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[Q] Why is AT&T LTE faster than Verizons LTE?

So my two year contract is up and I wanted to see what network was best to go with, my biggest concern is LTE and wich network is better that means T-mo is out, Sprint not ready in my area so that leaves AT&T and Verizon. Now I talked to reps at both AT&T and Verizon and nither one knew what they were talking about making outragous statements about why their LTE network was better than their compettitors. On my way out of the AT&T store the rep said one of their techs just came in and can explain it all to me. The tech seemed to know what he was talking about he showed me they are testing LTE in my area right now and showed me it was working on his phone. He told me if I got a LTE phone right now today I would get the fastest LTE around because no one is the network in the area right now unless they have an LTE phone already and have it turned on for LTE. He also told me once LTE is offically turned on here that I will lose LTE speeds because of all the other devices plugging into it but even with speeds being reduced after testing I would still get LTE speeds faster than Verizons LTE because LTE is a GSM technology and works better with GSM phones and GSM networks. Verizons network is CDMA and has to be reworked to make it compatable with LTE and right now isn't all that stable and it crashes all the time, and since the phones are set for CDMA/LTE the phone has to work harder causing more/faster battery drain. I forget all the technical words he used but the guy really seemed to know his stuff and did say that Verizon is working to make it's LTE stable and believes theyt would have everything fixed by the end of year but because it's CDMA/LTE it can never be as fast as GSM/LTE.
Anyway my question is Is he correct and AT&Ts LTE is faster than Verizons? or is that more BS with alot of technical terms thrown in?

For the most part, the number of devices connected to the network is the biggest factor. The more devices connected, the slower it will go.
There might be some truth to the fact that Verizon's LTE network is newer and therefore unstable (as we've seen in the past) but that doesn't mean it will be necessarily slower while it's working for that reason, and AT&T's LTE network is newer so I don't see how that would be a plus for them. It's true that AT&T phones are GSM, and LTE is based on GSM, but implying that strong UMTS/HSPA+ network coverage is going to magically supplement LTE coverage sounds like BS to me. This might make it easier for AT&T to roll out their LTE network for that reason, but that doesn't mean that they've even come close to meeting Verizon in coverage yet.
So, in a nutshell, there's some truth to it. It's faster for the time being since there's no one on it, but there's nothing technically BETTER about AT&T's LTE as far as I know. LTE is LTE; it just depends on the carrier's infrastructure (internet connections to towers, tower locations and coverage, etc) to determine the the quality and speed of connection.
Besides, if AT&T's abilities to keep up with new subscribers on their 3G network is any indication, it won't be long before their LTE networks is slower than Verizons

Thanks
Thank you for clearing this up for me so your saying there is no difference between Verizon and AT&Ts LTE other than Verizon having a Larger Network right now.

somewhat future-proof GSM android for versatility

Hi,
I am using a prepaid service after transferring number to Google Voice.
I am researching providers. It seems in my area T-mobile has decent HSPA+ speeds. But ATT 4g LTE may come soon, too.
So, the question: which phone meets these criteria
- future-proof
- unlocked/unlockable for use with T-mobile and ATT for data mainly
- ready out-of-the-box or after rooting/radio flashing for all the current and foreseeable bands?
I've read that one current ATT 4G LTE phone (can't remember which, maybe Skyrocket or Note) can have a radio flashed that will make it work on T-mobile HSPA+.
Thank you!

Galaxy Nexus. Unlocked and pentaband right out of the box, no flashing radios needed. Gets T-mobile and AT&T 3g and 4g. Super easy to root, dev community that is second to none..AAANNNNNDDD available brand new on google.com for $399.99 with a US warranty.

thank you! great.
I have about $300 saved from selling my VZW Droid. I'm almost there.
This will show my ignorance, but will it do AT&T 4G LTE, too?
Any other choices?

also, 5-6 months ago when I was considering the Nexus when I was still with VZW, there were complaints about the radio being weak. Even I went into a VZW store and the settings were showing -105dB and almost every other device, including the cheapest Pantech, were in the mid to high 70s.
How is the radio strength/quality on GSM version now?

