Project Fi Speeds Slower than T-Mobile

[methfan]

I just activated an Nexus 5X on Project Fi using my Google Voice number.

I still have my current phone with T-Mobile while I "test drive", before I switch.

First test, I have my two phones side by side, and run the SpeedTest app by ookla

Here are the results:


Nexus 5X:

- LTE with about 60% bars, it looks likes it connected to SprintDM (not obvious)

=> consistently getting 5-7 Mbs download, and 1-2 Mbs upload

iPhone 6+:

- LTE with 3/5 bars on T-Mobile

=> consistently getting 30+ Mbs download, and 12-14 Mbs upload


I saw this post with older model Nexus phones ( titled: "Fi Data is slow (unusable) compared to T-Mobile" ) from earlier in the year, with steps to remove the Project Fi app to get higher download speeds.

However, I tried following the steps, BUT one of the steps is to uninstall the Project Fi app. On this phone, the Project Fi app looks like a "system" app that cannot be removed.

These speed variances could be because my 5X is connected to a Spring tower (assuming I am connected to a Sprint tower, because it is not obvious)

Anyone else experience this dramatic speed difference?

Does Project Fi and/or Sprint/T-Mobile throttle the speeds for Fi phones?

 

[B. Diddy]

This is a very good question, since I'm also awaiting a Nexus 6P and Project Fi SIM. I currently have T-Mobile, which gives me around 30 Mbps download speeds at home. I'm hoping that Fi uses T-Mobile preferentially, and I also hope it gets those comparable download speeds. Otherwise, I might ditch Fi and go back to T-Mo.

 

[npaladin-2000]

T-Mobile's always going to be better unless you manage to latch onto one of Sprint's B41 cell sites.

 

[methfan]

update:

i ran some more tests at 4 different locations (typical spots in my life) yesterday and today, and everyone single time, the data speed difference was dramatic.

i *suppose* this makes business sense to the carriers since they see Fi customers as potentially deflecting from them, so when google and tmo/sprint set up their relationship, the carriers users would have a better experience. [this is just me thinking out loud]

 

[ihtc]

Your absolutely correct. The carriers that sell wholesale to the MVNOs do so with the understanding that their own customers get network priority . They lease out certain bandwith with certain QoS settings

 

[methfan]

UPDATE:

GREAT NEWS: i kept testing over the weekend, and the data speeds are now inline with what T-Mobile offers.

it seems like something strange was happening the first and second day my phone was activated... but on day 3 and beyond, the data pipes are wide open...

woo hoo

 

[B. Diddy]

That's great news. Keep us updated! I'm still debating on whether to activate my Fi card once I get my 6P, and switch from T-Mobile.

 

[Schoat333]

Sprints speeds are pretty slow from what I have seen. Their LTE is more like 3g. T-Mobiles speeds have been on par between my fi Nexus 6, and the wifes T-Mobile Nexus 5 though.

 

[mogelijk]

I activated last night, I've been using T-Mobile. I have 5 bars from T-Mobile at home so, after activating, was surprised to find I connected through Sprint. I worried about that, since a speedtest I'd done just a day earlier showed 69 Mbps. So, I did a speedtest on Fi, using Sprint, and got 73 Mbps.

I suppose my only real complaint is that I'm not getting a text message from my bank, though I can deal with that issue.

 

[methfan]

I activated last night, I've been using T-Mobile. I have 5 bars from T-Mobile at home so, after activating, was surprised to find I connected through Sprint. I worried about that, since a speedtest I'd done just a day earlier showed 69 Mbps. So, I did a speedtest on Fi, using Sprint, and got 73 Mbps.

I suppose my only real complaint is that I'm not getting a text message from my bank, though I can deal with that issue.

How can you tell which cell service you are currently connected too?

 

[B. Diddy]

So, I did a speedtest on Fi, using Sprint, and got 73 Mbps.

Holy mackerel! I usually don't associate Sprint with those kinds of speeds.

 

[mogelijk]

How can you tell which cell service you are currently connected too?

I'm using Fi Spy. It is still in beta but you can sign up here to be a tester.

 

[sidsub]

A couple of things I've learned in my one week of using Fi that I think are relevant to this discussion --

1. To find out whether you're on Sprint or T-Mobile and what specific band you're using, get SignalCheck Pro. It tells you what carrier and what LTE band, signal strength, etc.
2. If you want to deliberately switch between networks to see which one is better, use the following key sequences from the Phone app: Dial *#*#34866#*#* to get on T-Mobile, and *#*#34777#*#* to get on Sprint

The key sequences at the end there seem to only work for a short period of time though. In my home area (Austin TX) Fi appears to prefer T-Mobile. When I switched to Sprint with the key sequence above, even though the signal was very good, it held it for about an hour and then switched back to T-Mobile. I am guessing they choose based on which network is faster in an area. T-Mobile has very good coverage here.

