portable hotspot is SLOW - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

ok don't laugh, but yes I still own a blackberry playbook. I recently bought a Nexus 4 and much to my displeasure I can barely get any connection at all when I try to connect the Playbook to my Nexus 4 portable hotspot. It's slow, connection constantly hangs, and more than half of the websites I try to connect to time-out. I'm so frustrated right now because even my crappy old Atrix 4g's hotspot worked twice as fast as this. The playbook connects fine with everything else BUT my nexus 4. Help?

How is the signal strength to begin with?

ismethajametovic said:
How is the signal strength to begin with?
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no problems, about -80 dBm

Don't feel bad. I had a Playbook for a while. It was a nice piece of hardware. Ran fast and smooth. Not having any apps killed it for me.
Good luck with your tethering. Have you tried to tether anything else and see what speed it was receiving? Could it be a problem on your Playbook and not your Nexus?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

jelliottz said:
Don't feel bad. I had a Playbook for a while. It was a nice piece of hardware. Ran fast and smooth. Not having any apps killed it for me.
Good luck with your tethering. Have you tried to tether anything else and see what speed it was receiving? Could it be a problem on your Playbook and not your Nexus?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
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I've connected my Playbook to various hotpots which were fine. When it tethers to my N4 though over half of the websites I try to load do not even load at all. Which is really bad since it would work with my older Atrix 4G's hot spot better than this phone. It's not completely broken, it's just really horrible.

I just tested my N4 hotspot with my old phone and the phone had little trouble keeping a good connection to it. The playbook works fine on standard PC wifi routers so it seems that the Playbook wifi antenna hardware simply sucks at picking up the Nexus 4 hotspot signal. I was planning to tough it out on this Playbook until the next Nexus Tablets get released so I hope they come soon!

no slowness in tethering my n7 to my n4 wirelessly. i get as fast of tethering speeds as i do hspa+/lte speeds.

No issues tethering to my tablet... I didn't notice a speed difference between my old Atrix in terms of hotspot speed when I upgraded to my Nexus 4. It probably has to do with the WiFi channel the Nexus 4 broadcasts in not being fully supported on the Playbook, or something like that
Sent from my Sony Tablet S

lopezk38 said:
No issues tethering to my tablet... I didn't notice a speed difference between my old Atrix in terms of hotspot speed when I upgraded to my Nexus 4. It probably has to do with the WiFi channel the Nexus 4 broadcasts in not being fully supported on the Playbook, or something like that
Sent from my Sony Tablet S
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I think that's the cause as well. The Atrix 4G and Playbook were pretty close to each other in release dates so that's probably why I had easier compatibility using those two together

Just out of curiosity, try changing Security in "Set up Wi-Fi hotspot" to open and re-test.
I had an old Netgear card that had speed issues with WPA2 & AES, but was file on WPA & TKIP.
Worth a shot.

My phone tethers just fine!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

Related

Is a Router upgrade necessary to get the must out of tab?

I have the WRT54G2
Is there an dramatic improvement with using wireless N or dual wireless N
With programs such as splashtop and VLC streamer
basically is it worth getting another router over
With all the hype about cloud I would think the speed between router and end device would be important. If so any recommendations on routers to buy?
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium
I don't know if it's true for the Tab, but for the SGS2, it hates D-Link routers of all shapes and sizes. The signal stength is weaker and it drains the battery more. It likes NetGear routers a lot. With a high-end NetGear I get excellent signal strength through two floors of poured concrete on both my SGS2 and Tab.
walter909 said:
I have the WRT54G2
Is there an dramatic improvement with using wireless N or dual wireless N
With programs such as splashtop and VLC streamer
basically is it worth getting another router over
With all the hype about cloud I would think the speed between router and end device would be important. If so any recommendations on routers to buy?
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
IMO the improvement in upgrading a wireless router is more about improving overall bandwidth available to multiple wireless devices rather than pure throughput to a single device; at least as it pertains to devices such as a tablet.
For example, my local cable internet connection tops out at 10Mbps so the bandwidth available to a single device on my WRT54G2 router that I had before was more than adequate for me.
If however you're pushing things around the house between multiple wireless devices you may benefit from a dual wireless setup and segmenting out your wifi a little to take advantage of that.
walter909 said:
I have the WRT54G2
Is there an dramatic improvement with using wireless N or dual wireless N
With programs such as splashtop and VLC streamer
basically is it worth getting another router over
With all the hype about cloud I would think the speed between router and end device would be important. If so any recommendations on routers to buy?
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Dual wireless N won't help unless you've got a lot of interference. Think about it this way: Wireless N routers can be had for about $20 now. Thats about as cheap as they'll get before they're replaced with another standard. So just go get one. Your laptop will thank you..

