AT&T Service Quality in NYC - Yea or Nay? - General Topics

I'm a long time T-Mobile subscriber, residing in Brooklyn, NY. The data speeds in my neighborhood have become absolutely attrocious (0.3 - 0.5 Mbps down), and T-Mobile shows no signs of doing anything about it, although they've acknowledged that it's a cell site issue. This has been going on since August 2011. Although T-Mobile's coverage map shows that my neighborhood has the best possible "4G" service, it's certainly not the case. Prior to the manifestation of the "cell site issue", the best downstream speeds I could get were under 2 Mbps.
After trying everything possible to rectify the issue, I've come to the conclusion that it's time to look into another wireless carrier. I prefer GSM, so AT&T is really my only option (I'm not interested in MVNOs). I've already tested out AT&T's coverage in my neighborhood, and it's worlds better than T-Mobile's. How's their coverage in the rest of NYC? I've heard horror stories, but I really can't imagine it being worse than T-Mobile has been for me.

I've heard that at t has worse coverage, but higher speed. T mobile coverage is ok but they don't always have true 4g in the area. You shouldn't expect true 4g speeds (30mbps+) from any carrier.

T-Mobile has always been the best out west.always great coverage and spped.10+ down with 5+ up awesome
Sent from my HTC Sensation using XDA

Well I live in central NY and don't seem to have any problems with ATT. I even get reception in the basement at my work where as verizon never did. I get about 2d and 1up right now which isn't that great but I'm inside and in a rural area

Thanks for the replies. I'd be thrilled if I could get 5 Mbps down, but I don't get anywhere near that with TMo. I think I'll definitely make the move to ATT.

Are you sure its not your phone that's slowing you down. I recently changed from a vibrant to a galaxy nexus and even though I didn't change my contract with T-Mobile, I'm getting 10mbps instead of the 3-5 before. I'm in chelsea in Manhattan. I agree though that tmobiles coverage is terrible compared to the big two but when I do have coverage I seem to get awesome speeds. I can't complain for the price though. Also beware, att service in Manhattan is terrible.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA

What phone is it? Maybe you could flash a better radio too?
Sent from my XT862 using XDA

It's definitely not the phone nor the SIM card. My wife is using a G2 and is experiencing the same slow speeds. Besides, TMO has already acknowledged that there is a data issue in my neighborhood, but it's approaching a year since the problems started and they have done nothing to fix them.

Related

returning phone :( T-mo sucks!

