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AT&T rolls out 7.2 everywhere

Latency is also a big issue for my 3G connection. I'm getting ping times consistently over 1200 ms, which means that -- however fast my downstream -- there is still significant delay before downloading even starts. This is very noticeable when surfing the web over 3G.
 
I have a question, here at school I do not have service in our on-campus appartments. However, as soon as you walk outside or get by a window, full 3G. Now if they upgrade to 7.2, will this allow the reception to get inside my appartment? I know the walls are blocking the signal so will the upgrade affect my no reception in my appartment?
 
Big change for me in downtown Chicago!!

1/4/2010 3G
Download 3.20Mbps
Upload 0.29Mbps

12/18/2009
Download "Edge" only 0.04Mbps
Upload 0.00Mbps
 
So, it is 2010. Cell phone coverage is spotty over much of the US, what is available is slow and prone a number of technical problems which will be solved in the year 201_ (fill in random number).

The speeds now being advertised are totally false.

The coverage maps are equally fanciful.

All across the country people are campaigning against additional towers, thus assuring vast unserved areas.

Consumers are locked into networks so that there is a nice, plentiful cash flow no matter how bad the service. There is even a fine for leaving the network early!

But, be optimistic, every day these companies spend millions of dollars on fixing...ooops, make that advertising!

You couldn't make this up!
 
I read this article last night. Now I wake up this morning and no 3G service lol. Great job AT&T. MAYBE you guys are updating my network as we speak.
 
thelatinist said:
Latency is also a big issue for my 3G connection. I'm getting ping times consistently over 1200 ms, which means that -- however fast my downstream -- there is still significant delay before downloading even starts. This is very noticeable when surfing the web over 3G.
Click to expand...

Also I've noticed with AT&T is I can do a speedtest at one point in the day and get an amazing speed. Then, a few hours later, another speedtest gives me slower than edge speeds even though my signal says full 3G. Verizon might not peak as fast as AT&T, but the speedtests are consistent through out the day at least.

Plus as you stated with high latency high speeds won't matter for real-world use. I also noticed high latency with AT&T that disappeared with Verizon. On AT&T it's almost like my phone had to "dial-up" a data connection when I started one, leaving Safari sitting there doing nothing for 10-15 seconds before finally going. On Verizon, the moment I request something that requires data the data is flowing to my phone.
 
I live in Atlanta just a mile south of the Georgia Dome and my speed test was underwelming. My download was 1.12mb and 6.9mb on my wifi network. I think that AT&lame need to find some faster mice for their exercise wheel. Apple may have the best smartphone but the provider is the worse in both performance and customer service.
 
thetexan said:
Plus as you stated with high latency high speeds won't matter for real-world use. I also noticed high latency with AT&T that disappeared with Verizon. On AT&T it's almost like my phone had to "dial-up" a data connection when I started one, leaving Safari sitting there doing nothing for 10-15 seconds before finally going. On Verizon, the moment I request something that requires data the data is flowing to my phone.
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The iPhone disconnects from the data network when its idle for a certain period. The next data access after that will have to wait while it reconnects. I just tried my iPhone (after it's been idle for an hour) and it took 2-3 seconds to connect. If mine took 10-15 seconds, that'd drive me crazy. I guess I'm lucky to live in a market where AT&T's service is pretty much on par with Verizon's.

thetexan said:
Verizon might not peak as fast as AT&T, but the speedtests are consistent through out the day at least.
Click to expand...
As Verizon gets more popular data-using phones (like the Droid and the upcoming Nexus One), I'm curious to see how well the consistent data speeds keep up.
 
Currently I get "No Service" with 3G turned on, I have to turn it off to get a connection. I called AT&T and apparently there's a major 3G outage in Philly/S.NJ.

It's awfully coincidental that the software upgrade occurred the day before 3G completely goes out.

I will say that when 3G was up briefly today, I managed to get a 2.1 mbps download speed test which is the best I've ever seen. My previous record was about 1.3 mbps.
 
aristobrat said:
The iPhone disconnects from the data network when its idle for a certain period. The next data access after that will have to wait while it reconnects. I just tried my iPhone (after it's been idle for an hour) and it took 2-3 seconds to connect. If mine took 10-15 seconds, that'd drive me crazy. I guess I'm lucky to live in a market where AT&T's service is pretty much on par with Verizon's.


