Database Users

4G in the Bay Area (California)

For those of you Bay Area kids that are jonesing as hard as I am for our 4G service, I did some testing while at work in Palo Alto today (where Clear has rolled out a special developer pocket of 4G service). I took some screenshots with the EVO 4G as my test device - and published a little write-up on my blog.
Give it a read.
http://dylandersen.me/post/633300884/4g-in-the-bay-area-how-fast-is-it-really

Thanks for posting this.
I am from Santa Clara and i did notice how fast 4G can be.
However i did notice something with my 4G behavior and i was wondering if you noticed the same.
If i connect to 4G and the phone is idle (i.e. not using any app that requires data usage) the connection will drop and enter an endless reconnect loop where when it reconnects it will stay connected for 20 sec and drop again.
To avoid this i need to open an app that uses data (i.e. listen to internet radio) and then the connection will be stable.
Have you noticed this behavior as well?

the article you linked said:
But, as obnoxious as that may seem, it’s actually quite understanding when you hold this device in your hand. AND, what a lot of the critics (Slashgear, Engadget, Gizmodo, Phonedog, Pocketnow - the list of naysayerse goes on) are forgetting to mention amidst their insane iPhone-fanboy frenzy, is that the iPhone itself had a $10 plan upcharge when switching from the original (2G) iPhone to the iPhone 3G. AT&T said it was because of the 3G connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't care enough to prove you wrong about every site you listed but Droiddog (the android section of Phonedog) is, in my opinion, the best Android news and review site on the web. You're basically saying the the entire Internet thinks Apple can do no wrong and that's just wrong.
Engadget's iPad review said:
At this point we've run the full spectrum on iPad opinion. It should be clear that there are aspects of this device which we love, and others which we clearly do not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

But, as obnoxious as that may seem, it’s actually quite understanding when you hold this device in your hand. AND, what a lot of the critics (Slashgea
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't care enough to prove you wrong about every site you listed but Droiddog (the android section of Phonedog) is, in my opinion, the best Android news and review site on the web. You're basically saying the the entire Internet thinks Apple can do no wrong and that's just wrong.
At this point we've run the full spectrum on iPad opinion. It should be clear that there are aspects of this device which we love, and others which we clearly do not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Droiddog does a good job at coverage but I was not speaking about John, mainly Noah who is so in love with the iPhone it hurts.
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App

Thanks for posting this.
I am from Santa Clara and i did notice how fast 4G can be.
However i did notice something with my 4G behavior and i was wondering if you noticed the same.
If i connect to 4G and the phone is idle (i.e. not using any app that requires data usage) the connection will drop and enter an endless reconnect loop where when it reconnects it will stay connected for 20 sec and drop again.
To avoid this i need to open an app that uses data (i.e. listen to internet radio) and then the connection will be stable.
Have you noticed this behavior as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed a bit of this, but I think its mainly because the network is in its infancy and doesnt know how to handle idleness very well. At least you know of a work around.
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App

Great read bro.
My fam lives up north. I figure its time for another run to the stockton , pittsburgh ,santa clara and fairfield area.
Can't wait!

Nice read. I live in Vallejo and one day after I received my Evo I too can drive to PA area for some 4G goodness!!! I have no regret ever now leaving At&t expensive monthly family plan (with corporate discounts) to Sprint Everything Family Data plan of $103 a month for two lines. Boy I'm going to enjoy this, BTW this Sprint Hero I have to hold me off until the Evo release is my first Android phone (always been on Win Mobile). Already having tons of fun with the 1.5 stock on the Hero and let alone the Evo with soon to be the latest Android I am super super pumped up. Hurry hurry up June 4th!!! LOL

GPS fix gets some media attention...finally.