I love this phone, but t-mobile sucks. I can't take the ****ty service anymore. I've had more dropped calls in the past 2 weeks than I've had with Att, sprint, and Verizon over the past 10yrs.
I originally thought I'd be able to use att towers, but we all know that isn't yet possible.
Not sure what carrier and phone to go with now. hmmmm....
What is Tmo's coverage map look like in your area? If it was bad to begin with, then you should be expecting this coming in.
If not, then you may just have a bad device.
not sure about dropped calls, but T-mobile signal coverage does suck
You meant to say Tmobile sucks in you location because it doesn't suck in mine (Baltimore) but you know who's service does suck in my area. ATT and Sprint. My wife's iPhone gets multiple dropped calls though out the week and there data speeds suck. Sprints WiMax is laughable and always gets static on the line. Tmobile however has insane 4g speeds where I live and I average 8mbs DL and 3mbs UL in and around Baltimore. Not to mention I haven't had a dropped call since I can remember. I don't even remember the last time I went without service. In the end there is no point for me to pay more and get less. A post like yours is all subjective depending on where you live and in the end, this thread is idiotic. Nobody wants to hear you high about carrier service in a forum dedicated to a device.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
eagercrow said:
I love this phone, but t-mobile sucks. I can't take the ****ty service anymore. I've had more dropped calls in the past 2 weeks than I've had with Att, sprint, and Verizon over the past 10yrs.
I originally thought I'd be able to use att towers, but we all know that isn't yet possible.
Not sure what carrier and phone to go with now. hmmmm....
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Try here.
mikett26 said:
What is Tmo's coverage map look like in your area? If it was bad to begin with, then you should be expecting this coming in.
If not, then you may just have a bad device.
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It shows as covering everywhere. I wouldn't have gotten the phone if the coverage maps were accurate. I get 3g att coverage on my company phone when I have 0 signal with tmobile.
Driving my kids to school 8 miles away I have NO service for 80% of the drive, never had issues with any other carrier. I can pretty much count on ONLY getting service if I'm at or near a city center.
In my area I have great t-mobile coverage and I had att before which was very bad.
So go for the network which works best for you. No point in cribbing here since I guess no can help you. All it does is a flame war.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
I'm just frustrated cause I like the phone so much. Don't need to get your panties in a bunch.
I get great service in my area (Indianapolis) with T-Mobile 4g damn near all day hardly ever drops to 3g and 4 bars everywhere I go..NO DROPPED calls ever I've been with T-Mobile since 2005
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA Premium App
After being with att, Verizon,and sprint, T-Mobile is by far the coverage for me on my area of Dallas TX, I sit at 1 bar with Verizon in the house if I'm lucky, sprint is always no more than 2 and att is the 2nd best for me.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
I'm having a fair amount of problems with lost signal, and all I did was upgrade from my Nexus 1. Still live in Chicago, still drive the same routes, but before where it was not an issue it is now. Which forces me to conclude it's either SW that still needs improvement, or hardware a la Apple's infamous antenna problems.
eagercrow said:
I love this phone, but t-mobile sucks. I can't take the ****ty service anymore. I've had more dropped calls in the past 2 weeks than I've had with Att, sprint, and Verizon over the past 10yrs.
I originally thought I'd be able to use att towers, but we all know that isn't yet possible.
Not sure what carrier and phone to go with now. hmmmm....
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Click to collapse
sprint=over priced/behind the curve (4g?!?!?)
At&t = big bill/****ty network and customer serivce (in my area... i was a customer for 4 years)
verizon= jacked up plans/high prices no customer loyalty or service..... (good service tho in my area)
T-mo= great customer service/decent service (my area) and i got a free g2x from them so suck it
/thread go get a trac phone
stop making useless threads how your gonna get better phones/service NO ONE CARES rant about it on your myspace page
KTHXBYE
I love your threads today...Stop making me laugh. It hurts when I laugh.
I have to say though that I think the I'm leaving posts have their place. If I'm researching a potential phone, I'm interested in disgruntled customers and their rants. They helped me decide on this phone for instance.
While there are a few(I'm leaving posts) for the G2X, there are not that many. And when someone is leaving for a bs, unenlightened, not ever gonna be satisfied reason, it's usually pretty apparent. But go to Androidforums and see all the complaints about the Indulge. There are legions of users who are unhappy. If one person is detered then the people who've posted have helped.
Thank Zeus for the forums. An educated consumer is a powerful one. You have to have a lot of opinions to make an informed decision. Even the redonkalous ones LOL.
I drive between NJ and PA around 70 miles to work everyday. Never dropped a call even while on drive all the way. Tmobile coverage is very good. It sure hops between 2g and 4g, but that is due to the software. AT&T is not at all good in my area.
eagercrow said:
It shows as covering everywhere. I wouldn't have gotten the phone if the coverage maps were accurate. I get 3g att coverage on my company phone when I have 0 signal with tmobile.
Driving my kids to school 8 miles away I have NO service for 80% of the drive, never had issues with any other carrier. I can pretty much count on ONLY getting service if I'm at or near a city center.
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8 miles to school!!! damn. Must not be in the city
Tmobile works well in the cities but not so much in-between. I travel and it sucks sometimes. Airports are the worst. ALL AIRPORTS SHOULD HAVE GREAT COVERAGE ON ALL CARRIERS... but they don't. With AT&T and Tmobile I'm often left with little to no cell signal. Verizon has the best coverage and is the most reliable. AT&T is second with Tmobile last.
90% of the time I am within the city and get great 4G data speeds and a reliable network.
I am always amused by how people are so easily affected my the media machine. BMW is the ultimate driving machine, Verizon is the best, Mercedes never break, blah blah blah...
I have Tmo in SoCal...I've had ATT, Sprint and Verizon. I would not trade Tmo's customer service for any or all of the other 3's claims. Sprint and ATT's data speeds are laughable here. Verizon is good but not worth 3x the price. ATT I think spends all their time trying to make their automated phones menus more torturous. The last time I needed to call ATT, I spent 2 hours calling number after number and never got my issue resolved. I cancelled all my ATT services at that point...took nearly all day to do it but boy do I feel good about it now.
jrwingate6 said:
You meant to say Tmobile sucks in you location because it doesn't suck in mine (Baltimore) but you know who's service does suck in my area. ATT and Sprint. My wife's iPhone gets multiple dropped calls though out the week and there data speeds suck. Sprints WiMax is laughable and always gets static on the line. Tmobile however has insane 4g speeds where I live and I average 8mbs DL and 3mbs UL in and around Baltimore. Not to mention I haven't had a dropped call since I can remember. I don't even remember the last time I went without service. In the end there is no point for me to pay more and get less. A post like yours is all subjective depending on where you live and in the end, this thread is idiotic. Nobody wants to hear you high about carrier service in a forum dedicated to a device.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
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Same in baltimore with good service.
eagercrow said:
I love this phone, but t-mobile sucks. I can't take the ****ty service anymore. I've had more dropped calls in the past 2 weeks than I've had with Att, sprint, and Verizon over the past 10yrs.
I originally thought I'd be able to use att towers, but we all know that isn't yet possible.
Not sure what carrier and phone to go with now. hmmmm....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you feel better now?
I live in Kansas City, location of the Sprint World Headquarters, and can't recieve a Sprint signal in my house.
Do you have a point?
Try complaining to AT&T for not carrying the G2X...problem solved.
Tmobile is great in my location and wifi calling will not go against minutes pretty soon. You simply cannot beat that at all .
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

