Paul Redmond
EF2
I have noticed a dramatic reduction in speed with my 3G card. I am just curious if anyone else is having the same issues.
Is 3G being dumbed down
- Thread starter Paul Redmond
- Start date
David Wolfson
EF5
I've noticed that my VZW UMW190 modem lately has been behaving rather poorly (in the PHX metropolitan area) unless it's attached to the Shasta amplifier in the car. A pure guess that may apply to you area as well is that it might have to do with the implementation of 4G. Perhaps the towers are more impatient dealing with our "obsolete" technology unless we have an authoritative signal. FWIW.
Gordon Spencer
EF5
With the influx of all the new smartphones bandwidth is just not what it used to be , Till the carriers increase backhaul or move more users to 4G things are slowing down in a lot of areas.
Allan Jeffers
EF3
I have been having issues with my Verizon Novatel MiFi 2200. First page will load on the iPad then after that, the connection just drops. I am thinking of dropping that for 4G but have to either: pay full price for the 4g version and still be bound by a 2 year contract or terminate my Novatel MiFi 2200 and eat 175 bucks or stick with it and just deal with the problems.
Gordon Spencer
EF5
You sure it is not a signal issue ? Verizon is making an effort to upgrade towers to multiple fiber lines when they can . Sprint just do not have the money to upgrade right now , I would stick with 3G for now especially when chasing . Just not a lot of 4G in Rural areas and the handshake when going from 4G to 3G is not very good at this time.
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rdale
EF5
No problems with Sprint here. Even 4G (while limited in coverage for now) rocks.
Paul Redmond
EF2
I have sprint and a sierra wireless card. I swear the closer I am to civilization with 4 bars the slower it gets. I suspect its bandwith issues as another poster suggested. Well at least now I know its not my imagination. The worst part is loading video. It takes foreeeeeeeeever.
Matt Tottle
EF4
No problems with Sprint here either.
Allan Jeffers
EF3
It could be a signal issue. Or perhaps just network congestion. The Mifi has no indicator lights other then the fact its on (green light) or the battery is dead (red light).
I think you are right about sticking with 3G
Drew.Gardonia
no problems out of my USB 760 Verizon Modem. I get consistently about 760kbps downloads, and 500kpbs upload.
Warren Faidley
Supporter
Although the majority of signal loss is due to congestion or poor reception, most major carriers are now using "bandwidth throttling" to control the system. This is really apparent in areas where you are not on your own carriers system, and they (your carrier) is trying to limit costs. This was an issue last year in some out-of-major-city regions of the Alley. (Western Oklahoma, southern Kansas, eastern Colorado, etc.). I've chased with people who were on a different system and they had a full signal while my phone, using the same tower, had a full signal but about half the loading speed for the same page.
Best bet is to get a signal booster. Wilson has some that are inexpensive and work. I also carry a prepaid stick modem from a different major carrier. Some stick modems have an external ant port which makes a BIG difference.
W.
Best bet is to get a signal booster. Wilson has some that are inexpensive and work. I also carry a prepaid stick modem from a different major carrier. Some stick modems have an external ant port which makes a BIG difference.
W.
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Jason Foster
I have an awful POV with signals being from the E.coast. I'm into Day 4 now of my trip out west. Overall the signals has SUCKED. From Texarkana up to Great Bend (current location) the overall performance of Sprint seems to leave a lot to be desired. I've got a Max.Sig. wireless amp, but not sure I'm using it right, signals are still low or non-existent. Like yesterday...had a great brush/field fire I could have streamed (and did try) but signal (south of Ellinwood & Raymond, KS), however only had 2bars (of 5) on 1xrtt on my Sprint w/ the amp on (zero w/out).
I haven't been out the last few years, so I don't have an a/b comparo, but can compare it to Verizon on my buddies smart phone. VZ is general better. It's not a full test of course (not the priority while I'm here).
I haven't been out the last few years, so I don't have an a/b comparo, but can compare it to Verizon on my buddies smart phone. VZ is general better. It's not a full test of course (not the priority while I'm here).
Gordon Spencer
EF5
A Cellular amplifier - Which I sell the best Brands on the market ( Cyfre and Maximum Signal , lots of Stormchasers who have used Wilson and my products can testify to this ) can only get you the best speed available on said tower. It cannot get you better speed if the tower if speeds are slowing down due to congestion. I like to be up front with customers about that and not have any misconceptions out there. Like I said a good amplifier will get you much better signal , greater coverage and the best speeds available but they cannot give you greater speeds than the best available on the network or particular tower.
Gordon Spencer
EF5
If you have not been out for a few years . you are going to find a big difference in Sprint coverage. The reason is they lost thier 3G roaming partner Alltel . Verizon bought out Alltel and discontinued the 3G roaming agreement they had with Sprint . Now Sprint only has a 1xrtt roaming agreement with Verizon. If you ar going from no signal to two bars the amplifier is doing it's job . Try the other antenna I sent you ( the panel antenna) mounted on the dash of your vehicle . It should give you better coverage in your vehicle.
Matt Tottle
EF4
That's not entirely true. Sprint does have a 3G roaming agreement with Verizon (albeit one with a 300MB/mo cap). What they lost is the coverage area in the norther Plains that Verizon was forced to sell to AT&T as a condition of the Alltel purchase. Also, west of I-35 in Kansas has pretty much solid Sprint 3g coverage from OK to NE because they are a rural wireless broadband provider. I don't think I've ever dropped to 1xRTT or lost a signal anywhere here (except maybe one spot in the Flint Hills simply from the terrain).
