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New AT&T Network Question

Wicked1

Wicked1

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Apr 13, 2009
3,283
14
New Jersey
Someone posted this on a thread, so I copied a line to get some clarification on what this means.

HSDPA/HSUPA (7.2Mb/s and 5.4Mb/s respectively) and also a solid base for the HSPA+ network they will implement.


Is that what AT&T is calling their new network, is this going to replace 3G?
 
Wicked1 said:
Someone posted this on a thread, so I copied a line to get some clarification on what this means.

HSDPA/HSUPA (7.2Mb/s and 5.4Mb/s respectively) and also a solid base for the HSPA+ network they will implement.


Is that what AT&T is calling their new network, is this going to replace 3G?
Click to expand...

I believe it's going to be 4G. As far as I know, when they get it up and running, AT&T will support HSDPA @ 7.2mbps, but uploads will not utilize HSUPA and (at least initially) will be stuck using a slower system, capped at 384kbps.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Wicked1 said:
Someone posted this on a thread, so I copied a line to get some clarification on what this means.

HSDPA/HSUPA (7.2Mb/s and 5.4Mb/s respectively) and also a solid base for the HSPA+ network they will implement.


Is that what AT&T is calling their new network, is this going to replace 3G?
Click to expand...

No. I posted that line. Those speeds are for 3.5G speeds. The HSPA+ is another stepping stone in 3G. Think of it as 3.75G. HSPA+ has a theoretical output of 21Mb/s down.

4G is LTE, which can do 100Mb/s down and ~40Mb/s up.
 
iphone.aggie said:
Has anyone wondered why Sprint says "Now on the 4G network, Palm Pre?"
Click to expand...

Sprint is utalizing Wimax

And that will be their version of 4G.

Verizon and AT&T will be using a technology called LTE.

So yes Verizon and AT&T will be using the same type of technology and Sprint well they are going to do their own thing and like normal probably fail.
 
Yes it does NOT currently cause Sprint hasn't rolled it out yet. But apparently it will be capable to use the 4G network once its fully rolled out. This is what Sprint has been saying.

AT&T and Verizon MIGHT share, towers. Verizon, how I understanding it is building up much of the LTE network using all that bandwidth they bought from the digital transition.

This would mean LTE phones from AT&T and verizon would be able to roam easily on each other networks. And in the case of verizon and and ALL LTE phones must be able to be used on their network as per their agreement when the purchased the extra bandwidth. Meaning if you had a AT&T LTE iPhone verizon would HAVE to allow you to use that phone on their LTE network if you were to switch to them.
 
Wicked1 said:
Someone posted this on a thread, so I copied a line to get some clarification on what this means.

HSDPA/HSUPA (7.2Mb/s and 5.4Mb/s respectively) and also a solid base for the HSPA+ network they will implement.
Click to expand...
I remember reading an article that talked about AT&T starting to implement HSDPA in the SF Bay Area, but I have not followed up on it. Is there any truth to it?
 
iphone.aggie said:
Has anyone wondered why Sprint says "Now on the 4G network, Palm Pre?"
Click to expand...

I saw another post about this and I listened closer to the commercial the next time I heard it. They're talking all about the Palm Pre, and then they say "On Sprint. The only network with 4g." So although I think it IS a deliberately confusing ad, I think what they mean is- the palm pre is on sprint. Sprint has 4g (but not with the palm pre :eek:).
 
UngratefulNinja said:
I saw another post about this and I listened closer to the commercial the next time I heard it. They're talking all about the Palm Pre, and then they say "On Sprint. The only network with 4g." So although I think it IS a deliberately confusing ad, I think what they mean is- the palm pre is on sprint. Sprint has 4g (but not with the palm pre :eek:).
Click to expand...

I only mentioned it, because I think it IS deliberately misleading people. And yet, people complain about AT&T misleading people that MMS is available in the U.S (and I don't want to start that argument on this thread). Anyway, every time I see that commercial, I'm like wow, they're getting away with that? I can see your average user going to Sprint thinking, "okay, my phone might not be as good as the iPhone, but I have 4G!"
 
iphone.aggie said:
I only mentioned it, because I think it IS deliberately misleading people. And yet, people complain about AT&T misleading people that MMS is available in the U.S (and I don't want to start that argument on this thread). Anyway, every time I see that commercial, I'm like wow, they're getting away with that? I can see your average user going to Sprint thinking, "okay, my phone might not be as good as the iPhone, but I have 4G!"
Click to expand...

I definitely agree, I think it is deliberately misleading! The only way I noticed it is that I saw a post here so I tried to construe it in a different way. Otherwise, I would have thought it was on the 4g network too.
 
