Slow web browsing

[abcalvinchan]

I recently picked up my HTC View and love it, except the web browsing over wifi is pretty slow. I've tried the following already...

1) Tried to disable WMM on router (per search online)
2) Tried dolphin HD, firefox, and opera with no luck
3) Checked the speed on my laptop connected to the same wifi router over 802.11b/g 2.4ghz frequency
4) Updated firmware, PRL, HTC, etc all to the latest versions
5) Disabled mobile connectivity (3g & 4g) and left only wifi on
6) Installed speedtest app and got 5M down, 3M up

Any ideas? This is starting to really frustrate me.

 

[jlee91780]

I loved the device itself, but I've had all kinds of problems with bad Wifi and slow 4G/3G and now they have the nerve to charge me overages saying I was completely on 3G all month when I clearly saw 4G indicated on the tablet and live in a good area. Even when the device was on fast Wifi, I would see the device initially load a website as if it was going to be fast, then lag halfway through the load. Your reported 5 M download speed is fast, but the fact that web browsing is still slow suggests to me that Sprint does this tail-end downgrade as a substitute for the throttling they have decried publicly.

My research took me to some forums where people got their msl codes from sprint and reactivated the device. This trick did very little for me except make me have to reinstall the few apps I had on there.

Issues like this as well as other Sprint-related issues with customer service make me want to return my phone and tablet to Sprint. Tomorrow is actually the last day for me for the 30 day guarantee and I have all but decided to pay the extra dollars to switch to Verizon.

 

[abcalvinchan]

Here are the possible options / next steps I am going to try...

1) Replace for another HTC View at Sprint to see if another unit has the same issue.
2) Buy a HTC Flyer from Best Buy to see if it still has WiFi performance issues.
3) Ask Sprint to disconnect service on the HTC View and try the WiFi at home again.

I turned off all mobile services (3g / 4g). Therefore, shouldn't all traffic go through the wifi only?

 

[jlee91780]

Here are the possible options / next steps I am going to try...

1) Replace for another HTC View at Sprint to see if another unit has the same issue.
2) Buy a HTC Flyer from Best Buy to see if it still has WiFi performance issues.
3) Ask Sprint to disconnect service on the HTC View and try the WiFi at home again.

I turned off all mobile services (3g / 4g). Therefore, shouldn't all traffic go through the wifi only?

I'm pretty much consigned to return this although I will miss various features. Its not ready for primetime probably because its both Sprint and HTC's first tablet. Sadly, my conclusion is that tablets are not usable for me as I previously returned an iPad. The iPad was too locked into the Apple Way and I don't have time to maintain a jailbroken device while these Android tablets are shoddily built with terrible carrier support.

 

[anon(20964)]

I recently picked up my HTC View and love it, except the web browsing over wifi is pretty slow. I've tried the following already...

1) Tried to disable WMM on router (per search online)
2) Tried dolphin HD, firefox, and opera with no luck
3) Checked the speed on my laptop connected to the same wifi router over 802.11b/g 2.4ghz frequency
4) Updated firmware, PRL, HTC, etc all to the latest versions
5) Disabled mobile connectivity (3g & 4g) and left only wifi on
6) Installed speedtest app and got 5M down, 3M up

Any ideas? This is starting to really frustrate me.

Sounds as if you have all bases covered. So was the SpeedTest results similar between your PC wireless and View wireless. Your View speeds are respectable. On my View I consistently get 15M down and 8 up on my home WiFi network. However this pales in comparison with the Samsung Galaxy Tab - I was getting 30M down and 7M up.
But I think this is because the Galaxy Tab has both 802.11n 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz. I use 5.8GHz on it. But the View only has 2.4GHz.

@jlee91780 and abcalvinchan
Here are my thoughts:
1. The View has a solid radio, you may have a View with a bad radio since you have trouble with WiFi, 3G and 4G.
2. I don't think Sprint is metering inappropriately - or at least I have not experienced it. I have checked my data usage based on your report but all appears correct.
3. Wireless networking can be tricky to optimize. For example I find that in my neighborhood the 2.4GHz spectrum is kinda full. It seems every household has a wireless network or 2. Sometimes channels get overused of course they are at different signal strengths but same channel nonetheless. This is true for my location - may not be the same for you.
4. Use an app like WiFi Analyzer to help you select the best channel for your location. Try to get some separation between strong WiFi sources around you by choosing a different channel.
5. Sometimes a hard reset works wonders.
6. You can ensure the cellular radio is off by activating airplane mode and then turning on WiFi.
7. You may be subconciously creating a reason for returning the unit.

30days is long time to suffer with slow internet. The overages hint at some serious browsing. I'm typically hyper sensitve with a new device - checking to make sure all is well and will return/replace as appropriate.

Anyway good luck with Verizon and whatever you choose. I don't think they have the HTC Flyer yet.

Sent from my PG41200 using Tapatalk

 

[abcalvinchan]

I've now tried the following...

1) Bought an HTC Flyer from Best Buy and the results are the same.
2) Tried another wifi with both units and the speed is similar

I then talked to my neighbor who has a Droid X and said that android in general is slow at web browsing. I am comparing this to my iphone or ipad.

 

[jlee91780]

You may be subconciously creating a reason for returning the unit

I'm not only subconciously creating a reason to return the unit, I'm blatantly creating a reason to return the unit. We only have 30 days to get the right device we have to keep for at least two years.

