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When did 3G happen?

alfick3

alfick3

Android Expert
So I just noticed that my phone was telling me that I was getting 3G data. Notice in the screen shot that I'm not roaming; I'm on Metro's network and an on the EVDO for data.
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Can you post some speed test results to confirm you're on 3G? Standard 1xrtt metro speeds are 60-160 Kbps and 4G varies from 1.5-7+ MBps

Also what city are you getting this?
 
They were supposed to be doing this to relieve the pressure in their high data volume markets that can't stay running more than a few days without crashing, like Texas and Florida. Might be what you are experiencing.
 
Oh, I am in the Dallas area. In the past, I haven't had any problems with my data connection. Today, I seem to be having problems loading web pages. I'm doing this from the phandroid app. I'm continually going from full bars to no bars (with the 3 staying).
 
alfick3 said:
Well, here is a screen shot of 5 different speed tests, for better our for worse:



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Yikes. That's only slightly better (down) than 1X-RTT. And might actually just be 1X-RTT. Keep testing, try different areas.

You know, technically, 1X-RTT is a "3G" technology. I wonder if all this business about Metro's new "3G" testing in some areas is just a change in how things show up on your phone, but without any actual speed increase.

There is a pretty long thread going on this in our Indulge forum as well:

3g on metro (for real)

I am going there now and read up and ask people to start posting some speed test results so we can try and figure out what's really going on here.
 
Answering my own question, here is some info from the thread I linked in the above post (emphasis mine):

Yawa said:
This is not a joke. People with the Optimus and Ascend (not all of them but enough that we should be interested) are reporting they are getting 3g in the 400k to 1.2 mb range.

So far it seems to be happening in California, Texas, and Florida.

People have also reported being able to update to prl 3020. So do me a favor and try all this I want to see if when we aren't using 4G we can fall back on 3G.

P.S. Turn off your 4G for this obviously.
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TRS-80 said:
Yikes. That's only slightly better (down) than 1X-RTT. And might actually just be 1X-RTT. Keep testing, try different areas.

You know, technically, 1X-RTT is a "3G" technology. I wonder if all this business about Metro's new "3G" testing in some areas is just a change in how things show up on your phone, but without any actual speed increase.
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Yes. 1x RTT is still officially classified as "3G" technology. Classified as such by the ITU in 1997

But in 2005, the ITU issued revised 3G CDMA guidelines which stipulated minimum data speed of 384kbps for "3G" CDMA. While they never officially demoted 1x RTT from being "3G technology" it no longer met the minimum requirments, namely data speed. EVDO does meet the minimum 3G speed, which is why 1x RTT started being called "2.5G". It was sort of in no-man's land.

Sort of like a pristine Model T Ford in 2011. It's still an automobile, it runs -- but it can't meet the minimum 40mph interstate speed that got imposed after in was invented. It can't compare to a 2011 Ford Focus.

When Verizon, AT&T, Spring get 2,000kpbs for their "3G" speed, the 1x RTT 100k is obviously not in the same league. It's not even minimum 3G speed.


==========

Metro's current "3G" that is showing up is for only some of their 14 markets, not all. And it's not to increased data speed, it's to relieve stress on their network. Most reports show it's now being capped at around 200k.

Also, it's temporary in that as soon as possible, Metro is going to turn off their CDMA transmitters.

MetroPCS in aggressive LTE voice plan
Has migrated SMS to its all-IP system, and will start to move voice in Q112, accelerating CDMA switch-off

August 5, 2011
"We are planning to begin introducing VoLTE-capable handsets early next year to move voice as well as data traffic to our LTE network," said MetroPCS CEO Roger Lindquist. That will help MetroPCS to use its limited spectrum capacity more efficiently by turning off CDMA.
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BUT, Metro's LTE phones will still have CDMA chips inside for nationwide roaming, for when you travel outside of Metro's areas. Currently they have CDMA roaming agreements with Sprint, Cricket, and "Travel Talk" with Verizon -- which is how Metro claims "nationwide" outside their 14 markets. Until there is some reliable nationwide LTE network available for roaming with which Metro has a roaming agreement (something like Lightsquared or Dish network wants to build), Metro's LTE phones will still need CDMA chipsets.
 
I live in Irving which is a suburb of Dallas. My roommate has the Optimus. He
has 3g. But I can't get it on my Indulge. I just go from 4g to 1x.
 
I got 3020 sometime back on my Optimus M. I didn't do anything, so it must have updated itself.

I travel between two locations, Lodi, CA and Stockton, CA.

In Lodi, my phone shows the "1X" symbol, and I get speed tests around 150kbps.

In Stockton, my phone shows the "3G" symbol, and I get speed tests around 150kbps.

It seems to me, they are capping the 3G in this area, so its more or less like 1X.
 
bwestover said:
I got 3020 sometime back on my Optimus M. I didn't do anything, so it must have updated itself.

I travel between two locations, Lodi, CA and Stockton, CA.

In Lodi, my phone shows the "1X" symbol, and I get speed tests around 150kbps.

In Stockton, my phone shows the "3G" symbol, and I get speed tests around 150kbps.

It seems to me, they are capping the 3G in this area, so its more or less like 1X.
Click to expand...


Are they going to make the 3G come out to Alvarado. I get 3G in midlothian.
 
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