Interesting 4G Speed Observation

[steelersmb]

I live just outside of 4G coverage and when I am on 3G, I get a download speed of 864kbps and upload speed of 748 kbps. However, when I switch on 4G, even though I don't get a 4G signal, phone still says 3G, I get a download speed of 1349kbps and upload speed of 656 kbps.

I have tested this several times and every time it is faster with the 4G switch turned on. I do have 4G coverage at work so I know for sure that I am only on 3G at home.

I would like to see if anyone else can test this out.

 

[JunBringer]

I'll have to try that when I get home, cause I'm just outside of 4G as well.

 

[heavychevy]

I am in a similar situation. Just about 3 miles from 4g reception. I was bored so I decided to test your theory. I took my phone with 4g turned off and ran 6 diagnostics through the speedtest app. Phone laying flat on bed, never moved the whole time.

3G Only
524/634
699/612
558/506
676/631
766/380
536/588

I switched on the 4g radio and waited approx 3 minutes

4G radio on (but no 4g signal)
943/537
851/161
752/814
966/668
825/296
604/529

For quality control I turned the 4G off again waited 3 minutes again and went back to 3G only.

3G only (2)
562/607
648/460
737/589
787/311
324/576
733/634



- Looks like the upload takes a small hit, but I'm fairly certain your theory is correct.

- IS THIS WORTH THE BATTERY DRAIN? That's up to the user.........

 

[JunBringer]

That is bizarre.

 

[ramiss]

Is this before or after today's update? I hear the update included a new Radio.

 

[dylan88]

im in tampa (no 4G yet), and my 4G speeds with the 4G radio on (no signal) were slower than my 3G speeds.

 

[Kelita]

Here are mine and I don't have 4G yet here in Tucson.

4G
844/492
617/492
715/770

3G
977/384
561/450
326/191

When I was doing the 4G tests, I noticed the 3G signal would light up so does that mean it was using the 3g signal? I found the results interesting nonetheless. I didn't think the phone would be able to do anything with 4g on.

 

[supaumar]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[PuRock]

I live inbetween Baltimore (Live 4G) and Washington, DC (upcoming) but I do not get 4G. I did a trial myself. All trials were averages of 5 tests.

Test Trials
3G 783 - 470
4G 974 - 483
3G 857 - 501
4G 1172 - 569
3G 966 - 427

Overall Averages
3G - 868/466 (15 tests)
4G - 1073/526 (10 tests)

So the theory is correct from my findings. But I am starting not to trust the speedtest.net app. It just doesn't seem to work correctly.

 

[supaumar]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[dylan88]

You don't think the Speed Test App would inflate results just because the 4G radio was on?

no. because it is still getting the signal from a certain server. i dont see how it could inflate the results.

 

[supaumar]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[heavychevy]

Is there another test app we can use???

 

[PuRock]

Is there another test app we can use???

We could try the speakeasy flash test via a web browser.

 

[heavychevy]

have a link?

 

[PuRock]

have a link?

Speakeasy - Speed Test

 

[dylan88]

been doing more tests. still no 4G signal, but the tests with the 4G radio on are slowly creeping closer to my 3G speeds.

 

[heavychevy]

Speakeasy - Speed Test

I only ran a few tests but I'm still getting similar results. I think this is a hit.

 

[PuRock]

Okay I tried a the speakeasy test and with much more sobering results than the speedtest.net.

Trials
3G - 1.27/.24
4G - 1.58/.34
3G - 1.44/.3
4G - 1.13/.24

Overall Averages:
3G - 1.36/.27 (10 tests)
4G - 1.35/.29 (10 tests)

Almost exactly the same. So with the speedtest.net I got different results showing 4G radio on helped. But with the speakeasy test I got identical readings.

 

[steelersmb]

I will test with speakeasy today and see what I get as well.

 

[Headcase_Fargone]

For the sake of more data, I'll play. I'm also just outside of 4g coverage at home.

Area: Just outside of Houston, Texas

Download/Upload
3g
116/33
182/614
188/253
166/168
305/373
Average:191.4/288.2

4g + 3g
304/278
179/465
256/456
160/1089 (WTF?!)
163/227
Average:212.4/503

Same pattern...this is pretty interesting.

Glad to see I'm not the only one getting abysmal speeds on both in Houston.

 

[heavychevy]

I think you're confused, he's not actually on 4g. The 4g is just turned on and searching for a signal which it's not finding. The theory is that turning on the 4g radio boost the 3g signal when no 4g is available.

If you are getting those speeds on and actual 4g connection something is HORRIBLY wrong.

BTW those are some sucky speeds. Houston must be a weak spot for sprint.

 

[ortizdupri]

You don't think the Speed Test App would inflate results just because the 4G radio was on?

Apparently the Speed Test app has issues and reports inaccurate results.

 

[Crodley]

Trying Speakeasy from my HOME PC (NOT THE EVO) in michigan, I get 24Mbps when using the Dallas Server and only 5Mbps when using the Chicago server.

Does anyone know why the backwards results? Why slower, the farther away? Why wildly differing result based on where you go?

I'm just not sure how these speed tests work.

 

[Deleted User]

Trying Speakeasy from my HOME PC (NOT THE EVO) in michigan, I get 24Mbps when using the Dallas Server and only 5Mbps when using the Chicago server.

Does anyone know why the backwards results? Why slower, the farther away? Why wildly differing result based on where you go?

I'm just not sure how these speed tests work.

You may be physically closer to the Chicago server but depending on your ISP, you may be logically closer to Dallas.

At some point on the Internet your ISP peers with the provider(s) the test servers are sitting on, either directly or perhaps through one or more intermediate providers. Any one of those could be affecting your test results negatively.

Or maybe the Chicago test server is just slammed.