Locked modem settings

[auramae]

I have only had this phone for a few days but am a very experienced WM user. I can not get a speed test result of higher than 600 kbps. With my HTC Advantage and HTC Trinity I could get up to 1000 kbps in the same location. I tried to adjust the modem settings, but they are preset (locked by Samsung, the device says.)

Anyone know of a better configuration? When I tried to put isp.cingular, it failed to connect at all.

If I can't crank out some better speeds, I will take the damn thing back and get the Touch HD. If I am going to have a slow connection, I may as well have a better device.

 

[jwebb56]

What is your data plan? The PDA Personal unlimited plan is now locked to wap.cingular. The tethered plans and the legacy unlimited data plans still allow isp.cingular access.

Other thoughts:
1. When going through isp.cingular with IE you'll need to undo the forced proxy setting
2. Mobile speed tests results can be unreliable. Can you try a real world download on both devices and time them to see if there is any difference?
3. The locked modem settings are for the My Wap Networks connection. You can go over to the Advanced tab and use Select Network settings to pick My ISP, and then configure it for both isp.cingular and wap.cingular as you see fit.

 

[auramae]

Thanks for your help. I have the unlimited plan, so that may be the problem.
I tried changing the connection in Select Network, but isp.cingular couldn't connect with any proxy setting.
(And the only way I know how to test speed is to use dslreports.com.)

 

[jwebb56]

Okay, it sounds like AT&T is limiting you to the wap.cingular access point. That is not really all that bad. You will be going through a proxy server (no matter what phone you use) and in theory that could slow you down. In practice any speed drop is negligable.

If you want to try and play with modem settings you can select My ISP and then create a new setting by editing My ISP. At that point you will be able to add a new connection. Just define the connection as accessing the wap.cingular access point and it'll work.

But honestly I don't think you'll be able to make any adjustment that improves the connections over what's in My Wap Networks.

I've tried the dslreports in the past an I get radically differing results with the same phone in back-to-back tests. I've heard IE's caching influences the results greatly in repeat tests. I do not place much stock in the speed results. I've seen 450 kbs readings that seem every bit as fast as the 800 kbs run that followed.

When I download large audio book files I am delighted to see 400 to 500 kbs speeds and when I do it flies. 5 GB files download in 20 to 30 seconds when the app reports 450 kbs speeds. My desktop machine running through a cable modem with a very fast network connection only downloads these files from teh same servers at 600 to 700 kbs speeds (as reported by the app and not dslreports).

Bottom line is I just don't believe we really see >700kbs download speeds over our 3G phones. I think 400 to 500 kbs speeds are more the norm and those exist only with strong 3G signals. Maybe in a lab in a very controlled environment the network engineers can prove 1000+ Kbs is possible but not in the real world.

 

[auramae]

So what I think I hear you saying is:
Don't worry about the numbers, just decide whether the speed "feels" as fast as what I am used to. Thank you. I am getting used to the Epix and am leaning toward keeping it.

 

[jwebb56]

Yes, I am a believer that how fast a device works in the real world is what is important.