ie poor quality antenna or something. That would suck royally.

Not the Evo, its sprint since it worked great with the vz prl. The Evo gets the same speeds as my diamond.

 

[PuRock]

I can vouch that's it's not the Evo. I've been running speed tests on the 3G and am getting between 1528-2285 Download speeds and 775 upload speeds.

But I did notice that one time on the speedtest.net test it hit a glitch and only read 696, but you could tell something funky happened to the read. It speed up too fast and read 696 quickly.

Washington, DC here.

 

[Headcase_Fargone]

That has me leaning further toward backhaul issues. Sounds like Sprint doesn't have the bandwidth to support all of their users in some markets.

 

[Yankees368]

I've come to the conclusion that this really does not seem like an evo issue, but more of a network issue. All week, i've been running speed tests in a city that is very busy on weekdays, but empty on weekend. All week, I was not breaking 500 kbps.
However, it is not the weekend. I went to my schools building, which is about 1/4 mile from the Sprint tower, at eye level on the 5th floor, and received MUCH faster speeds. The highest test I got was 1619kbps down and 511 kbps up. I also got 838 and 1061 down, and 668 and 672 up.

This shows me that either Sprint simply does not have enough backhaul to keep up with the evo, or the evo has trouble dealing with a more crowded network compared to other phones.
What do you all think?

 

[eieio]

if it is a back haul issue it will be cleared up. They are upgrading the network and adding additional hardware to deal with it.

 

[Yankees368]

if it is a back haul issue it will be cleared up. They are upgrading the network and adding additional hardware to deal with it.

I wish I could believe that, but I simply do not see that being the case, at least in markets like this. I would guess that Sprint is only focusing on the WiMax network, and not giving additional backhaul to the CDMA network.

 

[eieio]

I wish I could believe that, but I simply do not see that being the case, at least in markets like this. I would guess that Sprint is only focusing on the WiMax network, and not giving additional backhaul to the CDMA network.

Clear is focused on Wimax built out and upgrades.. Sprint is maintaining and upgrading their network.

While Sprint does own the majority share they are not one in the same.

 

[Yankees368]

Clear is focused on Wimax built out and upgrades.. Sprint is maintaining and upgrading their network.

While Sprint does own the majority share they are not one in the same.

Yeah, I realize that, but I just don't see Sprint putting any money into the EVDO network at this point, I really don't. Also, Sprint doesnt even maintain the CDMA network anymore, they sourced that out to Ericson, who really has no inventive to upgrade anything (unless its broken).

 

[eieio]

They started the upgrade last year and will progress to 2011.

 

[Yankees368]

Oh I don't doubt there are new sites coming online slowly. However, there is a difference between adding new sites in places, and upgrading existing sites. Most older sites are connected with only a single T1 connection, and it looks like a lot of sites are overloaded.
I really hope we don't end up with an AT&T like situation.

 

[Reveille]

Here in dallas I get around 3mb/s driving around town on 4g. I get 900 to 1.5 on 3g. At my work I get around 4 mb/s on the 4g. I am not noticing any of the problems you guys are except for a few dead areas in some restaurants. I actually turn on mobile hotspot for my apple friends many times because they are getting a good signal.

 

[eieio]

Oh I don't doubt there are new sites coming online slowly. However, there is a difference between adding new sites in places, and upgrading existing sites. Most older sites are connected with only a single T1 connection, and it looks like a lot of sites are overloaded.
I really hope we don't end up with an AT&T like situation.

Microwave antennas and T-1 lines where it is available will be added where needed for additional back haul. Only the major cities probably will require them. Its just not a big issue anywhere else for most networks

 

[coolguy949]

Late last night I did some 3G speed tests and got around 1600 down and 650 up. It may actually be a backhaul issue. This morning i'm back at around 600 down and 350 up.

 

[Yankees368]

So i guess we can close this thread on account of network congestion. Though the $10 evo tax should be paying for some new backhaul, damn it!