Des Moines 4G LTE Slow?

[LukeL7]

Is anyone else having issues with Verizon 4G LTE Speeds in downtown Des Moines during the work day?  My LG G3 is set to Network mode: Global, currently getting 4G signal of -95dBm and 1X of -71dBm.  When I run a speed test with ookla app, I get 0.09 mbps down and the up test won't even complete within a reasonable amount of time (a couple minutes).  I work around the intersection of 12th and Locust on the 5th floor of a building.  This test is running indoors.  I rarely see any improvements in the speed throughout the work day.  Any ideas on if this is just due to so many people downtown on Verizon?  I thought XLTE was supposed to solve this problem. My phone is usually showing 2-4 bars of 4G LTE, but the actual speeds are extremely poor. Loading up webpages doesn't even work much of the time.  Other applications like facebook and twitter don't seem to be able to pull updated feeds.  Any chance of getting Verizon to look into these issues in downtown Des Moines?

[Ann154]

Try the LTE/CDMA setting to see if it helps.

[LukeL7]

So I changed the Network mode to LTE/CDMA and restarted the device.  Latest speed test yielded 0.04 Mbps down.  So that is actually slower than when it was on Global.

[triumphrider]

I'm having the same problem  in Alabama. Checked on 4 different phones.

[Dojo2929]

Same here all day long.  Three devices tested.  Two cell towers.

Called Verizon.  " We don't know of any problems" is what they say.

still going on right now.  I'm getting .2 Mbps downstream right now in Birmingham, AL

[vzw_customer_support]

Dojo2929,

Hearing about these slow speeds is really worrying us and we want to help get to the bottom of this ASAP. With different people and different devices experiencing the same issue it is definitely sounding like a network issue. What zip code are you in so we can double check for any reported issues going on?

SarahO_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[LukeL7]

50391. Downtown Des Moines, IA.

[Snn5]

Several users from SE AL, and NW to NE FL in the panhandle in a triangle of Montgomery, AL to Pensacola, FL to Tallahassee, FL are having super slow issues as of the past month.

[vzw_customer_support]

LukeL7,

We want you to have the best service possible. Thank you for running the speed tests. What exact zipcode are you having the service issues in? Do you also experience slow data speeds while outside? Do you have any issues with voice or text? Have you always had service issues around this area?

LindseyT_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[LukeL7]

The zipcode for my location is 50391.  I have not run a speed test outside recently. I haven't gone outside as I park in a parking ramp and walk directly indoors to my place of work. I have not had issues with voice or text.  I think service in this area has always seemed a little slow, but it seems to have gotten significantly worse as of recent.

[vzw_customer_support]

LukeL7

Thank you for providing the zip code. We do have 4g LTE coverage in the zip code provided so it is strange service would be slow. Please keep us posted on the results of the speed test you perform outdoors.

EmmaM_VZW
Follow us on Twitter@VZWSupport

[LukeL7]

I ran a speed test last night from my home, in zip code 50023, Ankeny, IA, just 10 miles or so north of downtown Des Moines. At 4:41 PM, I was able to get 18.54 Mbps down and 2.93 up.  Now again ran the test this morning in 50309, downtown Des Moines, at 7:38 AM and got 2.58 Mbps down and 0.59 up.  I have a feeling this will be worse from 9-5 AM, the normal peak work hours.

[vzw_customer_support]

LukeL7,

That's really good information to know! Thank you for providing your zip code. I see that you are working in downtown Des Moines, IA. A high population can slow down your speeds especially during peek traffic times such as during the work day. Learning that at your home, 10 miles away, your speeds are much faster points to this being the issue. I'd like just a little more information on this, though. If you are at home during normal business hours are your speeds better? How are call and texting performance when you are at work?

SarahO_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[LukeL7]

I haven't tested my speeds at home during normal business hours, just after work, unfortunately.  I will, however, be home this afternoon and would be able to run a speed test and report back.  My call and text seem to be performing normally.

[vs2015]

You think it is slow downtown, you should come down to the south side of the metro area, Army Post Rd.  We are on 3g almost always with "extended" the rest of the time.  I recently found the "field test" mode on my iPhone and think Verizon left out some details about XLTE as again almost always on band 13 vs. XLTE band 4 in the West side.    It is almost like you have to know the GPS coordinates to get XLTE.

[LukeL7]

I think it definitely has something to do with the number of people on Verizon in downtown Des Moines.  Just ran another speed test from my LG G3 at 8:35 AM CST, got 1.75 mbps down and 0.99 mbps up in a 104 ms ping. The closer I get to "normal" business hours, the worse the speeds get. Just to reiterate, my signal is showing fairly good at 4 bars of 4G LTE, with network values of -92dBm for 4G and -76dBm for 1X.  So I don't think the signal is the problem, I think it is the "saturation" (amount of people) using the downtown Verizon signal. Also, my home, is in a much less saturated area, so that would explain why I can get better speeds. (Again, all based on my assumption as I don't have actual cellular network inner workings knowledge )

[Snn5]

What's strange is, Des Moines has XLTE, and so does my area.  We both have horrible speeds.  My issues started when XLTE was turned on here.

[Ann154]

I could notice a slow down of speed downtown in the city I work because of the volume of people during the work day. I still get service so I feel like I'm still getting the service I pay for.

[Snn5]

I still have service myself, albeit very slow.  But mine isn't just peak times.  A clear night facing my tower near 11pm-2am and it's just so slow.  Signal bars are high though.  2 blocks over I have XLTE that is pretty fast.

[Rich92]

My 4G speed is lower than usual..i am getting 2.1mb download and .9 upload...im in southern Ga. It started going slow since yesterday

[vzw_customer_support]

I can see why you are concerned with slower than normal and expected speeds, Rich92. How are the speeds now? Have you already powered the phone off, removed/reinserted the SIM and tried again? Have others in your family had the same issue? Let's get to the bottom of this.


TamaraH_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport