Verizon users- check you speed. XLTE is active TODAY!

[Fritzo]

Verizon turned on XLTE today, and HOLY CRAP it's fast:

You need a compatible phone and to be in a coverage area (which includes a LOT of cities).

Supported devices

Moto X
DROID ULTRA
DROID MAXX
DROID MINI
HTC One (M8)
HTC One Max
LG G2
LG Lucid 3
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Samsung Galaxy Galaxy S5
Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
Samsung ATIV SE
Lumia Icon
Blackberry Q10
Blackberry Z30
iPhone 5C
iPhone 5S
iPad Air
iPad Mini Retina
LG G Pad
Samsung Note 10.1
Samsung Galaxy Note Pro
UML295 USB Modem
Jetpack MHS291L
Jetpack Mifi5510L

Cities:

http://www.droid-life.com/2014/05/19/verizon-xlte-cities/

 

[KentState]

I've had it for many weeks now and it's pretty nice.

 

[cronos]

That screenshot just looks like the regular LTE speed test result, at least the ones I'm familiar with on AT&T. What kind of speed did you get before?

 

[paperwastage]

That screenshot just looks like the regular LTE speed test result, at least the ones I'm familiar with on AT&T. What kind of speed did you get before?

XLTE = LTE using the AWS spectrum instead of Verizon's 700mhz spectrum

all Verizon LTE phones support Verizon's 700mhz, but only some support the AWS

Verizon's 700mhz network is overcapacity in some places, and users get dropped to 3G

so having AWS/XLTE = better because there are fewer devices and more bandwidth (AWS+700mhz) to split across all devices

(X)LTE still maxes out at theoretical 150mbps(20+20 bandwith) or 75mbps (10+10 bandwidth)... unless you do carrier aggregation

most likely OP's on a 10+10/15+15 city, or 20+20 region with other users using AWS

 

[cronos]

Thanks for the explanation! I thought this was some kind of 'turbo' LTE of sorts which will make it faster than 'regular' LTE (I obviously didn't read up on it).

 

[paperwastage]

Thanks for the explanation! I thought this was some kind of 'turbo' LTE of sorts which will make it faster than 'regular' LTE (I obviously didn't read up on it).

power of branding

HSPA+ got branded by carriers as "4G" even though it wasn't 4G under the technical details.... but people now refer it as 4G

I wonder what Verizon will brand for the 650mhz spectrum and phones..... XXLTE?

 

[KentState]

That screenshot just looks like the regular LTE speed test result, at least the ones I'm familiar with on AT&T. What kind of speed did you get before?

That's what I'm seeing. Co-worker got over 80 down at lunch.

 

[hanoverphist]

You need a compatible phone and to be in a coverage area (which includes a LOT of cities).

Supported devices


Samsung Galaxy Note 3

my note3 just updated to kitkat, im lucky to even SEE a 4g at the notification bar so far. i used to get 4g at my desk before the last updates from verizon, i would at least see 3g last week and now its either 1x or no signal at all.

 

[Fritzo]

That screenshot just looks like the regular LTE speed test result, at least the ones I'm familiar with on AT&T. What kind of speed did you get before?

Most LTE connections in large areas get around 8-20 Mbs. This is twice what I used to get, and some tests even got has high at 89Mbs.

 

[Insomniator]

So users can get to their 2GB/4GB/6GB limit even faster now? NICE.

My DNA doesn't support it I'm ok with the 15/8 I just tested at though. I'm grandfathered unlimited... 75/35 speeds make me tempted to buy a new phone.

 

[Brian Stirling]

Yeah, regular LTE was great a couple years ago but now, in many placed, its crap. XLTE will have a short window with fewer users and will be great until more users downloading from Netflix eat the bandwidth and then ....


Brian

 

[Fritzo]

So users can get to their 2GB/4GB/6GB limit even faster now? NICE.

My DNA doesn't support it I'm ok with the 15/8 I just tested at though. I'm grandfathered unlimited... 75/35 speeds make me tempted to buy a new phone.

I never understood people that say this- does twice the speed automatically mean you'll use it twice as much?

 

[PowerYoga]

I never understood people that say this- does twice the speed automatically mean you'll use it twice as much?

