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Extremely slow LTE service in San Francisco

I have an iPhone 5 with Verizon postpaid contract plan [unfortunately].

The data speeds have been miserable last several months. Most of the time, my download is less than 1mbps and upload will be like 30kbps.

Right now, I am near the city hall area and my speeds are 0.03mbps down and 0.03mbps up. and yesterday was 0.04mpbs down and 0.10mbps up.

I went to the verizon store and it works fast inside since they have repeaters in the store. They said the phone appears to work fine and said it depends on the area..blah..blah..basically they just stopped short of admitting their network sucks in SF.

I'm extremely disappointed with the service considering how much they are charging me for it.

I think Verizon should give a discount or let us terminate the contract without the Early Termination Fee. I would be happy to go back to AT&T. They have much faster speeds here and lower fees.

Anyone else having such slow speeds in SF? Feel free to share it here..

Comments

Daveyo

My LTE speeds in SF Zip code 94103 are just beyond bad. Often times data is just non existent. We have several phones on a family plan so switching is not simple but I'm contemplating anyway because the current situation is intolerable.

Interestingly, checked LTE vs. 3G on my new iPhone 6 and 3G is a bit faster!

Check out this LTE "speed" test (yes I confirmed I was on LTE)

Photo Sep 24, 9 43 58 AM.png

And here is 3G!!!

3G Speed Test.png

wfitz1964

I have had three dropped calls poor LTE service in Castro valley. I'm in the valley of the uninformed . I see att building cell towers like gangbusters. I see verizon has cell site permitted .65 mile from me but nothing is being done.

melvy

It's gotten so bad that I stop believing when my phones says I'm on LTE. In most of Castro I will have 3-4 bars and yet can't get any data. Other parts of the city I get 3g like speeds. My phone can't take advantage of their new XLTE spectrum, but the fact still remains Verizon's data is horrible in SF. At&t is looking sweeter every day that passes - not to mention At&t users get reception while going thru sunset and downtown tunnels! Come on Big Red...who cares if you have LTE everywhere if it's crappy where you spend majority of your time.

wwits

I am thinking of buying out the rest of my Edge contract and jumping to AT&T, but AT&T currently has a 21 day leadtime on ordering the same model phone I have now.

I have experienced all these same speeds. Most of the day I'm on wifi either at work or at home, but Verizon's data speed is insanely bad in most parts of the city (Cole Valley, Castro, Haight, and Mission). In the financial district where I work they are decent but not worthy of bragging about - just better than 0.05 Mbps which is what I'm used to on LTE.

Before upgrading to the iPhone 6, I was still using a 4S and 3G speeds were definitely faster than the current LTE speeds in SF.

mikeluscher159

Likely area congestion.

Is your area a XLTE city?

iPhone 5's don't have AWS/(Band 4) which is what VZ uses to beef up congested areas.

5C's and up do.

You can either upgrade, or if another carrier is better in your area, jump ship.

dlowrey99

i 100% agree. the marina and lower pac heights are complete dead zones. riding in a cab/uber from one end of the city to the other results in several periods of no data flow. reception seems to be fine, but data trickles or stops. even in the financial district (normally ok) i'm having trouble streaming video right now without pauses every other second.

one would think verizon would put more effort into providing better coverage in the most tech-heavy/savvy city in the nation.

melvy

upgrading doesn't seem to help too much. said he has a iPhone 6 (which should take advantage of Verizon's AWS spectrum) and is still not getting the LTE speeds one would expect from Big Red. I didn't want to take the chance, and ended up switching to Ma Bell for the Note 4. I'm paying less and getting better service...go figure.

rayndrahps

I downloaded 4G LTE Switch (which was created because another one started having malware or requested a bunch of features, so this one, for now is pretty free of unnecessary items) from the Play store. Being able to force my phone to 3g is fantastic since I can actually use it again. The LTE works fine by PacBell Park, but while I have 4-5 bars of signal strength in places like the Castro (from Castro and Market down to Castro and 19th, Hartford over to whatever the street past Collingwood is) loads slowly, and by slow I mean 5 minutes between clicks on stuff and at worst times out entirely.

