I'm new to the Android thing so please don't kill me for the stupid question...
While I ran WinMO, I always had the 3G icon....Now on droid (coredroid latest version) The icon will switch between "E", "H", and "3G". Whats the difference between them and what do they mean?
My carrier is T-Mobile US. I was told by T-Mobile that they now longer have a 3G network, even though my HD2 is a 3G phone, it will get 4G speeds....
broknindarkagain said:
I'm new to the Android thing so please don't kill me for the stupid question...
While I ran WinMO, I always had the 3G icon....Now on droid (coredroid latest version) The icon will switch between "E", "H", and "3G". Whats the difference between them and what do they mean?
My carrier is T-Mobile US. I was told by T-Mobile that they now longer have a 3G network, even though my HD2 is a 3G phone, it will get 4G speeds....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since the HD2 isn't a 4G phone, "H" is the almost equivalent; I think it's 3.75 or something like that. So, when you see the H, highest "letter", you are getting faster than 3G speed.
T-MO doesn't even have a 4G network, strictly speaking. But even if it had, your HD2 wouldn't be able to support it.
The max you can get is indeed 3.75G or HSPA, with up to 14/6 mbps down/upload speeds respectively. This is shown by the 'H' icon.
The 3G icon should refer to a UMTS connection, which is considerably slower than H. Some builds however also use the 3G icon when actually you're on a HSPA connection. This is just the icon, the connection is always as fast as possible.
E stands for Edge, an elder (and less battery consuming) protocol with much slower transfer speeds.
StephanV said:
T-MO doesn't even have a 4G network, strictly speaking. But even if it had, your HD2 wouldn't be able to support it.
The max you can get is indeed 3.75G or HSPA, with up to 14/6 mbps down/upload speeds respectively. This is shown by the 'H' icon.
The 3G icon should refer to a UMTS connection, which is considerably slower than H. Some builds however also use the 3G icon when actually you're on a HSPA connection. This is just the icon, the connection is always as fast as possible.
E stands for Edge, an elder (and less battery consuming) protocol with much slower transfer speeds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If T-Mobile doesn't have 4G, then why do they sell two 4G phones and advertise 4G? Does Sprint not have 4G,either? They do have 4G, it's just that some areas are not utilizing it yet.
No, they don't have 4G. They claim they have, and the speeds are faster than a typical HSPA network, but it's not 4G.
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscent...doesnt_have_4g_and_theres_no_santa_claus.html
I'm not sure on Sprint, but at first they sure falsely advertised their network as 4G. They may have upgraded it to true 4G by now, again, I'm not sure.
Edit: nope, all carriers are still lying about their 4G network.
If its not 4G, they why are they all calling it 4g?
And if 4G is non existent since no carriers have it, then wouldn't HSPA really be 4G?
I don't get this. So Evo users don't get 4G?
Okay third time, no it's not 4g it's an upgraded kind of 3G. I have even included a link about it, click it and read some.
Related
on tmobiles site it advertises that all the new-ish phones have the ability to use HSPA+ do i need to change my APNs on The Aria ROM??? if so What Are the new APNs
You will never be able to use HSPA+ on a Slide, T-Mobile does not claim that you will be able to either.
t-mobile does claim that you can, and you can. i have experienced 6 times faster speed since they turned on the tower near my place. i have HSPA+ at home and now average 3.5-4.5 Mbps rather than the .8 Mbps i had with standard 3G. my apn says epc.tmobile.com i do not know if there are other settings needed, but i am using CM6RC1 and getting phenomenal speeds(compared to some friends that have EVO on 4G)
tubaking182 said:
t-mobile does claim that you can, and you can. i have experienced 6 times faster speed since they turned on the tower near my place. i have HSPA+ at home and now average 3.5-4.5 Mbps rather than the .8 Mbps i had with standard 3G. my apn says epc.tmobile.com i do not know if there are other settings needed, but i am using CM6RC1 and getting phenomenal speeds(compared to some friends that have EVO on 4G)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's cause sprint's "4G" is not as fast as Tmo's HSPA+...There was an article on their speeds on engadget.
that jappened to be my point, i was stating that t-mo was better(faster) and that r0manz was wrong
tubaking182 said:
that jappened to be my point, i was stating that t-mo was better(faster) and that r0manz was wrong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not wrong.
