Can someone tell me the difference between, 4G, LTE, WIMAX and GS3? What does the GS3 have and on my previous HTC phones, there was a toggle/setting to turn off the 4g Radio. I don't see anything but "mobile data". Is that 3G, 4G or both?
Bob
4g and wimax are the same thing which is 3g revision b or c depending on carrier. Standard 3g is called 3g revision a. But the FCC gave them permission to call it 4g since it data speeds can go up to 9mbits per second. LTE is the true 4g. LTE stands for long term evolution. Its data speeds can go up to 40mbits per second. So if you see carriers saying 4g without LTE after 4g they are technically lying to you. Gs3 I'm assuming your talking to Samsung galaxy s3, it just has the ability to use all of them since its multi carrier.
Mobile data is both. 3g and 4g and 4g LTE are mobile data. So if you turn that off all data will be turned off. Some phones don't give you the toggle to turn off 4g but I think there are custom roms that have that feature.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda app-developers app
Mobile data is any internet connection, however it depends on the rom as to whether hitting a widget that says that will toggle 4G AND 3G as some roms (like stock HTC ones) provide separate toggles
Wimax is a type of 4G and so is LTE, if you want more specifics I would start with Google
The s3 has 3g and 4g lte radios only, no wimax and if your not in a lte area you will only get 3g speeds which are slow. I live in Illinois and there's 4g lte in most areas.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium App
densetsu86 said:
4g and wimax are the same thing which is 3g revision b or c depending on carrier. Standard 3g is called 3g revision a. But the FCC gave them permission to call it 4g since it data speeds can go up to 9mbits per second. LTE is the true 4g. LTE stands for long term evolution. Its data speeds can go up to 40mbits per second. So if you see carriers saying 4g without LTE after 4g they are technically lying to you. Gs3 I'm assuming your talking to Samsung galaxy s3, it just has the ability to use all of them since its multi carrier.
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Please tell me this was just poorly worded and not your entire take on the 4G/Wimax/LTE situation. This post made my head spin, and now I need to write a long post explaining everything that's wrong.
First of all, there is no "3G Revision B" or "3G Revision C", let alone "3G Revision A". That's ridiculous. 3G is a marketing term. There are several 3G technologies, including EVDO (which Sprint and Verizon both use for their 3G technology) and HSPA (which AT&T and T-Mobile use). There is an EVDO Revision B and C, but Sprint uses Revision A. No one uses EVDO Revision B or C. Either way, EVDO Revisions B and C are entirely unrelated to either Wimax or LTE.
The FCC didn't give anyone permission to use the term 4G for anything. They don't care what you call the technology as long as it complies with FCC regulations. The rest is just marketing speak, and the FCC wants nothing to do with it.
Wimax and LTE are both types of 4G. There is no "true" 4G in this case. 4G is just a marketing term for what they consider the 4th generation of mobile data protocols. 4G and Wimax may be used interchangeably, and so may 4G and LTE. If you're being specific about one, be specific about the other. Saying things like "4G or 4G LTE" sounds stupid to me when the person means "Wimax or LTE". It's like saying "Do you want cookies or chocolate chip cookies?" Either way, you're getting cookies - one's just more specific than the other.
Other carriers do not need to put LTE after 4G in their marketing. No one but you decided that LTE was "true" 4G over Wimax. Both are 4G (barely), so it doesn't really matter which 4G technology they use. It's still 4G. No one is lying just because they don't specify which type of 4G they use, which is a moot point anyway, since Sprint is the only carrier that used Wimax for their 4G technology. It can just be assumed that 4G == LTE in other companies' marketing. Likewise, it's not lying if Sprint says "4G" instead of "4G LTE" either. It's just marketing.
As for speeds, neither protocol is limited in the way you mention. Wimax as a protocol is in no way limited to 9Mbps speeds. First, Sprint's Wimax could go much faster than 9Mbps easily. Second, the speeds are not limited by the protocol. They are limited by the implementation of the protocol. It's possible to hit 40 or 50 Mbps with Wimax if you have enough spectrum and backhaul available. Likewise, LTE is not limited to 40Mbps either. If Sprint had the spectrum and the customer base, they could roll out LTE that goes to 150Mbps or more. It just depends on how they scale it.
And finally, the GS3 does not have the ability to use "all of them". The Sprint GS3 is not compatible with Wimax at all - just 1xRTT, 1x-Advanced, EVDO Revision A, and LTE. And that has nothing to do with it being multiple-carrier anyway. If that were the case, we could use AT&T or T-Mobile's HSPA+42, and they could use EVDO Revision A, but neither of those things is possible IRL. Samsung made the Sprint GS3 compatible with the technologies Sprint was using, and likewise for all the other carriers' models. There is no need to look any further into it than that.
Related
I just noticed yesterday that T-mobile has a 4G network in my area and I was wondering if there was a way to force roam 4G on tmobiles network? So that I could pick up 4G.
If its possible how?
Oh and sprint needs to hurry up and put 4g everywhere
You said it yourself. T-Mobile is HSPA+, Sprint 4G is WiMax. So, no.
Naa dude. HSPA+ is not compatible with cdma(sprint). Matter of fact t-mobile is using 4G now because its "trendy" and everybody else is using it. Their network is closer to 3G in infrastructure. But thats up for debate.
That sucks like hell. There's 4G here I just can't have it. AHHHHHHH!!!
Well if its like 3G I guess I'm not missing much.
david279 said:
Naa dude. HSPA+ is not compatible with cdma(sprint). Matter of fact t-mobile is using 4G now because its "trendy" and everybody else is using it. Their network is closer to 3G in infrastructure. But thats up for debate.
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You are on the money. HSPA+ is no more than an upgrade to existing 3G technology. If I remember right, it only has a theoretical max of 54 Mbps down. It is not, nor will it ever be, 4G.
Granted, the current 802.16e standard of WiMax is not 4G either...just waiting for that 802.16m standard to be finalized =). Which once that is complete, infrastructure can be updated and we should be able to utilize it with a simple firmware update.
Stalte said:
That sucks like hell. There's 4G here I just can't have it. AHHHHHHH!!!
Well if its like 3G I guess I'm not missing much.
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No its way faster than your normal 3G. Faster than WIMAX too. Its nothing to pull down 7 or 8 Mb.
I bet it's better on battery than wimax is on ours.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
overthinkingme said:
I bet it's better on battery than wimax is on ours.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
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It uses the same radio for voice. The EVO has a separate 4G radio thats has to be activated and scan then connect. So 2 radios running at the same time would use more battery than 1 GSM radio running. Also CDMA has a tendency to use more battery when searching for signal in low signal areas.
Having installed T-mobiles 3g upgrade here in Chicago market back in 2008, I can say definitively that HSPA is just a radio cabinet addition to the existing cellular framework. Depending on the layout of the tower/site, "Flex radios" handle the data on 1, or sometimes more antennae, while the voice travels over GSM through remaining antennae. Very similar to ATT infrastructure, but tiny radios handling big bandwidth.
Having said all that, 4G is a silly buzzword that Sprint started, and T-mobile is now exploiting.
In a way, Sprint is just using extra radios on top of their existing 3G cellular, and just integrating the enhanced data speeds of Clearwire's network into their own.
T-mobile's speeds are indeed fast both HSPA and HSPA+, but to call them 4g may be overstating it, as it is just an upgrade to their existing technology, and not a new technology.
As another poster stated, nobody officially has 4g yet, not even Sprint, and until the 802.16 commission finalizes and LTE is launched we still won't.
To re-emphasize to the OP, not a chance, and don't believe the hype.
I can see sprint(or clear) and T-mobile going to bed for some real 4G'ness.
david279 said:
I can see sprint(or clear) and T-mobile going to bed for some real 4G'ness.
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Yeah, I heard a rumor that Sprint may eventually adopt LTE.... It makes sense.
Wimax will make a great backhaul, and could stay in place, not to mention supporting cities and rural areas. But LTE will be the big daddy, and similar to WiMax, works on it's own and should be seamlessly integrated on top of cellular.
I'm not sure but I think it can work with CDMA or GSM, hooray for global WiFi!
Mitch Matrixx said:
Yeah, I heard a rumor that Sprint may eventually adopt LTE.... It makes sense.
Wimax will make a great backhaul, and could stay in place, not to mention supporting cities and rural areas. But LTE will be the big daddy, and similar to WiMax, works on it's own and should be seamlessly integrated on top of cellular.
I'm not sure but I think it can work with CDMA or GSM, hooray for global WiFi!
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I wouldn't count on LTE on Sprint just yet. Hesse denounced it last week; however, Sprint, Clearwire, Google, Time-Warner, and a couple others purchased Spectrum not only in the 2.5 GHz, but the 2.3 GHz band also. So the bandwidth is there and, in the past, Hesse has been quoted saying they can easily switch to LTE if need be.
