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Is there any way to increase data rate in 1xRTT Areas

Hi Guys. I'm making the jump from ATT with an 8125 to Sprint with the new Mogul. I've got the phone now and it's wonderful. I live in an area that only has 1XRTT data available (Fort Scott, KS) and I was under the impression that this would provide data rates of around 50 - 70 kbs. I'm only getting around 12 to 14 kbs despite having a strong connection indicated on the phone (5 bars). I've contacted Sprint and they were helpful but didn't solve the issue. My question is: Is this about what I should expect in terms of a data rate or is there some tweak I can apply to the phone settings that would allow a faster data rate? I signed on to the SERO plan for 500 minutes and unlimited data ($30 per month, WOW...what a deal that is).
Thanks for any help you can provide. This forum has been great to me so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Rick

Data rates that they give you are peak, and typically only burst rates. That's like saying that a 56k modem is supposed to give you 56k data but most people only DL at 8-10k. On EV-DO non A I get about 30k DL speed max, so your data rate is about right.

another important thing to realize is the diofference between bits and bytes
most ISPs (cellular included) give their speed in bits (kilobits, megabits, etc) while speedtests and software that shows your download speed will report it in bytes/kilobytes, since heres 8 bits to a byte this will seem much slower than advertised speeds
IE if you are getting 12 kilobytes per second from the phone, thats the same as 96 kilobits per second, which would be pretty good for 1xrtt

Thanks guys
Hey guys.
Thanks for the replies and for clearing this up for me. I just love this phone and Sprints coverage where I live has proven to be much better than ATT. I took the phone to an EVDO area and the internet just hums along there. I was hoping to have enough bandwidth to stream XMradio over the phone, but I suppose I'll have to keep dreamin .
Is there any way to know if Sprint is planning to improve their EVDO data coverage areas? See...I'm already being impatient.
Thanks again,
Rick

On Sprint's Business website it will tell you where different data rates are available, and if an area is EV-DO, it will let you know when they plan on delivering Rev A. Phone companies are not going to divulge when they plan on making faster service available because another carrier could beat them to it. Shame that's the way they are, but that's the way it is.

are you in a corporate area, or a sprint affiliate area? I live in iPCS land so I feel your pain.

dunno if this helps, but I'm using the "Mobile Satellite Radio" program to play XM online and it works fine, even in my very-very fringe 1X connection at work.
It *does* take a few seconds to actually buffer up, but once it does that, it seems to be fine.

I think I found a solution
I live in a Sprint covered area, but the dominant carrier here is Alltel. I heard that Sprint and Alltel share a roaming agreement, and I've noticed my phone switch to roam on occasion. On my phone settings, there is an option to force roaming and to allow data roaming. I selected both these choices and after a few moments, the phone showed that I was now roaming and the data indicator showed "EV" instead of "1X". I started internet explorer and it connected right up and worked much faster. Fast enough in fact that I could stream XM radio over the phone using the site http://www.xstreamxm.com/mobile/ and my login/password for xm. I have the SERO package with unlimited data but I thought I would check with Sprint to make sure this is allowed. I called Tech support and the guy I spoke to said it was fine to data roam.
I was wondering if anyone else has an unlimited data plan but had to pay extra for data roaming. Or if anyone knows a reason why I shouldn't do this.
Thanks again,
Rick

dcd1182 said:
are you in a corporate area, or a sprint affiliate area? I live in iPCS land so I feel your pain.
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i am a ipcs dealer here in south bend, in. they just turned on evdo for the weekend to test it out for all the extra fans comming in to see the notre dame game. so far its pretty fast. i have evdo where i live in michigan, but when i go to work down here its right back to 1x. evdo is comming soon to the ipcs markets. just be patient. we expect it by the end of this year. hopefully q1 08

