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Considering Switching To TMobile

Totg

Member
Jan 21, 2013
74
16
I've been using MetroPCS for awhile since, as far as I knew, it was the cheapest in my area. After lurking around on forums I've found the $30 unlimited data/sms/100 minutes. With a Google Voice account I think I can get around the minute limit.

Before switching I would like to ask some questions:

Is this plan a contract based one?
Will Google Voice get around the 100 minute limit?
What are the speeds in Dallas, Texas?
Can you tether your phone with application and not get punished?
Would an unlocked Nexus 4 be a good phone with this service?

Thanks in advanced.
 
I've been using MetroPCS for awhile since, as far as I knew, it was the cheapest in my area. After lurking around on forums I've found the $30 unlimited data/sms/100 minutes. With a Google Voice account I think I can get around the minute limit.

Before switching I would like to ask some questions:

Is this plan a contract based one?
Will Google Voice get around the 100 minute limit?
What are the speeds in Dallas, Texas?
Can you tether your phone with application and not get punished?
Would an unlocked Nexus 4 be a good phone with this service?

Thanks in advanced.

That $30 plan you are referring to is a pre-paid service on T-Mobile's network. Either way, T-Mobile no longer offers contracts. I know a few people who use this pre-paid service and have found that they were unable to get around the minutes limit, which led to them purchasing more minutes if/when they needed. In the event you had an unlocked Nexus 4, that would work great. Those that I know that use this service have done the same that you may potentially be considering.

On a side note, this plan only comes with 5GB/mo of data at "4G" speeds (HSPA+) then you are pushed down to 3G/EDGE. As for the tethering, the data would apply to your monthly allotment instead of a tethering allotment - so be careful on how much you decide to use.
 
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I've been using MetroPCS for awhile since, as far as I knew, it was the cheapest in my area. After lurking around on forums I've found the $30 unlimited data/sms/100 minutes. With a Google Voice account I think I can get around the minute limit.

Before switching I would like to ask some questions:

Is this plan a contract based one?
Will Google Voice get around the 100 minute limit?
What are the speeds in Dallas, Texas?
Can you tether your phone with application and not get punished?
Would an unlocked Nexus 4 be a good phone with this service?

Thanks in advanced.

So I switched from metro with an unlocked n4 my speeds went from 6mps with metro 4g to 19mbs with the 4g mod on the n4 I'm using the $60 plan so I have no idea about the $30 plan. But even tmos hspa +is way faster than metro LTE. I live in ca so I can't say about Dallas but with the n4 make the switch!
 
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I've been using MetroPCS for awhile since, as far as I knew, it was the cheapest in my area. After lurking around on forums I've found the $30 unlimited data/sms/100 minutes. With a Google Voice account I think I can get around the minute limit.

Before switching I would like to ask some questions:

Is this plan a contract based one?
Will Google Voice get around the 100 minute limit?
What are the speeds in Dallas, Texas?
Can you tether your phone with application and not get punished?
Would an unlocked Nexus 4 be a good phone with this service?

Thanks in advanced.

This plan is a prepaid plan and quite difficult to locate on their website. It is the plan I'm currently using and It's pretty sweet.

Google Voice in combination with a VoIP client like GrooveIP will certainly help you get around the 100 minute limit. It works best on Wifi or LTE, but HSPA will work in a pinch. I don't recommend doing so over EDGE because it's a little too slow.

Dallas is an LTE city, and probably also an HSPA+42 city. With good reception, you should expect speeds of at least 15MBPS down/up with LTE, and about the same down/2MBPS up on HSPA+42.

T-Mobile is much better at catching you if you tether without a plan. Rather than punish you, if they detect that you are, they actually kill your data service until you turn it off. They must monitor the packet flow so they can determine the source and they see that it isn't your phone. They don' always catch you, but I have seen people complain about it enough to know that it happens at least moderately frequently.

The Nexus 4 is a great phone, my personal phone in fact. It supports both of their HSPA frequencies and their LTE frequency. However in order to enable LTE, you have to unlock, root, and do a mild software hack to enable it because Google disabled it. It does work though because I and other people have gotten it to work without any issues.
 
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I've been using MetroPCS for awhile since, as far as I knew, it was the cheapest in my area. After lurking around on forums I've found the $30 unlimited data/sms/100 minutes. With a Google Voice account I think I can get around the minute limit.

Before switching I would like to ask some questions:

Is this plan a contract based one?
Will Google Voice get around the 100 minute limit?
What are the speeds in Dallas, Texas?
Can you tether your phone with application and not get punished?
Would an unlocked Nexus 4 be a good phone with this service?

Thanks in advanced.

This is also my plan and in the San Jose, CA area (up to SF) I have had virtually no issues.

100 minutes is actually slightly difficult. Now with google Hangouts/Voice you can make calls real easy as long as people know it is you calling (they have to have both your mobile number and Google Voice number. Or I guess you can just use GV). I also do video calls with Hangouts and just talk like it's a regular call and they can stare at my ear if they want.

I'm using a Galaxy Nexus, so I assume the N4 will be just as good (see above replies).
 
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T-Mobile is much better at catching you if you tether without a plan. Rather than punish you, if they detect that you are, they actually kill your data service until you turn it off. They must monitor the packet flow so they can determine the source and they see that it isn't your phone. They don' always catch you, but I have seen people complain about it enough to know that it happens at least moderately frequently.