Verizon S GS3 on Straight Talk

Hi all,
With Verizon releasing officially, the update making its SGS3 Global ready atleast for voice as of now, a lot of discussion is happening right now about the Global capabilities.
FYI. I'm a good reader and explorer on hofo,androidforums and xda. So any guidance is highly appreciated
So here is my question.
I have a Verizon S GS3. It is brand new.
1. Can I use it with Straight Talk T-Mobile SIM ( T-Mobile has good coverage near my house ) after doing the rooting, unlocking, etc. etc all the technical stuff
2. If I unlock the phone, will it be truly global capable, I mean, can I use my S GS3 on any GSM Network in the World, even in the USA, with 3G Speeds? Did anyone use it in any Country with 4G LTE Speeds?
3. I know this is really a very very strange question. But after unlocking the S GS3, will it be working on the AT&T LTE Netowrk in the USA? My thinking is, if it working in the LTE Network in the USA, then it will work in other countries as well, where LTE Network is going to be available in the future. Sorry, I know this is a bit weird.
If You can please refer and threads or links, it is fine with me. I'm also looking and not depending only on the answers that I get from this thread. But looking for replies/guidance/links though.
Thank You.

hope this is the answers you are looking for
qzmpal said:
Hi all,
With Verizon releasing officially, the update making its SGS3 Global ready atleast for voice as of now, a lot of discussion is happening right now about the Global capabilities.
FYI. I'm a good reader and explorer on hofo,androidforums and xda. So any guidance is highly appreciated
So here is my question.
I have a Verizon S GS3. It is brand new.
1. Can I use it with Straight Talk T-Mobile SIM ( T-Mobile has good coverage near my house ) after doing the rooting, unlocking, etc. etc all the technical stuff
2. If I unlock the phone, will it be truly global capable, I mean, can I use my S GS3 on any GSM Network in the World, even in the USA, with 3G Speeds? Did anyone use it in any Country with 4G LTE Speeds?
3. I know this is really a very very strange question. But after unlocking the S GS3, will it be working on the AT&T LTE Netowrk in the USA? My thinking is, if it working in the LTE Network in the USA, then it will work in other countries as well, where LTE Network is going to be available in the future. Sorry, I know this is a bit weird.
If You can please refer and threads or links, it is fine with me. I'm also looking and not depending only on the answers that I get from this thread. But looking for replies/guidance/links though.
Thank You.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for Q1:yes you well be able to use any network... install any mod now most of them are already rooted and unlocked
for Q2:yes you can... all you need to ddo is to download a program called hiapn.. wipe the existing apn settings.. then auto detect and you are good to go 3g and hspa
Q3: yes it works thanks to the magic of hiapn software... but not many countrys use LTE .. usa canada japan and maybe few others

Verizon SGS3 on any GSM Carrier
Hi experts,
I have a small doubt here.
If the Verizon SGS3 can be used with any GSM Carrier around the world, then that means, the Verizon SGS3 can be used with AT&T or T-Mobile as well along with Verizon Network.
But the T-Mobile or AT&T Versions cannot be used on the Verizon's Network. Is that true?
I'm have got a traveling assignment coming up to Europe this Summer and I need to know what is the best possible solution out there before I leave.
Thank You.

Verizon's GS3 uses CDMA technology for the phone calling and data, as far as I know the SIM in the verizon version is only used for LTE.
From what I have read in forum posts, (this one in particular http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2013647) if you pop in a SIM card, calling and texting should work. If you want data to work then you need to change some APNs around. Stock touchwiz does not allow this so you would need an app to do that. AOSP ROMs should have a way for you to edit APNs.
On the topic of getting 4G on any other network besides Verizon, that is fairly unlikely as they all use different technologies/ bands. Verizon has LTE, T-Mobile has HSPA+, not entirely sure what AT&T has but I think its also LTE.

This phone will take any SIM card cut to micro-size.
3G+ speeds depends on the frequency the carrier uses. The VZW GS3 uses the following radio frequencies after the JB update: GPRS/EDGE/GSM (850/900/1800/1900); HSPA/UMTS (2100) [I had to search high and low to find this for my trip to China]
Each LTE carrier uses different radio frequencies, and global countries also use LTE frequencies different than the US ones. 4G is a very varied standard at the moment.
If you want fast internet on a non VZW carrier, it better have HSPA+, otherwise you are on 3G at best.
Right now, the only truely global phone is the iPhone5 on VZW, which supports 5 different LTE frequencies. Sad but true.
The US based SG3's dont even have the FM radio that the international versions have

Edge
Mix3d said:
This phone will take any SIM card cut to micro-size.
3G+ speeds depends on the frequency the carrier uses. The VZW GS3 uses the following radio frequencies after the JB update: GPRS/EDGE/GSM (850/900/1800/1900); HSPA/UMTS (2100) [I had to search high and low to find this for my trip to China]
Each LTE carrier uses different radio frequencies, and global countries also use LTE frequencies different than the US ones. 4G is a very varied standard at the moment.
If you want fast internet on a non VZW carrier, it better have HSPA+, otherwise you are on 3G at best.
Right now, the only truely global phone is the iPhone5 on VZW, which supports 5 different LTE frequencies. Sad but true.
The US based SG3's dont even have the FM radio that the international versions have
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, my girlfriend has a verizon s3 and with straight talk she is only on edge it never changes. It makes the phone nearly useless. Ive tried to talk her into letting me flash and unlock it but she isnt real interested in it. I dont even know forsure if unlocking the bootloader downgrading to 4.1.1 and using the att sim unlock method would work but I would assume that flashing it would allow you to at least get 3-4g. not?