zanda61 said:
I live in a Sprint covered area, but the dominant carrier here is Alltel. I heard that Sprint and Alltel share a roaming agreement, and I've noticed my phone switch to roam on occasion. On my phone settings, there is an option to force roaming and to allow data roaming. I selected both these choices and after a few moments, the phone showed that I was now roaming and the data indicator showed "EV" instead of "1X". I started internet explorer and it connected right up and worked much faster. Fast enough in fact that I could stream XM radio over the phone using the site http://www.xstreamxm.com/mobile/ and my login/password for xm. I have the SERO package with unlimited data but I thought I would check with Sprint to make sure this is allowed. I called Tech support and the guy I spoke to said it was fine to data roam.
I was wondering if anyone else has an unlimited data plan but had to pay extra for data roaming. Or if anyone knows a reason why I shouldn't do this.
Thanks again,
Rick
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i wouldnt go nuts with it, ive heard of peopel getting the accounts terminated because of excessive roaming (since sprint has to pay alltel for the use of their network)
but then again it could just be a rumor, personalyl i wouldnt overuse it

hey. the 1x is still about the same speed at the EDGE haha

Data roaming on G1, AT&T

I have an ADP1 on AT&T. If i enable data roaming, can T-Mobile charge me for using their network?
I heard that the G1 may connect to T-Mobiles exclusive band (be it 3G or whatever) and hence T-Mobile may bill AT&T who will bill me. Is this possible/has this happened to anyone?
Is it wise in this case to enable data roaming?

Data Roaming is only allowed if ATT and T-Mobile have a contract to share networks. I doubt they do since usually you only do that if you don't have service in that area. And usually it goes both ways.

neoobs said:
Data Roaming is only allowed if ATT and T-Mobile have a contract to share networks. I doubt they do since usually you only do that if you don't have service in that area. And usually it goes both ways.
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Ok, so I've had data roaming on for the past couple weeks, am I going to be looking at a $9000 dollar bill? (Also, have enabled 3G mode)

So you have a G1 with AT&T and you get 3G???

Binary100100 said:
So you have a G1 with AT&T and you get 3G???
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Yes, I get 3G all the time

Oh snap.. You probably connected to T-Mobile's 3G...

bull****.
i have att and a adp phone. live in a tmo 3g area...get nothing.

Easiest way to figure it out is going to be contact AT&T but from the last I heard none of the carriers charge roaming fees because none of the carriers use roaming. Now I know some areas they might but for the most part they don't share networks anymore.

liar..... prove it with pics

I recommend EVERYONE turn of Data roaming on their phones.
It's mega expensive,, and IMO the phone should default to data roaming off.
I ended up with an extra $2k in charges for 10 days up in Canada.

someprogr said:
Yes, I get 3G all the time
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He's probably connecting to some poor guys unsecure wifi network.
However this guy is saying that he can connect but it's fairly inconsistant:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=490696

Not sure about that guy's 3G claims. I'm on ATT. I have the normal unlimited data and text plan. According to the service rep (I called) roaming in the US is free. In the contract there's some stipulations as to how much they will allow you to roam, data and voice. It's some percentage of your usage. When I'm in San Diego, I roam on TMO 3G sometimes, and I've never been charged extra. I wish there was a way to force roam. Of course the phone companies still have roaming agreements. ATT phones will ONLY roam on TMO (and vice versa). They're the only GSM providers in the US.

[Q] 4G Data - Account, Network, or Hardware

I have "unlimited" data on my 3G HTC Rhodium. And I have used it - I think I peaked at 250GB one month I was using it as a modem. To my understanding, I am currently "grandfathered" into this service level and if I upgarde my device through AT&T, I will be forced to take a new data plan. Of course, they have 4G and 3G data plans.
Do the 3G data plans cap or nerf the data speeds on a 4G capable device? ...or is this just marketing trickery to hose "4G" phone owners?
Since AT&T's 4G isn't really "4G" and uses HSPA as does the 3G on my Rhodium, how is this limited on the handset side?
My thought was to eBay myself a Atrix 4G and just drop my SIM therein and not have to worry about account settings or contracts. Will I be stuck with "3G" speeds?
Obviously, I know to get 4G I need a 4G radio (check - Atrix) and 4G network availability (check - AT&T covergae map), too. So, is the account type a limiting factor?

They will not take your unlimited data away. I too had the Tilt 2. I moved to iphone 4 where they grandfathered me into the unlimited iphone plan. Than when I moved from iphone to Atrix they grandfathered me into the 4G unlimited plan.
You can try using your current 3G card on your Atrix but depending on who you speak to they will tell you should get the 4G sim.