Quick question about tmobile's service

I am currently with Sprint and I honestly can't take it anymore. Data speeds are terrible and when I'm bored at work and want to play with my phone I can't. I have the EVO 3d right now so naturally I'm going to switch to the sensation.
I have two questions, 1 ) how is tmobiles data service? And 2) once u go over your data limit what speeds do they throttle u down to?
Thanks
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
ok i just got t-mobile last month and i don't mind there service my family has it here they say they don't get a lot of dropped calls as far as data goes i think they are realiable i can't say i get a great speed in my apartment but i also live in a odd 4g coverage spot when I'm not home though the speeds are great. as amatter of fact i put a iphone to shame with the speed the guy thought he was something having one lol. but my speeds and coverage are based off the dell streak 7. hope i was helpful
firsttimer44 said:
I am currently with Sprint and I honestly can't take it anymore. Data speeds are terrible and when I'm bored at work and want to play with my phone I can't. I have the EVO 3d right now so naturally I'm going to switch to the sensation.
I have two questions, 1 ) how is tmobiles data service? And 2) once u go over your data limit what speeds do they throttle u down to?
Thanks
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
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Here is my take on it. I was with AT&T Wireless, Cingular, Sprint, and Verizon and now I have switch to T-Mobile. I switched to T-mobile a couple of weeks ago and the coverage isn't 100% great but I honestly think that HSPA+ is better for the phones today. Its not that fast all the time and we all know LTE is amazing but the battery consumptions of these circuits is insane. I owned the Thunderbolt. 45mins of active LTE use and the phone was DEAD. I would rather have slower data speeds and be able to use the device for longer.
What you can expect with Tmobile is at least 1Mbps if you haven't gone over your data allocation. After that you can expect about 300-800kbps. The highest data rate i've seen on tmobile is about 8Mbps. You probably won't have too much less coverage than Sprint but there is far less coverage than Verizon and At&t.
Depending on your coverage - data speeds can be real good (I average 5mbps). Data throttling will depend on the plan you choose.
secano said:
Depending on your coverage - data speeds can be real good (I average 5mbps).
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+1
T-Mobile data is usually great in most average to larger sized cities. You should be ok in Indy but find a T-Mobile friend if you can to verify the speeds where you live.
T-Mobile outside of a city or in a super-dense population like NY can be spotty or slow.
I'm in Indianapolis an I always get 4mbps down an 1.2mbps up I just switched from Sprint u will defiantly see a improvement
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
I was a sprint customer, in MY AREA Sprint service went down the crapper. Tmo coverage in my area is fantastic, and has been on my recent travels around the country. Sprint->tmo was well worth it for me. Can't speak for ur coverage area tho.
Sent from my HTC Sexiness.
I just recently switched from Sprint to T-Mobile. With the speedtest.net app I was averaging 300-500 Kbps with Sprint. I'm averaging anywhere from 7-10 Mbps with T-Mobile. The coverage area is great here where I live, and I actually pay less then I was paying with Sprint.
I am in NYC and I have T-mobile for a long time already, recently switch to Sensation 4G and I am getter in average 3mbps download and 1.2 up.
Speeds are great if you are in an area where they have rolled out HSPA+. I get around 7-9 Mbps up and 1-2 Mbps down. If you reach your cap, they throttle you down to EDGE (200-300 Kbps), but some people have said their speeds go even lower than that.
i concur...
aNYthing24 said:
Speeds are great if you are in an area where they have rolled out HSPA+. I get around 7-9 Mbps up and 1-2 Mbps down. If you reach your cap, they throttle you down to EDGE (200-300 Kbps), but some people have said their speeds go even lower than that.
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I average 5mb down/ 2mb up outside of Washington DC. However, when I am in a sweet spot I have averaged 8/9mb down 2/3mb up. These are great for not being on wifi. HOWEVER, if you are NOT in a tower-rich area you will hate your service. Riding from Virginia to South Carolina recently (on 95 south and 85 south) i maintatined a 2g connection 80% of the time. This severly limited my internet capabilities and download speeds. It was not until I draove through major cities that a strong signal came up. I was very disappointed in this. Results may vary for you though.
When I'm on EDGE Opera Mini makes life so much better. I go from NV to AZ a few times out of the year and I can browse forums, image boards and etc. with no problems due to the image compression. Loads as fast as 3G would.
Sprint's 3G network is really slow, I don't think you will have speed issues if you switch from Sprint to T-Mobile especially with this being a 42Mbps market. I'm not going to say 7-10Mbps is network wide but you should have at least 1Mbps
I am in Tulsa, OK and average 8.5-10.5 mb down and 1.5-2.5 mb up. I went with the 5gb of data and usually finish my billing cycle with 1/2-1 gb to spare.
My wife usually goes over her 5gb, and does get throttled, but its not unbearable. It's edge, but it works for a couple of days a month. She runs a blog and tethers her phone to our laptop or Iconia tablet.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
