Slow 3G data speeds
rocketboy89
Newbie

I am in Toledo, OH and have experienced slow data speeds within the last couple of months. This coincides with the launch of 4G LTE in my area but to my knowledge this should not effect 3G coverage/speeds. I initially noticed it when I tried the droid bionic back in September, 4G coverage was spotty so when I had just 3G coverage it was incredibly slow. I thought it was just because it is a 4G device.

 

Now I have the iphone 4S, and things are slow. Really slow! I remember doing speed tests on my Original Droid by Motorola just 6 months ago. 900 kbps to 1200 kbps regularly. Things moved along fine. Now that I have the iphone, things are slow!!! And I'm not even thinking its just the device, a friend with the droid 2 only gets 300-400 kbps download speeds. Its not even just the speed test that I am basing this on. Facebook app won't hardly load anything, youtube videos are laugh out loud slow, browsing the web is literally dial up speeds. Its not all the time either, its a bit slower later in the evening.

 

Is this an iphone thing? My friends droid 2 still goes faster than my iphone, or do you think its a network thing? I called Verizon but have not gotten any help with the problem. It has gotten to the point where its like you might as well not even have a data connection because it is so slow.

 

Advice?

Labels (1)
0 Likes
Reply
19 Replies
galaxie500fb
Contributor - Level 2

I know when I ran a droid about monthly I would dial *228 and select option 2 to sync with the closest cell tower. That gave me better cell service. I don`t know if this would even apply to the iphone though. Worth a shot?

0 Likes
Reply
rocketboy89
Newbie

I'm not sure, I know when they activated it they didnt even do a *228, so I'm not sure if we can do that. Kind of like how the new 4G devices just "activate" on their own or something. No *228 needed. I wish Verizon would give me some sort of response. They opened a trouble ticket but that hasn't come back. They originally tried to tell me I am 3 miles from a data cell tower. In Toledo, OH. One of the cities with 4G LTE coverage, at a university with 22,000 students... really? lol Some of the things they come up with!

0 Likes
Reply
Tidbits
Legend

rocketboy89 wrote:

I'm not sure, I know when they activated it they didnt even do a *228, so I'm not sure if we can do that. Kind of like how the new 4G devices just "activate" on their own or something. No *228 needed. I wish Verizon would give me some sort of response. They opened a trouble ticket but that hasn't come back. They originally tried to tell me I am 3 miles from a data cell tower. In Toledo, OH. One of the cities with 4G LTE coverage, at a university with 22,000 students... really? lol Some of the things they come up with!


For the iPhone as soon as you plugged in the device to iTunes it'll activate no need to do the *228 and follow the prompts.  You don't even have to be in the US to do this as well.
*228 will work when updating.  On the 4G devices you can't as it works differently(GSM).  Just power cycling your device does what *228 option 2 does.
0 Likes
Reply
rocketboy89
Newbie

Do you know why the data speeds would be so slow? This morning I tested it again and they had more than tripled... maybe the trouble ticket customer service filed has gotten somewhere?

 

I saw that Sprint was having trouble with slow data speeds on the iphone 4S, but I am hoping that is just their crap network!

0 Likes
Reply
Tidbits
Legend

rocketboy89 wrote:

Do you know why the data speeds would be so slow? This morning I tested it again and they had more than tripled... maybe the trouble ticket customer service filed has gotten somewhere?

 

I saw that Sprint was having trouble with slow data speeds on the iphone 4S, but I am hoping that is just their crap network!


I bet it's the "pre-throttle" software they use for certain services that works too well for the iPhone 4S.  People should read the terms...  They are good at hiding a lot of the things they do in those Terms.

 

My wife gets the same speeds with 4S as I do with my D3 right now.  Give or take a few KB so honestly I think it just might be network congestion or maintainence work.   It could be your device, but the only way to test it would be to put another device on your line and test it to make sure something isn't wrong with your "trunk".  If your speeds stay the same then it's your trunk, but if they are different then it's your device.

0 Likes
Reply
jose18
Enthusiast - Level 2

why my 3G are to slow update my phone to fix battery drain and now when bugs to data speed my phone run 2G speed I can view videos over youtube or netflix I need to be out home to get3 G speed today I when to the mall to get early christmas gift iwas try to use facebook hart to use takes forever so anybody has this problems now i'm sick of this and stuck of contract 2 years

0 Likes
Reply
Quazmann
Newbie

I have horrible 3g speeds as well.  4 bars and still only .15 to .25 mbps.  What the hell is up, I just don't know. I am in 

Bellingham Wa.

