Increased Backhaul

[Carlos A]

I was wondering whats Att hspa+(LTE) backhaul. I havent found anything to help me get out of this confusion, but i have read that with AT&T new LTE network they will increase there HSPA+ backhaul, when LTE is in your area. I know the Atrix is most likely not going to have LTE. But does increased backhaul mean better or more consistant hspa+ speeds.

One more question: Can the Atrix be upgraded to cat. 14 (to 21mbps download speeds)

Sry if it is confusing, but i really dont know how to put it in other words. Can anyone help me?

 

[MadCat1118]

Okay, I will try to help out with what I can. The Atrix will not have LTE when AT&T activates it in your area, it does not have the chips inside for LTE. No AT&T phone does currently. The backhaul is the wired connection from the towers to the rest of the internet, so when the backhaul is expanded, you may see a better HSPA+ speeds. It is not a guaranteed increase in speeds because there are multiple factors in play, but more than likely it will. I don't know what the limit on the Atrix's HSPA+ speeds currently are (14.4 mbps?) but I don't think it is likely that there would be a software update to increase the speeds. I know some of the better HSPA+ speeds partially depend on the chips in your phone. For example, the Galaxy S II that T-Mobile is getting uses a different processor than the other GS2 models so that it can take advantage of the 42 mbps HSPA+ that T-Mobile is working on.

 

[Carlos A]

oh ok ty, yeah the atrix can only reach speeds of 14.4mbps, so if backhaul is expanded speeds are more likely to increase, since there is more space.

 

[WolfmanRobby]

Only if the 2 systems are integrated.

They didn't link the backhaul's for EDGE (2G) and 3G. In fact, about this time last year, they had a big outage here in the southeast US for several days where we had to force our phones to 2G to get any data to work. The 3G signal was up, but they had router problems on it's backend so no data was going over it. If you connected to 3G, it was like connecting to a home wireless router with no home internet connection.

I can see AT&T having a different Backhaul for LTE than the HSPDA++ devices. So, we may never see a real speed increase. And, any "Requests" for that to be improved will be met with the same response they met the requests to improve the underpowered EDGE with... "UPGRADE to a new phone!"

 

[Carlos A]

I found this on AT&T website:

AT&T is positioned to deliver a great mobile broadband experience both now and in the future. Not only are we deploying 4G LTE, we've also deployed fast HSPA+ technology throughout our mobile broadband network delivering 4G speeds when combined with enhanced backhaul. With two complementary technologies, you'll have access to 4G speeds both in and out of LTE areas

So basicly when HSPA+ reaches your area your backhaul is going to improve, giving HSPA++ speeds a bump in other words, more consistent speeds. Kind of works like spectrum i guess.

 

[BravoGolfTango]

I found this on AT&T website:

AT&T is positioned to deliver a great mobile broadband experience both now and in the future. Not only are we deploying 4G LTE, we've also deployed fast HSPA+ technology throughout our mobile broadband network delivering 4G speeds when combined with enhanced backhaul. With two complementary technologies, you'll have access to 4G speeds both in and out of LTE areas

So basicly when HSPA+ reaches your area your backhaul is going to improve, giving HSPA++ speeds a bump in other words, more consistent speeds. Kind of works like spectrum i guess.

LOL, exactly

 

[WolfmanRobby]

One more question: Can the Atrix be upgraded to cat. 14 (to 21mbps download speeds)

This question got overlooked. NO, the chip on the phone is hardware locked as a Cat 10 HSDPA chip.
If it could be updated, why stop at cat 14? Cat 28 has a theoretical speed of 84Mbps!

Sadly, the Category of the chip in the phone may be a mute point. From the people I've talked to at AT&T (Buddies of mine that actually climb the towers), the only HSDPA speed increases they've heard about coming down the pipe are the ones that began rolling out MONTHS ago. (The 4MB down, 1.5MB up). Some area's have NOT gotten that update yet. They are still deploying it in areas that don't have it. So, even the Cat 10 chip we've got may never see it's full potential. But, here in the Atlanta area, all of their 4G talk in the planning/training meetings for the work crews has turned to LTE. It's sad, as only a few towers in my area got the HSDPA update.

The comment from their site is a little misleading (not on your part). It's PR double speak. When they say "You will see 4G speeds, in and out of LTE areas", that would imply that they are releasing phones with Dual-Chipsets (LTE & HSDPA). I've not seen any plans for those, but, there are so many rumors about what phones will get LTE chips and what won't, we may not know for sure until we see the FCC filings. But, I think we will see them.

Also, when AT&T says "You will see 4G speeds, in and out of LTE areas" - remember that they have a very BROAD range of 4G speeds. With a dual band phone, you'll get the LTE (22Mbps or higher??) in LTE areas. Then, the HSDPA 4G speeds (Currently 4Mbps) in Non-LTE, 4G areas.

However, only those "Dual band" phones will benefit from this. Our poor Atrix will not. We will only get the 4G speed that the HSDPA backhaul provides us. That won't change just because an area is LTE. As I said in my first response, they MIGHT increase the backhaul for HSDPA. But, I've dealt with AT&T for years. Looking at their past behavior, it's a "I'll believe it when I see it" issue.

 

[Carlos A]

Ok thanks for clarifying