I switched from Sprint because every time I had any issue at all, it was several hours on the phone trying to get it fixed. Not to mention trying to find someone in a store that could do more than pull a new phone out of a box.
So far I am happy. The high speed data is much better than the old Evo. But the lower 2G leaves something to be desired. I may get throttled in the future, but the next tier is only the cost of the "4G fee" that Sprint charged me for my evo that I tried to use the two times I was in an area that had it and found out it pretty well sucked.
I don't think you'll loose much by leaving Sprint, unless you like the saying "Can I put you on hold?"
steve austin said:
I average 5mb down/ 2mb up outside of Washington DC. However, when I am in a sweet spot I have averaged 8/9mb down 2/3mb up. These are great for not being on wifi. HOWEVER, if you are NOT in a tower-rich area you will hate your service. Riding from Virginia to South Carolina recently (on 95 south and 85 south) i maintatined a 2g connection 80% of the time. This severly limited my internet capabilities and download speeds. It was not until I draove through major cities that a strong signal came up. I was very disappointed in this. Results may vary for you though.
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That's pretty standard with T-Mobile. If you spend all your time in the city, they are great to use. For travelers... not so much.
I left Verizon for T-Mobile about 6 years ago and never looked back. I live in the SF Bay Area and get about 6-8 Mbps down. Not only T-Mobile will unlock you phone for you. I have bin to Thailand and Mexico with my phone and used none T-mobile sim cards. I am not looking forward to the T-mobile AT&T merger. I think the only people that are going to make out in the deal is AT&T customers.
Im with you OP - I was with Sprint (a convert from AT&T iPhone to the EVO 3D) - I loved the phone but for 2 weeks I tried to live with the Data on Sprint and I just couldnt do it. I have been with Tmobile for 2 weeks and have had NO data issues and I do in fact get a data signal where my Sprint service got nothing (At the Hockey Rink / Etc). I have tested Edge (2G) speeds and they are still faster than what I was pulling from Sprint - So I was happy and so is my wife. I hated to drop the 3D phone, but I needed reliable Data.
Make sure you tell Sprint why you are leaving (if you do) - They argued with me that data is fine and I showed them speed tests on 3 of their phones at 120-175k (one was 1.5Mb, as they stated, but I showed them Wifi was on!!! - Disabled it and down the tubes it went). I then showed my Sensation to them and I was pulling 6Mb (around 6000k down and 2000k up) - They said, "Well, yeah, your bill will be higher" - I pay $5 less and I am on the 5GB plan - and I showed them Edge speeds with the 4G Disabled, where I would get unlimited, and they had no more comments.
Sprint sales people are great, I had no issues with them - but They need a HUGE upgrade to stay in this business.
firsttimer44 said:
I am currently with Sprint and I honestly can't take it anymore. Data speeds are terrible and when I'm bored at work and want to play with my phone I can't. I have the EVO 3d right now so naturally I'm going to switch to the sensation.
I have two questions, 1 ) how is T-Mobiles data service? And 2) once u go over your data limit what speeds do they throttle u down to?
Thanks
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
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Well for me in Indiana coverage is average with the other two big dogs. Sprint just flat out sucks. I switched from sprint to tmo and never looked back. Sim card based phone service. Better data speeds. More 3g and 4g towers by far.
As for Speed after data cap you go to 2g speed after you hit the cap. Which is way better then being totally cut off or paying overage. plus if Att and Tmo merger goes through the next gen devices will have an amazing coverage because the two network will eventually become one.
I'm down in Atlanta and been with tmo for many moons...I got the g2x and I will honestly say at times the network really bumps and hauls ass. There isn't many times ItS slow....
I usually use around 4-5 gb of data. N the one month I used 6.7gb they said I would b throttled but never was for the remaining week of the cycle..
But with.tmo it all depends on ur area..do ur research if it's not too late.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
firsttimer44 said:
I am currently with Sprint and I honestly can't take it anymore. Data speeds are terrible and when I'm bored at work and want to play with my phone I can't. I have the EVO 3d right now so naturally I'm going to switch to the sensation.
I have two questions, 1 ) how is tmobiles data service? And 2) once u go over your data limit what speeds do they throttle u down to?
Thanks
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
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(1) Honestly tmobile coverage isn't the best. When you get coverage, it's very good (it's pretty good in Chicago). Your best bet is see if you have any co-worker at your workplace who uses tmobile and test.
(2) Edge speed. I signed up for 2GB. My normal usage is around 1GB (slightly below, my workplace has good wifi and I use wifi most of the time), and get close to 2GB if I use tethering a lot that month. 5GB is $10/month more expensive. Sign up for 2GB and pay $10 to switch to 5GB if you run over, and switch back to 2GB next month.