Its nice to see things loading better and faster. For some people this is all the difference in the world. I personally wouldn't upgrade just to take advantage of the speeds, but it's nice to see the congestion letting up in my area. I actually have usable data once again.

 

[s44]

power of branding

HSPA+ got branded by carriers as "4G" even though it wasn't 4G under the technical details....

Neither was LTE.

 

[Insomniator]

I never understood people that say this- does twice the speed automatically mean you'll use it twice as much?

Eh, yes if the speed makes netflix or other streaming services select a higher quality stream.

 

[Crono]

I never understood people that say this- does twice the speed automatically mean you'll use it twice as much?

No, it doesn't. You do have to be careful using any kind of streaming video, though, because some services or sites will use as much bandwidth as you have available. But with mobile caps around 2 to 7GB most people avoid streaming video over mobile data, anyway.

Faster speed without higher caps is annoying, though. Tablets and smartphones are becoming as capable as desktops at least where media consumption is concerned, and free WiFi isn't yet as ubiquitous as one might like (at least it isnt yet for me). I wish carriers would prioritize adding capacity over speed and bump up the caps without increasing prices. There doesn't seem to be enough pressure on them to do so, unfortunately.

 

[KentState]

So users can get to their 2GB/4GB/6GB limit even faster now? NICE.

My DNA doesn't support it I'm ok with the 15/8 I just tested at though. I'm grandfathered unlimited... 75/35 speeds make me tempted to buy a new phone.

From the sounds of it, users in NY for example, could not use hit their caps with the congestion. I'm sure in areas like that, people would pay for additional data even if was usable.

 

[mikegg]

How long would a 50/15 connection max out a 2GB cap?

Edit: I'm on T-Mobile and I'm getting anywhere from 10/1 to 25/10 on LTE. I have truly unlimited LTE data but capped at 5GB for tethering.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

So in terms of congestion, I imagine this means Verizon will have some spectrum in 700 MHz and some in AWS. Will the towers be smart enough to split the frequencies amongst the thousands of data hungry users in the vicinity? I'd hate to have to manually switch to AWS to get respectable speeds.

 

[boomhower]

Odd the iPhone 5C is supported but not the 5.

 

[Demo24]

Quite an improvement! Especially for me on my uml295!

Curiously my Lumia Icon doesn't do so well, significantly faster but doesn't touch what other phones are bringing down even within the vicinity.

 

[paperwastage]

How long would a 50/15 connection max out a 2GB cap?

Edit: I'm on T-Mobile and I'm getting anywhere from 10/1 to 25/10 on LTE. I have truly unlimited LTE data but capped at 5GB for tethering.

50Mbps = 6.25MByte/s = 0.375GB per minute = 22.5GB/hour

it'll take you ~6 minutes (@ 0.375GB/min) to reach 2.25GB

Odd the iPhone 5C is supported but not the 5.

iPhone 5 CDMA just doesn't support the band... maybe lack of amplifier/filter? 5 was released in 2012, maybe qualcomm's global LTE modem/transceiver wasn't available yet

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013...lte-chip-could-help-end-iphone-fragmentation/

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/iphone/iphone-faq/differences-between-iphone-5-models.html

I wish carriers would prioritize adding capacity over speed and bump up the caps without increasing prices. There doesn't seem to be enough pressure on them to do so, unfortunately.

well, t-mobile's adding pressure on one end (verizon's int'l texting, copying the tablet 1GB free data plan, ...)

 

[cmdrdredd]

Odd the iPhone 5C is supported but not the 5.

There is probably something updated in the radio.

My Phone doesn't work on this, but does anyone think this should change anything for me in terms of switching from Verizon to AT&T as planned? I am in an area that supposedly gets XLTE coverage.

 

[Muadib]

There is probably something updated in the radio.

My Phone doesn't work on this, but does anyone think this should change anything for me in terms of switching from Verizon to AT&T as planned? I am in an area that supposedly gets XLTE coverage.

Why are you switching?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Looks like I won't get a taste of XLTE for another couple of years

Currently on the gnex then getting my mom's 5 when the 6 comes out. The earliest is when my brother upgrades from the 5S to the 6S or whatever.