There are no HSPA+ phones presently being sold in the United States, that being said you can get up to 7.2mbps on T-Mobile HSPA network at present on the Vibrant, Slide, and others
He's right they can take advantage of the speeds, but are not actually HSPA+ phones, the first one will be the t-mobile G2 as announced by t-mobile.
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using Tapatalk
What about a HSPA++ Phone?
Sent from my Htcclay's Remixed Remix
This HSPA+ has been pretty awesome..Out of every person I know that has tmobile and a 3G enabled phone I have been the only one able to pick it up and my wife has the Vibrant, plus several others that I know with the Slide and other android phones... It started about a week ago when I first noticed that 3G turn into an H. I am running the latest CyanogenMod and I have not altered any settings on my phone whatsoever. The only thing I have been able to come up with is that its because of the Froyo ROM... Anyone agree?? But this s**t is great! I ran a speedtest while I was at work yesterday and I almost got a 6 Mbps connection and a 1.5 Mbps upload while connected to the HSPA network!!!
But like others said earlier in the thread our Slides will not be able to take full advantage of the HSPA+ speeds and will never be able to...but Ill take it because its just not everyday that a cell phone provider gives you 6x speed boost and doesn't charge you extra for it... GO T-MOBILE!!!
cdt82002 said:
This HSPA+ has been pretty awesome..Out of every person I know that has tmobile and a 3G enabled phone I have been the only one able to pick it up and my wife has the Vibrant, plus several others that I know with the Slide and other android phones... It started about a week ago when I first noticed that 3G turn into an H. I am running the latest CyanogenMod and I have not altered any settings on my phone whatsoever. The only thing I have been able to come up with is that its because of the Froyo ROM... Anyone agree?? But this s**t is great! I ran a speedtest while I was at work yesterday and I almost got a 6 Mbps connection and a 1.5 Mbps upload while connected to the HSPA network!!!
But like others said earlier in the thread our Slides will not be able to take full advantage of the HSPA+ speeds and will never be able to...but Ill take it because its just not everyday that a cell phone provider gives you 6x speed boost and doesn't charge you extra for it... GO T-MOBILE!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure the only reason you're getting the "H" instead of the "3G" logo is because in the CyanogenMOD 6 Stable release, the "3G" graphic was replaced with the "H".
uabtyler said:
I'm pretty sure the only reason you're getting the "H" instead of the "3G" logo is because in the CyanogenMOD 6 Stable release, the "3G" graphic was replaced with the "H".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not used froyo on the SLide, the "H" icon is included with every rom but if cyan changed the name of the H icon to replace 3G then it would make sense, but i doubt he would do that to trick people. Every rom has the H icon in the framework folder.
He did not replace it, I am running a CM6 rom and in certain areas I will pick up HSPA, but in most places I go in Huntsville, AL its 3G signal, with the 3G icon showing in my status bar.
There is also a noticable difference in browsing and download speeds when I am able to pull HSPA, so its not just displaying it in error.
On the stock ROM you never see the "H" icon, but if I look in About Phone -> Network I often see "HSDPA" under mobile network type. I assume T-Mobile has mapped the 3G icon to that network type to minimize user confusion. I also see the 3G icon when connected to a UMTS network.
As has been pointed out earlier, that doesn't mean you will get the HSPA+ speeds and in fact they haven't even rolled out HSPA+ in my area yet.