Engadget posted an article today berrating Samsung and Tmo for allowibg the vibrant to ship in non-working form. Check out their editorial.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

http://mobile.engadget.com/2010/08/02/wheres-the-gps-fix-for-the-samsung-vibrant-and-captivate/

Update: We've just received an official statement from Samsung on the matter:
"Samsung Mobile is aware that under certain conditions, the GPS on our U.S. Galaxy S devices may not be meeting performance expectations. We are diligently evaluating the situation and will provide an update as soon as possible."

hopefully media attention will prompt samsung to addressing it as timely as possible

Kind of sad this is what it takes to get them to fix something. I don't think it's been determined whether it's just a software glitch, or something more serious like hardware that requires a revision. Software can be pushed to the phone, where a new chip can't.

thunderstruck! said:
Kind of sad this is what it takes to get them to fix something. I don't think it's been determined whether it's just a software glitch, or something more serious like hardware that requires a revision. Software can be pushed to the phone, where a new chip can't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They're already aware. If you think Engadget posting this crap to their mobile site weeks after even THEY experienced their first issue with GPS is what it "takes" for Samsung to acknowledge the problem you're sadly mistaken. This is NO different from what they posted on Twitter

Am I the only one who hasn't had any issues to speak of with GPS?

The more media coverage, however late, this gets the better. Do you think apple would have moved so quickly on their "fix" were it not for the ridiculous media coverage?
I hope some more mainstream news outlets pick up on this. That might force more than a canned response from samsung.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

blanked said:
Am I the only one who hasn't had any issues to speak of with GPS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only issue I've had is once I turn on gps then open maps, it freezes maps to the point of a reboot needed. Other than that the gps works great
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

heygrl said:
They're already aware. If you think Engadget posting this crap to their mobile site weeks after even THEY experienced their first issue with GPS is what it "takes" for Samsung to acknowledge the problem you're sadly mistaken. This is NO different from what they posted on Twitter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
i'm sure they are working on a fix. but they are working on 2.2, launching the epic, etc. as well. i'm fine waiting for a real fix, not some quickly hacked together patch that isn't properly tested.
or cm6, whichever happens first.
= P

blanked said:
Am I the only one who hasn't had any issues to speak of with GPS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wasn't at first either, but then it started. Every device has the problem, just not 100% of the time.
It will be fixed very soon, though. This is Samsung's top priority right now.

blanked said:
Am I the only one who hasn't had any issues to speak of with GPS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no. I also didn't have issues with the GPS.
At least, not until I began thinking that I was just missing something and tried one of the "fixes" on my device. Now my GPS reception is noticeably worse than stock.

blanked said:
Am I the only one who hasn't had any issues to speak of with GPS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this...disable "use wireless networks" under "location and security"(this will let the phone use JUST the GPS receiver), then download and install Googles "My Tracks" app. Run that app while driving a long distance, and see just how accurate your GPS is.

ultra spikey said:
Try this...disable "use wireless networks" under "location and security"(this will let the phone use JUST the GPS receiver), then download and install Googles "My Tracks" app. Run that app while driving a long distance, and see just how accurate your GPS is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would I want to disable that, though?
I don't doubt that the issue exists, but I'm not going to go out of my way to experience it. I'm no masochist...

If the phone is using Wireless Networks for a location fix in your car the accuracy would be awful and noticeably off.

heygrl said:
They're already aware. If you think Engadget posting this crap to their mobile site weeks after even THEY experienced their first issue with GPS is what it "takes" for Samsung to acknowledge the problem you're sadly mistaken. This is NO different from what they posted on Twitter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes - especially if other media pick up on it, and verizon & sprint catch wind of it and actually test theirs before releasing - that would be the real pressure point on sammy

At least Samsung isn't saying this is our fault or round up a bunch of competitors' phones and say they have the same issues. The fact that they say they're evaluating the situation makes it sound like the fix isn't coming any time soon.

jkcheng122 said:
At least Samsung isn't saying this is our fault or round up a bunch of competitors' phones and say they have the same issues. The fact that they say they're evaluating the situation makes it sound like the fix isn't coming any time soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Last time samsung had to "look into" something, behold 2 didn't get the upgrade it was promised.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

daddysays said:
Last time samsung had to "look into" something, behold 2 didn't get the upgrade it was promised.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
true, but nearly everyone knew the behold was a pile of crap from the get go.
the galaxy s is launching in over 100 countries, including every major carrier in the US. they are projected to sell over 10 million handsets. samsung lives or dies by this phone, IMO. i can understand frustration from their previous handsets, but if they drop the ball on the galaxy s, they might as well get out of the business all together.