WHY does my INFUSE work 10x better on TMobile network than ATT?

Need to vent here. Have ATT / Infuse unlimited data plan, etc.
My signal sucks and i live in city center los angeles
i have to use a hacked up microcell in order to get that to give me ok boost but still not what it should. In my house, without microcell I get ZERO bars..
Unlocked my device a few days ago (easy thank you forums for one click)
picked up a $10 PAY AS YOU GO sim card at TMOBILE.
Reset Factory / WITH Tmobile number SIM card inside and lord or lord...
FACTS:
--- FIVE BARS EVERYWHERE AND ANYWHERE! NOT ONE SIMPLE HICCUP OF SERVICE.
--- DATA speeds on TM registered as EDGE though I am going tell all truly, its not. IT IS 4G + more. I have been testing and getting D/L speeds (w/WiFi off) of 15-18MBPS
Mind you, this is consistently when phone is on TM
--- More FUN....market instantly downloaded TM stock apps (obviously thinking its their phone) though there is a problem here. TMOBILE grants my phone FULL TELENET GPS SOFTWARE 24/7. --- ATT charges $10.00 a month for their crappy version.
---- More FUN x2 - TM grants me a full FREE unlimited use of QIK video chatting. No software restrictions. AT&T charges you I believe $5.00 a month to have the extras, on a network that it really doesn't work half the time.
How good is the VIDEO chatting & Mess? ITS AWESOME, ITS FAST & ITS QUICK no waiting no hiccups, etc. etc.
When I transfer ATT SIM back in the video chatting software remains full unlocked though its nearly useable.
I now have to come to believe that ATT is truly the problem. the phone explosed with power + fun on a network that can handle the infuse + or allow it to be run as a killer phone.
As long as ATT remains on delivery its wireless customers the worst mobile service ever, sadly most infuse users will never get to see the push & power that really is inside the INFUSE.
while att makes more money than ever, continues with the mega-mergers back and forth over and over - passing the billl 9 rate increases on to its customers.
THIS HONESTLY IS INEXCUSABLE. ---
though on a good note...the phone rocks on TM just for reference.
No issues here.
Running off MIUI Rom
Uhhh correct me if im wrong here, but AT&T does not charge for the use of QIK does it?
Sorry, this is bull. I worked for Tmobile for a long time and i'm familiar with an HSPA+ network, and in order to even get near those speeds on an HSPA+ 21 device you'd have to have the utmost prefect network conditions on their
AWS band.
AT&T has no AWS band. Also, you'd be hard pressed to find even an HSPA+ 42 device on Tmobile that would get those speeds. A device seldom gets near the theoretical max unless you're in a testing zone with no congestion from other users and no issues with interference, signal propagation, etc...
You'd only see those speeds on WiFi with the Infuse, unlocked on Tmobile's network, else EDGE speeds would be around 50kbps or less.
If you want to prove it, take a speed test with the Ookla app and post the screen shot here.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
att doesnt pass bill rate increases unless the customer upgrades plans. you are entitled to the contract you siged with the old provider and in many cases you can renew it seemingly indefinately. i know people with basic phones that still pay cell one bills.
also you must live in a very good city for t-mobile. att rules in my area though mos people are brainwashed into having verizon plans. we got h+ here and i get 10-11 mbps down. verizon is lucky to get 1mbps and often falls back to a 1g symbol on some phones.
as for t-mobile, in my area it is very spotty. sounds like you found happyness with them and so do many others, more power to you guys, if t-mo was viable for me i'd switch but it's not. though the h+ on t-mo with the infuse sounds sketchy and the speeds are the only posible utmost perfect scenario.
i believe .15-.18 MBPS but 15-18 naw.
just look at the screen name. tells the whole story.
TheMan42; said:
If you want to prove it, take a speed test with the Ookla app and post the screen shot here.
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^^^what this guy said.^^^ picks or it didn't happen
Its possible but I doubt it
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Do this. Load a custom ROM and change wireless settings to 2G networks. You will have 5 bars wherever you are, even on AT&T.
Curious about this myself, I pulled out my old T-mo prepaid sim I keep as a backup for when my contract is up, fired it up, and tried using some data. I got EDGE speeds in a H+ area with T-Mo. T-Mo has faster EDGE than AT&T but certainly not the speeds you're claiming. Not saying what you said was BS but it is either location dependent or my Infuse just sucks. Then again, I get about 8mbps down 2 up on AT&T where I live...
TheMan42 said:
Sorry, this is bull. I worked for Tmobile for a long time and i'm familiar with an HSPA+ network, and in order to even get near those speeds on an HSPA+ 21 device you'd have to have the utmost prefect network conditions on their
AWS band.
AT&T has no AWS band. Also, you'd be hard pressed to find even an HSPA+ 42 device on Tmobile that would get those speeds. A device seldom gets near the theoretical max unless you're in a testing zone with no congestion from other users and no issues with interference, signal propagation, etc...
You'd only see those speeds on WiFi with the Infuse, unlocked on Tmobile's network, else EDGE speeds would be around 50kbps or less.
If you want to prove it, take a speed test with the Ookla app and post the screen shot here.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
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\also a previous tmobile slave
everything he said is correct
(at the time i had regular 3g (samsung captivate) and my speed test would often beat the top speeds of the tmboile devices instore.
The OP's name is bogustbaxter, obviously just someone trying to get attention. Good job. I don't think tmo allows unlimited video chatting, they have data limits like anyone else, it's not possible to get those speeds, etc. This is dumb. It should be closed
U want unlimited go to sprint...only true unlimited data around...was with them 5 years til this year when I swithced to att cause I fell in love with infuse....came from evo 4g(awesome phone btw)...but their plans for data are the best I ever used...speeds are compettitive in my area...they don't cover as well as att tho...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium
dman3285 said:
U want unlimited go to sprint...only true unlimited data around...was with them 5 years til this year when I swithced to att cause I fell in love with infuse....came from evo 4g(awesome phone btw)...but their plans for data are the best I ever used...speeds are compettitive in my area...they don't cover as well as att tho...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium
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Sprint is also going to be ending their unlimited plans. Its also a shame Sprint's data speeds are awful in comparison to Verizon and att.
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda premium
I beg to differ...with sprint 5 years...data speeds were faster and more reliable than att all day in my area...regret leaving..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium
Dont get me wrong...i love my infuse..but att service and customer service needs alot of work...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium
dman3285 said:
Dont get me wrong...i love my infuse..but att service and customer service needs alot of work...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium
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Amen to that!! I have been with ATT since 2004..i am testing different modems as we speak. I wonder does anyone know is there a way to know what modem is best for a certain area?? I searched and searched ATT and NEVER get anywhere. I don't even know and can't seem to find out what typical speeds should be for me. I live in Northern CA. about 8 miles from town...there is actually an ATT store here that offers NO help. If the weather is right, wind, clouds, and if i stand on one foot and spin MAYBE i get like on average 1.60mbps down. the highest i have ever gotten is 4.00 ...thought it was a fluke. I am on my 4th modem to test. UCKj1 seems to be better FOR me than KK1 (aweful), Ki3 (ok), and Ki4 (not so much).
dman3285 said:
Dont get me wrong...i love my infuse..but att service and customer service needs alot of work...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The real problem is, what carrier has good service and support? Have friends on all major carriers and they all stink. The best one of the bunch is Sprint who has crap coverage and 3g only around my area. Best thing about then is the 10 bucks a month they tack on for having a 4g phone that does not get 4g, what a joke! I see lots of ATT slamage but I don't see what make the others any better. Ok they have the slowest feauxG of all but that is LOTS better than charging more for nothing.

