Help [GSM] [Tmobile] Slow Data Speeds on Tmobile?

[007E]

Not sure what to do or make of my situation but maybe you guys can help?

I ditched my VZ Galaxy Nexus for the GSM version and went with the $30 prepaid plan (100 Talk Unlimited Text and Data). Im partially regretting it although at the price I can't complain too much.

From the very beggining i've been experiencing horribly slow data speeds (~1.5 weeks ago) and have called their customer support for help. They managed to for a moment slightly speed up my connection but that was gone in a day. They also mentioned my phone was not a Tmobile branded phone therefore they could not guarantee speeds or do much else for me.

How slow is it you may ask? Using the speedtest app:

Slowest is .01Mbps up and fastest is 1.25Mbps up, with full bars (blue) showing the H.

Fastest Ping 221ms slowest 1331ms

I have tried changing the server in the app manually as well and it doesn't do much.

So where do I go from here? What the heck do I do?

Running 4.1.1 Rooted
Baseband version: I9250XXLF1

 

[aurora40]

Where are you located? Do you know anyone else with a GSM phone you could try your SIM in (or try there's in your phone)?

 

[Petrah]

Download Open Signal Maps. On the Map tab.. does it look like you might be too far away from your nearest tower? Mines pretty close.

 

[ritchea]

Slowest is .01Mbps up and fastest is 1.25Mbps up, with full bars (blue) showing the H.

The full bars in blue showing H is the confusing part. This should be indicating that you are getting a good signal. The Open Signal Maps (see Petrah) does show where the nearest tower is. (Mine is about 10 miles away using Straight Talk/AT&T, but I couldn't even FIND a tower when I tried the T-Mobile plan--no blue bars.) If you can't find a phone to switch sims with, I'd try for another sim, but I don't know what this will mean for your current phone number. As I said, the full blue signal indicates you have an H source very close to you.

 

[PieBob1010]

I have trouble finding HSPA+ signal in my area, but when I have it its speedy (>5 mbps for most things). I just wish my area had better coverage.

 

[euphan1555]

i had the same problem and with t mobile customer service as bad as it is i ended up having to find out for my self why at times i would get dial up speeds.

i dl'ed the app already mentioned in this thread and used the in app speed test whenever i would switch towers.it turns out my problem was poor tower placement.i mean who would think its a good idea to put a tower behind a civic center and it was also the only HSPA+ to boot.with where that tower was and all the other interference i got because of all the large stone buildings between me and that tower i was stuck on dial up speeds until it switched towers.

 

[007E]

Download Open Signal Maps. On the Map tab.. does it look like you might be too far away from your nearest tower? Mines pretty close.

I'll give this a shot. I have someone with ATT that may be able to give my phone a shot but no one else on Tmo. I suppose that could eliminate the phone as being the problem? Either way I'll report back with more info after trying out the app.

Thanks