I am running the latest CM for the slide. Ever since I flashed it, I haven't seen the 3G symbol, only H. I live in Salt Lake City Utah, and according to T-Mobile, they haven't enabled HSPA+ here yet. So I'm not sure why H would be showing up instead of 3G. Since I've tested my speed using the Speedtest.net app, and it comes up with ping 103ms D:637kbps U:759kbps, I highly doubt that is HSPA+ speeds.
uabtyler said:
I'm pretty sure the only reason you're getting the "H" instead of the "3G" logo is because in the CyanogenMOD 6 Stable release, the "3G" graphic was replaced with the "H".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought it was the radio update that had the H in it.
Using Chiefz rom I get H when I'm by my school.
slughappy1 said:
I am running the latest CM for the slide. Ever since I flashed it, I haven't seen the 3G symbol, only H. I live in Salt Lake City Utah, and according to T-Mobile, they haven't enabled HSPA+ here yet. So I'm not sure why H would be showing up instead of 3G. Since I've tested my speed using the Speedtest.net app, and it comes up with ping 103ms D:637kbps U:759kbps, I highly doubt that is HSPA+ speeds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check under settings, about phone, status and look at what it says under Mobile Network Type. If it says HSDPA you will see the H icon, if it say UMTS you will see 3G. The H Icon is showing up because it is the begginings of HSPA+ without the fiber back haul ran to the tower, or they haven't switched it on yet. The phone sees the H network and displays the H icon, it doesn't know that it isn't HSPA+ or HSDPA, if your were still stock you would only ever see 3G.
So does that mean that stock rom (I have ChiefzReloaded's modified 1.35.531 rom) still takes advantage of HSPA+ even though it will only show 3G on the status bar? Or would I have to switch to another ROM to take advantage of it?
I remember when I was testing which rom I liked, I had tried a 2.2 rom and seen the H in my status bar, but never tested the speed. At the moment, I don't get speeds faster than 750 kbps down and 70 kbps up.. really disappointed since they already have HSPA+ here in Houston (and its suburbs).
Butzacooky said:
So does that mean that stock rom (I have ChiefzReloaded's modified 1.35.531 rom) still takes advantage of HSPA+ even though it will only show 3G on the status bar? Or would I have to switch to another ROM to take advantage of it?
I remember when I was testing which rom I liked, I had tried a 2.2 rom and seen the H in my status bar, but never tested the speed. At the moment, I don't get speeds faster than 750 kbps down and 70 kbps up.. really disappointed since they already have HSPA+ here in Houston (and its suburbs).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look to see if youre on UMTS, thats 3G...if it says HSPA then you will see H..
archie53 said:
Check under settings, about phone, status and look at what it says under Mobile Network Type. If it says HSDPA you will see the H icon, if it say UMTS you will see 3G. The H Icon is showing up because it is the begginings of HSPA+ without the fiber back haul ran to the tower, or they haven't switched it on yet. The phone sees the H network and displays the H icon, it doesn't know that it isn't HSPA+ or HSDPA, if your were still stock you would only ever see 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine says HSDPA. So I guess that is because they haven't flipped the switch here yet. Thanks for the information.
I am running a stock ROM and under mobile network type I usually see "HSDPA" even though the "3G" icon appears. The point is that on the stock ROM you will see the "3G" icon whether you are connected to a UMTS or HSDPA network, and on the CM ROM you see the "H" icon when you connect to an HSDPA network. But the icon does not limit your speed. You will still get the benefit of HSDPA (and to some degree HSPA+) networks either way.
Try the search function, and could not come up with the answer
I'm currently using the Vibrant with a download of 3-5.5Mbps Download in Los Angeles in the same area (downtown Los Angeles). My phone register only as 3G.
Does this change when it switches to HSPA+? What does the icon say (in the upper right corner)? I'm never seen it change to the "HSPA+ icon". Is there an HSPA+ icon? Or do I have to configure the phone from 3g to HSPA+?
While tethering with Samsung Kies, is it possible to make or receive phone call?
My handset states "MTP application" with a picture of a USB cable on the screen and it's non responsive during Tethering.
Thanks in advance!