The other really bad area I've noticed is Church and Dorland Ave up to 20th and Church and over to Valencia.

I re-tested after downloading the app that allows me to force my Droid Maxx (Capable of XLTE so it's not that) and the things I was trying to do on LTE load near instantly on 3g since the data needs of the apps I'm using are miniscule. I've reported this to Verizon but of course never hear anything back from them. I'm just chiming in hoping that this and other forum posts get seen and have more and more people echo the ever increasing horror story of LTE on Verizon in San Francisco. I'm available for an upgrade, as much as I hate AT&T I might have to move over there myself.

I should mention I handle about 40 Verizon lines for my company and most of my users are reporting dead zones like this all over SF as well as all the people I play Ingress with (which is probably the best way to find data outages more than any other application on the phone right now due to being a GPS based video game where you have to go all over the place. Never thought I'd be using it as a tool for finding out where Verizon's data coverage is crap.)

If anyone wants me to post Speedtest pictures, I can make that happen, but I think if you're here in this thread you're in the same boat already.

rayndrahps

Other area's with little to no data: Market St & Octavia St. down to Duboce Ave. and Elgin Park over to Laguna St. and Waller St., then also Haight St. and Market St.

Ascotlad

Verizon - I have been a loyal customer for many, many years. But I concur with these observations. In the past several months, something has happened to the data in my neighborhood on my Verizon LTE. It was happening on my iPhone 5S and is now also happening with my iPhone 6. There's a problem with data in the Castro. For example standing at Castro Street near Market, all the way down Castro to almost 20th Street. Full LTE signal, but virtually zero data.

Please respond to this thread, with estimated investigation and fix schedule.

Ascotlad

I have reported the LTE data problem in the Castro, using the Chat function. I encourage you to do the same. The agent says it will trigger a network investigation. They asked for an address, my phone number/email and said it will take 48-72 hrs to work through their system.

dbrooks83

I have to agree. I used to live by the ballpark and everything was fine. I moved to Polk Gulch in August and it's a dead zone. I mean like .5 mb/s download kind of dead. Polk and Geary to Franklin all the way up past California... That whole rectangle... nada! The financial district is ok, but I've also seen similar poor results in the eastern half of the Marina and also along the Delores corridor (18th and Delores). It seems that most of this poor performance has also occurred in the last several months. Heard something about Verizon selling spectrum off so it's network isn't as fast now in SF, but can't find anything online to confirm that.

I know that my phone is older (Galaxy S3) and can't take advantage of XLTE, but after reading some of these responses, I'm not sure that's the issue? Seriously considering switching to T-Mobile when I get a new phone in December, and I'm a legacy unlimited data customer. Although what good is unlimited data if you can't use it?

Sunflower415

I just upgraded 2 weeks ago from an Iphone 4S (using 3G) to an iphone 6 (using 4G). Imagine my disappointment when I not only didn't get the faster speeds I was promised, but also couldn't even use my phone in most places! Using data, or trying to use an app such as Hangouts, check out Facebook, or look up something on the internet doesn't work about 75% of the time. I called Verizon and they said, "No network problems in your area...downtown SF has great coverage", They would tell me to troubleshoot a few thigs and then tell me it was fixed and try it out for a few more days, and call back if it wasn't working. I'd try it out for a few more days and still could not use my phone....at work (in PAC Heights, at home (near Union Square), in downtown SF, or in Inner Richmond...basically most everywhere I went, I would have trouble with my phone connection. I'd have my Apple 3G work phone with me (because I needed a back up for when my NEW phone was't working), and my old 3G work phone was WAAAYYY fast and worked ALL the time! My work phone (3G) would have 4 bars and my new 4G phone would have one bar. I finally figured out a way to switch to 3G on my phone, so it does work on the 3G network, but I upgraded because I wanted the supposedly "FASTER and RELIABLE 4G network". Come on Verizon, this is DOWNTOWN San Francisco!!!! I could understand if I was visiting my family in upstate NY, but this is DOWNTOWN San Francisco!!! What is going on??? I've been a customer of yours for 15 years because you always had the most reliable network....but no more. I am looking to switch, and will make it known to others how bad the service is if I don't get a resolution soon!