Android 4.1 for Nexus 10 ?

Given the Bluetooth and WiFi issues with 4.2 , I would like to flash 4.1 for a while. Is this possible?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Blueback22 said:
Given the Bluetooth and WiFi issues with 4.2 , I would like to flash 4.1 for a while. Is this possible?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
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Probably depends greatly on what proprietary binaries are available and their compatibility. Google does say that they're 4.2 only, but technically, they "might" work on 4.1, but in any case, a AOSP ROM built from 4.1 would have to be done anyway.
There was talk of a Debug ROM, but I think it might of been running ICS.
Could you elaborate your wifi and bt issues?? I have no problems with wifi and it is weirdly even better than my laptop (which is quite good)... bt seems to work fine for me but I don't have any bluetooth peripherals....
craigacgomez said:
Could you elaborate your wifi and bt issues?? I have no problems with wifi and it is weirdly even better than my laptop (which is quite good)... bt seems to work fine for me but I don't have any bluetooth peripherals....
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Craig,
It's as though the WiFi radios randomly turn off then on. I will go a day without a problem then have issues every 5 minutes the next day. This seems to be ongoing (see my thread "WiFi stability issues") with other folks. It happens across all my Nexus devices on 4.2.
I'm running your ROM right now on my N10
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
craigacgomez said:
Could you elaborate your wifi and bt issues?? I have no problems with wifi and it is weirdly even better than my laptop (which is quite good)... bt seems to work fine for me but I don't have any bluetooth peripherals....
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Hey craig, can you share your wifi setup? My Nexus 10's range is pretty poor when connected to my Airport Extreme, which is 2.4 ghz N. It performs about on-par with my original Kindle Fire, and quite a bit behind my 2006 HP laptop. A new 5ghz router is on the way, we'll see if that helps.
i had issues with 5GHz, switched to 2.4ghz and thats the only problems ive had with wifi and bt.
I have a MediaLink 2.4GHz B/G/N wireless router (not my choice, cuz I rent a room here!!)... configured as N... WPA2-Personal... I live on the floor above the router... not in any clear line of sight... laptop & Galaxy Nexus show signal strength 3/4... Nexus 10 shows 4/4... and my speeds are mostly better on my Nexus 10...
Regarding bluetooth, if you are having issues you didn't have on 4.1.x, it could be because the bluetooth stack has been changed from bluez to bluedroid in 4.2....

[Q] How is the wifi performance with large files?

I think I am official AA - Apple Anonymous member as of today. Specifically I'm referring to the iPhone 5.
The most important thing to me with my smartphone is downloading podcasts over WiFi and playing them back. I have experience with a very good Android app that I've used in the past -- called Doggcatcher. So I don't need help finding an app - subscribing to feeds, etc etc.
Since February I bought and returned the iPhone 5 -- 4 times. I know I know, its probably 3 more chances than you would have given them. All of the models were essentially plagued by the same issue. Poor wifi performance with large files. I regularly download at least a couple 30 to 50 MB podcast episodes via WiFi on a daily basis.
First I thought it was a DNS server issue. Some people claimed this was an issue with the "5". So I went back to my ISP DNS. Nope. All the other devices in my home on the same network had no issues DL'ing my podcasts on my fast 20 mbps connection. iPhone -- choke choke choke. 30% done and choke.
So I want to know from you Nexus 4 users -- do you ever have hiccups on WiFi when you are downloading on a solid connection or is is really good performance? For those of you with a technical background -- do you think the Nexus 4 has a better WiFi antenna than the iPhone 5? Something has to be wrong here and since I experienced this on 3 of the 4 phones I returned -- I don't think its me.
I've personally never had a problem downloading large files. Only thing I noticed is that dl speed slows down a bit if the screen goes off, but it doesn't lose the connection or anything & speeds back up as soon as you turn the screen back on. What I usually do if its a large file and I wanna DL it fast is I plug my phone into the charger and turn on the option to stay awake while charging in development settings.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
The WiFi issue you were having on your iPhone 5 was caused not by the phone hardware but rather the software, iOS 6.
The nexus 4 also suffers from poor WiFi reception, also caused by the software.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
jamesc760 said:
The WiFi issue you were having on your iPhone 5 was caused not by the phone hardware but rather the software, iOS 6.
The nexus 4 also suffers from poor WiFi reception, also caused by the software.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
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so if after calling and texting -- downloading large files over wifi are the most important thing to me (podcasts) -- which Android would you recommend for me. Seems like you are leaning against the Nexus 4. Note 2 ??
I have been able to download 300 MB mp4 H.264 movies over 802.11N WiFi without issue.
Settings > W-iFi > Advanced > Wi-Fi optimization (deselect this)
This option (on by default) will cause WiFi to drop to slower connection speeds when screen is locked to conserve battery life.
There is an ARP issue, which once your phone screen locks, it will stop responding to ARP requests.
Ping your phone LAN IP after it sleeps to see what I mean. It's a knows issue on N4's
With 802.11N 2.4 GHz (65 MBs) WPA2 and AES. I max out around 25 MBs, about the same as my 802.11G (54 MBs) laptop.
WiFi range is much better than any previous Android device, and a little better than the work iPhone 4 and Blackberry's I have had.