Assuming you're on Tmo, there is currently no phone on the network that uses HSPA+ connections. The first will be the G2.
If you have HSPA where you are, you may already be connected, but the 3G up top won't change. Not unless the phone is programmed to. But I don't think most ROMs utilize this feature, since people were freaking out since Cyanogen did so.
Sent from my HTC Dream using XDA App
They freaked out because of the H icon, we get HSPA+ up to 7.2mb.
franky1029 said:
Assuming you're on Tmo, there is currently no phone on the network that uses HSPA+ connections. The first will be the G2.
If you have HSPA where you are, you may already be connected, but the 3G up top won't change. Not unless the phone is programmed to. But I don't think most ROMs utilize this feature, since people were freaking out since Cyanogen did so.
Sent from my HTC Dream using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. Damn, maybe I should have jump ship to Sprint (EPIC)....Their 69.99+10 plan sounds mighty tempting....
Yes I have T-Mo at the moment..Loyalty Calling plan+400 message +Android (24.99) for 79.00 as well
Sprint 4G is slow. T-Mobile's HSPDA is faster and HSPA+ kicks its *** hard.
DarkAgent said:
Sprint 4G is slow. T-Mobile's HSPDA is faster and HSPA+ kicks its *** hard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
QFT. Just get the G2 if you need that extra speed.
sfdentist1996 said:
Try the search function, and could not come up with the answer
I'm currently using the Vibrant with a download of 3-5.5Mbps Download in Los Angeles in the same area (downtown Los Angeles). My phone register only as 3G.
Does this change when it switches to HSPA+? What does the icon say (in the upper right corner)? I'm never seen it change to the "HSPA+ icon". Is there an HSPA+ icon? Or do I have to configure the phone from 3g to HSPA+?
While tethering with Samsung Kies, is it possible to make or receive phone call?
My handset states "MTP application" with a picture of a USB cable on the screen and it's non responsive during Tethering.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung Vibrant is not an HSPA+ device. As of 9/11/2010 there are no true HSPA+ devices on T-Mobile yet, however the G2 coming soon... will be the first HSPA+ device.
Next, your Vibrant is already capable of up to 7mbps download, most people like myself already get 5mbps.
So my question to you is, why is HSPA+ which offers 7+mbps so important. I really don't understand what people do on their phones, for them to notice a difference between 5mbps and 8mbps. Really, what do you do on the internet, on your tiny 4 inch screen, that would make you notice the difference in 3mbps.
I also hope you tether responsibily. Meaning you use it in life and death situations. People who abuse tether is horrible, and will lead to T-mobile turning to tiered data plans.
I had a tmo tech tell me our phones will support hsdpa+ or w/e it is lol when it rolls outs with speeds of 21mb download. Maybe he was wrong?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I was under the impression that the great thing about HSPA+ is that it's compatible with 3G phones.
Hmm... I guess I can't post links because I'm a new user. Anyway, copy and paste this link: youtube.com/watch?v=gGmUvFfizS8
Skip to 2:25
He flashed his Vibrant to Froyo using, I'm guessing, Eugene's build - the blue box on top will show 'H' every now and then.
Apexsilverevo said:
I had a tmo tech tell me our phones will support hsdpa+ or w/e it is lol when it rolls outs with speeds of 21mb download. Maybe he was wrong?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, he was wrong.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
sfdentist1996 said:
Try the search function, and could not come up with the answer
I'm currently using the Vibrant with a download of 3-5.5Mbps Download in Los Angeles in the same area (downtown Los Angeles). My phone register only as 3G.
Does this change when it switches to HSPA+? What does the icon say (in the upper right corner)? I'm never seen it change to the "HSPA+ icon". Is there an HSPA+ icon? Or do I have to configure the phone from 3g to HSPA+?
While tethering with Samsung Kies, is it possible to make or receive phone call?