You don't need to change your SIM card if it is the 3G card with the fireball on it. Anything older needs to be updated.
Also, they may absolutely take your unlimited away from you. They automatically did this to me, and put me on the 2G plan when I came off my iPhone to the Atrix. I got it added back after a phone call. Make sure to check you are changed to smartphone unlimited and don't take it for granted you are still on unlimited.

Any real method of getting Unlimited Data?

I'm currently on Verizon Wireless and enjoy their unlimited data plan. However, I don't enjoy their ass slow speed on 3G and study in said city with no 4G LTE.
I am really wanting to switch to AT&T because my city DOES get HSPA+ and my hometown in LA County does get 4G LTE from AT&T. However, what I can't deal with is not having unlimited data. I would prefer to have this ability to switch, but talking to some AT&T representatives, I will not get the chance to, because AT&T will not budge on their data policy.
Do I have any chance of switching? First world problems I know, but I'd like to see everyone's opinion.

Rebel908 said:
I'm currently on Verizon Wireless and enjoy their unlimited data plan. However, I don't enjoy their ass slow speed on 3G and study in said city with no 4G LTE.
I am really wanting to switch to AT&T because my city DOES get HSPA+ and my hometown in LA County does get 4G LTE from AT&T. However, what I can't deal with is not having unlimited data. I would prefer to have this ability to switch, but talking to some AT&T representatives, I will not get the chance to, because AT&T will not budge on their data policy.
Do I have any chance of switching? First world problems I know, but I'd like to see everyone's opinion.
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Only way I've found is to buy an unbranded device and sign up for dumbphone data. If it's an option, it's infinitely cheaper than paying for unlimited data.

I did that with my s2 and it works good. The fastest I got was 7down and 2.7up, but were I live is 3-6down and 1up. If you want LTE I do not know if this will work do to the APN that it uses.
I have a razr with 4GLTE too with unlimited data on 12/5/11 and when it works it's faster than TW cable 1 up from lowest plan. I don't know why I keep loseing data every 3-5 days. somethimes all data, 3g only or no bars at all and thats at HOME with 3-4 bars of LTE. It's realy starting to piss me off. At the end I will likely say by-be to the big red.

WiFi and a home network?

Keep VZW
If you have an unlimited data plan with VZW, keep it forever. You will be thankful. You can even keep it with an LTE phone.
In a few months, LTE may very well be in your area.

[Q] Verizon service/plans when it comes to phablets

I have a phone that I bought from Verizon and I have kept the unlimited data. I know all about my phone but next to nothing about my service.
My question is specifically about phablets (for example, this) which is basically a big ass phone, or a tablet with cell service, however you want to word it. I'd use it exclusively with bluetooth instead of holding the thing up to my head, don't worry.
I travel internationally and see them A LOT in other countries (they cannot help me though since I need one to use in the US). I am under the impression that VZ will not activate anything I did not buy from them. I don't know how solid this is but every VZ employee I have asked has confirmed this so far. I know in the past that it used to be as simple as switching out the SIM card but doubt this is still the case.
I'm sure there are some hardware specs (frequencies?) that I need to look at that would determine the LTE/4G/3G whatever compatibility, but I don't know the terminology. Also I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking at when it comes to CDMA vs GSM, only that blokes in England use GSM. Can you help me out?
Also, I am hesitant to leave VZ because of the unlimited data and the service coverage. I live in mildly populated CT, USA and would welcome a prepaid plan if data/service is comparable but don't even know where to begin looking.
Thank you in advance - I really don't have anyone else to ask about this stuff.