Finally fixed my 'Package File Invalid' problem.

For the past couple of months I've been getting more and more 'Package File Invalid' errors. Started off with the odd one or two but recently it just got worse and worse. Maybe one update in 15 was working. Sometimes a dozen or more attempts were needed.
Phone was reset you name it. Oddly updates would work perfectly over 3G.
So after three years of solid use I've pensioned off my Draytek 2710 router and swapped it out for a dual band TP-Link.
The result? Perfect updates every time. Slick and fast.
I think the issue for me was the wi-fi card in my router was possibly going out of spec. I had noticed my Chromebook was struggling to keep a connection using N wireless with it. I wonder if heat finally got to it. The main board of the Drayte has heatsinks but the wi-fi is a plug in card type sitting above the mainboard.
Now I've moved the phones and Chromebook over to the 5Ghz band and it's great.
Such a relief to get it sorted. Just passing this on in case anyone else is struggling.
Yeah, if that router is too slow Google Play will cut off the file download and say that it is invalid.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
andyabc said:
Yeah, if that router is too slow Google Play will cut off the file download and say that it is invalid.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
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Yeah well the speeds and browsing were all fine on the nexus with the Draytek. It has 450Mbps N speed. Speedtests and such were all working fine. Ethernet connections for my PCs were rock solid. Just something somewhere wasnt allowing Play to work properly.
The Draytek isnt a cheap router ($200+) but something was out of spec. I tried all different wi-fi settings but still the same result.
Anyway we are sorted, just a shame the router only lasted three years. I like to get at least four years before they fail.

[Q] Wifi too slow to stream MLBTV

Just paid for the premium service of MLBTV. Thinking the Nexus Player which is a supported device would work fine.
I am on the 5.1 update. THe device is about 2 feet from my router which is an "N" router. Never had issues in the past although admittedly don't use the nexus player much.
Is there anyway to help wifi performance. Besides buying an ethernet adapter?
sports streaming
lightsout said:
Just paid for the premium service of MLBTV. Thinking the Nexus Player which is a supported device would work fine.
I am on the 5.1 update. THe device is about 2 feet from my router which is an "N" router. Never had issues in the past although admittedly don't use the nexus player much.
Is there anyway to help wifi performance. Besides buying an ethernet adapter?
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I have roku3, a fire stick k, and a nexus player. The only device among the 3 that won't stream sports properly is the nexus player.
hoddy4 said:
I have roku3, a fire stick k, and a nexus player. The only device among the 3 that won't stream sports properly is the nexus player.
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Well that's frustrating. I had it working well today. Set a channel for WiFi on my router. No idea if it did anything.
My router is 2.4ghz I have it set for up to 300mbps. With the nexus player 3 feet from the router I got 11mbps on a speed test. Not sure why maybe my router just sucks.
Might buy a cheap USB to Ethernet.
I should probably amend my previous post. 90% of the time the nexus streams sports like basketball with Jerky motion. About 10% of the time, its Ok. Maybe it is a channel issue.
hoddy4 said:
I should probably amend my previous post. 90% of the time the nexus streams sports like basketball with Jerky motion. About 10% of the time, its Ok. Maybe it is a channel issue.
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I see, I think I will just spend the ten bucks on an adapter. Save the headache.
lightsout said:
I see, I think I will just spend the ten bucks on an adapter. Save the headache.
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Hey, did you by any chance got the ethernet adapter? Is it improved? Cause I did a speedtest and via wifi I get only 2-3 Mbps while the rest of my devices get 45!
nikfam said:
Hey, did you by any chance got the ethernet adapter? Is it improved? Cause I did a speedtest and via wifi I get only 2-3 Mbps while the rest of my devices get 45!
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Yeah man it fixed my issue. Not sure what the exact speed was as I have moved and no longer am using the device.

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