Is 3g overrated (in relation to edge)?

[STEVESKI07]

The speed is always going to be slower at weaker signals. To get the maximum speed that is currently available with your current setup, you need a stronger signal.

If my wifi is being used by 10 computers at once and I have a crappy signal on top of that, the speed is going to be slower than if I had a strong signal (even if 10 people are still using it). Get it? It's not rocket science.

Now you've said it correct. What you were saying before was false. Having a stronger signal does not mean faster speeds alone. I'm sure a lot of people get much faster data speeds then I do with less of a signal. I've already stated that I'm generally always full bars wherever I go, yet my data speeds aren't very fast.

 

[shadowbird423]

Ive heard from a few people that AT&T's Edge is terrible compared to normal Edge, which is quite adequately fast. Plus, network congestion probably caused the rest of what the OP saw.

 

[bks691]

I can't even make a call that is clear within about a 2 mile radius of my house.

Wow, that map couldn't be more wrong! I have Verizon (work) and AT&T (Personal) I travel for a living and so far, off the top of my head 4 cities are incorrect for AT&T (meaning full bars as opposed to what's on the map) and almost the same for Verizon. You should be more careful on where you get your information on the internet.

 

[thelatinist]

OP: Your data speeds are affected by so many factors that it is impossible make a judgment like this based on one situation. Perhaps you were farther from the 3G tower than he was from his EDGE tower; perhaps there was more network congestion on your tower; perhaps the backhaul was worse; perhaps you were in a marginal area where Edge data is more likely to work than 3G; etc. You also have to consider the speeds of your devices.

What I can tell you is that I get about 15x the speed over 3G that I do over EDGE where I sit right now. Definitely not overrated from here.

 

[acfusion29]

Please tell me you're joking. There's a reason why I said "Contrary to what most people think." Because that's what people who don't know what they're talking about think.

Let me say this again. BARS DO NOT INDICATE SPEED. THEY INDICATE CONNECTION SIGNAL TO THE TOWER/ROUTER

Your router example is COMPLETELY wrong. Having 5 bars of wifi signal means your LOCAL CONNECTION to the router itself is strong. It does NOT tell you the speed. An example you might understand is suppose I'm 10 cm away from the router. I'll have full signal. But there are 50 people using the same router. The INTERNET WILL BE SLOW. THE SAME GOES FOR CELL TOWERS.

Also, there are journals and articles written about this. By people who aren't just making random guesses based on what they merely THINK it is.

Look, I know what I'm talking about, but both of our posts were misinterpreted.

You misread my post.

You need to relax.

 

[cwwilson]

Here in OKC I usually get a very good 3G connection (3-5 bars). When I leave the city though, and it drops to edge, data speeds drop greatly so you go from "acceptable" DTR to "close app and give up". I would not say it's overrated by any means. I use maps, safari and iTunes/App Store the most and it's not even worth trying on edge.