Data speeds, wtf?

Wow my 3G is like less than 20KB right now what the ****?
My 4G is like 80KB
My 4G at like 3am is 400KB but what the hell is wrong with sprint? I don't even wnat to call them because they will go through the same "Oh nothing is wrong on our end" bull****
Anybody else????

try this, using root explorer i went into system/ etc / host , and change the ip from 127.0.0.1 (or whatever) to 0.0.0.0 (zero's, not O or o), once you do that hit menu and save and exit, now it's going to tell you that it'll save the old ip as host.bak, however your going to want to delete that too, but atleast make sure you write it down and save it.
i went from about 20kbps to 1.2mbps after this, took me a bit to learn that,

Thnx, I downloaded a program called "Adfree Android" as advised http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=908210&page=4 < and I'll see if that works. I will try your method too!

Tried 0.0.0.0 with Adfree Android's feature and it just slowed it down some more

tomh1979 said:
try this, using root explorer i went into system/ etc / host , and change the ip from 127.0.0.1 (or whatever) to 0.0.0.0 (zero's, not O or o), once you do that hit menu and save and exit, now it's going to tell you that it'll save the old ip as host.bak, however your going to want to delete that too, but atleast make sure you write it down and save it.
i went from about 20kbps to 1.2mbps after this, took me a bit to learn that,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey quick question i did the step you took but when i get to host and open it up on text editor its says file is too large to display it still show but there are about 200+ ip addresses do i have to change them all?

qubanaso said:
hey quick question i did the step you took but when i get to host and open it up on text editor its says file is too large to display it still show but there are about 200+ ip addresses do i have to change them all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
200+, lol holy [email protected]$ i have no clue, i only had one ip.

lmao i mean idk i wish i could post u a screenshot of it but im still kinda new at this stuff

amirborna said:
Thnx, I downloaded a program called "Adfree Android" as advised http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=908210&page=4 < and I'll see if that works. I will try your method too!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i had also downloaded that, but it didn't work for me.

tomh1979 said:
i had also downloaded that, but it didn't work for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it me, or the AOSP roms having problems with consistent connection? Or lower speeds, i had to ultimately go back to Sense because Cyan and MIUI connection was slim to none in my room. I don't understand why the rom would do this though, the rom and radio is separate right?

The last two days have been bad in east of the lake around the Seattle area. My 4g sometimes just keeps looping to connect. Media streaming is crappy. Something must be going on. But when I get connected to 4g it is pretty fast around 9mbps.
Sent from my Evo using XDA App

mykenyc said:
Is it me, or the AOSP roms having problems with consistent connection? Or lower speeds, i had to ultimately go back to Sense because Cyan and MIUI connection was slim to none in my room. I don't understand why the rom would do this though, the rom and radio is separate right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i don't think it matter's wether it's sense or aosp, i had issue's with both showing poor 3g, while 4g was just fine as it normally was.

I don't know whats wrong with you. I'm at 900kb/600kb

I'm in STL and my 3G speeds have been horrible at best lately, also..

