Why is my 4G downloading at only 2-3Mbps? I am disappointed in this service!

Old-sew-n-sew

I signed up for Verizon 4G last month (February 2014) and was told a sales pitch that I would experience "lightning fast" speed and be able to watch Netflix, YouTube videos, etc. Well, it just isn't happening. I usually have speeds of 2-3Mbps (similar to my replaced 3G) and VERY rarely I get a speed of 5-6Mbps.  I have yet to be able to watch any video on Netflix, History Channel, PBS, or YouTube! The videos are choppy, jerky, out of synch with sounds, and unwatchable. I have tried everything, but nothing works.

Was I duped into paying for a high price service that just doesn't work in my area (northern Arizona, in the country)? Does Verizon's sales force not know where the 4G service works?

I live alone and have Windows XP and was sold the "new" Ellipsis Jetpack wifi for internet connection. I even have it connected to an appropriate antenna, near a window, etc. I live in an open area without any trees or buildings to block reception.

I am unhappy with what I am getting. Verizon, what gives?  :smileysad:

~Judy

unknown

A) I wouldn't be watching videos on a mobile connection with small caps. You will have hundreds if nothing thousands of dollars in overages. To watch videos you need real internet ( meaning cable or DSL or fiber). I'm not sure what your cap is but be aware just 1 hour of Netflix can use 2.5 GB of data. Youtube can almost use as much and other video services can use 1.5 GB per hour.

Mobile data is a shared resource. When you connect to a tower you are connecting to one of 3 sectors. That sector has a max of 150 Mbps of bandwidth it can supply at any one time. And each sector can have as many as 400 connections at once. So if you have all 400 trying to watch videos you get an average bandwidth of 375 kbps. To average 2 Mbps it would only take 65 people. To average 3 Mbps it would only take 50.

C) It's also possible that XP is also part of your problem. It's an antiquated OS. In fact Microsoft is ending all support for it on April 8th. If someone makes an exploit for XP after then Microsoft will NOT make a patch for it.