 

[sidsub]

I suppose my only real complaint is that I'm not getting a text message from my bank, though I can deal with that issue.

I'm seeing this issue as well (short code SMS failures) and have a support ticket into Fi about it. I think it seems to be happening to people like you and I who ported from T-Mobile. I noticed on a different forum there are some people complaining about this too, and it appears Fi support is dealing with each case individually. If you put in a ticket to get this fixed, according to others it will eventually be fixed. This is very annoying that they haven't figured out the fix when so many people are seeing this issue.

 

[mogelijk]

I'm seeing this issue as well (short code SMS failures) and have a support ticket into Fi about it. I think it seems to be happening to people like you and I who ported from T-Mobile. I noticed on a different forum there are some people complaining about this too, and it appears Fi support is dealing with each case individually. If you put in a ticket to get this fixed, according to others it will eventually be fixed. This is very annoying that they haven't figured out the fix when so many people are seeing this issue.

Except in my case it is only my bank that I'm having an issue with. I've sent other short codes, including a different bank, and haven't had any issues. I'm waiting to see if I have issues with another site before I try contacting support, at least for now. Not quite sure what to think about it, though it seems as if it might be something odd with the site.

 

[Dubbayoo]

I did a speed test on T-Mobile and got 62.03 up/36.53 down in metro Atlanta.

 

[John_La]

Force switching Project-Fi carriers on an iPhone 6s+

I've been trying to see if the Project-Fi SIM can use Sprint towers in an iPhone 6s+ originally sold for use as Verizon. I'm told by Verizon that it is GSM unlocked, but I've also read online that the CDMA Verizon phone would not work with Sprint's CDMA network. Our University Apple rep told me that all iPhones (since the release of the 6 series) contain all CDMA and GSM radios and the SIM (in accordance with carrier policy) determines which radio frequencies are used. Using the codes provided by +sidsup to force carrier switching, here is what I found:

Carrier name on screen did not change (Project-Fi)
Regardless of carrier, in my location (Los Angeles County) there was no change in signal strength or type (four dots, LTE)
When I forced Sprint, my upload and download speed were both about 30mbs
When I forced T-Mobile, my download was about 35mbs, but upload dropped to only 1.5mbs
When making a phone call using either carrier, the signal immediately switched from LTE to 4G. It returned to LTE as soon as I hung up.

Interestingly, I also found that the Nexus 5X that I bought from Google with the Google-Fi Sim, worked fine on the Verizon network when I put my Verizon sim in it.

 

[Goosinurwife]

i saw those speed tests and they are faster then Tmobile prepaid so you win

 

[mogelijk]

Re: Force switching Project-Fi carriers on an iPhone 6s+

I've been trying to see if the Project-Fi SIM can use Sprint towers in an iPhone 6s+ originally sold for use as Verizon. I'm told by Verizon that it is GSM unlocked, but I've also read online that the CDMA Verizon phone would not work with Sprint's CDMA network. Our University Apple rep told me that all iPhones (since the release of the 6 series) contain all CDMA and GSM radios and the SIM (in accordance with carrier policy) determines which radio frequencies are used. Using the codes provided by +sidsup to force carrier switching, here is what I found:

Carrier name on screen did not change (Project-Fi)
Regardless of carrier, in my location (Los Angeles County) there was no change in signal strength or type (four dots, LTE)
When I forced Sprint, my upload and download speed were both about 30mbs
When I forced T-Mobile, my download was about 35mbs, but upload dropped to only 1.5mbs
When making a phone call using either carrier, the signal immediately switched from LTE to 4G. It returned to LTE as soon as I hung up.

Interestingly, I also found that the Nexus 5X that I bought from Google with the Google-Fi Sim, worked fine on the Verizon network when I put my Verizon sim in it.

As a general rule, Project Fi SIMs in non-approved phones are stuck on T-Mobile. Since you tried to force it, it might be possible you connected to Sprint LTE but, as I understand it, making a phone call would force the phone back to T-Mobile.

The issues, again as I understand it, is that CDMA requires the phone to be registered on the network. With Project Fi using a non-approved phone, Project Fi will not register the phone on the Sprint Network, so 3G and lower signals will not work. Since LTE works off the SIM card, it is possible when you "forced" a change, the phone would connect to the Sprint LTE. However, since phone calls are not made over LTE on Fi, anytime you tried to call the phone would be forced back to T-Mobile. In fact, while not sure, it wouldn't surprise me if Fi occasionally checks the 3G and lower bands (since that is where incoming phone calls will come from) and, realizing they aren't working, switch you back to T-Mobile.

As for the Nexus 5X and 6P, they only have two versions -- US and International. Any US version 5X or 6P (including those purchased from Project Fi) works on all US carriers and they are not carrier locked; so yes, any 5X or 6P bought through Fi will work on any US carrier.