Question about T-Mobile Data w/Sensation

[zjs]

I'm interested in getting the Sensation and one of T-Mobile's family plans with my brother. The family plans offer unlimited data but only a certain amount of 'high speed'. Once you hit that amount, the data rates are slowed down. My question is, exactly how slowly do they make the data? Is is comparable to regular 3G speeds, or even slower? I'm just trying to decide what cap would be the best for me, and if I can manage with the reduced speeds.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me.

 

[MattMJB0188]

They are slowed to EDGE/2G speeds which are considerably less than 1mbps down.

 

[zjs]

Is 2G bearable if I only use apps like Facebook, Twitter, ESPN Scorecenter, etc., as opposed to loading full web pages?

 

[danperde]

Is 2G bearable if I only use apps like Facebook, Twitter, ESPN Scorecenter, etc., as opposed to loading full web pages?

I don't know about the other apps, but facebook is taking forever to refresh on 2g. Like, you hit refresh then come back after you have your lunch and a stroll in the park and it's still not done.

 

[MattMJB0188]

I have 2G/EDGE here and with Speedtest I get 0.01mbps down and like 0.02 mbps up which is horrible. My friend got the same results using the myTouch 3G slide. Web pages load but take forever but that's pretty much it. Half the time it says connection failed. ): I have never hit the 5GB threshold on my plan but I'm assuming if you live in a Good 4G area then the speeds will be night and day. I am use to very slow speeds.

 

[zjs]

Ok, this might be a stupid question, but if I were to get a family plan with 2 gb of high speed data, would each line on the plan get 2 gb?

 

[MattMJB0188]

Ok, this might be a stupid question, but if I were to get a family plan with 2 gb of high speed data, would each line on the plan get 2 gb?

Yes but I'm not 100% sure. I don't think any wireless carrier shares data between lines, YET.

 

[danperde]

Yes but I'm not 100% sure. I don't think any wireless carrier shares data between lines, YET.

Second that. Your shared features are voice minutes and sms. Each line that has a smartphone on it's required to have a data plan, individually.

 

[mitchsurp#AC]

I have a hard time hitting that 5GB limit, too, though it might be easier on my Sensation than on my Nexus One.

I'd start with the 200MB plan. At any time, you can check your usage through the My Account app, available in the Market, and see how much data you have consumed. If you burn through that 200MB in one day (like I would), you can upgrade to the $30/5GB plan at any time for no extra charge. The usage on each data plan is pro-rated, so you won't get charged for both.

 

[zjs]

I have a hard time hitting that 5GB limit, too, though it might be easier on my Sensation than on my Nexus One.

I'd start with the 200MB plan. At any time, you can check your usage through the My Account app, available in the Market, and see how much data you have consumed. If you burn through that 200MB in one day (like I would), you can upgrade to the $30/5GB plan at any time for no extra charge. The usage on each data plan is pro-rated, so you won't get charged for both.

Is there a reason why you didn't mention the 2 gb data plan? I think that would be the one I'd go for.

 

[211]

I just recently upgraded my phone to a Sensation from a 500 Anytime Talk+Text with no data plan.
The simplest plan the Sensation qualifies for is the 2Gb plan. The data is not shared betweeen lines, and it's probably worth mentioning, as long as you don't stream music and or vids all day every day (or use GPS with satellite view all the time) 2Gb is hard to use up. I'm 3 weeks into my fist month and I've barely used 0.2Gb (200Mb). And that's not holding back on the internet... new phone, gotta break it in...

 

[Mardogg44]

2GB should be plenty for most.. also if you have WiFi at home and/or work, you may not even come close.

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk

 

[thepanttherlady]

I started my plan off with 5 gb and passed that not even 2 weeks into my billing cycle. I've had to go to the 10gb plan for $60. I passed both "levels" and the throttle speeds are horrible. :'(

I don't tether my phone or use my phone as a hotspot. I have one particular social networking website I like to use and because it constantly refreshes, it uses up a lot of data. *sigh* It's a good thing I have wifi at work and home.