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Theoretical download speeds on HSPA+(42mbps)??

http://newsroom.t-mobile.com/articles/t-mobile-new-markets-faster-speeds
So Tmo just launched the 42Mbps service in my area (Myrtle Beach) what speeds should I be seeing? From what I understand the Sensation should be capped around 14.4Mbps but I get no where close to that, 5Mb tops.(4bars 4g service) Can anyone shed some light on how this is supposed to work?

What's funny is I live in a city that got that too (and that has great 4g coverage), but I can't get my phone to show 4g. Just keeps saying 2g. I'm chatting with tmobile right now.

14.4 is theoretical speeds, you will never see that. The max I ever got on my MT4G (same radio speeds as sensation) while testing 42mbps cell sites (I'm a TMO field technician) was 8-9mbps. That is in perfect optimal conditions on a site with no traffic and in the optimal location to the tower. These phones will never bennifit from 42mbps upgrade and even if it could you would only see that while doing speed tests or downloading large files.
Phones will be coming out later in the year with 42mbps capability.

Is 3G faster then 4G?

My fastest tests I took with Infuse were on UMTS network, ranging between 6000 and 6500 kbps. I beleive it's a 3G, right?
Immediately following it from 1000 kbps to 6000 kbps were HSDPA tests (I assume those are "4g"?)
I took about 30+ test in different times, different networks. But top 9 speeds by download were on UMTS network following by HSDPA network.
What gives? If this is a current state of affairs, then I'd rather just lock to 3G and save battery.

artisticcheese said:
My fastest tests I took with Infuse were on UMTS network, ranging between 6000 and 6500 kbps. I beleive it's a 3G, right?
Immediately following it from 1000 kbps to 6000 kbps were HSDPA tests (I assume those are "4g"?)
I took about 30+ test in different times, different networks. But top 9 speeds by download were on UMTS network following by HSDPA network.
What gives? If this is a current state of affairs, then I'd rather just lock to 3G and save battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lo should have been forced to hpsa+ when you enter data no matter what. All the tests were on 3g just some happened to be faster. By the way our 4g is not 4g only lte is. Its a gimmick lol. And one thing suprising is regular 3g and this Plus stuff is the same stuff just having more bandwith for it to go faster.Uses no more battery.

