Sprint EVO Drops Hotspot Connection on large file transfers to iPad

**vbdude** · 01-19-2011, 11:01 PM

I've been working with Sprint since June regarding an issue where the Sprint EVO Hotspot stops downloading after about 10-14 minutes of communication. I wanted to use the Hotspot feature to download newspapers, like WSJ, VP, and others. It seems to work fine on small files, but fails on larger files. I also tested with iTunes movie downloads.

Is anyone out there having the same issue with the Sprint EVO Hotspot? The iPad download works great on any Starbucks, Hotel or home WiFI, but never completes the downloads using the Sprint EVO Hotspot. It was a nice idea, but its only good if you plan to surf the web on another device.

Sprint replaced the EVO phone, but it doesn't appear to be a device issue. I never get a hard error, it just stops. It does the same thing on either the 3G or 4G network. The only difference is more of the file downloads on the 4G, but its no where near the rated 3 Mbps to 10 Mbps they claim.

The 3G Download test using speak easy and 6 bars of signal are as follows:

Ping: 1939 ms
Download: 0.04 Mbps
Upload: 0.02

**npark** · 01-20-2011, 12:07 AM

What geographical region are you in? I regularly get 6-7 mbits download, and 1mbit upload using 4G.

how are you measuring bandwidth? There is an app off the market called speedtest, which uses speedtest.net.

I have no problems using the hotspot with my laptop and large downloads. have you tried this?

**vbdude** · 01-20-2011, 06:12 AM

I'm in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area. I', using both speakeasy.net and speedtest to determine speeds. Its not the speed I'm concerned about at the moment its the consistent drops.

**RUSH** · 01-20-2011, 07:07 AM

Your download connectivity is loosing signal at some point. It could very well be your connection to where you're located.(Tide water drive)

**Qosmokid** · 01-20-2011, 09:00 AM

There is a setting in the sprint hotspot feature in the advanced menu for it to turn off after 10 minutes. You can set it to always on so it never shuts off. I don't know if you tried that but I'm thinking that's what's happening

Sent from my HTC EVO using Tapatalk

**vnmous1** · 01-20-2011, 09:28 AM

Either that or perhaps an iPad issue. I have used the Hotspot for days at a time with multiple laptops (at the same time) and have transferred large files, streamed audio, you name it. I don't think there's an issue with the device or the system itself (perhaps a local/signal problem).

FWIW, I get about 4 down on 4g. But, I live in downtown Chicago in an area where there are little to no line-of-sight issues or problems with massive traffic on one site. And, my condo is floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. Almost enough to tell Comcast to shove their cable modem!

bj

**vbdude** · 01-20-2011, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by Qosmokid

There is a setting in the sprint hotspot feature in the advanced menu for it to turn off after 10 minutes. You can set it to always on so it never shuts off. I don't know if you tried that but I'm thinking that's what's happening

Sent from my HTC EVO using Tapatalk

I change this setting to never time out a long time ago. It must be my area. I'm not using a laptop, I'm using the wireless hotspot (Wifi) to the iPad. Ironically, I have no issues with the iPad downloads on any other type of WIFI network. It works flawlessly. Its only the Sprint Hotspot and iPad together.

**vbdude** · 01-20-2011, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by vnmous1

Either that or perhaps an iPad issue. I have used the Hotspot for days at a time with multiple laptops (at the same time) and have transferred large files, streamed audio, you name it. I don't think there's an issue with the device or the system itself (perhaps a local/signal problem).

FWIW, I get about 4 down on 4g. But, I live in downtown Chicago in an area where there are little to no line-of-sight issues or problems with massive traffic on one site. And, my condo is floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. Almost enough to tell Comcast to shove their cable modem!

bj

Have you tried the Hotspot with large files and with an iPad? These files are 800MB or larger (Wall Street Journal, Local Virginian Pilot, Mens Health Magazine, and even movies downloaded for viewing. It works great on any other network except the Sprint Hotspot. It works as long as its a small file. It could be an incompatibility between the Sprint Hotspot and the iPad, but its strange that the iPad works on all other WIFI networks downloading these large files.

Sprint wants me to activate an Overdrive 4G device instead of the HTC Evo using hotspot feature. The theory is that the Overdrive is a dedicated device.

**vbdude** · 01-20-2011, 09:36 PM

Sprint is behind deploying the 4G network to our area. It must be a funding issue, We received 3G network early, but this time we're on the bottom of the upgrade list. I don't believe the 4G network will resolve the issue. It could be a network issue since we have multiple military bases near. Sprint has a great network in many areas, but I don't believe this is one of those areas.