Relationship between 4G signal and your battery life

[griller]

Hi, sorry I'm noob and don't really know much science behind the 4G network.

According to the verizon rep i talked to earlier today:
- there are 4g towers sporadically around NYC area (where i am)
- your phone would constantly switch b/w 4G and 3G...Picking up 4G whenever possible, but falling back to 3G when unavailable...and apparently my phone would always be switching back and forth b/c NYC is not completely covered yet. (is this true?)

I'm not sure if he really knows what he's talking about b/c when i asked him if he knew of a way to turn off 4G, he said there is no such option...but most ppl in this forum know we can do this.

So some questions:

- how will the 4G signal strength affect my battery life? If 4G signal is always strong, does that mean my battery life will be fine? Will it hog battery only when i have 4G on in weak 4G area? or will having 4G hog mroe battery regardless?

- how good is 4G signal strength in NYC/NJ Area?

- Is turning 4G on/off a hassle? What do most people in 4G area do? I understand that people in Non-4G regions should just always keep 4G turned off, but what should someone in 4G area do? normally turn 4G on when you want speed / and then immediately turn it off when you are desperate for the juice?

- side question: i heard someone on this forum shouting something like "stop complaining about battery life stupid - just use Wifi whenever possible!"...- is this something you agree with? don't really see this as a plausible option for me...the only place i would really have consistent wifi is at home, and when i am at home, i would be charging my phone anyways... but anyways is there a way you can turn off 3G&4G and just stay on wifi and still be able to take all the income calls/texts?

Thanks..

 

[willdogs]

NYC is very well covered

go here: 4G LTE Network | Verizon Wireless

Click "Where is 4G LTE Available" on the right side

Punch in your address

Profit.

 

[griller]

thanks for the update...so does strong 4G coverage mean my battery life will be relatively good even if always have 4G on?

 

[dyezak]

The problem that the tech was referencing was the old problem with 3g phones eating battery by searching for a 3g signal when they are in a 2g area. Though this hasn't been confirmed for 4g phones in a 3g area the logic still holds true. But a tech making a defacto statement like that then following up with ignorance on now to turn off 4g leads me to believe he was just snowballing you.

Most of the places I go are solid 4g and I have no problems, bit in my livingroom I switch between 3 and 4g, and still have experienced no issues. I would call support back and talk to someone else...just to hear a second opinion.