T-Mobile Data Speed Optimization

**royalpig180** · 02-07-2013, 03:44 PM

My apologies if I've missed an applicable preexisting thread, but I couldn't find one.

I recently got a 16 GB Nexus 4 (from the Jan. 29th batch of orders), and have activated it on T-Mobile's prepaid $30 a month unlimited data plan.
I live in the Chicago area, where I enjoy fairly widespread HSPA+ coverage, and, if I'm to believe articles like , band 4 LTE coverage as well.

So far, without modifying any APN or other network settings, I've been getting download speeds between 10 and 20 Mbps depending on my location.
I understand that these speeds are really quite good, and for basically all my purposes, quite sufficient.

However, I'm not satisfied with "sufficient". I'm curious to see just how fast I can get my download speeds, or if there's some way to more consistently get higher speeds, that'd be great too.

So, 2 questions:

1. Are there any APN modifications I can make to improve the speed of my t-mobile connection?

2. What exactly is the truth about the Nexus 4 and band LTE, as we currently understand it? Is it possible in any way to get LTE connection?

Thanks in advance for the advice...

**gone down south** · 02-07-2013, 04:05 PM

1. Not particularly. You can decrease speed pretty easily :-P but you're getting about the best you can

2. Tmobile MAY turn LTE on later this year, but it's not available now.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

**skidmark** · 02-07-2013, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by royalpig180

My apologies if I've missed an applicable preexisting thread, but I couldn't find one.

I recently got a 16 GB Nexus 4 (from the Jan. 29th batch of orders), and have activated it on T-Mobile's prepaid $30 a month unlimited data plan.
I live in the Chicago area, where I enjoy fairly widespread HSPA+ coverage, and, if I'm to believe articles like , band 4 LTE coverage as well.

So far, without modifying any APN or other network settings, I've been getting download speeds between 10 and 20 Mbps depending on my location.
I understand that these speeds are really quite good, and for basically all my purposes, quite sufficient.

However, I'm not satisfied with "sufficient". I'm curious to see just how fast I can get my download speeds, or if there's some way to more consistently get higher speeds, that'd be great too.

So, 2 questions:

1. Are there any APN modifications I can make to improve the speed of my t-mobile connection?

2. What exactly is the truth about the Nexus 4 and band LTE, as we currently understand it? Is it possible in any way to get LTE connection?

Thanks in advance for the advice...

Can you please post your APN settings? I am in Chicago, and I have not seen those speeds yet.

**royalpig180** · 02-07-2013, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by MJ

Can you please post your APN settings? I am in Chicago, and I have not seen those speeds yet.

Sure thing. These are still the default APN settings from the t-mobile prepaid SIM.

**skidmark** · 02-07-2013, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by royalpig180

Sure thing. These are still the default APN settings from the t-mobile prepaid SIM.

The only difference I had was "APN Type" is "not set." Do you know what difference that would make?

I went by these settings from T-mo website:

**greydarrah** · 02-07-2013, 06:41 PM

There is nothing you can do to force yourself into a faster connection. It just depends on where you are and how much of that bandwidth is being used when you run your test. As far as the LTE stuff goes, this is not an LTE phone. I believe (though not being an engineer that has disassembled my phone) that although the LTE radio is in the N4, it's missing some critical components like a signal amplifier. If that's true, you might get LTE if you stand under an LTE tower. However, there is some guy here on the forums, that will certainly chime in momentarily to tell you it has everything it needs..so who knows. Personally, I have no interest in it getting LTE, mostly because LTE is a know battery slayer. The radio technology has not caught up to the signal technology yet. I'm sure it will...right about the time they come out with 5G. For me, Tmo H+ is as fast as I need a connection to be, so I'm thoroughly satisfied with the phone, as is.

**royalpig180** · 02-07-2013, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by MJ

The only difference I had was "APN Type" is "not set." Do you know what difference that would make?

I went by these settings from T-mo website:

I have no clue what that difference would be. I tried a few different configurations that I found online and ran 3 speed tests each.
I attached the data I got.

There was definitely a difference. Some of that could obviously have been fluctuations in traffic or other factors not accounted for by these settings, but make of this what you will. Sorry the text is a little tough to read...

**greydarrah** · 02-07-2013, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by royalpig180

I have no clue what that difference would be. I tried a few different configurations that I found online and ran 3 speed tests each.
I attached the data I got.

There was definitely a difference. Some of that could obviously have been fluctuations in traffic or other factors not accounted for by these settings, but make of this what you will. Sorry the text is a little tough to read...

You don't need to make 3 APN changes to get 3 different results, just run 1 APN 3 times and you might get a variance of anywhere from 2 to 5 mbps. I'd just pick your favorite APN and start enjoying your phone. Regardless of what your speedtest results are, I doubt you'll actually notice a difference using the browser.

**Go Ogle** · 02-07-2013, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by gone down south

1. Not particularly. You can decrease speed pretty easily :-P but you're getting about the best you can

2. Tmobile MAY turn LTE on later this year, but it's not available now.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

Lte will be available for 200 million people by end of 2013 on T-Mobile

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

**skidmark** · 02-08-2013, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by greydarrah

There is nothing you can do to force yourself into a faster connection. It just depends on where you are and how much of that bandwidth is being used when you run your test. As far as the LTE stuff goes, this is not an LTE phone. I believe (though not being an engineer that has disassembled my phone) that although the LTE radio is in the N4, it's missing some critical components like a signal amplifier. If that's true, you might get LTE if you stand under an LTE tower. However, there is some guy here on the forums, that will certainly chime in momentarily to tell you it has everything it needs..so who knows. Personally, I have no interest in it getting LTE, mostly because LTE is a know battery slayer. The radio technology has not caught up to the signal technology yet. I'm sure it will...right about the time they come out with 5G. For me, Tmo H+ is as fast as I need a connection to be, so I'm thoroughly satisfied with the phone, as is.

Are you actually getting H+ in your signal bar? I have only seen H on my phone.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

**greydarrah** · 02-08-2013, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by MJ

Are you actually getting H+ in your signal bar? I have only seen H on my phone.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

No, it only displays H, 3G when not using data and H when transmitting.

**PWC Realtor** · 02-08-2013, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by greydarrah

No, it only displays H, 3G when not using data and H when transmitting.

Depends on your carrier and SIM. I'm on T-mobile value unlimited and mine shows H at idle and H+ when needed during an active data session.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

**gone down south** · 02-08-2013, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by mwilkins

Depends on your carrier and SIM. I'm on T-mobile value unlimited and mine shows H at idle and H+ when needed during an active data session.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

That's not H+, it's H with up and down arrows indicating data transmission ;-)

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums