Optimizing for U.S. data network?

[plaut]

Do you have the ATT '4G' 4 GB dataplan?

No, just a standard data plan (still unlimited!).

 

[blitz118]

Could it be the phone is not optimized for US carriers?

 

[Broheemster]

Well, mine goes from 3G to H and back, but there are two things that bother me with this...

1) My iPhone 4 still does 3-5x faster in the exact same scenarios even if I am only pulling 3G

2) Why wouldn't I be getting H+ when the Inspires right next to my device are?

I am to the point of selling, but really don't want to. Seems like nobody has answers:'(

If it were me I would go to the ATT store where the employees would be most likely to recognize that you're a regular or even a little bit of "friend" status... and ask if they can tell you the exact process that cycles through when your sim slips into an HSPA+ phone coming from a 3G phone . There has to be some kind of incompatibility or something that gets switched over or activated in the computer even if it one single keystroke.

 

[hova24]

Could it be the phone is not optimized for US carriers?

Well, I thought this might be a reason, but I'm seeing where others in the U.S. are not having an issue. i also see some are and there are even others experiencing this in other countries where some people also are not having issues.

My data indicator at the top keeps switching from 3G to H to H+ and back again. Speed tests start out decent, but almost seems like it is 'killed' very quickly. I am now lucky to get above 200 kbps. I'very never thrown a phone, but...

 

[hova24]

If it were me I would go to the ATT store where the employees would be most likely to recognize that you're a regular or even a little bit of "friend" status... and ask if they can tell you the exact process that cycles through when your sim slips into an HSPA+ phone coming from a 3G phone . There has to be some kind of incompatibility or something that gets switched over or activated in the computer even if it one single keystroke.

Yeah, I am becoming more of a regular at my store, but I do not know what exactly needs done. Otherwise, I'd just outright ask one of the people familiar with me.

 

[Broheemster]

Well hova, just sitting in the backyard after a hard days work , enjoying a cold beverage I figured what the hell and decided to call 3 stores in my area. I asked the first ATT store if when switching to an HSPA + device from a 3G, if anything needed to be updated in their system or changed so the device would run properly with my account they said no, it's just sim swap n go, but that we have not activated "4g" in my area. The next store I said a buddy of mine is selling me an imported phone that has our (ATT) bands, is there anything special I need to do in order for it to work. They basically said it should work but is not recommended for problematic/troubleshooting/compatibility/update/insurance reasons. The third store I said that I had an atrix(used this example for device difference) and I can stand next to my buddy with an Inspire and my buddy gets better download speeds. They asked what version of software I had and if it was up to date to bring it in... If I just purchased it they would swap it out and if I've had it for awhile that I would need to go through insurance. We know it runs the same bands based on specs so whatever signals those Inspires next to you were running should be getting similar data speeds, however no two back to back speed tests will yield the same results even on your own device. If you didnt stand there for a length of time comparing phones and signals it may be possible that they had just caught a better signal or the S2 is more sensitive to signsl change. My narrowed down conclusion is that you may have just gotten a rotten apple my friend since you can't just exchange for a new device. Especially since your signal indicator was spazzing out cycling . Luck of the draw, you may just be SOL man. Sorry Consequences of an imported phone. Excuse my edits

 

[hova24]

Well hova, just sitting in the backyard after a hard days work , enjoying a cold beverage I figured what the hell and decided to call 3 stores in my area. I asked the first ATT store if when switching to an HSPA + device from a 3G, if anything needed to be updated in their system or changed so the device would run properly with my account they said no, it's just sim swap n go, but that we have not activated "4g" in my area. The next store I said a buddy of mine is selling me an imported phone that has our (ATT) bands, is there anything special I need to do in order for it to work. They basically said it should work but is not recommended for problematic/troubleshooting/compatibility/update/insurance reasons. The third store I said that I had an atrix(used this example for device difference) and I can stand next to my buddy with an Inspire and my buddy gets better download speeds. They asked what version of software I had and if it was up to date to bring it in... If I just purchased it they would swap it out and if I've had it for awhile that I would need to go through insurance. We know it runs the same bands based on specs so whatever signals those Inspires next to you were running should be getting similar data speeds, however no two back to back speed tests will yield the same results even on your own device. If you didnt stand there for a length of time comparing phones and signals it may be possible that they had just caught a better signal or the S2 is more sensitive to signsl change. My narrowed down conclusion is that you may have just gotten a rotten apple my friend since you can't just exchange for a new device. Especially since your signal indicator was spazzing out cycling . Luck of the draw, you may just be SOL man. Sorry Consequences of an imported phone. Excuse my edits

Not to get all man mushy, but people like yourself are just one of the things I love about this site. I agree with your sentiment about possibly being a bad apple. I am going to try and get Samsung to service it and I believe they will from what I read. I really do appreciate the extra effort as I myself have spoken with a dozen people from ATT at this point. Hope your beer was extra satisfying!
:-!

 

[Broheemster]

Props to Miller hahaaa. No biggie, I had great amounts of help from all the fellas here at AC with my first android phone, the Evo, so it's simply quid pro quo. For what it's worth, you got to take this bad boy for a spin way ahead of the commonfolk. Is it just me or is the event on the 24th taking for-evvv-errr to get here?

 

[blitz118]

Not to get all man mushy, but people like yourself are just one of the things I love about this site. I agree with your sentiment about possibly being a bad apple. I am going to try and get Samsung to service it and I believe they will from what I read. I really do appreciate the extra effort as I myself have spoken with a dozen people from ATT at this point. Hope your beer was extra satisfying!
:-!

I think something might be wrong with your phone. Check out this video review from pocketnow. Look at the speeds he's getting it starts at 2:40 in the video YouTube - Samsung Galaxy 2 TouchWiz 4.0 Tour (Homescreen, Settings, etc)

I want this phone.

 

[aonanodad]

I use Straight Talk, which uses the AT&T network, and I get anywhere from about 1.5 mBaud downloads to 5.81 mBaud downloads. Most of the time, download tests range from about 4 mBaud to 5.5 mBaud. Uploads can range from about .5 mBaud to 1.5 mBaud, but are usually between .9 mBaud and 1 mBaud. The little icon only switches between 3G and H+ - usually H+ when it is sending or receiving. So far, I really like the SGS2, I like Straight Talk a lot, but give AT&T a "good" but not "excellent" rating - my T-Mobile service had consistently good 3G performance in my area, but AT&T varies a lot.