Ryanscool said:
Lo should have been forced to hpsa+ when you enter data no matter what. All the tests were on 3g just some happened to be faster. By the way our 4g is not 4g only lte is. Its a gimmick lol. And one thing suprising is regular 3g and this Plus stuff is the same stuff just having more bandwith for it to go faster.Uses no more battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, this is consistent. There are way too many tests to consider this an accident. See results below. Umts is faster then HSDPA on 30+ tests I run so far. As you see in locations they are all different, also different parts of the day as well. Sample is too big to consider this an accendal observation.
"2011-08-13 07:00","Umts","33.00701","-96.89448",6412,1119,133,"Dallas, TX","10.183.179.99","32.150.131.141"
"2011-12-07 06:00","Umts","33.00760","-96.89575",6344,715,160,"Dallas, TX","10.41.103.105","166.205.9.197"
"2011-08-21 08:21","Umts","33.01306","-96.88703",6254,1035,140,"Dallas, TX","10.79.102.172","166.205.9.42"
"2011-08-12 13:49","Umts","33.00822","-96.89473",6239,1099,144,"Dallas, TX","10.150.100.141, 10.68.90.161","166.205.10.75"
"2011-08-12 13:52","Umts","33.00822","-96.89473",6164,1113,156,"Dallas, TX","10.93.66.121","166.205.10.75"
"2011-11-20 11:52","Hsdpa","32.99510","-96.88730",6077,730,68,"Fort Worth, TX","10.137.181.9","32.170.23.132"
"2011-11-19 11:18","Umts","33.00369","-96.88326",6028,1096,121,"Dallas, TX","10.131.241.205","32.168.238.98"
"2011-08-25 21:58","Umts","32.80980","-96.79930",5927,718,131,"Dallas, TX","10.131.153.86","166.205.8.68"
"2011-12-06 18:23","Hsdpa","33.00626","-96.88055",5906,1116,72,"Fort Worth, TX","10.58.242.16","32.145.53.131"
"2011-08-12 13:53","Umts","33.00822","-96.89473",5904,1074,154,"Dallas, TX","10.93.66.121","32.169.236.85"
"2011-08-12 15:03","Umts","33.00822","-96.89473",5886,1114,187,"Dallas, TX","10.93.3.118","166.189.112.8"
"2011-12-07 05:59","Hsdpa","33.00760","-96.89575",5864,724,137,"Dallas, TX","10.41.103.105","166.205.9.197"
"2011-12-06 18:16","Umts","33.00626","-96.88055",5643,732,124,"Dallas, TX","10.139.124.118","166.132.114.251"
"2011-08-12 13:44","Umts","33.00822","-96.89473",5530,1108,180,"Dallas, TX","10.68.90.161","166.205.10.75"
"2011-11-09 18:48","Umts","33.02570","-96.84037",5518,1065,172,"Dallas, TX","10.148.88.227","32.168.172.122"
"2011-10-02 08:52","Hsdpa","38.00000","-97.00000",5499,1131,71,"Oklahoma City, OK","10.77.146.107","32.170.196.78"
"2011-10-09 08:08","Umts","33.00628","-96.88251",5410,750,79,"Dallas, TX","10.137.89.60","166.132.199.183"
"2011-11-19 11:17","Hsdpa","33.01678","-96.88595",5408,903,68,"Fort Worth, TX","10.131.241.205","32.168.238.98"
"2011-09-03 15:58","Umts","33.06708","-96.89039",5398,740,86,"Dallas, TX","10.187.175.76","32.147.197.82"
"2011-12-06 18:19","Umts","33.00626","-96.88055",5388,1113,96,"Dallas, TX","10.58.242.16","32.145.53.131"
"2011-12-06 18:24","Umts","33.00626","-96.88055",5338,1108,70,"Dallas, TX","10.58.242.16","32.145.53.131"
"2011-08-23 18:25","Hsdpa","33.00810","-96.89472",5324,734,170,"Dallas, TX","10.17.250.78","166.205.9.55"
"2011-11-19 07:17","Hsdpa","33.00730","-96.89504",5242,732,127,"Dallas, TX","10.136.91.31","32.170.144.102"
"2011-09-05 09:04","Umts","38.00000","-97.00000",5232,1035,96,"Dallas, TX","10.102.94.83","32.150.105.130"
"2011-11-16 15:38","Umts","33.08185","-96.80335",5075,525,72,"Dallas, TX","10.149.253.134","166.188.180.124"
"2011-08-12 13:44","Umts","33.00822","-96.89473",5011,1088,161,"Dallas, TX","10.68.90.161","166.205.10.75"
"2011-08-20 16:02","Hsdpa","33.06562","-96.88689",4995,1102,169,"Dallas, TX","10.180.189.199","32.149.4.51"
"2011-08-13 06:59","Umts","33.00701","-96.89448",4985,739,148,"Dallas, TX","10.183.179.99","32.150.131.141"
"2011-11-16 16:03","Hsdpa","33.01648","-96.88608",4970,734,112,"Dallas, TX","10.55.212.71","32.151.10.169"
"2011-12-06 18:33","Umts","33.00626","-96.88055",4762,744,132,"Temple, TX","10.58.242.16","32.145.53.131"
"2011-12-06 18:15","Umts","33.00626","-96.88055",4679,739,137,"Fort Worth, TX","10.139.124.118","166.132.114.251"
"2011-09-06 08:59","Umts","37.38759","-121.97641",4533,685,136,"San Jose, CA","10.81.14.82","32.152.209.250"
"2011-10-21 14:52","Hsdpa","33.05276","-96.83213",4527,1047,88,"Temple, TX","10.138.35.120","166.132.31.49"
"2011-09-09 11:58","Hsdpa","37.39436","-121.97611",4508,987,112,"San Jose, CA","10.13.71.200","166.135.240.102"
"2011-08-31 17:18","Hsdpa","33.01180","-96.85744",4396,1089,155,"Dallas, TX","10.77.6.244","166.188.171.5"
"2011-11-20 08:04","Hsdpa","33.02268","-96.91396",4279,851,52,"Dallas, TX","10.137.181.9","32.170.23.132"
"2011-11-11 07:55","Hsdpa","38.00000","-97.00000",4229,294,72,"Fort Worth, TX","10.91.220.96","166.133.227.92"
"2011-11-11 08:02","Umts","33.08182","-96.80333",4225,745,65,"Fort Worth, TX","10.91.220.96","166.133.227.92"
"2011-09-08 01:17","Hsdpa","37.39514","-121.98374",4166,1099,142,"San Jose, CA","10.3.58.10","166.190.179.60"
"2011-08-19 15:18","Hsdpa","33.01901","-96.88339",4023,333,383,"Dallas, TX","10.184.183.207","32.149.250.36"
"2011-08-26 12:44","Hsdpa","33.02371","-96.88564",3974,1018,157,"Dallas, TX","10.79.97.170","32.145.218.19"
"2011-09-08 01:43","Hsdpa","37.39514","-121.98374",3945,1095,118,"San Jose, CA","10.3.58.10","166.190.179.60"
"2011-08-28 15:43","Hsdpa","33.01301","-96.88740",3791,644,196,"Dallas, TX","10.139.66.108","166.132.130.18"
"2011-11-16 15:46","Hsdpa","33.02505","-96.87194",3629,1055,157,"Dallas, TX","10.182.131.213","32.149.162.218"
"2011-10-04 07:08","Hsdpa","32.99733","-96.92118",3580,54,120,"Overland Park, KS","10.77.168.169","32.170.130.238"