Anyone have Verizon as their service? If so pop on in.

Im going to be coming from Sprint to possibly verizon. I was wondeirng a few things
1. How is the service? I get BAD 3g speeds ( around .5mb ) and 4g is decent whenever I can get it ( 5mb or so ). Whats their average 3g and 4g speeds?
2. What about phones? Im coming from the Evo and its still considered a top contender with the new phones that are out there now. I dont want an iphone, Id like to stay android. Any phones out there that are pretty good?
Any and all help is appreciated.
p.s. I know I have an at&t thread out there too, but Im looking at verizon too.
I get about 1.1mbps on 3g and 8+mbps on 4g.
verizon has a excellent variety of 4g phones..including Galaxy Nexus, HTC rezound, Droid razr / razr Maxx,LG spectrum and more.
yeah those speeds arent bad, way better than what I get. But I think AT&T is pulling more speed right?
Hey I have an evo on Sprint, so I know how those slow speeds feel.
That being said. On my Verizon iPhone, I see anywhere from 1.5mbps to 2 plus 3g, and I see folks getting 8+ lte also. This is in the Denver metro area.
If you are switching I suggest soon. Verizon is running a double your data promotion right now when you get a 4g device. my Co workers enjoy their rezounds. Galaxy nexus is good, but I have heard of network problems with them.
Boo
Verizon has some of the best 3G coverage, thats the biggest reason I stay with them. Using the Speedtest app I get around 1.5-1.8 Mb/s down and about 0.5-0.5 Mb/s up on 3G with a good signal. I'm not sure about 4G because I don't have a 4G device and even if I did coverage will not be in my area for some time.'
The best Verizon android device out there now as far as being dev friendly and running ICS is the Galaxy Nexus. The biggest con of the nexus is its size.
Thanks. Im liking the nexus, but havent seen it in person. Im going to check it out tomorrow possibly. Now whne you say size, guess you mean the screen? I dont think that would bother me much.
Verizon is packed with good 4G LTE phones.
My average 4G speed is 8-15down and 8-15up but I've had more than a handful of times where I've hit close to 40down and 20up.
My main concern is the 3g as 4g is a milker...
Never mind
Thanks man... I afraid of the overloaded service with AT&T though... I heard their towers are overlaoded and they dont have the best connectivity.. CAn you roam on AT&T? I dont always need data, but Id like to NEVER be without phone service.
Never had data dropping issues, but the signal meter on many cell phones are very inaccurate.
On my Droid 3 the factory signal meter likes to read 5 bars down to about about -95 dBm. For some reason phone manufacturers nowadays like to make it look like you have 5 bars all the time. Luckily Android lets allows you to get the real dBm value from the radio so I know its not a hardware issue as the dBm value is much more reliable then the signal bars.
A lot of service issues depend on where you're located. I have a galaxy nexus in the Las Vegas area and have no complaints at all. This area is well provisioned for 4g though. The nexus is a great phone IMO, although mine didn't stay stock for very long so I can't really speak to how the stock phone is
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
Never mind
All in all, you pay the most, but in the long run, probably worth it.
Around my area Verizon seems to be better then at&t. Less dropped calls and faster data.
Sent from my smashed ADR6300 using spaghetti
Verizon 4g/Deadspots
I am about a mile from a 4g tower and get about 1 bar(max 2 bars) with a consistent 105 dbm. There seems to be alot of deadspots in the Abingdon,MD area. 3g coverage is pretty good, but like I said, there are alot of deadspots with no coverage. I can't figure out how I can be that close to a 4g tower and still get bad coverage....maybe it's the phone....
how does one know which tower is 4g and which tower isn't?
kafitze said:
I am about a mile from a 4g tower and get about 1 bar(max 2 bars) with a consistent 105 dbm. There seems to be alot of deadspots in the Abingdon,MD area. 3g coverage is pretty good, but like I said, there are alot of deadspots with no coverage. I can't figure out how I can be that close to a 4g tower and still get bad coverage....maybe it's the phone....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks man. Im not too far from abington.
Lets bump this for the late night crew
I average at least 15-20mbs down and have gotten as high as 35-40mbs down on LTE.
I always have great connections, never drop calls.
My father has AT&T, hates it, Mother has Sprint, hates it. In my area Verizon is king. I rarely use 3G so I can't really comment on 3G speeds. Just looks at the current coverage maps and LTE markets for the major carriers and it's obvious Verizon is light years ahead of the rest.