0 Likes
Reply
rocketboy89
Newbie

I just wanted everyone to know that I received my replacement phone and did a speed test today at the peak traffic time around 12:46pm. I did multiple tests and received 2.06 mbps and 2.44 mbps download speeds. Very impressive as I am looking through the results (when i restored my phone it kept all the old tests in the speedtest.net app) and have never gotten above 1 mbps during peak traffic times. Maybe it was the first batch of iphones? I have no idea but I hope the new phone has no further problems!

0 Likes
Reply
johneb2
Newbie

I spent about an hour with tech support this morning, due to slow 3G data speeds, as well as losing 3G completely.  After trying all the normal stuff, they agreed to send me a replacement phone, which should arrive in 3 to 5 business days.  I am in the Suffolk County, Long Island, NY area, and in a good 3G coverage area.   According to tech support, this has been a documented Apple issue.   We'll see what happens when the new phone arrives.     JohnEB2

0 Likes
Reply
rocketboy89
Newbie

Please let me know your results. This have been bad over here today but i guess everyone is having network issues today! Everyone on Verizon that is...

0 Likes
Reply
johneb2
Newbie

Rocketboy, I will let you know once I receive the replacement phone on Monday

0 Likes
Reply
johneb2
Newbie

To all,

I received my replacement phone today.   It appears it was new, but can't be certain for sure.  It definitely was more sensitive to reception than the old one.   I ran the speedtest.net app on it, and the speeds had definitely improved.   With that said, I still wasn't entirely happy with the speeds, so I spoke with tech support again.  They said they are having a specialist check the signals in my area, as I might be in a location problem area, due to terrain features etc, or they may even have an antenna issue.  They promised to let me know the results in 48 to 72 hours, and what they could do if there is an issue.   Interesting, when I ran the speedtest.net app on my home wifi, the speeds were 100% better than the original phone on the wifi?  I know it is easy to beat up on Verizon when there is a problem, but I have to give them credit for the way they have handled this.   They have been professional, and accurate throughout this.   Once I get the results of their area survey test and remedies, I will let everyone know the situation.  I will then post the results I have achieved with speedtest.net app.  I did not want to post them now, as it could be misleading.   JohnEB2

0 Likes
Reply
johneb2
Newbie

I spoke with Verizon tech support this afternoon again.  Supposedly they are checking the area for signal etc., and told me it would be another day or so until the report comes in, and what will be done.  Whether or not it is related to what they are doing or not, I don't know, but I can tell you today's data speed was very bad.  The speedtest.net app showed pathetic readings of .05 download, and .01 upload!    JohnEB2

0 Likes
Reply
Slingblade00
Newbie

I have a Mifi 4510L with a 3g only area and I can sit back and watch all my friends on AT&T play on Xbox, watch Netflix, etc. and I can do none of that because of slow speeds on Verizon.

0 Likes
Reply
johneb2
Newbie

Sorry for the delay in getting an update out, but I was involved with family.   Verizon got back to me in reference to my slow data speeds, basically using a canned answer of it being a weak signal area.  When I called back up tech support and asked them what their solution was, I got a gentleman who 100% agreed it was not an acceptable answer.  He has now escalated to his supervisor and beyond to get more details as well as a solution.   The frustrating part of all this is Verizon was supposed to go on a tower that would be only 4 blocks away from my house, but for some reason has still not done so.  Finally, decent speeds are possible with the 4s, as I had travelled out to my daughters in Omaha, NE.  The readings for both download and upload on the speedtest.net app were consistently about 1.2 mbps for download, and 1.1 mbps for upload.  Verizon has told me it will take a few additional days for this escallation to pan out.   Until then, the saga continues!      JohnEB2

0 Likes
Reply
rocketboy89
Newbie
The sent me a replacement phone and it got faster speeds but that was at 7pm. Honestly something I didn't do was go into general under settings. Then go under reset and click network and settings. They did this at the store while my new one was in the mail and it helped immensely. And call me crazy but the battery life was remarkably improved as well. Idk. Try that and a *228 update and let me phone if you have any improvement.
0 Likes
Reply
raynas
Newbie
Are they sending you a refurbished phone or a brand new phone?
0 Likes
Reply
johneb2
Newbie

The woman at tech support said it would be most likely a new one.  She kind of hinted at the fact that they are not even at the refurbished stage yet, due to the demand.   We will see when it arrives, supposedly on Monday. 

0 Likes
Reply
honors21
Enthusiast - Level 3
My 3G service was slow I backedup my phone and wiped it and I reset as a new phone it is a lot better know I had a app that was causing my issue.
0 Likes
Reply