Wicked1 said:
Someone posted this on a thread, so I copied a line to get some clarification on what this means.

HSDPA/HSUPA (7.2Mb/s and 5.4Mb/s respectively) and also a solid base for the HSPA+ network they will implement.


Is that what AT&T is calling their new network, is this going to replace 3G?
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that it could be a very long time until you see that, too. I've had an iPhone for 2 years and I switched from Verizon to AT&T to get it. My area had no 3G. Flash-forward two years and I still have no 3G. I'm immediately next to an interstate and the closest 3G to me just turned on a month ago with the edge being 35 miles away.

So, if you're not in or most regularly use your phone in a 3G area now. It could be a long while before you get 3G and even longer than everyone else for 4G/LTE.
 
I live in a pure 3G area in NJ, and I usually have full bars as well as 3G all the time, however I do occasionally slip into Edge, but not for long. I also switch to WiFi a lot to get better speeds. I was on Verizon and their lack of good phones made me switch especially that their new Blackberry phones Don't have WiFi, plus I have Macs so it was easier.

So far other then a few stupid little missing features I like the phone and I no longer have any issues with AT&T, I think it is compared to Verizon's 3G, my wife's Curve is not faster then my iPhone 3GS 32GB White.
 
alphaod said:
That's not even technologically possible.
Click to expand...

This is not only possible, but it's actually in use in some places. While they don't share the same transmission equipment, they do share the physical tower. In my hometown, there's a tower that has antennae on it operated by VerizonWireless, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint/Nextel.

In some municipalities, it's tougher to get individual towers pushed through, so they take to sharing physical towers. Many towns actually require this. Think about it, do you really want one tower for every carrier every two miles?
 
LEGALROMA said:
Yeah I call bs.

Show your speed. We will be lucky to see 3 mb/

marketing crap.
Click to expand...

I'm not an AT&T marketeer if thats what you are implying.

Also, no one is going to see 7.2Mb/s in any market. 7.2Mb/s is a Theoretical speed concerning this type of upgrade. If AT&T choose too, the next theoretical speed benchmark would be the 14.4Mb/s, but they are not going there. They are jumping to HSPA+ to have a good 21Mb/s. Anyways, back to original comment. You are not going to see ever the maximum output because of cell site congestion, backhaul traffic, airwave noise, proximity to cell site and other factors that come inherent to any wireless connection.

Also, I do not live in the SF area, I live in New Orleans area. I can see speeds of 3.4Mb/s. Although I see those in the night time 10:45PM+ to more or less 4:30AM. Daytime I can see 2Mb/s solid.
 
jav6454 said:
I'm not an AT&T marketeer if thats what you are implying.

Also, no one is going to see 7.2Mb/s in any market. 7.2Mb/s is a Theoretical speed concerning this type of upgrade. If AT&T choose too, the next theoretical speed benchmark would be the 14.4Mb/s, but they are not going there. They are jumping to HSPA+ to have a good 21Mb/s. Anyways, back to original comment. You are not going to see ever the maximum output because of cell site congestion, backhaul traffic, airwave noise, proximity to cell site and other factors that come inherent to any wireless connection.

Also, I do not live in the SF area, I live in New Orleans area. I can see speeds of 3.4Mb/s. Although I see those in the night time 10:45PM+ to more or less 4:30AM. Daytime I can see 2Mb/s solid.
Click to expand...

I call BS. When I was in NO in January, I saw nowhere near those speeds on any of the speedtest apps I ran.
At least show a screenshot when you make a claim like that.
 
vizkiz said:
I call BS. When I was in NO in January, I saw nowhere near those speeds on any of the speedtest apps I ran.
At least show a screenshot when you make a claim like that.
Click to expand...

I'll link you to a speed test on my 3G data card. Give me a sec. Bear in mind the data card has an inherent limit of 1.8Mb/s

Edit - Here it is



Test was done in May. More or less around the time AT&T did the upgrades...

Edit 2 - I did a speed test on my iPhone. Results:

 
jav6454 said:
I'll link you to a speed test on my 3G data card. Give me a sec. Bear in mind the data card has an inherent limit of 1.8Mb/s

Edit - Here it is



Test was done in May. More or less around the time AT&T did the upgrades...

Edit 2 - I did a speed test on my iPhone. Results:

Click to expand...

I can believe those speeds. I cannot, however, believe you see 3+Mbps, ever.


xbuddycorex said:
Man ... I don't even come close to those on WiFi!
Click to expand...

How? Is your internet connection or router that bad? I see 6k+ on my wifi.
 
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