verizon vs tmobile

I've been with verizon since 2000 and never really had an choice to change since they always had the best service in my area. I've never liked at&t and the rep for tmobile has been its known for prepaid and shotty service. Thing is now, I see more and more people moving over to tmobile and are loving it. Its cheaper per month than verizon and service in my area in NJ is pretty much the same as verizons. Plus there are some features like the wifi calling, the hspa+ coverage, lte. that make it pretty attractive. But the kicker on whats making me consider the change is the phone selection. Verizon seems to always be lagging behind and I'm tired of having to wait for new phones to hit verizon and for updates to be released. Has anyone else thought about a move?
topaz330 said:
I've been with verizon since 2000 and never really had an choice to change since they always had the best service in my area. I've never liked at&t and the rep for tmobile has been its known for prepaid and shotty service. Thing is now, I see more and more people moving over to tmobile and are loving it. Its cheaper per month than verizon and service in my area in NJ is pretty much the same as verizons. Plus there are some features like the wifi calling, the hspa+ coverage, lte. that make it pretty attractive. But the kicker on whats making me consider the change is the phone selection. Verizon seems to always be lagging behind and I'm tired of having to wait for new phones to hit verizon and for updates to be released. Has anyone else thought about a move?
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Click to collapse
I'm probably going to switch to their pre-paid service when my contract is up. I want a Nexus.... Verizon doesn't seem to be getting another any time soon.
I would definitely go with Tmobile for better phone selection & price, but the service in my area is below average. Hopefully LTE rolls out to my area then I'll jump ships.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
I have to jump ship Verizon breaking my bank bad got to pay a fortune to keep service . I gotta switch back to my iPhone I know -_- and go to T-Mobile prepaid because they have the 1900 MHz support in my area
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If you go to a T-Mobile store they might be able to help you pay for your ETF fee, at least that's what they did for me. I would have to pay Verizon 150, but the rep just credited my T-Mobile account 100$ when I switched. He told me that this is something every store has a budget for. It's definitely worth a shot just asking the rep. It's saved me quite a bit of money so far (even if coverage isn't perfect)
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
I had T-Mobile and really liked 'em. They were NOT cheaper, I'm able to get on VZW's Old Fart Plan and it was just $5/mo more than the T-Mo plan I had.
CS is about equal with both except for T-Mo's prepaid which gets you people who speak no intelligible English, with postpaid you get good CS.
Coverage, very close to zero with T-Mo, everywhere I went. Only spotty coverage in the largest cities, VZW has 3g or better everywhere I travelled.
A phone that can't make a call until you find a Starbucks with free WiFi isn't useful to me.
Have your car break down on California 371 in the middle of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation? You're 50 miles from ANY T-Mo signal and you've got 2 - 3 bars with Verizon.
I really liked T-Mo but it wasn't usable for me.
for those that had coverage issues how long ago did you have tmobile? I heard coverage recently got better and that they are aggressively expanding to more towers across the country.
I don't like Verizon's pricing, phone selection, and the hassle required to unlock their phones for international use.
That being said, I switched from t mobile to Verizon in 07 for one reason: coverage. I use to live in Philadelphia in an 5 floor apartment with a T-Mobile store like three blocks away. No coverage in my apartment unless I kept the phone by the window.
Now I live and work in north nj and Verizon is the only reliable wireless carrier (by word of mouth). Not sure how much has changed in six years but I would leave Verizon if anyone had coverage close to the theirs
topaz330 said:
for those that had coverage issues how long ago did you have tmobile? I heard coverage recently got better and that they are aggressively expanding to more towers across the country.
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Click to collapse
I tried 2 weeks ago, just to test their service and see how it was since I haven't been with them for 1 year and a half and its still sucky. They do have 4G (HSPA+) in my area now but I get 1 bar of it and when it dont get a strong signal it'll go to Edge. I hear a nearby area "might" get LTE in late June so that means my area "might" get it late 2013. I'm just waiting to see what happens...my contract is up in November for Verizon
My buddy has tmo and hates the service. He doesn't get service with his phone and winds up using his Verizon work phone 90 percent of the time to make calls.
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I had Verizon before I switched to T-Mobile. T-Mobile is cheaper, has just as good of support and a good selection of phones. However, Verizon does have better service so if you travel frequently expect some dead zones.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
I used to have T-mo and I loved it! The reception in my area was incredible. I moved to verizon and it's still in the same category in satisfaction. T-mo is a lot cheaper than verizon, so I would give it a try. You're not going to regret it. Sim cards are the best.
I recently jumped from Verizon to T-Mobile and pretty much all comments thus far are justified.
topaz330 said:
for those that had coverage issues how long ago did you have tmobile? I heard coverage recently got better and that they are aggressively expanding to more towers across the country.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They've added -some- sites in recent times, but the "re-farm" you seem to have heard about is primarily a massive equipment refresh for about 85% of the existing WCDMA sites. Unlike Sprint's Network Vision or AT&T's "add an LTE panel to an 8 year old WCDMA site" rollout, T-Mobile is doing a -complete- equipment refresh on said sites using either Nokia Siemens Networks Flexi Base Station solutions or Ericsson's Antenna Integrated Radio setups. For the sites that get the new equipment, coverage could see a 10-15% improvement in coverage and in-building penetration due to each of the NSN/Ericsson setups having the radio at tower-top.
