Develop Bugs

Tmobile 4G slow connectivity speed

Since T-mobile live chat did help one bit (background info will be provided shortly), I figure I'll ask the helpful people on XDA.
Trouble: I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (t-mobile variant) running the latest update that is suppose to enable LTE (updated through kies). On 3 to 4 bars out of 4 bars of 4G signal, my download speed varies from 0.05 mbps (when I initially got them in nov 2012) to 5 mbps according to speedtest.net; however, I have seen download speed of 12mbps, but that is only around a local T-mobile store. My 2 locations that I always test are all within 1 hour driving from downtown Los Angeles (with the closest one being only 10 minutes drive) and both city are in populated area, so both cities should provide pretty good HSPA+ signal. The only possibility for the cause that I can think of is the modification to t-mobile's 1900 band, but an employee at a local T-mobile store told me that the Galaxy Note 2 shouldn't be affected by this unless there is a special case. But problem is, I almost never seen a connection speed that goes past 7mbps on my phone.
What T-mobile live chat told me: I won't post the entire chat history unless people really want to see and give yourself some palm to face, so here is a very accurate summary of it. 1) it is very reasonable to be running at a download speed of 0.2 mbps on a full bar of 4G HSPA+ 42 signal on my galaxy note 2. 2) I will be stuck with this speed until LTE rolls out. 3) YES my speed WILL BE THE SAME as my iPhone 3G running on EDGE network from 4 years ago. (I asked #3 as part of a joke because I am just so speechless before that point, and the person actually agreed with that statement) Throughout this chat session, I was provided with links to troubleshoot and possible explanations. One link stated the situation where you go over your data limit, which I have used 1.4GB out of my 5GB data plan.
TL;DR (too long; didn't read): 4G speed on note 2 really slow (read the numbers in the 1st paragraph) and t-mobile live chat representative is completely clueless (funny read if you have time)

Same issue here, ive been experiencing it since December last year. At first I got 0.00mb for weeks when normally I would get 8mb to 15mb down. Tmo requested a service ticket which by the way is still open. According to them work is being done on the towers but its been months now. Ill stick with tmobile, I know they'll make it right. As of now my phone will either get 3mb down or network errors.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

haha438 said:
Since T-mobile live chat did help one bit (background info will be provided shortly), I figure I'll ask the helpful people on XDA.
Trouble: I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (t-mobile variant) running the latest update that is suppose to enable LTE (updated through kies). On 3 to 4 bars out of 4 bars of 4G signal, my download speed varies from 0.05 mbps (when I initially got them in nov 2012) to 5 mbps according to speedtest.net; however, I have seen download speed of 12mbps, but that is only around a local T-mobile store. My 2 locations that I always test are all within 1 hour driving from downtown Los Angeles (with the closest one being only 10 minutes drive) and both city are in populated area, so both cities should provide pretty good HSPA+ signal. The only possibility for the cause that I can think of is the modification to t-mobile's 1900 band, but an employee at a local T-mobile store told me that the Galaxy Note 2 shouldn't be affected by this unless there is a special case. But problem is, I almost never seen a connection speed that goes past 7mbps on my phone.
What T-mobile live chat told me: I won't post the entire chat history unless people really want to see and give yourself some palm to face, so here is a very accurate summary of it. 1) it is very reasonable to be running at a download speed of 0.2 mbps on a full bar of 4G HSPA+ 42 signal on my galaxy note 2. 2) I will be stuck with this speed until LTE rolls out. 3) YES my speed WILL BE THE SAME as my iPhone 3G running on EDGE network from 4 years ago. (I asked #3 as part of a joke because I am just so speechless before that point, and the person actually agreed with that statement) Throughout this chat session, I was provided with links to troubleshoot and possible explanations. One link stated the situation where you go over your data limit, which I have used 1.4GB out of my 5GB data plan.
TL;DR (too long; didn't read): 4G speed on note 2 really slow (read the numbers in the 1st paragraph) and t-mobile live chat representative is completely clueless (funny read if you have time)
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Click to collapse
Just change your apn to old apn. You will get your speed before update. New apn with update will benefit if you are in LTE area.

jay661972 said:
Just change your apn to old apn. You will get your speed before update. New apn with update will benefit if you are in LTE area.
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I would if it would work. I've had a galaxy S2 and a galaxy S3 since then and they all have the issue. seems like i'll have to wait it out.

what is the old APN settings?

haha438 said:
what is the old APN settings?
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Here you go .... http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1979