My handset states "MTP application" with a picture of a USB cable on the screen and it's non responsive during Tethering.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The icon doesn't change but if you look in the settings>about phone>status mobile network type it will sometimes changes to hsdpa but then it changes back to umts, after the internet connection is not being used
There is SO much confusion here..
The Vibrant supports HSPA upto 7.2Mbps.
Although the Vibrant can't go all the way up to 21Mbps, it CAN take advantage of speeds up to 7.2Mbps and when anyone says the Vibrant will support HSPA+, this is what they mean - to an extent but not completely. The increased backhaul means that HSPA for everyone goes faster.
7.2Mbps is faster than most home internet connections
. My home internet is only 5Mbps. I would NOT be shocked if the G2 barely if ever goes above 7Mbps.. it's just a fact that we ALL share network traffic and if someone is streaming Netflix, Playing PS3 online, that we all see a reduction in speed.. so, until 42Mbps next year I wouldn't expect to see these huge increases in speed with a HSPA+ device.
Sprint's 4G network will be so spotty that it's not even funny. If you think T-Mobile in general is spotty you haven't dealt with Sprint and Clear. The 4G connection will drop out often if you move and will never make it inside of any building unless the tower is across the street and even then, the signal will be weak or nonexistant. You can't do Voice and Data at the same time with EV-DO REV.A
When you see the 3G icon, you can do calls/data at the same time but the MTP application limits what you can do with the phone, to solve this install WiFi tether or MobileAP.
All,
I understand you can't tell if you are on 3G or 4G with the "H" symbol...but when you go to about phone -> network -> Mobile Network Type -> I only see HSDPA, never HSDPA+.
Is it supposed to show HSDPA+? Or its just a guessing game with "H" and HSDPA?
Just want to know if I'm on 4G or not.
Thanks!
On this phone you will see "H" regardless of HSPA/+. I downloaded the Mobile Signal Widget which shows you whether your network is 3G or H.
This is another thing I down quite understand. I remember the old 3g network would max out at about 1mb per sec. Then when they lunched the hsdpa it went up to about 4mbps in my area....now I was under the speculation that this means it was ready for hspa+. Well at the time I still had my g1 and my wife had her vibrant, both speeds were about the same her's a little faster probably due the faster phone. Now that i have the mt4g I thought i would be at least over 5mbps, but Im now the same as the vibrant. I was so excited about the hspa+ network, but either I dont have it in my area yet, or it was just false advertising. t-moble has a history of that. That had the faster internet on their map in my area about 4 months before it even happened. I called t-moble out on it and customer service kept sending services calls out to my local cell site, of course with out any results.
Crazynorwegian said:
This is another thing I down quite understand. I remember the old 3g network would max out at about 1mb per sec. Then when they lunched the hsdpa it went up to about 4mbps in my area....now I was under the speculation that this means it was ready for hspa+. Well at the time I still had my g1 and my wife had her vibrant, both speeds were about the same her's a little faster probably due the faster phone. Now that i have the g1 I thought i would be at least over 5mbps, but Im now the same as the vibrant. I was so excited about the hspa+ network, but either I dont have it in my area yet, or it was just false advertising. t-moble has a history of that. That had the faster internet on their map in my area about 4 months before it even happened. I called t-moble out on it and customer service kept sending services calls out to my local cell site, of course with out any results.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To take advantage of the HSPA+ speeds, your hardware needs to be capable of it. Neither the G1 nor Vibrant meet those requirements. On T-Mobile, the G2 and MT4G were the first phones to utilize HSPA+. Depending on the area you're in, one may not even take advantage of full HSPA.
allen099 said:
To take advantage of the HSPA+ speeds, your hardware needs to be capable of it. Neither the G1 nor Vibrant meet those requirements. On T-Mobile, the G2 and MT4G were the first phones to utilize HSPA+. Depending on the area you're in, one may not even take advantage of full HSPA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry the g1 in there was a typo, I was referring to my mt4g.
Please post questions in Q&A section.
T mobile has a posting of official hspa+ cities. Are you sure you're in one?
Keep in mind, when T Mobile says a city is hspa+, that means that at least 50% of the towers are upgraded to hspa+. So you still might not even get it.
And you'll see a difference for sure between the g2/mt4g running on hspa+, compared to a vibrant or g1 or whatever.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
I don't think the network indicator is always accurate. I've speedtested ~3.3mbps when the phone reported being on EDGE, which just isn't possible.
I've seen some reviews that complain the phone keeps falling back to EDGE and I wonder how much of that is just the phone showing inaccurate information.
There's no HSPA+ in my area and the phone currently reports being on HSPDA, but I recall that saying UMTS the other day. Again, that information displayed seems to be buggy.
I've been noticing on liberated aria roms that instead of 3G, it is reporting data as being HSPA. I was curious as to the authenticity of this.
On liberated aria, speedtest.net reports I am getting about 4mb/s for downloads in H area. I was wondering if anyone with an aria reporting 3g would be willing to run a speedtest to see if they get the same results?
shark0807 said:
I've been noticing on liberated aria roms that instead of 3G, it is reporting data as being HSPA. I was curious as to the authenticity of this.
On liberated aria, speedtest.net reports I am getting about 4mb/s for downloads in H area. I was wondering if anyone with an aria reporting 3g would be willing to run a speedtest to see if they get the same results?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HSPA is the same as 3G on AT&T. HSPA is the technology AT&T uses for their 3G, and for some reason on the Froyo ROMs, it shows up with an H.
People have told me that its the same but when I speedtest my 3g and hspa the 3g is a little less for me. Like one time I had 3.87mb on 3g and when I flashed the hspa Rom it came up with 4mb.
I always throught the OEM rom had 3G (3.6mbit), while CM6 and perhaps the modified liberated roms had unlocked 3.5G (7.2mbit).
NO^^^ the speeds you experience on both roms are the exact same... who ever created the rom just decided to replace the 3G symbol with an H!
Quanni90 said:
NO^^^ the speeds you experience on both roms are the exact same... who ever created the rom just decided to replace the 3G symbol with an H!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any proof to back it up?
kaschenberg said:
Any proof to back it up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I dunno if I'd necessarily believe that. I notice when I do speedtests the HSPA is a bit faster, or at least thats what the speedtest app says. You notice it more on uploads, than downloads.
I believe the correct abbreviation is "HSDPA", or no?
Per:
http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_aria-3392.php
The difference is that the ROMs with 'H' has HSUPA (faster uploads) turned on and the stock AT&T with '3G' does not. Category 5 HSUPA to be exact. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Speed_Uplink_Packet_Access
kaschenberg said:
I believe the correct abbreviation is "HSDPA", or no?
Per:
http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_aria-3392.php
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The technology is HSPA, HSDPA is the download speed, HSUPA is the upload speed, that is why you see the 2 different mnemonics used interchangeably.
foit said:
The difference is that the ROMs with 'H' has HSUPA (faster uploads) turned on and the stock AT&T with '3G' does not. Category 5 HSUPA to be exact. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Speed_Uplink_Packet_Access
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This at least goes along with what I've noticed.
kaschenberg said:
I always throught the OEM rom had 3G (3.6mbit), while CM6 and perhaps the modified liberated roms had unlocked 3.5G (7.2mbit).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always assumed the same thing(never did any research to actually confirm). But from a practical point of view, I never noticed a significant speed increase when switching from stock to CM6.
You are all wrong. Att roms are compiled to use the 3g icon. When compiling roms/or using overseas roms its usually compiled to use the HSDPA icon. Its a known fact. HSPA and HSDPA are two totally different things. Proof to back it up? Its a build flag when compiling roms. You can also.check in settings->phone status. They both say hsdpa. So both roms get the exact same speed. Just use different icons. The speed changes you may notice are just placebo. Nothing more, nothing less.