sf78

I have been having these exact same issues since early October in the City Hall area (Civic Center 94102) on my Galaxy S3. I show 5 bars of 4G LTE, but I am suddenly getting 0.5 mb/s down and 0.01 mb/s up. I have called technical service about six times and each time they go through a half hour of troubleshooting and then tell me that something will be done. Nothing changes, though. I have had good service at this address for the past 18 months, but I give up. Time to change companies.

srs232

How were you thinking of collecting the dead zones? There's a website named Wireless Coverage Map & Carrier Reviews - AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, Tracfone which allows you to upload screenshots which show speed tests and may be a good resource for tracking the problems.

Intrepidwon

Unbelievably poor LTE reception on my new Note 4 in SF. I was super excited to sign up for Verizon service and transfer from AT&T just a couple months ago. I find it shocking that Vzw would allow these dismal conditions in a major market. It took me 4 minutes just to sign in to post here. My speed tests confirm what you all are reporting. And I still have my AT&T phone for another few weeks before I can close that account. But now I am seriously worried as the speed on that Note 2 is pretty amazing, both here in SF and in Santa Rosa, btw. Additionally, while in the Eureka Arcata Humboldt Bay region recently, I noted that AT&T had really stepped up service in the valleys around suburban Eureka, though Vzw is still better, but not by much. Resting on our laurels, are we, Big Red? That's dangerous, and quite the bummer. Step up or many of us will step away, ETF or not.

Ievgen

Hey guys, thanks for all your feedbacks. I got the same problem being Verizon iPhone 5 customer for two years, I confirm that last few months from now (November 2014) the data speed was ridiculously slow in SF, Peninsula and Marin. Usually I am having around 3 bars LTE with download speeds around 0.5-1.5 Mbps. Due to such a poor connection the battery is drained twice faster. And for all this shame I pay $121 a month!

I don't know what's going on at Verizon. Luckily my 2 years contract is over and I guess I need to switch to something else. I was just looking if it's only my problem but reading all your feedbacks it seems I am on the right way. Thanks!

NoWayToGo

Hello

Don's worry or panic guys. There are lot of spots within the LTE coverage area of Verizon where one get horrible LTE speed as low as 100 kbps. I am one with the same issue but that in greater chicago area. I wrote to corporate about this and they replied that the area has problem with LTE and gave various reasons, building, trees in my area with consideration of what kind of terrain it is. I got a call from corporate stating that they can't do much on part of improvement in network and offered me a choice of getting away from Verizon without ETF.

So guys whoever has an issue with LTE speed, just live with it as Verizon is totally helpless on this part unless they rectify this. But according to them, it is not a single day and they have to do lot of work on this.

Cross your fingers. Have fun !!!

wwits

For what it's worth, contacting @VZWsupport on Twitter has been somewhat helpful so far.

I basically DM'd them and explained exactly what's going on here. They didn't try to troubleshoot my phone with the explanation I gave (that I get LTE signal loud and clear downtown, in Berkeley, in other parts of the country, and it's just certain dead zones in SF -- so it's not a hardware issue) and said they would open a network investigation right away. Other reps via chat and phone tried to send me a new SIM, get me to reset my network settings, etc. all of which I refused.