Crazy4G1 said:
Same issue here, ive been experiencing it since December last year. At first I got 0.00mb for weeks when normally I would get 8mb to 15mb down. Tmo requested a service ticket which by the way is still open. According to them work is being done on the towers but its been months now. Ill stick with tmobile, I know they'll make it right. As of now my phone will either get 3mb down or network errors.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Other than 3 or 4 specific areas, I have yet to see a speed past 8mpbs, even 6 to 7mpbs are rare. This has been going on since the day i got the phone, and just like you, i was told that the towers' 1900 band is being modified. But today, i was told that the modification shouldn't affect my phone, which lead me to talk to tmobile through their online chat system

Try calling up T-Mobile and complain about data speed is freaking slow. Ask them to reset your data. I did that couple day ago. now my speed before was 5meg down now its 15+ meg download.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

haha438 said:
Other than 3 or 4 specific areas, I have yet to see a speed past 8mpbs, even 6 to 7mpbs are rare. This has been going on since the day i got the phone, and just like you, i was told that the towers' 1900 band is being modified. But today, i was told that the modification shouldn't affect my phone, which lead me to talk to tmobile through their online chat system
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Click to collapse
When I upgraded from my Vibrant to the Sensation, I was under the impression that because of the Sensation's radio, that my speeds would be doubled because it had HSPA+ 21. Then I got the S3 and now the Note 2 and assumed the HSPA+42 radio would double my speeds again. Sadly, that has never been the case. My speeds between the Vibrant and the N2 are not much different in most places. Almost wish I still had my Vibrant so I could prove myself wrong lol.
I've tried conversing with Tmobile many times, wondering if it's because I have the old required android web, which is supposed to be unlimited, without throttling. Tmobile has claimed every time that's not the case but I don't know if I can believe it. Almost tempted to buy an old Vibrant on ebay just to test it out.

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tony yayo said:
When I upgraded from my Vibrant to the Sensation, I was under the impression that because of the Sensation's radio, that my speeds would be doubled because it had HSPA+ 21. Then I got the S3 and now the Note 2 and assumed the HSPA+42 radio would double my speeds again. Sadly, that has never been the case. My speeds between the Vibrant and the N2 are not much different in most places. Almost wish I still had my Vibrant so I could prove myself wrong lol.
I've tried conversing with Tmobile many times, wondering if it's because I have the old required android web, which is supposed to be unlimited, without throttling. Tmobile has claimed every time that's not the case but I don't know if I can believe it. Almost tempted to buy an old Vibrant on ebay just to test it out.
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You have to be joking. Just because it's capable does not mean the congested network will give you that.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Slowed down here in NYC about a month ago. Can't wait for LTE, latest news says "early summer".

I just got this phone and noticed a slow down speed as well. If you want to call it that...
On my s3, in good 4G coverage, I was getting 12-20mbps, to where I never see over 10 now. My uploads are about the same though, in the mid 3's.
I honestly can't tell a huge difference in speed in my case. I will say, my Note trumps my s3 in every way you can imagine.... Minus speed.
Just kind of a gut check, lol!
I feel for some of you guys with those low mbps.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Note 2 LTE or wait for Note 3?

hope im posting it on the correct section.
Anyways, I've been offered by my carrier a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE version. I have th Samsung Galaxy Note 2 3g version now.
All I have to do is renew my contract for 24 months and also I wont have to pay more for LTE, im already on Unlimited Data on my Note 2, I just have to change my phone to a LTE enabled phone to get LTE.
Question is, is it worth the upgrade now? Or wait a few months for the Note 3 to come out?

Wait.
Really, are you always thinking "this isn't downloading fast enough?"
Locking yourself in for 24 months is nuts.

note3 ofc

muppetmania said:
Wait.
Really, are you always thinking "this isn't downloading fast enough?"
Locking yourself in for 24 months is nuts.
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Click to collapse
Here's the thing..
the fastest speed I got from my Note 2 3G is 5mbps
But I've seen people here with LTE go up to 20mbps and more...
Also, I think locking for 24 months is no problem with me. Since I've been using the same carrier for more than 10 years now
And unfortunately, where I live, we cannot retain the same mobile number if we change carriers, so unless that happens Im stuck with the same carrier.

providence said:
Here's the thing..
the fastest speed I got from my Note 2 3G is 5mbps
But I've seen people here with LTE go up to 20mbps and more...
Also, I think locking for 24 months is no problem with me. Since I've been using the same carrier for more than 10 years now
And unfortunately, where I live, we cannot retain the same mobile number if we change carriers, so unless that happens Im stuck with the same carrier.
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What are you ever doing on your phone where 5mbs isn't fast enough?
I had a S3 and went to a Note 2 LTE. Have I ever noticed any difference apart from running wanky speedtest? No.
If you really need that speed, sure, get it. But it sounds like you're just seeing the bigger number and thinking you're missing out. You're really not.
If you're so vain you need to show off fast speedtest, then yes you should also get it.

It really depends, to be honest. I have a Note 2 right now, but I'd really like a N7105 LTE version. I briefly had a Galaxy S4 but got rid of it because it wasn't as good as the Note 2. If the Note 3 comes out and is just a SGS4 in a Note size, then I'd take the LTE Note 2 any day. The slowness and lag of the S4, particularly in the camera app, coupled with the outrageous heat it generates and the pointlessly short battery life while doing very little make it a no-go. Hopefully the Note 3 is better engineered.....

Had note 2 LTE version sold it but missed it and bought cheaper n7100 but not much difference. Best wait for note 3
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app

Is anyone having signal issues?

I will be coming from a Note 3 which was perfect until the Kitkat update. I now have horrible signal and am sick of it. I live in a rural area and want to make sure the Note 4 does not have the same issues before I spend another $700 on a phone (I have unlimited data). Thanks!

murmur70 said:
I will be coming from a Note 3 which was perfect until the Kitkat update. I now have horrible signal and am sick of it. I live in a rural area and want to make sure the Note 4 does not have the same issues before I spend another $700 on a phone (I have unlimited data). Thanks!
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every phone is different since most of them have different CPU and antenna. it's too soon to tell though as most folks haven't even received their pre orders yet.

I have this question as well. I'll be coming from an S3, and it has terrible signal strength. It's the one thing that I've always hated about the S3. I'll be interested to see everyone's results.

My N3 had terrible reception, I moved to LG G3 which was much better. I switched to new N4 yesterday and this phone outperforms both on signal strength. I don't drop data or voice anywhere I used to with the previous 2 phones.

usmaak said:
I have this question as well. I'll be coming from an S3, and it has terrible signal strength. It's the one thing that I've always hated about the S3. I'll be interested to see everyone's results.
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I'm in the exact same position. I'm really hoping the N4 outperforms the S3.

armeN0317 said:
every phone is different since most of them have different CPU and antenna. it's too soon to tell though as most folks haven't even received their pre orders yet.
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Yes, I realize all of that. I just wanted to get the question out there.
Sent from my SM-T700 using XDA Free mobile app

It is still early but initial impressions seem to be positive. I am fond of Motorola for their excellent radios. Coming from a moto x, I don't see any difference in signal. And comparing from my previous note 3, it seems to have improved in my area.
Worse case is that if it doesn't work well in your area, you should be able to return the phone and get something else without incurring a restocking fee. I was hesitant since I wanted to wait for the droid turbo but since playing with the note 4, I'm keeping it. Good luck.

Im having a few signal issues i only get 1 bar some places but it doesnt seem to affect call quality

murmur70 said:
I will be coming from a Note 3 which was perfect until the Kitkat update. I now have horrible signal and am sick of it. I live in a rural area and want to make sure the Note 4 does not have the same issues before I spend another $700 on a phone (I have unlimited data). Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a note 3 that held a LTE signal at 2 bars very well at my house until the 4.4.4 update, after that update it would be one 3g most of the time.
I got my note 4 yesterday and had it all day and it never once dropped to 3g, It held the LTE signal very well.
The note 4 is definitely better than the note 3 as far as signal quality.

I can verify this because I just bought a note 4 coming from a note 3. I was unable to get service in my house where I lived as well as many other places I should have. I bought the note 4 yesterday and all my service issues have been fixed. So yes the signal is much better.
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app

using note 4 today and best service i have had to date. phone has great dbm and first speedtest pulled 47 mbps download!!!

My Verizon N4 so far has slightly better signal than my LG G3, which had good service to begin with. No complaints so far with signal strength / net speed. So far my only complaint is the message + lag when taking a photo indoors. Reminds me of the annoying image stabilization option on the S5 that slowed the camera way down

murmur70 said:
I will be coming from a Note 3 which was perfect until the Kitkat update. I now have horrible signal and am sick of it. I live in a rural area and want to make sure the Note 4 does not have the same issues before I spend another $700 on a phone (I have unlimited data). Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This shouldn't be a concern on a different device, as Android isn't like Windows (in that a specific version is compatible on all PCs). The firmware (OS) on your device is tailor made for that device, and because of this, the concern you have about signal quality on the Note 4 vs the Note 3 isn't valid (not that it's not a valid concern, but that it doesn't apply). This is why you can't flash firmware from one model to a different model, and the only way for you to garnish an answer is by either speaking to someone in your area that has a Note 4 on VZW or buy a Note 4. I'm not sure if the Note 3 had the ability, but from the Note 4 settings it appears that you make Google Voice your default phone service... not just for dialing, but for receiving as well. I can't verify this, as I haven't tried it out yet, however it would help in your situation. As far as signal goes, I've had no issues with my Note 4 since buying it.
Something to consider... the Nexus 6 comes out next month and one of the unique features it has, over that of the bootloader being unlocked, is that is is the first smartphone with a hot swappable SIM... meaning you can buy it on Verizon and switch at random with other U.S. CDMA and GSM carriers by simply swapping SIMs. The only two differences between the Note 4 and the NX6 is the NX6 has a 13MP camera vs that of the 16MP on the Note 4 and it doesn't come with a S Pen (it also doesn't have the novelty features like a heartbeat monitor or UV exposure reader)... hardware is all the same, quad core 2.7Ghz processor, 3GB of RAM, rapid charge, etc. I'm assuming you have Verizon here, but you know you don't have to pay full retail upfront right? Because manufacturer's and carriers can't test for every variable, occasionally a firmware update will cause an issue with signal viability... have you informed Verizon of the issue, as well as made Samsung aware?
Something else to keep in mind... Android 5.0 [Lollipop] will be released to the Note 4 within a few months, and if you prefer a rooted device, then I would caution against buying anything other than the NX6, as it is highly improbable rooting will be possible on bootloader locked devices running Android 5... is it impossible, no; highly improbable, yes. Checkout ChainFire's Google+ post from 10/18 or 10/19 for an indepth explanation as to why.

This phone gets FANTASTIC reception! Better then iPhone 5 which dropped 4g all the time and better then even my Galaxy S5. MUCH better then the Note 3 which has about the same Signal issues as the iphone 6......

I have a iPhone 6plus and note 4 and my note isn't getting more then two bars when my iPhone is getting 4...could my phone be faulty?
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app

Thanks guys for the feedback. I understand that signal problems with one phone are unrelated to signal issues with another phone. I was just giving my background that I don't want to go down the road I have with the N3.
Asking about signal issues with the National is a valid question.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Free mobile app

[Q] Att Note 4 issues with tmobile network

So I bought an Att note 4 unlocked I bought it knowing I might have internet issues but it was cheap, and I'm having issues with the Internet it works fine its fast(not as fast as it should be) just very bad signal and constantly looses connection and searches for network I checked the apn it's on tmobiles network all looks fine, I'm guessing it might be the band issues but I'm using METROPCS which uses Tmobiles network I had a G3 and G2 pervious to getting the note 4 both where from tmobile and never had a single issue with those I would always get full signal never dropped a call not only that I would get download speeds and upload of over 30mbps now it's taken a dump. Any suggestions? I despise att because I use my network a lot away from home I was averaging 150gb a month on my G3 now it seems that it will be hard to do that with this phone pretty bumped use Netflix a lot watch movies online download games etc. :crying:

I have at&t note 4 too on Tmobile and I'm not able to get AWS tmobile bands. Any way to do this as was done with note2 and 3. Tha ks

I have the same setup
I get wierd download speeds
I average about 3-4 down and 12 - 20 up
On 4g lte
I have tried everything only 2 different apn servers to try
Everything works ...just slow for the most part
It's not a tower issue either...it's like that everywhere
Download should always be faster than upload
Tmobile tech support blames the unlocked at&t phone
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using XDA Free mobile app

I blame the phone never had issues with tmobile phones till I got this att version of the note 4

I would think you can't get too upset if you're using a phone from one carrier on another, right? I mean there ARE differences between the networks and the devices themselves...

Note 3 unlocked from Verizon poor tmobil reception

My Samsung note 3 is unlocked from Verizon. It had not worked well from day one on tmobil. I have tried apps updates ect. Still drops calls people can't hear me and it won't send videos...rarely sends photos. Now it says memory too low when I try to upload pictures to ebay ect. I have a 32gb. Card in it and it shows only half full. I'm so frustrated I'm about to smash it and go back to my iphone.does anyone know what's up with this p.o.s.?

Did you change the APN (access point names)? This is just for mms and data. Now, as far as the card, how did you formate it Using the phone or as fat32?
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Could the poor reception be due to an incompatibility between the Verizon Note 3 and T-mobile frequencies?

First you need to make sure a T-Mobile Note 3 (or any other T-Mobile brand device) have better reception before placing the blame on your phone. I say this because T-Mobile's coverage is known to be weak compare to Verizon due to frequency issues.

I used a Verizon note 3 for a while and with the frequency difference the signal was OK using band 4 but it didn't have the second band that t mobile uses for LTE (which I think is 19) so the signal wasn't very good. I ended up getting a t mobile note 3 and have great signal now