As Verizon gets more popular data-using phones (like the Droid and the upcoming Nexus One), I'm curious to see how well the consistent data speeds keep up.
Click to expand...

I'm curious too. I have some friends who work at Verizon and they have all said they're selling a lot of Droid/Eris phones. The Nexus One will no doubt be a big hit for Verizon.

I'd venture to guess Verizon would stop sales of data intensive phones if demand ever outpaced the speed Verizon could upgrade their network. Verizon's reputation on having the best network is it's whole marketing strategy. I thought it was a marketing scam until I dropped my iPhone 3GS because I couldn't deal with AT&T anymore. Having a strong network makes my phone experience so much more enjoyable.
 
i just used Speedtest and measured 1800kbps in midtown manhattan at 3pm today. AT&T's routing is still screwed up in NYC and once they finish the upgrade it should be a lot faster. my external IP says it's in Kansas
 
If I read the article correctly, isn't the speed increase to 7.2 only going to be tested in 6 major markets first? So, it would be chaos for those who don't actually read the article, then read this post expecting a miraculous speed increase?

I live in MIA(which is one of the major test markets listed in the article), and currently haven't seen an improvement to my already relatively fast 3000kbps/200kbps down/up speeds. The ping to the towers is 278ms at those speeds.

So far over the last week my fastest down speed was 3789kbps @ 3:25pm on Saturday the 2nd. Obviously a lot less business traffic on the towers and system during a Saturday.
 
jav6454 said:
Backhaul isn't ready people... you won't see 7.2Mb/s goodness yet. The tower is ready for it though.
Click to expand...
I'd bet you could see bursts higher than the 3.6Mb/s that the towers were capped at before, even before all of the backhauls are done, no? Especially during low-volume times.
 
stevetim said:
If I read the article correctly, isn't the speed increase to 7.2 only going to be tested in 6 major markets first? So, it would be chaos for those who don't actually read the article, then read this post expecting a miraculous speed increase?

I live in MIA(which is one of the major test markets listed in the article), and currently haven't seen an improvement to my already relatively fast 3000kbps/200kbps down/up speeds. The ping to the towers is 278ms at those speeds.

So far over the last week my fastest down speed was 3789kbps @ 3:25pm on Saturday the 2nd. Obviously a lot less business traffic on the towers and system during a Saturday.
Click to expand...

supposedly the towers have all been upgraded to the faster software and now it's just the backhaul to be upgraded

the way it works with a lot of this hardware is you buy it and the price you pay depends on the speed you choose. and it's upgradeable to faster speeds by buying another license. YOu can buy a Brocade fiber switch for $2000 and it's the same as the $30,000 switch except all the nice features are turned off and you need to buy license keys to turn them on
 
alent1234 said:
supposedly the towers have all been upgraded to the faster software and now it's just the backhaul to be upgraded

the way it works with a lot of this hardware is you buy it and the price you pay depends on the speed you choose. and it's upgradeable to faster speeds by buying another license. YOu can buy a Brocade fiber switch for $2000 and it's the same as the $30,000 switch except all the nice features are turned off and you need to buy license keys to turn them on
Click to expand...

Ya. My bro-in-law is a tech and has taken me into and broken down some cell sites and everything in them to me. Here's just a couple examples of what is in your average tower.


IMG_0523.jpg

IMG_0525.jpg
 
MacNut said:
Go to any network and you will have these same problems. I always had that issue with Sprint, never once with AT&T.
Click to expand...

Seriously. It's as if any company has a monopoly on dropped calls, dead zones, etc. It's kinda like stores claiming they have the "lowest prices." On some stuff they do, on some they don't.

AT&T doesn't do that much out of the ordinary from anybody else except for some limitations on iPhone download sizes and tethering. But I prefer that to what would probably be a lockdown on networks at times, and I don't understand why so many people would want to drop $30/month on tethering. I know some people would use it, but just get a dongle.
 
aristobrat said:
I'd bet you could see bursts higher than the 3.6Mb/s that the towers were capped at before, even before all of the backhauls are done, no? Especially during low-volume times.
Click to expand...

No... Unfortunately, even though the towers can do 7.2Mb/s you still won't see the burst. Once the backhaul is up and running you will.
 
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