What determines whether or not the packets are coming from your phone? Such as what are the difference between tethering a Linux box and torrenting from your phone?
 
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What determines whether or not the packets are coming from your phone? Such as what are the difference between tethering a Linux box and torrenting from your phone?
I believe they mostly look at the browser user agent.


I have (on rare occasions when home internet was out) used tethering on the nexus 4 I downloaded 3.5 gbs in 2 days, not torrents, if I used firefox addon user agent switcher and spoofed a mobile browser there was no problem browsing the web.

Most of my downloads where not browser based and they never gave me any trouble.
 
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With all this information I've taken in it seems like the deal is worth it, but what are the average speeds of 3g?

Also since I do not have the Nexus 4 at the moment should I wait for the rumored Nexus 5?
Dont expect the nexus 5 until november, if you get a cheap tide you over phone for 4-5 months then go with nexus that would work. However so far I have only heard rumors about the nexus 5.

What do you mean when you ask average speeds of 3g?

tmo calls HSPA + 4G and in good signal that can go over 30mbs down 3ish up.

as signal progressivly worsens expect drops like at home I get anything from 4-14 down and 1.25-2 up.
Also each phone has different capabilities. Some will only get 1-5 down others 4-8.
 
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My input on this matter, for what its worth...

I was a Virgin Mobile customer for a good bit, but I couldn't take the abysmal speeds I was getting...700kbps down and 200kbps up approximately. I switched to Big Pink last week, and man. I'm so happy.

Currently running the AT&T i717 Galaxy Note LTE, unlocked. I get HSPA+ and T-Mobile's 4G in my area. Granted, since the 4G LTE is still in its infancy, I don't get it frequently.

However, my speeds are approximately 10mbps down and 2mbps up. So that's a MASSIVE improvement, in my eyes.

Have I mentioned I love my note? :D
 
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What do you mean when you ask average speeds of 3g?

tmo calls HSPA + 4G and in good signal that can go over 30mbs down 3ish up.

as signal progressivly worsens expect drops like at home I get anything from 4-14 down and 1.25-2 up.
Also each phone has different capabilities. Some will only get 1-5 down others 4-8.

The reason I ask about 3G is because after 5 GB of data the unlimited data gets pushed down to 3G.
 
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ya, 2 g, but it seems in different places that means different speeds. some report as low as 60kbps others high as 170.:(

I seem to recall, in some T-Mobile Terms and Conditions page, that T-Mobile is defining it as less than 200 Kbps. Of course, for someone who expects to frequently go above the 5 Gbps limit, I'd recommend getting a true unlimited plan for $70 (available either postpaid or prepaid).
 
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My input on this matter, for what its worth...

I was a Virgin Mobile customer for a good bit, but I couldn't take the abysmal speeds I was getting...700kbps down and 200kbps up approximately. I switched to Big Pink last week, and man. I'm so happy.

Currently running the AT&T i717 Galaxy Note LTE, unlocked. I get HSPA+ and T-Mobile's 4G in my area. Granted, since the 4G LTE is still in its infancy, I don't get it frequently.

However, my speeds are approximately 10mbps down and 2mbps up. So that's a MASSIVE improvement, in my eyes.

Have I mentioned I love my note? :D

Prinny, I love my Note also. It's worth buying because it can be unlocked and get Tmobile's LTE.

Once LTE is up in your area, you will see some blazing fast speeds
 
Upvote 0
My input on this matter, for what its worth...

I was a Virgin Mobile customer for a good bit, but I couldn't take the abysmal speeds I was getting...700kbps down and 200kbps up approximately. I switched to Big Pink last week, and man. I'm so happy.

Currently running the AT&T i717 Galaxy Note LTE, unlocked. I get HSPA+ and T-Mobile's 4G in my area. Granted, since the 4G LTE is still in its infancy, I don't get it frequently.

However, my speeds are approximately 10mbps down and 2mbps up. So that's a MASSIVE improvement, in my eyes.

Have I mentioned I love my note? :D

These are my LTE scores in Chicago
 

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I'm considering a move to T-Mobile too, from Verizon. Just concerned about lack of good speeds. I'm in southeastern Massachusetts and Verizon is really good here.. unfortunately dont know anyone on T-Mobile to compare too.

You might see if you can get some idea from the coverage maps at Sensorly.com. They don't show speeds, but will give you a good idea of what areas get 3G speeds and where it goes to 2G, as well as the signal strength in those areas; remember that the "T-Mobile - 4G" means LTE. The Sensorly map is made from actual user data, which is collected by a Sensorly app that people run on their cell phones. As such, the data is typically pretty good, if there is a problem then it is because it is somewhat incomplete (not enough users in an area running the app).

Also, it appears that Barnstable Town has HSPA+42. You can find a list of cities with HSPA+42 here.
 
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I'm considering a move to T-Mobile too, from Verizon. Just concerned about lack of good speeds. I'm in southeastern Massachusetts and Verizon is really good here.. unfortunately dont know anyone on T-Mobile to compare too.

Im in northern ri and get speeds anywhere from 12-24 mbs down and 2-7 up depending on time of day.speeds shouldnt be much different.
 
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