After a short phone call to get some data from me, the Twitter rep opened the ticket and was extremely helpful overall. She said that if Verizon investigates the issue and finds out that there is, indeed, an issue with coverage in my area (and especially at home) that I can file a claim to get out of my service agreement without any ETF fee. She also said the more people who pursue this method the more likely it is that it will get fixed, although building out new towers is a long-timeline issue anyway. At the very least, pursuing this will let you out of any contracts you're stuck in. I am not in a 2-year service contract, but I am on EDGE now that I am month-to-month.

I recommend everyone with a twitter try this method, as it's much faster than using chat or trying to get on the phone with them. Their Twitter reps seem to be more responsive and more informed than the other reps I've spoken with.

Anecdotally, a retail rep at the Market store said the reason we get terrible service is because there isn't a tower out there. Another retail rep, commiserating with me, said she knows and wishes she could do something, but the retail stores can't do anything about technical problems. It'd be like going into a Baskin Robbins and complaining that one of their flavors needs improvement and expecting something to change.

butchyboy12

This is why I left Verizon last spring. Months of "trouble tickets" and the same old directions to fix it. Reset phone, blah blah. I had speeds that slow between about 7am &11pm EVERY day. Then outside of those times they'd jump to 20-30MBPS, where they should be. Paying almost $100 per month and getting the run around for AWFUL service (I wasn't in San Francisco, either) then FINALLY, after months, hearing that, yes, the towers in my area were overloaded and it wasn't my device (duh, since all my neighbors told me they had the same issue). I was told it would be fixed by date X (upgrading towers) and....*drum roll* it wasn't. So, I LEFT VERIZON. It's about your only option. Honestly, my opinion, they have grown too fast and opened up too much bandwidth to be in "first place" and it's put them in last. I switched to the new Cricket (owned by ATT), pay $45 per month for unlimited everything and haven't looked back. WAY faster download speeds and half the price. No need to post on a forum, just dump them and don't fall for their contract games. Use capitalism the way it was meant to be used.

Irie1

Verizon, are you reading this thread? Is anything being done about it?

Ann154

Irie1 wrote:

Verizon, are you reading this thread? Is anything being done about it?

Verizon reps aren't reading this thread because it wasn't marked as a question by the original poster.

ashmastaflash

Yeah service in SF is super crappy. I have full 4G strength and no service in Hayes Valley right now. I've never gotten anything close to decent speed at SFO airport either, and support acts surprised every time I call. We go through the 'turn it off and on again and we'll update your phone' dance and still it's disappointing. If I were not under contract I would switch to another carrier.

rayndrahps

Maybe not specifically, but I've opened multiple trouble tickets with them on this issue, given them the blocks where it's hit or miss to get data, etc. Got ticket numbers with no responses obviously.

But Verizon, I hate to tell you this it is you, not me. You give us nothing but the runaround and double speak. I was going to upgrade to an S6 and lock in another 2 years with you hoping your purchase of a new spectrum would help alleviate the problems this thread is talking about but after being lied to in one case and at best not telling the whole truth to me in another I'm moving to AT&T or T-Mobile tomorrow.

I call one store, ask to see if you have any in stock of the kind I want available. You tell me yes you do but that you can't tell me exactly how many you have. I call my business line, they call the store back to find out for me, since I'd have to leave work early to make it there before they closed today. The manager says they are out of stock so the first rep straight up lied to me without checking at all. Only 3 minutes or so had passed at this point. We call another store, they say they do have them in stock and would hold one aside for me since I said I was on my way. I get there and they don't have any so now I'm stuck after a long day of work, leaving the office a little early just to get there, then have to walk a lot longer to get home than normal (yes, first world problems but I'm partially disabled and my feet were on fire by the time I got home.)

This bad service coupled with empty promises of more capacity for the past year and I'm done with you. I'll also automatically sign my employees up with AT&T now if they don't specify a preference and whenever anyone is due for an upgrade I'll ask if they've been having any issues with their data and move them over to AT&T too.

@VZWsupport

https://youtu.be/TBMYow46LxQ?t=59s

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