Is Verizon Throttling Data?

[eye4ni]

I think there is something going on with my data speeds..... Some days I do a test and get really good results, but on MOST days, on the speedtest.net app I get really crappy download speeds of .30-.50 mbs and the upload speed is usually almost DOUBLE the download speeds....

I am in a rural area and previously had Sprint before the Verizon iPhone, sprint coverage was spotty, but in my area I would consistently get speeds anywhere from .80-1.5 mbs with only 3 bars.... On Verizon, I have good coverage, at least 4 bars almost everywhere, but the data speeds SUCK..

 

[epphllps]

Everything is always based on location, but it does seem that data is generally faster on Sprint than VZW. 3G should improve as LTE becomes the standard, I would think.

 

[anon4705295]

Wow, mine sucks

 

[cody]

He is mine. Kansas city, mo

 

[stewm]

I have to be getting throttled. My speeds are pathetic. Again just got 0.26 down and 0.25 up. Same location and 4 bars. No excuse for that period. Plus my pre gets 3x those speeds at the very least.

Just spoke with Verizon and they said I'm in a perfectly fine 3G area that should have optimal speeds. They are going to look further into the issue.

You may not be throttled. In the past 7 days signal in general in my area has had issues. I used to be guaranteed a minimum of 3 bars for signal and for the past 7 days it's been 1 bar or no bars and again when it comes to data I used to get a minimum of 800kbps and now it is 70kpbs download and ZERO upways.

I was told that there is no issue and that I should pay for an extender box. I don't think it's right that I should pay for an extender box so that I can make and receive phone calls. I guess that I am getting AT&T style service from Verizon now. Should have just switched to them in the first place.

Thankfully when it comes to data through wireless I get 28mbps down ways and 26mbps upways or the phone would be unusable at all.

 

[mi_canuck#IM]

Everything is always based on location, but it does seem that data is generally faster on Sprint than VZW. 3G should improve as LTE becomes the standard, I would think.

i'll still take a bit slower but more consistent (vzw) than faster (sometimes) but more erratic (ie. often slower or crawling)... as was the case with my at&t iphones... fast as hell on 3G when it worked, but usually that was at like 3am when no cell traffic... often, slower than Edge at peak times... screw that... much happier with VZW data performance, even if "slow" EVDO...

 

[epphllps]

i'll still take a bit slower but more consistent (vzw) than faster (sometimes) but more erratic (ie. often slower or crawling)... as was the case with my at&t iphones... fast as hell on 3G when it worked, but usually that was at like 3am when no cell traffic... often, slower than Edge at peak times... screw that... much happier with VZW data performance, even if "slow" EVDO...

+947472929 haha

 

[wmallen3]

Any suggestions to why my speeds are this crappy in a 3G area with 4 bars?!?

Looks like mine. no dropped calls but data

 

[iSRS]

I tried two methods, screen shots below. Both better than I had been experiencing in the past (on average).

But what really made things better for me? I stopped obsessing about it. In actual use, I have noticed exactly zero issues with speed. So I finally asked myself, "did I buy this phone to continuously test the speed? Or did I get it to enjoy?"

I must say, I am happier with the phone when I don't worry about it.

 

[Rex_Suggs]

idk but is this any good.
View attachment 8693

 

[ericsmcdonald]

No matter where I am, I can't get more than a 1.0 Mbps download even with 3g and 5 bars. What gives?

You're right smack-dab in the middle of the average they promise of .6-1.4 download. What are you complaining about?

 

[solu]

I get about .5 uploads and about .7 downloads .. i dont think thats accurate because i can stream videos without any issues or buffering. My downloads are also fast enough.

When i was on AT&T i used to get like 3 to 5 downloads on speed test but could not stream even a small YouTube video.

 

[Crunch]

Wow, well, Verizon throttling everybody in this thread? I sincerely doubt that. Or am I wrong? Is this a common thing on "the most reliable carrier in the U.S." or is this perhaps some kind of indication of the Verizon CDMA network getting strained to the point where data speeds are horrid?

 

[Jawcl]

Verizon uses EV-DO and that has a max speed of 3.1 Mbps and an average of 600-1400 kbps. AT&T's 3G has a max of 14 Mbps and an average of around 2.6 Mbps when everyone is on it. Thats why, Verizon's tech is slower unless they're using Rev B or Ultra (which would be like LTE). Which they aren't. And also, Speedtest.net mobile isn't that accurate on iPhone. My home network is 1 Mbps and it tests at that on my computer, but on my iPod and iPhone it only tests at about 600 kbps.

 

[Jon Seals]

It's the tower. Unless you're in the top 5% you aren't getting throttled. Have you noticed that in areas with more dense populations your 3G is usually slower? I have after going on a 1200 mile road trip. You're not getting throttled.

 

[AZMerf]

Hey at least you can make a call. You can't have everything.

 

[Chris4434]

I think Verizon is throttling the download speeds only. I have had issues with the speed ever since I purchased my iPhone but never had speed issues in the same places with my Droid Incredible or MiFi. I've called in several times because my iPhone will max out at about 400-600 kbps download but the upload is always a consistent 600-800 kbps. Each time I call they refresh the network settings and I'm back to my 1000-2500 kbps that I'm used to but it is always a temporary fix. In a day or so after calling it goes back down to around 500 kbps. Finally they sent me another phone but its doing the exact same thing so obviously they are doing something to slow down iPhone users and its very annoying.

 

[cortland1998]

I have an amazing 2.5Mbps with my Android Incredible all day long while on Verizon. As soon as I started using the iPhone 4, I can hardly hit 1.0Mbps. Terrible terrible throttling. I can't even watch a YouTube video without it lagging. Soooooo annoying. I know it's not that towers as I live right next to one. You can put an Android next to the iPhone and test with much different speeds. It has nothing to do with how much data I have used either. These were speed tests on the first day I had the iPhone. They continue to be poor.

Bypassing throttle?

I know there is a way to do this with the Android phones If only we could find a way to bypass with the iPhone.

 

[eye4ni]

As a side note, in the speedtest.net app, anyone see the cat when you drag the gauge down?

 

[JB01]

I'm pretty sure they're not throttling data.. I consistently get between 1.4 - 1.6 Mbps download and 1Mbps upload in my area. Plus as I'm sure other people have mentioned, no dropped calls!