4G Speeds, VZW keeps saying it's not their fault?

[thatguy188]

Ok, so when I first had my Bionic, my first 4G Device, I noticed that speeds were ridiculously slow for 4G (slower than 3G) so I called VZW and got to Tier 2 Tech support.

After an hour of going through things the guy said he will send somebody out to check the towers around me, but if they check out fine it must be my phone. I was promised a Call Back after 5 business days. After 10 Business days and no word from them, I had to call for the lady on the phone to tell me the towers checked out fine and it must be my phone and to get a replacement, which I did.

After not seeing ANY differences with my replacement, I called back, dealing with all the garbage again and of course it was my phone again. I didn't worry about it at that point since I had other things to take care of.

Well now I am on a Galaxy Nexus and wouldn't you know ... there is no difference either. It's about a 4 mile radius around my house where speeds are like this. When I leave and go about 4 miles into town, 4G service is where it should be (or at least better).

Does anybody have any suggestions of what I can do? I mean, I am paying for all this data and 4G garbage but speeds are worse than 3G. Here is a Screenshot of just now, running tests on different locations (I switched locations every 2 tests)

 

[bulldogmoe7]

yo might be on the very fringe of 4G and 3G. i think verizon has an "enhanced" or "extended" 4G area along with the true 4G area.
4G LTE Network | Verizon Wireless

 

[thatguy188]

Thats still not an excuse though. I easily get 3-4 bars of 4G here. If I switch to 3G my download is actually faster (upload of course not).

 

[Yeahha]

It looks like you are rooted and running a custom rom. Have you also flashed the leaked radios? If so that could be part of your problem

 

[thatguy188]

Im running Axi0m Rom 2.2 using the imo lean kernel. However this has been like this even before any flashing anything on both the Bionic & My Gnex. Im just not sure anymore what to do (if anything) for something to get done or admitted.

 

[Yeahha]

Im running Axi0m Rom 2.2 using the imo lean kernel. However this has been like this even before any flashing anything on both the Bionic & My Gnex. Im just not sure anymore what to do (if anything) for something to get done or admitted.

Did you have a different SIM in the Bionic than you do in the Gnex? I know my TB had a full size SIM while the Gnex has a micro sim or something like that not sure about other 4G phones. If you didn't then I would try to get a new SIM or pull your sim for 5 mins then try again.

Do you get good 4G down speed anywhere or is it always slow?

 

[thatguy188]

Did you have a different SIM in the Bionic than you do in the Gnex? I know my TB had a full size SIM while the Gnex has a micro sim or something like that not sure about other 4G phones. If you didn't then I would try to get a new SIM or pull your sim for 5 mins then try again.

Do you get good 4G down speed anywhere or is it always slow?

Yeah its a new six and yes I do get good speeds about 4 miles into town. What bugs me though is that I have 3-4 bars of 4G service here with these speeds. I'm paying for 4G when I don't get 4G speeds in a 4G area. Ought to get bill credits, don't you think?

 

[mpciii]

This may be a stupid question but aren't the bars just for voice reception. I didn't think they had anything to do with data.

 

[johnlgalt]

^ this.

However, I will also say this:

I live outside of 4G, but traveled to Atlanta today to drop off a friend at the airport. 4G started kicking in somewhere between McDonough and Eagle's Landing, and went solid after that. But, at the airport, just for S&G, I did a Speedtest, and this is what I got:

Sorry, but I have to agree with the OP - that's s****y speeds.

More detailed info from the result from the android app:

Test Date: Jan 5, 2012 10:18:06 am
Connection Type: Lte
Server: Atlanta, GA
Download: 2.42 Mbps
Upload: 5.15 Mbps
Ping: 91 ms

External IP: 166.248.69.100
Internal IP: 10.178.248.45, 192.168.20.1
Latitude: 33.64170
Longitude: -84.44469

Pitiful. Just pitiful.

 

[Yeahha]

Yeah its a new six and yes I do get good speeds about 4 miles into town. What bugs me though is that I have 3-4 bars of 4G service here with these speeds. I'm paying for 4G when I don't get 4G speeds in a 4G area. Ought to get bill credits, don't you think?

If you are able to use your phone then IMO you don't deserve bill credit. Just the fact that you can get good speeds as you get more in the 4G area makes me think you live on the fringe of 4G coverage. You pay for data not 4G if you have data VZW is fufilling their commitment to you.

I am sure people will disagree with me but I tend to be think within the terms of the contract compared to what is expected by the consumer.

 

[andr01d]

That 2.48/5.27 is not too hot but may be ok depending on the situation. It's like cablemodem.... during certain hours (peak time, like after dinner) it is slower as many people are using it. In the case of an airport or places with many people... at any time of the day other than after midnight... i think everyone is toying with their phones . We can also be standing near a tower with as strong signal as it will get.... but still have some awful speedtest numbers... this is because there happens to be a thousand or more people using that same tower
bye

 

[thatguy188]

My thing with the I must be on the verge of 4G sounds reasonable, however, why is my Upload so much better whereas my DL is just play horrible? Shouldn't it be at least the same?

Here is another SS I just took (and test I just did). The orange outline is 4G in Town 2 days ago. Red is 3G here at my house, and Green is 4G at my house (I stood at exactly same spot for the 3G/4G test using the same server).

On everyone of those 2 runs my 3G D/L speed was faster than 4G .... I just don't see how VZW can keep saying it's my phone?

 

[Yeahha]

Agreed. I don't see how it could just be your phone. I also can't wrap my head around why you would have those upload speeds compared to the download speeds.

I would think it is something with the network and phone combined. The phone is able to send data but receiving is shotty at best. If you get better speeds somewhere else (which you obviously do from you screen shot) then I would think it has to do with the network at your house. VZW has been expanding the network in Charlotte and the surrounding areas for months now and I can get 4G at places where I used to not get 3G so I would chalk this up to growing pains and once the network is fleshed out in your area more it will resolve itself. While at your house if you don't have wifi I would suggest turning off the LTE radios for the time being.