International SM-G930F with T-Mobile

Hi all,
I've read up on a couple of threads here relating to using an international version of the S7 on T-Mobile (Reason being because I want a white version of the phone). People say that the phone works fine other than VoLTE and Wifi Calling. Unfortunetly, Wifi calling is huge for me because T-Mobile service is spotty in my home town and at work and the only way I can get a solid signal is through Wifi.
I was wondering if it would be possible to somehow flash some T-Mobile software onto this international device that would make it think that it is a 930T device and get Wifi calling to work.

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T-Mobile LTE in US isn't working...ideas?

I imported the 8141 from Clove in the UK. So far, my only real issue is I have yet to see it connect to LTE. I've seen "4G" and "4G+", but no LTE...which is a problem because I can barely pick up a signal other than LTE in my area. I checked and confirmed it's using the correct APN (fast.t-mobile.com). I'm on the 110/unlimited/unlimited $30/month prepaid plan and confirmed I haven't hit the LTE cap. If I put the SIM back in my Moto X Pure/Play, it hops on LTE without a problem.
Everything I've read says the radio should support T-Mobile's frequencies. Is there another setting somewhere I need to change? Do I need to flash another region's stock ROM (and is that even possible yet)? Did I get a lemon? Do I need to hold it a certain way like whatever iPhone it was a couple years back?
Any and all suggestions are welcome.

4G+ is the UK's LTE as far as iconography is concerned. Have you done a speediest on 4G+?

I've noticed the same thing, but I (as mentioned above) thought that LTE and 4G+ were synonymous. I think the only reason to flash a region based image would be to enable radio bands that are disabled based on location (which may be in this case).

Works fine here. Lower Manhattan using same version.
4G is LTE in US.

Download LTE Discovery and you'll be able to see if it is connected to LTE or HSPA(+). Mine, also from Clove, is just fine with AT&T LTE.

nd_geek said:
I imported the 8141 from Clove in the UK. So far, my only real issue is I have yet to see it connect to LTE. I've seen "4G" and "4G+", but no LTE...which is a problem because I can barely pick up a signal other than LTE in my area. I checked and confirmed it's using the correct APN (fast.t-mobile.com). I'm on the 110/unlimited/unlimited $30/month prepaid plan and confirmed I haven't hit the LTE cap. If I put the SIM back in my Moto X Pure/Play, it hops on LTE without a problem.
Everything I've read says the radio should support T-Mobile's frequencies. Is there another setting somewhere I need to change? Do I need to flash another region's stock ROM (and is that even possible yet)? Did I get a lemon? Do I need to hold it a certain way like whatever iPhone it was a couple years back?
Any and all suggestions are welcome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are looking at the signals wront, I'm on T-Mobile and have 4G+ as well it's the UK version of LTE. Look at my screenshot.

nd_geek said:
I imported the 8141 from Clove in the UK. So far, my only real issue is I have yet to see it connect to LTE. I've seen "4G" and "4G+", but no LTE...which is a problem because I can barely pick up a signal other than LTE in my area. I checked and confirmed it's using the correct APN (fast.t-mobile.com). I'm on the 110/unlimited/unlimited $30/month prepaid plan and confirmed I haven't hit the LTE cap. If I put the SIM back in my Moto X Pure/Play, it hops on LTE without a problem.
Everything I've read says the radio should support T-Mobile's frequencies. Is there another setting somewhere I need to change? Do I need to flash another region's stock ROM (and is that even possible yet)? Did I get a lemon? Do I need to hold it a certain way like whatever iPhone it was a couple years back?
Any and all suggestions are welcome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4G is basically the same thing as LTE in this case. 4G includes WiMax and LTE. So when you see "4G" it means you're using LTE. The same goes with 4G+ - LTE-Advanced (LTE+).
I have LTE logo on my Z3 while Z5 Premium shows 4G while using the same network.

4G is LTE in europe. We did not have that silliness that some 3,5G was called 4g. Also there is no band limitations on XZ Premium.
For app to check which band of spectrum you are connected to, please use Cellmapper app (from my signature).
If you wish to see different icon in there, you could flash Customized DE firmware which has "LTE" icon. But this has only cosmetic effect.

Instead of making a new thread, anyone knows if VoLTE works with the XZ Premium for T-Mobile?

Currently no. You need region or operator specific image Flashed (oem.sin) but there is none for XZ Premium.
But there is hope as there is t-mobile us specific modem configuration in all region images.. which will be loaded when you have correct oem image Flashed.