Yeah I have had no speed increase from 3g to h...both pretty much same using 3g speed tester
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
seanfinn said:
Yeah I have had no speed increase from 3g to h...both pretty much same using 3g speed tester
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same here, I do multiple speed tests a week, difference is minimal
ls377 said:
HSPA is the same as 3G on AT&T. HSPA is the technology AT&T uses for their 3G, and for some reason on the Froyo ROMs, it shows up with an H.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it's not. HSPA is not the same as 3g - it is faster, and yes, ATT has had HSPA for quite a while.
attn1 said:
No it's not. HSPA is not the same as 3g - it is faster, and yes, ATT has had HSPA for quite a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right - case in point - I had another unlocked phone (SE K850i) in late 2008, which typically read '3G' throughout the SF Bay Area, but I noticed it turned to 'H' when I traveled to Seattle at the time.
Tethered to a laptop, I got (roughly, from memory)
H 1.5MB down 700K up
3G 1.1MB down 144K up
Sometime in spring of 2009 ATT upgraded their network in the SF Bay area to HSPDA from the former UMTS (3G) network. The phone then read H thereafter and got similar speeds to what I'd seen on my trip in Seattle.
So, the older 3G network was UMTS, not HSPA. It's possible ATT still has some UMTS / 3G networks laying around elsewhere in the country, but I haven't seen '3G' on any of my phones that make the distinction recently in the SF Bay area, they're either on Edge or HSPA these days.
What's really funny is that, with all the current 4G marketing blitz, ATT probably missed out calling their HSPA network something better than 3G very early on, but instead just dumbed down their phones to all read 3G...perhaps to hide the extra time it took them to roll out HSPA...perhaps to avoid questions from thousands of people that would call in wondering why their phones didn't say 3G.
Anyhow right - Edge (2.5G) < UMTS (3G) < HSPA (3.5G)
Google store Nexus 4 on T-Mobile pre-pay plan. Stock Android 4.4.4.
My statuses for mobile data were either 'H', or nothing at all (just bars). For the first time ever I am seeing a '3G' mobile data icon in the bar but I don't think the phone has been updated or changed in any other way - I'm not really concerned as much as puzzled as to what is different now.
FightingChance said:
Google store Nexus 4 on T-Mobile pre-pay plan. Stock Android 4.4.4.
My statuses for mobile data were either 'H', or nothing at all (just bars). For the first time ever I am seeing a '3G' mobile data icon in the bar but I don't think the phone has been updated or changed in any other way - I'm not really concerned as much as puzzled as to what is different now.
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H is hspa(or HSPA+), i dont remember if the n4 has an H+ for hspa+. anyways, that is 3G, but a faster version, like 3.5G. H+ is faster than H, and consists of data download speeds near LTE speeds, but slower upload than LTE. so if you are seeing a 3G now, then youre on a slower network.
simms22 said:
H is hspa(or HSPA+), i dont remember if the n4 has an H+ for hspa+. anyways, that is 3G, but a faster version, like 3.5G. H+ is faster than H, and consists of data download speeds near LTE speeds, but slower upload than LTE. so if you are seeing a 3G now, then youre on a slower network.
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I know what the speeds/radios are and what they mean; I wasn't clear enough in my question then.
For the life of this phone on T-Mobile, they've elected to show either 'H' or nothing at all to denote the lower tier GSM connectivity; I'm wondering why, now, they (or some firmware update to the towers, or ?) have elected to start putting '3G' on the status. I've just never had it before. Can others on T-Mo speak to this?
FightingChance said:
I know what the speeds/radios are and what they mean; I wasn't clear enough in my question then.
For the life of this phone on T-Mobile, they've elected to show either 'H' or nothing at all to denote the lower tier GSM connectivity; I'm wondering why, now, they (or some firmware update to the towers, or ?) have elected to start putting '3G' on the status. I've just never had it before. Can others on T-Mo speak to this?
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because ot wasnt in your area befote, but it is now? no one can really answer the question, as each of us have unique situations. maybe a neighbor or someone that lives nearby can answer.