artisticcheese said:
My fastest tests I took with Infuse were on UMTS network, ranging between 6000 and 6500 kbps. I beleive it's a 3G, right?
Immediately following it from 1000 kbps to 6000 kbps were HSDPA tests (I assume those are "4g"?)
I took about 30+ test in different times, different networks. But top 9 speeds by download were on UMTS network following by HSDPA network.
What gives? If this is a current state of affairs, then I'd rather just lock to 3G and save battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, some clarifications. I'm guessing you're just talking about how it was displayed in your app, but HSPA and HSPA+ are both UMTS based networks, so 3G and HSPA+ "4G" are both UMTS. The difference in this current implementation of 3G and "4G" is that 3G is HSPA which maxes out at 14 Mbps downstream, whereas "4G" HSPA+ maxes out at 84 Mbps downstream. It's the same technology, just basically a software update.
Now, most HSPA 3G phones don't support 14 Mbps downstream. I think most max out at 7.2 Mbps. Most HSPA+ 4G phones max out at 21 Mbps, or some even support 42 Mbps, however, being that AT&T's network is 16QAM, their network's max speed is 14 Mbps. So really, HSPA 3G is entirely capable of going as fast as HSPA+ 4G on AT&T's current network, assuming you have a phone with a fast enough chip in it.
As for the results you posted, I'm not really sure what to say. You said your UMTS tests gave you 6000-6500 Kbps, but then HSDPA tests gave you 1000-6000 Kbps. What's confusing is that whatever app you are using is posting random labels on the network which are all technically correct, but only confusing people. 6000 Kbps is very definitely HSDPA. In it's first release, HSDPA was sometimes called 3.5G, whereas UMTS without HSDPA would have been base 3G. The second release of HSDPA is where we go to HSPA+ and "4G", increasing speeds to 42 Mbps.
If all of this is very confusing, then I apologize, but I'm not really surprised. This is why they apply names like 3G and 4G to it when it's far more complex. If you really want to learn more about the network technology, check out the wiki page for HSPA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Speed_Packet_Access
And yes, as previously mentioned and as you may have gathered from what I posted, HSPA 3G and HSPA+ 4G are the exact same technology, just updated a little, so the battery effect is negligible. LTE 4G will bring an entirely new radio, on top of having an HSPA or HSPA+ radio in it as well, so that's where you get more battery drain. For now, HSPA+ 4G devices won't drain any more battery than HSPA 3G devices.