I now have put my View on a certifiably fast Wifi (10-15 Mb down) and the page load meter will show web pages load about halfway and then stutter there before loading the rest of the page. Its kind of similar to putting your nails on a chalkboard and disconcerting when you are looking for a smooth web browsing experience.

What abcalvinchan and I need to do is compare this to another Android tablet to see if this is common to Androids. However, we are clearly flustered because we can compare to our older technology and those devices didn't have these problems so this situation is not acceptable. Having to go through a complicated list of things to do to fix our View reception is ridiculous.

 

[abcalvinchan]

I played with the Motorola Xoom before, and I did not remember it being this slow. I wonder if the CPU can't keep up with the OS + web browsing. I loaded an ftp client, and connected to a local ftp server, and was getting good speeds.

It almost seems like the web browers on android attempt to load the whole page before it display it. If a page includes flash, it slows it down even more. On other devices such as the iphone, it will load the top part first, and then the bottom part. Basically it has more efficient algorithms for web page loading.

I wonder how the Samsung Galaxy Tab and 10.1 is. Such a shame, I really like everything about the device except the web browsing is a bit ridiculous.

 

[anon(20964)]

Is there anyone else out there with an HTC Flyer or View that is having WiFI, 3G and 4G issues like jlee and abcalvin?

I do not have problem with my unit.

However, I do recall getting the IPad1 when it first released and the WiFi issues that were reported not by just a few individuals but numerous people and confirmed by a number of sites. Ultimately the issue was fixed but did exist.

Anyway good luck jlee and abcalvin with your high tech toys. I will move on to continue enjoying my View...

Oh and jlee, I enumerated my thoughts in an attempt to help you diagnose your problem. They were not meant to be identified as a complicated list of steps to fix your device. However, it is interesting that you latched onto #7 - Thanks for identifying your intent

 

[jlee91780]

Is there anyone else out there with an HTC Flyer or View that is having WiFI, 3G and 4G issues like jlee and abcalvin?

I do not have problem with my unit.

However, I do recall getting the IPad1 when it first released and the WiFi issues that were reported not by just a few individuals but numerous people and confirmed by a number of sites. Ultimately the issue was fixed but did exist.

Anyway good luck jlee and abcalvin with your high tech toys. I will move on to continue enjoying my View...

Oh and jlee, I enumerated my thoughts in an attempt to help you diagnose your problem. They were not meant to be identified as a complicated list of steps to fix your device. However, it is interesting that you latched onto #7 - Thanks for identifying your intent

Wagadesa, I'm sorry if I came off curt or whatever, I know you are trying to help.

I think its very possible the View's single core is overwhelmed by the digitizer screen and can't do web browsing well.

I think I am leaning towards keeping the View because it did have so many other cool features but I do have until this Friday. I'm just disappointed because I was counting on this device as a ubiquitous
device to be carried everywhere and enjoyed and thought that since I live in Los Angeles, a supposedly great 4G coverage area, I wouldn't ever worry about overages. I have downgraded to 1 Gb 3G for $19.99/month and plan on just using mostly home/Starbucks wifi if I decide to keep it. I did return my phone contract because I feel that I simply cannot count on Sprint. At this point, I have to say I rather have my old AT&T service; they had lots of deadspots, but at least those were consistent and within my control. ATT also supported their Iphone much better with technical stuff. Sprint service is erractic and unpredictable; how does service get worse in the same area at my home over the course of a month?

I also don't know how its possible that nobody on the Sprint forums or owning Sprint devices complained when the statistics came out and Sprint 4G was shown to be on average to be slower than other carrier's 3G!!! What is up with this Sprint Love Boat? This is borderline false advertising versus ineptitude of customer service. No wonder they are gonna pass a law to define 4G. They need to pass another law just to define acceptable 3G.

It is very unacceptable to me that I get different answers from customer service every time, almost misleading information and false advertising. I have to do research ahead of time and invent b.s. rational so I can get over on their staff when I call them.

 

[jlee91780]

Holy crap, HTC Puccini is coming out. Gonna be same device as the View except bigger, dual core, and ATT. I have to think about it some more, but this is leaning me back toward returning it.

 

[abcalvinchan]

Holy crap, HTC Puccini is coming out. Gonna be same device as the View except bigger, dual core, and ATT. I have to think about it some more, but this is leaning me back toward returning it.

If you want to keep the view, but don't want the sprint service, why dont' you just buy the HTC Flyer? Btw, the 7" form factor is very appealing, as it is a perfect companion to a laptop. 10" starts to get too big in my opinion.

 

[jlee91780]

If you want to keep the view, but don't want the sprint service, why dont' you just buy the HTC Flyer? Btw, the 7" form factor is very appealing, as it is a perfect companion to a laptop. 10" starts to get too big in my opinion.

Yeah, you might be right about the portability because that was why I returned the Ipad. I thought about the Flyer but not ready to go completely without any data coverage if I am in a bind. Also, I believe the Flyer's choice of color and not having a 3G/4G radio makes it somewhat more difficult to sell. It continues to stick in the back of my mind that the View is single core and ready to become obsolete.

 

[abcalvinchan]

I finally got a chance to try out the HTC View (not the Flyer yet) at work on their public wifi. Interestingly enough, the browser was blazing! So now I wonder what the real issue is.