Edit: http://gigaom.com/2010/10/29/sprint-ceo-dan-hesse-on-clearwire-lte-wimax/
topdawgn8 said:
I wouldn't count on LTE on Sprint just yet. Hesse denounced it last week; however, Sprint, Clearwire, Google, Time-Warner, and a couple others purchased Spectrum not only in the 2.5 GHz, but the 2.3 GHz band also. So the bandwidth is there and, in the past, Hesse has been quoted saying they can easily switch to LTE if need be.
Edit: http://gigaom.com/2010/10/29/sprint-ceo-dan-hesse-on-clearwire-lte-wimax/
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Thanks for the info.
I think the most important thing in the article is that LTE can happen if necessary.
Sorry for getting off topic.
I live in Augusta, GA which Sprint currently does not have any 4G towers in the
area. The two closest are in Milledgeville, GA (over an hour away) and Atlanta, GA
(over two hours away).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=696073
*techknowfile's* - Hack the HTC EVO - 3G w/o Sprint EVDO coverage!
To my understanding the above mentioned thread forces the Evo to roam onto a
Verizon 3G tower...what i'm wondering is there possibility in development of them
doing this for roaming to a Verizon 4G tower. Is this something that is being pursued?
Highly impossible?
I love my Evo and consider to be a real POWER USER when it comes to all the
features but not having 4G sucks, especially when it's in a town half the size of
mine in the same state.
I've tried searching for threads about this topic and haven't really turned up.
Verizon is using LTE not wimax so no, it is not possible two different technologies.
cruise350 said:
Verizon is using LTE not wimax so no, it is not possible two different technologies.
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So in other words someone would have to make a ROM/kernel that supported LTE
and not WiMax in order for me to do this...i.e. NOT PROBABLE.
Not to sure on this but I think it would be a Hardware difference not just software.
unless another carrier starts using the same type of wimax as sprint (that would not be a good decision) or sprint changes to lte or another technology (pleeeease?) it wont happen. hardware.
I always thought WiMax = 4G but I read somewhere today it's not.
Can someone explain please?
I tried reading the article and those complicated words didn't make any sense.
Same here idk what day hell is wimax so I don't use it lol
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
arozer said:
I always thought WiMax = 4G but I read somewhere today it's not.
Can someone explain please?
I tried reading the article and those complicated words didn't make any sense.
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Wimax is the method that Sprint/Clear delivers us 4G. Verizon delivers 4g using LTE.
So yes, Wimax=4G
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX
Sent from my PC36100
WiMAX is one of the three competing "4G" (which I now call FauxG) technologies being used in the United States. The other two being LTE (Long Term Evolution) and HSPA+/HSPA Advanced
All three are capable of effectively managing spectrum allocations, capacity, and delivering voice over internet protocol dependent on set up, but the main use for these technologies is for mobile internet/data.
WiMAX started first, and Sprint/Clearwire wanted a head start and went with this. LTE the more world standard technology came later, AT&T and Verizon both use this and many other companies are switching to LTE soon. LTE trial tests are being conducted on Sprint and Clearwire should either company decide to change over. HSPA+/HSPA Advanced started a little late in the game and is essentially a 3G technology that behaves like and gives application usage like a 4G network such as WiMAX or LTE. T-Mobile is the main company to use HSPA+ however AT&T is overlaying much of their network, albeit much slower than T-Mobile, with HSPA+ and calling it "4G" prior to their LTE roll out.
WiMAX unfortunately is only on 2.3, 2.5 and 3.5Ghz frequencies for the time being, meaning the signal while capable of fast speeds, does not penetrate buildings or walls easily or effectively enough for indoor use, even with closely spaced tower placement.
Sprint and Clearwire hope to change this with a network upgrade plan which would essentially recycle unused 800/850, 1900 spectrum for use with WiMAX and CDMA, as well as using the current 2.5Ghz spectrum for WiMAX and CDMA.
LTE on the other hand, was deployed at 700Mhz. While the signal travels though buildings and walls easily, the lower frequency will result in slower maximum data speeds over all and lower battery life.
HSPA+ is a 3G technology, so if you are familiar with T-Mobile or AT&T or any GSM type network you know it is the same as before, only new hardware handsets and a software upgrade at the cell site have enabled faster speeds. The only hardware from the tower that needs replacing is backhaul.