AJerman said:
Okay, some clarifications. I'm guessing you're just talking about how it was displayed in your app, but HSPA and HSPA+ are both UMTS based networks, so 3G and HSPA+ "4G" are both UMTS. The difference in this current implementation of 3G and "4G" is that 3G is HSPA which maxes out at 14 Mbps downstream, whereas "4G" HSPA+ maxes out at 84 Mbps downstream. It's the same technology, just basically a software update.
Now, most HSPA 3G phones don't support 14 Mbps downstream. I think most max out at 7.2 Mbps. Most HSPA+ 4G phones max out at 21 Mbps, or some even support 42 Mbps, however, being that AT&T's network is 16QAM, their network's max speed is 14 Mbps. So really, HSPA 3G is entirely capable of going as fast as HSPA+ 4G on AT&T's current network, assuming you have a phone with a fast enough chip in it.
As for the results you posted, I'm not really sure what to say. You said your UMTS tests gave you 6000-6500 Kbps, but then HSDPA tests gave you 1000-6000 Kbps. What's confusing is that whatever app you are using is posting random labels on the network which are all technically correct, but only confusing people. 6000 Kbps is very definitely HSDPA. In it's first release, HSDPA was sometimes called 3.5G, whereas UMTS without HSDPA would have been base 3G. The second release of HSDPA is where we go to HSPA+ and "4G", increasing speeds to 42 Mbps.
If all of this is very confusing, then I apologize, but I'm not really surprised. This is why they apply names like 3G and 4G to it when it's far more complex. If you really want to learn more about the network technology, check out the wiki page for HSPA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Speed_Packet_Access
And yes, as previously mentioned and as you may have gathered from what I posted, HSPA 3G and HSPA+ 4G are the exact same technology, just updated a little, so the battery effect is negligible. LTE 4G will bring an entirely new radio, on top of having an HSPA or HSPA+ radio in it as well, so that's where you get more battery drain. For now, HSPA+ 4G devices won't drain any more battery than HSPA 3G devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boom! Better explanation than me lol. Sorry for my post not being long enough, i am at school. I was trying to get to what he said.

Network Speed

I was reading that the Sensation network speed HSDPA 14.4 Mbps. I did numbers of speed test at many different locations with all 4 bars, the most I can get for download is over 5Mbps. Why there is so much different?

It's similar to the reason you never get the advertised speeds with your home broadband. The speeds they told you (14 Mbps) is a theoretical maximum speed. That's the speeds they get in their labs with optimum conditions.
You, in the real world, however, are NOT going to see 14 Mbps. 5 Mbps is decent (not awesome of course) and about the average for the data connection you have I think.

I've gotten >9Mb/s a few times on my sensation.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA

Slow 3g speeds?

I did a speedtest on 3g with my phone and compared with a iphone 5 also on 3g. My phone got .4 mbps and the iphone got over 1 mbps. Im just speechless here, since this makes no sence. 4g speeds are comparable with other devices on 4g, its just 3g thats the problem. Would it matter that im on cyanogenmod 11? Thanks

Fast 3G Data??

Im about to purchase a 3G Phone. I ask the guy is 3G very slow and he replied back with:
" Downward 2.8 Mbps uplink 384 KBPS, Download speeds of up to 5.67- 7.2 Mbps".
I asked is that considered slow or decent and stated that its a faster version of 3G.
Are those specs faster than regular 3G??
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using XDA Free mobile app

That's pretty standard for 3G, but it also depends on the network and a bunch of other variables.