I was just trying to watch a youtube and it was taking forever to load so I ran a speedtest. .02 megs down with a ping of 984. WTF????????? I think this has pretty much made up my mind. When the Thunderbolt drops im done with Sprint.

amirborna said:
Wow my 3G is like less than 20KB right now what the ****?
My 4G is like 80KB
My 4G at like 3am is 400KB but what the hell is wrong with sprint? I don't even wnat to call them because they will go through the same "Oh nothing is wrong on our end" bull****
Anybody else????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8634171&postcount=7

tomh1979 said:
try this, using root explorer i went into system/ etc / host , and change the ip from 127.0.0.1 (or whatever) to 0.0.0.0 (zero's, not O or o), once you do that hit menu and save and exit, now it's going to tell you that it'll save the old ip as host.bak, however your going to want to delete that too, but atleast make sure you write it down and save it.
i went from about 20kbps to 1.2mbps after this, took me a bit to learn that,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks man I went from 200kbps to about 900-1000kbps..though I need more testing but its ok so far..I appreciate the info.

jonathan413 said:
Hey thanks man I went from 200kbps to about 900-1000kbps..though I need more testing but its ok so far..I appreciate the info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good, glad this helped someone else.
swyped from my gingerbread'd Evo 4G

Before 4G was "officially" out in los angeles I was getting 9mb down, I tried last week and got 1.2mb down. That's horrible and I am assuming it's because once sprint said 4G was available everyone started using it. A girl that just started working with me has the EVO and was saying how she keeps 4G on all the time just because. I wish I could get faster speeds too : (
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

mcskibadee1 said:
Before 4G was "officially" out in los angeles I was getting 9mb down, I tried last week and got 1.2mb down. That's horrible and I am assuming it's because once sprint said 4G was available everyone started using it. A girl that just started working with me has the EVO and was saying how she keeps 4G on all the time just because. I wish I could get faster speeds too : (
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Women don't deserve cellphones they should be making a sandwich in the kitchen just my ¢.04 also I recently brought my evo in at a sprint store in south texas and the douche who replaced my screen stole my sense and gave me some bs rhetoric about sense I lost mine and like htc sense a lot
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

ProcessorHog said:
The last two days have been bad in east of the lake around the Seattle area. My 4g sometimes just keeps looping to connect. Media streaming is crappy. Something must be going on. But when I get connected to 4g it is pretty fast around 9mbps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in the Freemont/Ballard area and I have been experiencing horrible 3g speeds.

[Q] Last time I checked..I lived in Nebraska

So, I was curious about my wifi tethering speeds..I hit up speedtest.net..
Why does my phone think that it is in Europe?
Pic related.

its not always where you live, my guess is the speedtest.net picks servers based on your isp, ping times, distance, loads, things like that

I don't put much faith in that app. One absolutely GLARING problem with it is how the final speeds are calculated...well, that's just it...they aren't. If you hover between 500-600, but then at the last second jump to 30 (or 1200), then that'll be the final result displayed. Without an average, the final numbers on the speed tests are totally useless. Very misleading and frustrating.

27s said:
So, I was curious about my wifi tethering speeds..I hit up speedtest.net..
Why does my phone think that it is in Europe?
Pic related.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too am from nebraska! I noticed that it picks a strange server when I switch to wifi. If I turn my gps on it then finds the correct server. When I speed test on 3g it find the correct ones. I dunno.

That happened to me yesterday, had me in Cork ireland. I updated profile in settings, and that seemed to fix it.
Sent from my blah blah blah blah

yeah, I dunno...I noticed it with CM, and with the 3.70 update. Seems to be an issue with 3.70...I see it alot at my job ( WINK, WINK) with evo's thinking they are somewhere in Eurpoe... I just don't know why it defaults there. My Hero never did that... <_< >_> . Ha.

You have issues with speedtest, i had location issues with weather widget after sprint update. I was in Schaumburg IL and my location was listed as some place in Ukraine (yes, one by Russia). I fix location manualy and with next sync went back... Rooting phone and installing calkulin rom fixed my problem
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

erik077 said:
...I was in Schaumburg IL ...
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Visiting Motorola ? Would have thought they would have discount droids . lol
Big place, lots of engineers.

That's what you get for living in Nebraska.
ROCK CHALK KU!