I'll try to make it simple for you. There are really two types of cell networks (not counting LTE, since all carriers are using that now here in the US): GSM and CDMA.
CDMA is what Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular, MetroPCS, Cricket, and maybe other smaller carriers use. It is based on a serial number called a ESN on older phones or MEID on newer phones (since the late 2000s). That serial number is burned into the programming of the phone on the ROM and cannot be changed very easily and is illegal to do so supposedly. There are two types of CDMA technology in use today, 1xRTT and EVDO (older analog was phased out a few years ago). 1xRTT or 1x as it's abbreviated, is a "2G" technology that allows for packet switched voice and SMS traffic, as well as very very slow data speeds (think 56k dialup). EVDO is strictly for data (the voice part was never added because they didn't want to pony up the cost of it) and is used in Rev 0 and Rev A EVDO. Most Verizon/Sprint 3G is Rev. A EVDO. It hits a max of 3.1Mbps down and if you get a call or text message, it drops to 1x and the 3g is suspended, unless you have a radio that can do both at once (HTC Thunderbolt). You activate by serial number and a bad ESN means they didn't pay their bill or it was an insurance claim on a lost phone and they are blacklisted.
GSM is a technology essentially where it uses a little plastic and electronic card called a SIM card. T-Mobile and AT&T are the two major carriers with this technology. There are several revisions of this technology in use today, GRPS, Edge, and various UTMS and HSPA versions. GRPS is analogous to 1xRTT in terms of speed, and Edge is in between and gives up to 250kb/s down, technically a 3g technology, although not feeling like it. UTMS, HSPA, and WCDMA all refer to a similar type of technology which is what is used by the 3G level of service of AT&T and T-Mobile (fake 4G on T-Mobile). It goes from just faster than Edge to DC-HSPA 42Mbps down speeds and allows for simultaneous voice/data (Edge and GRPS are either data or voice, not both). Your phone number is tied to the SIM card and this technology offers an advantage of if your main phone craps out, you can store your contacts on the SIM and just put it in another phone and still have service.
Roaming and tower authentication are completely different in GSM vs. CDMA. CDMA uses what's called a PRL (Preferred Roaming List) to determine which towers to authenticate to essentially, and sets priority. Some people will "hack" the PRL by changing it so for example if they have Sprint and their tower has the crappy 3g speeds, they roam on Verizon since they have unlimited roaming and get Verizon's better 3g speeds. GSM roaming is set per tower or location on the SIM card, and is a pretty static value dependent on the carrier. Roaming is only if they allow it depending on your plan and location (like T-Mobile prepaid will not roam on AT&T, but postpaid "Uncarrier" plans will).
So what you have is probably a tablet based on the data that gets EVDO service and probably 1xRTT and maybe LTE. If you have it on a phone plan and not a tablet plan, it's probably a Note 2 or something which is just really a phone from what it sounds like if you use Bluetooth. CDMA carriers will only use their devices and lock down ESNs to what they sell, so you can't buy a device from Sprint and put it on Verizon. The exception to that is sometimes prepaid carriers will let you "flash" the phone to their service but don't guarantee the results and don't support it. Examples include Cricket, MetroPCS, Page Plus, and I think Virgin Mobile or Boost *might*, but don't quote me.
LTE is a newer technology which isn't technically 4G yet since we haven't seen speeds here in the US on current LTE revisions of over 100Mbps, but they do have the ability with the right equipment. It uses SIM cards so you will see newer Verizon/Sprint devices actually use SIM cards for service (which is superior as noted above), and have an ESN so it can fall back to 1x or EV. The plan is to eventually roll out LTE to all towers and if you have a LTE device, you use LTE for voice and data (VoLTE), but all carriers don't have LTE on all towers so they fall back to HSPA/Edge or 1x for voice for now. They probably have dual radios like the HTC Thunderbolt and use both at the same time but LTE is still a maturing technology and has a lot of potential.
I hope this helps.
Edit: I forgot to add, for the smaller prepaid plans, you have to look at who they are based off of. Most of them just use a parent network from one of the 4 big carriers (Cricket being the exception, they have their own towers and roam on Sprint if you leave native coverage). I know Page Plus uses prepaid Verizon towers, but for the most part you won't get unlimited uncapped data on Verizon unless you keep your old $30 grandfathered plan. If you switch to a limited data plan, say bye bye. Honestly if you don't want to pay Verizon prices (I don't blame you), and you have the availability for it for coverage, T-Mobile or Sprint have good options. T-Mobile's network where they have 3g/4g is way way good. They just deployed equipment on their towers that's above everyone else with new NSN antennas and the LTE revision is LTE-A I think (check what Milan posted on Howard Forums for sure), but it's high dollar equipment that isn't cheap. Also they are upgrading the backhaul on their towers and most people are pulling between 10-20Mbps on DC-HSPA and 15-30Mbps on LTE. Milan got about 25 Mbps in NYC on T-Mobile LTE so they are a really good way to go and you can get an unlimited plan for $70 a month prepaid. Also, you can get a 5GB/100 min/unlimited SMS plan for $30 from Wal-Mart/tmobile.com.