AT&T LTE vs. HSPA

[Deron Dantzler]

I switched from iOS to a Nexus 4 about 6 months ago. I went to AT&T at that time and was given a new micro sim card for the Nexus 4. Bought the Nexus 5 and threw in my sim card. It's only connecting to HSPA. I tried some other APN settings, but no luck. Called support and they stated I need to stop in at a store and pick up a new sim card. Is this accurate? I know I'm in an LTE serviceable area, my iPhone 5 was killing it on LTE.

 

[Chex313]

I switched from iOS to a Nexus 4 about 6 months ago. I went to AT&T at that time and was given a new micro sim card for the Nexus 4. Bought the Nexus 5 and threw in my sim card. It's only connecting to HSPA. I tried some other APN settings, but no luck. Called support and they stated I need to stop in at a store and pick up a new sim card. Is this accurate? I know I'm in an LTE serviceable area, my iPhone 5 was killing it on LTE.

I assumed that we needed to get a new sim (free) but I saw someone else posted and they called and had it provisioned over the phone. So you could try calling them first, maybe save a trip to the store.

LTE was on by default on my N5...Settings/More/Mobile Networks/Network Mode. Make sure LTE is chosen. I'm guessing you already checked this. I suppose this is how At&t knew to bombard me with emails right away asking if I knew I had an LTE capable phone and that I should call them or go to an At&t store.

 

[Deron Dantzler]

LOL Chex, you replied to my other post today too. I guess I got in touch with the right person at Best Buy, and the wrong person on the phone at AT&T. The support person on the phone fed me a story about needing to go to the store and get a new sim or said she could ship me one. Oh well, maybe I've already used my supply of good luck today and will have to try AT&T again tomorrow.

 

[Chex313]

LOL Chex, you replied to my other post today too. I guess I got in touch with the right person at Best Buy, and the wrong person on the phone at AT&T. The support person on the phone fed me a story about needing to go to the store and get a new sim or said she could ship me one. Oh well, maybe I've already used my supply of good luck today and will have to try AT&T again tomorrow.

If they will ship me one then I'll call as well. Talking to the clerks at the store makes my skin crawl. If it wasn't for getting to look at the phones and handle them. I would never get near the place.

and a hardy "Welcome to the Forum's" Deron. Enjoy your stay and hope its a pleasant one !! You get to buy the beer!!

 

[williams448]

Like you I popped my sim card in and automatically connected to HSPA, but no LTE. Used AT&T's chat feature on their website and talked to a represenative, and within 10 mins I was getting LTE connectivity. No change in Sim card, and didn't have to go to a store.

 

[Chex313]

Like you I popped my sim card in and automatically connected to HSPA, but no LTE. Used AT&T's chat feature on their website and talked to a represenative, and within 10 mins I was getting LTE connectivity. No change in Sim card, and didn't have to go to a store.

Karen(The chat lady) didn't offer to turn it on for me. I asked to have the Sim sent. Just for laughs I took a pic of the conversation:

Karen: Half hour drive to your store would still be faster than 3 to 5 days shipping...
Me: I'm in no hurry, been using the phone for over a week. If its free I'll wait for the mail.
Me: Saves me gas.Its in the opposite direction of where I usually drive and the clerks there are usually high.
Karen: Bear with me while I get this set up for you.
Me: Thanks for your time, appreciate it!
(Time Passes)
Me: Is it your birthday?
Me: If it is...Happy Birthday!
Me: These chat windows still strike me as magical. Makes me feel like I'm in Disney World!
(More time passes)
Me: Hope you're in warm weather where you're at. Here it was cold and was snowing today
Karen: Its about 50 degrees.
Me: That's not bad...hopefully sunny. The sun always makes me cheerful.
(Time Passes)
Me: That and the new Nexus 5!
Karen: Verify you're address please.
Me: *address*
Karen: Thanks.
Me: My kid is chuckling at the conversation. I told her you're paid to put up with knuckleheads.
Karen: LOL!!
(Finally I got her to laugh!)
Me: Not that I'm a Knucklehead...but I guess that's your decision.
order #s yada yada yada...

 

[TofuTwit]

Switching from my Nexus4, I was only getting HSPA. Went into an AT&T store and they manually entered an IMEI from a MotoX. A few minutes later I was walking out the door with full LTE speeds. My APN settings were perfectly fine out of the box too.

 

[lucky87ad]

I took my Sim card right out of my nexus 4 into my nexus 5 and got LTE from the get go. First time I turned on my N5 it did a 125mb update while showing hspa and it rebooted itself and LTE came right up. I'm on go phone not contact if it matters. Never had to even mess with APN settings.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Jonneh]

I think it depends on which data plan your phone number is connected to. In my personal case, I never owned an LTE-capable device yet (I was using the Galaxy Nexus, which only had HSPA available). Because of this fact, my data plan, although grandfathered in back when unlimited data plans still existed, was titled something like "unlimited smartphone data plan" ($30), and it needed to be switched to the "unlimted 4G LTE smartphone data plan)" (also $30). Same price, just a different data plan on my line.

I achieved this by a quick (10 min) phone call to AT&T by dialing 611 from my dialer.