To elaborate on Williefdiaz's "FauxG" comment, there has been some controversy (among tech geeks at least) as to what's "really" 4G. ITU had defined it as a network supporting 100 Mbit/s for mobile installations and 1Gbit/s for fixed or nearly fixed installations (phones would of course be mobile). Neither WiMax nor LTE meet that yet, but they're sufficiently fast enough compared to 3G that the industry has chosen to market it as such. Even T-Mo's HSPA+ technology, which is even further from the 4G requirements in that it's not an all-IP packet switched network, is being marketed as 4G because it can provide similar speeds.
In the end, it looks like anything capable of delivering speeds of 5-10Mbit/s (or more) is going to be called 4G, regardless of the ITU's definition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G
Try This: http://tinyurl.com/5tyebn7
bkrodgers said:
To elaborate on Williefdiaz's "FauxG" comment, there has been some controversy (among tech geeks at least) as to what's "really" 4G. ITU had defined it as a network supporting 100 Mbit/s for mobile installations and 1Gbit/s for fixed or nearly fixed installations (phones would of course be mobile). Neither WiMax nor LTE meet that yet, but they're sufficiently fast enough compared to 3G that the industry has chosen to market it as such. Even T-Mo's HSPA+ technology, which is even further from the 4G requirements in that it's not an all-IP packet switched network, is being marketed as 4G because it can provide similar speeds.
In the end, it looks like anything capable of delivering speeds of 5-10Mbit/s (or more) is going to be called 4G, regardless of the ITU's definition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G
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Thank you both very much for elaborating. Igot a clear understanding now.
Has anyone else found the following web site with instructions on setting up a 4G/3G/Edge switch on the Web
(Do a search to find the link)
I tired it and was able to get the switch, but I have not been able to try it on 4G(LTE) yet as I do not have LTE reception where I live and only have 3G (the phone says 4G, but I know it is 3G+) but will try it at work tomorrow where I can actually get LTE.
But one thing I noticed is that I cannot get EDGE service where I live. I heard that AT&T wanted to get rid of 2G (EDGE). Have they done that already?
Hre is the link:
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/04/nokia-lumia-900-gets-edge-3g-4g-toggle/
Im not sure what you mean about trying it on 4G... the only choices are 4G (LTE) 3G or edge so you get one of the 3.
In my LTE market when I choose 4G I get LTE.
hx4700 Killer said:
Hre is the link:
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/04/nokia-lumia-900-gets-edge-3g-4g-toggle/
Im not sure what you mean about trying it on 4G... the only choices are 4G (LTE) 3G or edge so you get one of the 3.
In my LTE market when I choose 4G I get LTE.
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On AT&T, there are 4 types of data. 2G/EDGE, 3G, "4G"/3G+/HSPA+ and LTE.
We all know about 2g and 3g, but many people like you don't know about the difference between "4g" and LTE.
This whole thing was started by T-Mobile, because this was the early days of LTE, and Sprint was advertising it's WiMax network as 4G, T-Mobile decided to use a technology called HSPA+ and brand it as 4G. Initially, AT&T scolded T-Mobile for this move, but as soon as it was decided HSPA+ could be considered 4G, AT&T rapidly built up a network of this, almost as large as their 3G network.
HSPA+ is basically a faster version of 3G, hence why it's often called 3G+. However, AT&T tries to advertise it as 4G so they can boast they have the largest 4G network, even though Verizon leads the charge with the most LTE sites. HSPA+ is a bit faster than 3G, but doesn't hold a candle to LTE. However, it does have it advantages, such as being compatible on the iPhone 4S, and unlike Verizon, on AT&T, if you loose LTE coverage, you can fall back on HSPA+, where as on Verizon you fall back on their CDMA network (Which is still slower than AT&T's GSM network).
So over all it's good and leads to faster overall experience, unless of course you're in LTE coverage 24/7, then it doesn't matter that much. My (and others) only problem with this is AT&T branding it as 4G, which tricks consumers.
These days, both AT&T and T-Mobile branded devices display "4G" for *any* UMTS connectivity, instead of 3G/H.
It's lame.
My 900 has this switch in the settings without the need for any hacks
you hit #data# and then hit the ... button at the bottom and set up the toggle between speeds. Then restart the device, go under settings>cellular> select data speed.
With this device's data speed selection, 2G= edge, 3g= HSPA+/UTMS, 4G= LTE. Eventhough ATT modified the registry so that UTMS shows 4G at the top of the device, when you select 3G in the speed selection, you are only making the phone connect to HSPA+/UTMS
hx4700 Killer said:
Hre is the link:
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/04/nokia-lumia-900-gets-edge-3g-4g-toggle/
Im not sure what you mean about trying it on 4G... the only choices are 4G (LTE) 3G or edge so you get one of the 3.
In my LTE market when I choose 4G I get LTE.
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Hey, they stole my article that I originally posted on Mobility Digest. (www.mobilitydigest.com). They even took my screen shot. I purposely took that shot when my phone was showing "G". Oh well. Btw, it does work.
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express
Simple question..
I'm a bit confused about WiMax and whether or not it is (strictly) a cellular communications technology embedded in the Evo 4G, such as 3G and 4G Mobile Data Speeds, and how this relates to the Evo's normal wifi connection.
Is there any crossover between WiMax and WiFi?
Or is WiMax simply a mobile data technology not related to the onboard wifi network card?
Thanks
I think the wimax is part of the 4g service...
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app
WiMax is a type of 4G, with LTE being another type (of 4G)
And yes, neither of those have anything to do with the wifi and there is no crossover involved
Sent from my PG06100
CNexus said:
WiMax is a type of 4G, with LTE being another type (of 4G)
And yes, neither of those have anything to do with the wifi and there is no crossover involved
Sent from my PG06100
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^This. Older Sprint phones like the EVO 4G, EVO 3D and Samsung Galaxy S2 E4GT (among others) use Wimax, which was Sprint's original offering for 4G service. Sprint has since gone to LTE (Long Term Evolution) for their 4G service, although Wimax still works in areas where it's already active. Phones on Sprint utilizing LTE include the EVO 4G LTE and Samsung Galaxy S3. Wifi has nothing to do with either Wimax or LTE, as previously stated. A Wimax-enabled phone cannot utilize LTE, and vice-versa, as they are two completely different 4G standards and operate on different frequencies.
The advice is free....the bandwidth, not so much
It really grinds my gears that there aren't new phones available supporting either Wimax or LTE or Wimax AND LTE. I am stuck in Ohio where the Wimax roll out was thorough, and now there is no info on if/when LTE will come here. Eventually people in ohio will all have upgraded to LTE phones due to attrition and we are paying for data plans that we can't take advantage of. I really want a new phone, maybe the new One that is coming out soon, but the drawback is no 4G in Ohio. Sprint really dropped the ball on this one. I'd take a phone that was a little thicker so they could fit both chipsets in there no questions asked.
thebbbrain said:
It really grinds my gears that there aren't new phones available supporting either Wimax or LTE or Wimax AND LTE. I am stuck in Ohio where the Wimax roll out was thorough, and now there is no info on if/when LTE will come here. Eventually people in ohio will all have upgraded to LTE phones due to attrition and we are paying for data plans that we can't take advantage of. I really want a new phone, maybe the new One that is coming out soon, but the drawback is no 4G in Ohio. Sprint really dropped the ball on this one. I'd take a phone that was a little thicker so they could fit both chipsets in there no questions asked.
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Thats very true. I think it proabably has to do with the extra work of getting the two to play nice while both being available in one phone, and the extra drivers and hardware required to have both
Definitely what you said though, I'd have no problem with a bit thicker phone that features both but since other competitors are moving towards slimmer and sleeker phones, while at the same time having monstrously powerful processors, it probably wouldnt be a smart move on Sprint part
I was trolling the new HTC One forum yesterday, and did notice that the One might be coming with an LTE radio supporting 800mhz and 1900mhz. This is promising as I believe the 800mhz is what sprint rus the Direct Connect system on. That system is avail in my area so maybe they will use it for LTE? #wantLTE
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2158662
thebbbrain said:
I was trolling the new HTC One forum yesterday, and did notice that the One might be coming with an LTE radio supporting 800mhz and 1900mhz. This is promising as I believe the 800mhz is what sprint rus the Direct Connect system on. That system is avail in my area so maybe they will use it for LTE? #wantLTE
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2158662
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I remember hearing or reading something sometime back from sprint that eventually they were going to convert the old Nextel iden network over to 4g lte because of the bandwidth it runs on. I also remember that person telling me that this new lte on this frequency would penatrate 2-3x better meaning better 4g lte signals indoors. It may have been a sprint tech who told me on one of the many phone calls I have made to them over the years.
Sent from my ever-changing OG Evo...
Everything you say is true, just replace the word "bandwidth" with "spectrum". iDen was using lower frequencies which penetrate better. You get slightly lower theoretical max speeds, but the connection is more reliable, and people generally agree that's what's important.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app