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3G vs. 4G

Caloy

Caloy

Android Expert
I find it funny (and disappointing at the same time) that most of my speed test of Sprint's 3G and 4G network resulted in the 3G connection being faster. I'm not sure why.

In my experience, once me and my friend compared T-Mobile's 3G over Sprint's 4G... I was surprised that T-Mo's speed was even faster than both Sprint's 3G and 4G. My friend made fun of how his connection was faster than my so called 4G. Suffice to say I was not in a good mood after that.

Just a few hours ago, while me and my cousin are driving to get some ribs, I saw my 4G connection having a strong signal. So I again tested both 3G and 4g. Here were the results of both test:

Here's my 4G speeds near S. Gessner and 59 (SW Freeway)
900230140_CNyji-O.png


Here's my 3G speeds, going north on S. Gessner past 59 (SW Freeway)..
900230166_Pswzw-O.png


Why is it, when I test my connection speed, most of the time 3G goes faster than my 4G?
 
I should move to NY!... LOL

I never got higher than a 3, and that's just the needle, the result was around 2.5.
 
Was just commenting in another thread speed for 4G has been very erratic here (Coppell, tx - just north of Dallas)

Once I saw 4.5 mbps (speedtest.net) but almost always it's about 1.5 mbps, and 3G is 2.5 consistently. Honestly 3G is fast enough for what surfing I do, but it would be nice to see 4G working better.

Regards,
 
Can someone help me in how to read these things? I just downloaded the app on my phone but I cant really tell whats a good score and whats a bad score because the needle goes farther on the 4G speed and the upload number is bigger, but somehow its slower? Im an idiot so help me understand this.
 
Don't look at the needle. Look at the download and upload numbers. The needle is just the last calculation they did, which is the upload speed. :)
 
I believe that download is more important for consumers. Since we just use a fraction of the bandwidht we use to upload data. :)
 
Caloy, even though you are in Houston, have you tried changing the speet test server location to some others just to see if that changes anything?
 
No, but what would that do? I'm still using the same service for the 3G and 4G. But I'll try to change the server at work. I don't have 4G here at home.
 
Same here, in Portland OR whe have 4G everywhwre and can't get any more than 1.8 mbps on 4G. kinda disappointed :(
 
Caloy said:
I find it funny (and disappointing at the same time) that most of my speed test of Sprint's 3G and 4G network resulted in the 3G connection being faster. I'm not sure why.

In my experience, once me and my friend compared T-Mobile's 3G over Sprint's 4G... I was surprised that T-Mo's speed was even faster than both Sprint's 3G and 4G. My friend made fun of how his connection was faster than my so called 4G. Suffice to say I was not in a good mood after that.

Just a few hours ago, while me and my cousin are driving to get some ribs, I saw my 4G connection having a strong signal. So I again tested both 3G and 4g. Here were the results of both test:


Why is it, when I test my connection speed, most of the time 3G goes faster than my 4G?
Click to expand...


number are good to have... but maybe run a few webpages.. and see which is faster.
 
Caloy said:
No, but what would that do? I'm still using the same service for the 3G and 4G. But I'll try to change the server at work. I don't have 4G here at home.
Click to expand...

Well just something to try since speedtest servers aren't always completely accurate and maybe the results you are seeing is because you are testing specifically to the houston server. Even though the server says it is local to you, depending on how Sprint routes out through their backbone to get to that server, it might not really be the closest server to you.
 
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