The Sense Time/Weather Widget once thought I was in France

NS4G OTA

Since nobody has it, I'm guessing it was made up. Conspiracy theory?
Sent from my Nexus S 4G

Nope its definitly coming, they are receiving a lot of signal issues by ns4g owners so i would be surprised if it never materialized.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium App

No, the sprint release documents clearly shows an attempt for an update. The questions and speculations are on "when" it will come.

I've actually never seen that doc, thanks!
Sent from my Nexus S 4G

Samsungs track record with "coming soon" has not been promising (moment,epic) but since Google might have some leverage, hopefully it is coming soon.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium App

Samsung has nothing to do with updates on the NS. Go to opensource.Samsung.com and read the documents for the d720. All updates for the NS line come from Google. So please stop the blame game and be patient.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium App

Actually, samsumg/sprint handles the radio and Google does the rest
Radio is hugebpart of update
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium App

and ironically the Radio is the only thing that BLOWS on this phone. The ONE thing they had to do they screwed up on.

In order to build android you have to have the proprietary binary files for the wimax and cdma radio. the documents above prove that update has been built and they have the "new radio" if they are even going to update it. so i would not blame sprint/samsung for the delay, they did their job. google needs to finish with whatever tweaks they are working on and release the update or at least commit the code so we can compile.
james819 said:
Actually, samsumg/sprint handles the radio and Google does the rest
Radio is hugebpart of update
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

obsanity said:
No, the sprint release documents clearly shows an attempt for an update. The questions and speculations are on "when" it will come.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen this photo a lot...exactly where is the from (ie. the original link..)?

I'm not sure why a new thread was needed but this delay could be because of tweaks needed for google wallet as that seems to be the big feature coming to the Nexus S line.

The photo is a screen shot of a sprint corp computer that was sent into android central by one of phil's sources

I'm so close to leaving Sprint. Unlimited is nice but it is useless if I can't actually use data correctly. I love when I have 2 bars of 4g but can't get any network activity and forced to use Sprints awesome upgraded dialup 3g service.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

styckx said:
I'm so close to leaving Sprint. Unlimited is nice but it is useless if I can't actually use data correctly. I love when I have 2 bars of 4g but can't get any network activity and forced to use Sprints awesome upgraded dialup 3g service.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that sucks. i just dont think i could ever go back to verizon and pay 60 bucks more a month for a tiered plan. im sticking with sprint and hoping for the best. i want this freaking update already!!!

styckx said:
I'm so close to leaving Sprint. Unlimited is nice but it is useless if I can't actually use data correctly. I love when I have 2 bars of 4g but can't get any network activity and forced to use Sprints awesome upgraded dialup 3g service.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Leave if you want. I'm not making that decision until i find out if this latest carrot sprint is hanging is going to be a game changer. I think they are going LTE
http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/19/sprints-dan-hesse-significant-4g-plans-to-be-announced-this-fa/

cteneyck said:
Leave if you want. I'm not making that decision until i find out if this latest carrot sprint is hanging is going to be a game changer. I think they are going LTE
http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/19/sprints-dan-hesse-significant-4g-plans-to-be-announced-this-fa/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found this at opensource.samsung.com for the SPH-D720. Not sure if means much and still would be nice if they release come source code that they currently have. Either way no big deal, I enjoy my Nexus S and really dont any issues with it. I would like better radio signal but who wouldn't. You could get a phone much worse off at Verizon, AT&T, or T-MOBILE. So good luck to the people jumping the boat. I expect a influx of people joining up with Sprint before Spring and then it will bog down the network. I hope they have a plan in place to take care of that issue that may happen.
"- Nexus S (I9020) Opened source code -
Beacuse Nexus S is google experience device, source codes are opened by Google.
So, You can find source code for the Nexus S at Android Open Source Project site.
Please reference below address.
http://android.git.kernel.org/?p=kernel/samsung.git
Thank you. "

cteneyck said:
the documents above prove that update has been built and they have the "new radio" if they are even going to update it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which document talks about updates for the radio? I didn't see anything on the Samsung or Google sites.