T-Mobile will do you well if you are a city-rat. The lack of rural expansion pre-AT&T failed merger was due to the cost of infrastructure and backhaul when the only spectrum you have is high-frequency (PCS/AWS). Even in areas of excellent coverage, there's still a few limitations: Deep inside buildings, attenuation -will- eat the signal. Terrain is another big one that affects all carriers... if you happen to be in a place where terrain blocks your line of sight, you're not gonna get a good signal. Now, the equipment refresh is to facilitate LTE, as both setups are capable of LTE-A out of the box. T-Mobile had to sit on their hands for 18mo and not do any proactive system/coverage upgrades due to the AT&T merger debacle, but it was a good thing as now that they have the money and spectrum from both the merger fallout and MetroPCS plus new equipment, they're good to go. So, depending on where you live, work, and play, T-Mobile could potentially be great...
but...
bbqsfire said:
My buddy has tmo and hates the service. He doesn't get service with his phone and winds up using his Verizon work phone 90 percent of the time to make calls.
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MiG8GT said:
I had Verizon before I switched to T-Mobile. T-Mobile is cheaper, has just as good of support and a good selection of phones. However, Verizon does have better service so if you travel frequently expect some dead zones.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Unfortunately, when all you have is high-frequency spectrum to use and a network that hasn't seen significant expansion since 2009, this is going to happen. As with all carriers, one man's perfect signal might have a crap signal from another carrier in the exact same spot. Happened to me: with Verizon, could pull 30mbit LTE from bed, but at work I could kill an entire charge with light use because the phone had crap signal on all 3 services (1x EVDO and LTE(whose average speedtest at the desk was 2-3mbit down)). Meanwhile, terrain eats T-Mobile's WCDMA signal at my house(edge only), but I pull 3x the speeds on T-Mobile because of a near perfect signal than I could with Verizon at work.
If you have a friend with T-Mobile, treat'em to lunch and ask them to take a ride around town with ya to see how the service is where you go. Another option is to borrow someone's unused, unlocked T-Mobile phone and grab a sim, sign up for the $30 100min/unlim data&text online and carry that around with you for a bit.
For someone like me who -rarely- leaves metro areas when I travel, T-Mobile is great. For you, it could be different, just take the "ZOMG SPOTTY COVERAGE TMO SUCKS" with a grain of salt, and understand that no carrier is perfect everywhere, even if those comments for that individual are justified.
Forgot to add: T-Mobile won't see any WCDMA expansion for the foreseeable future since their current focus is on the equipment refresh on existing sites. The next round of expansion will come after the 600MHz auction next year.
Shoot me an IM/PM if you have any more questions.
Opposite for me, since Tmo coverage is awful for even making calls in a lot of areas where I live. I agree that they are easier to deal with, but lack of coverage in a lot of areas in Kentucky and Ohio nix them for me.
rushless said:
Opposite for me, since Tmo coverage is awful for even making calls in a lot of areas where I live. I agree that they are easier to deal with, but lack of coverage in a lot of areas in Kentucky and Ohio nix them for me.
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Click to collapse
yes, I have Vzw, for two reasons, one they have good coverage nearly everywhere in the us and two data speeds are good. important if you need t use Google Navigator.
topaz330 said:
for those that had coverage issues how long ago did you have tmobile? I heard coverage recently got better and that they are aggressively expanding to more towers across the country.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a T-Mobile S3 and Verizon Z10 for work, Verizon Bionic and TB for personal.
I get better coverage and internet speed on my Verizon devices than my T-Mobile.
I'm in Chester County, PA.
coverage
You could always do a bit of research for your expected area to see what the coverage is like across the various carriers.
www dot opensignal dot com
As if the captchas and relogins aren't enough, I can't friggin post links either.
I've started to take a hard look at T-Mobile and seriously thinking of switching when my contract end on Verizon. I live in southern NH and work in MA. There are T-Mobile 4G towers close to my house and work, but my commute would be mostly 2G.
Comparably, Verizon is mostly 4G in the area, a strong 4G signal at work, but at home I rarely get a 4G signal and half the time the phone will drop because of poor signal strength. There are 3G spots and some bare areas on my commute.
My step-son has T-Mobile and he get a strong 4G signal at our house. He also says he mostly has phone service in the area(drop spots) and data is mostly 2G. When you get closer to the highways or bigger tows / cities there is better service.
Verizon
T-Mobile is awesome, if you live in a coverage area, work in a coverage area, and/or go to school in a coverage area. Also, if you DO NOT EVER plan on traveling, or, at least, taking your phone with you when you go.... Their coverage is horrible compared to Verizon, but their prices are nicer, the packages are more appealing, and prepaid is way better. Really, it's just all up to you, and what you want.
I never had any problems while traveling with t mobile service I have gone from one end of the country to another with mine when I had them before and I'm looking to switch back only switched because I wanted to give Verizon a try not liking them way to pricey and crappy phone selection
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