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What speeds do you get after using the 5GB of T-Mobile's "4G" data?

fuzzybabybunny

fuzzybabybunny

Moderator<br>Digital & Video Cameras
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The $30 a month card gives you unlimited data and the first 5GB is at "4G" speeds. What speeds do you get after the 5GB? Super slow EDGE? EDGE is almost like not having any data at all.
 
You know, I was curious about it, too. But after I bought and tried to use 3.5 GB data-only plan for my N7, I learned that 3.5 GB is A LOT for someone like me who's around Wi-Fi most of the time. I had to play Internet video while driving (but not watching) just so that I know [how much] I was using the service. (BTW, I don't need this plan any more since now my N4 can tether for free)

Unless you're going on a road trip or trying to replace your home Wi-Fi with it, it will be difficult to use up 5 GB data on the road. So no, I'm sorry I don't know the answer.
 
Ehh... I've got over a week left on my first month and I've already used 4.1 GB... I tether a lot and use it to upload zip files full of photos to my Amazon server though while out and about.

Just today, the Starbucks where I'm at had their WiFi down so I was forced to tether to do work and after 10 minutes of tethering I go into my WiFi Tether app and see that it had downloaded some 300MB of stuff and it was still going strong... I wasn't streaming anything so it appears it was Windows update or something ><
 
Bah, looks like someone did the experiment - basically, it's pitiful.

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1763109-I-ve-just-been-throttled!

"The download artificially maxes out at about 60kbps and the upload has been anywhere between 6 to 20kbps."

The worst part is that it frequently times out on loading websites.

From what users report, it is slower than EDGE, and goes in and out of "unusable" territory.

But hey, it's unlimited!
 
5gb is a lot of data, you really have to be watching netflix on your phone or tethering to your home network to use that much data. When my internet went out at home I tethered my xbox 360 to it and was playing call of duty online but that doesn't use much data
 
It's HSPA+ throttled to exactly 128 Kbps up and down. It's really slow, but IMO, it's no worse than getting stuck in an EDGE area. If anything, at least it's more consistent than EDGE, and pings are better. It still works for email and low-mid quality streaming audio.

If you hit 5GB, you can always refill your account.

EDIT: The Howard Forums user in NYC had a different experience last year, but 128 kbps is the throttle in the Minneapolis area. (Too bad I don't have a T-Mobile smart phone at the moment to snap a screen shot.)
 
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Yeah, that's a nice thought, but a lot of us don't really need a lot of minutes. The lowest Value Plan is $60/mo for 500 minutes with unlimited text and 4G data. That's double what he's paying now.
 
bearxor said:
It was my understanding that it was throttled slower than EDGE. Like in the 64Kbps range. Supposedly, you can actually get faster speeds by turning 3G off and surfing on EDGE. Like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHnXeDDArcw
Click to expand...
That is a very neat trick to remember just in case. Thank you for the link.

vshah said:
solution: switch to the value plans and get true unlimited with no throttling for $20 a month
Click to expand...
What kind of plan gives you true unlimited for $20? Do you mean $20 extra over $50? (I thought even those $70 plans had limits when it comes to speed)
 
lopri said:
What kind of plan gives you true unlimited for $20? Do you mean $20 extra over $50? (I thought even those $70 plans had limits when it comes to speed)
Click to expand...

T-Mobile's value plans (no phone subsidies) offer unlimited data no throttling for $20 a month.

It still requires a 2-year contract but they're cheap. I have a family plan that way, 1000 minutes, unlimited texts, 2gb data for my line 200mb for the other and I pay 75 after taxes.
 
lopri said:
That is a very neat trick to remember just in case. Thank you for the link.


What kind of plan gives you true unlimited for $20? Do you mean $20 extra over $50? (I thought even those $70 plans had limits when it comes to speed)
Click to expand...

Is this actually for the T-Mobile plan? The person in that thread I posted said he tried this and it was still capped artificially.
 
Thegonagle said:
It's HSPA+ throttled to exactly 128 Kbps up and down. It's really slow, but IMO, it's no worse than getting stuck in an EDGE area. If anything, at least it's more consistent than EDGE, and pings are better. It still works for email and low-mid quality streaming audio.

If you hit 5GB, you can always refill your account.

EDIT: The Howard Forums user in NYC had a different experience last year, but 128 kbps is the throttle in the Minneapolis area. (Too bad I don't have a T-Mobile smart phone at the moment to snap a screen shot.)
Click to expand...

How do I refill my account? It's a monthly account... so if I use up 5gb after 3 weeks... I can just throw in 10 bucks and purchase another 1gb or something?
 
fuzzybabybunny said:
How do I refill my account? It's a monthly account... so if I use up 5gb after 3 weeks... I can just throw in 10 bucks and purchase another 1gb or something?
Click to expand...
I think refill only works for voice for that plan, not data. You can only buy additional voice minutes, not data. My understanding is that you will have to deal with the 2G speed until the next billing cycle, or choose a different plan. But then again,

fuzzybabybunny said:
Is this actually for the T-Mobile plan? The person in that thread I posted said he tried this and it was still capped artificially.
Click to expand...
As several members have commented here and elsewhere, there is no true unlimited data at 4G[-ish] speed from any carrier, it seems. (except for basslover1, whose plan I would like to learn more about) If you look at higher-tier plans, they all have "4G speed up to 10 GB," or "4G speed up to 20 GB (among family members)," etc.
 
here's the link for the tmobile value plans that offer true unlimited data:

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Packages/ValuePackages.aspx

you can get one line with unlimited everything for $70 a month.
the downsides are it is still a 2 year contract, and there are no device subsidies - it is bring your own device or buy one full price only.

you can also get 500 minutes with unlimited data for $60 a month
 
vshah said:
here's the link for the tmobile value plans that offer true unlimited data:

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Packages/ValuePackages.aspx

you can get one line with unlimited everything for $70 a month.
the downsides are it is still a 2 year contract, and there are no device subsidies - it is bring your own device or buy one full price only.

you can also get 500 minutes with unlimited data for $60 a month
Click to expand...

They actually changed the top level prepaid plan to be truly unlimited as well. $70, unlimited everything. This is currently the only 4G Unlimited prepaid plan available afaik. The change went live Jan 9th 2013.

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans

I'm still on the $30 plan because 5GB is plenty for me.
 
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lopri said:
I think refill only works for voice for that plan, not data. You can only buy additional voice minutes, not data. My understanding is that you will have to deal with the 2G speed until the next billing cycle, or choose a different plan. But then again,
Click to expand...


yup. it stinks that way. but not a really big deal because 5GB is a decent sized cap unless you tether.

whats worse imo, is when you run out of voice minutes, you refill say $20, then a week later your new month starts. you think they deduct what you have in your account to start the month? nope. that money just gets put on hold until you run out of your new minutes. and if you dont run out of your plan minutes for 3 consecutive months, tmobile eats that money for you. how convenient for them.
 
I have the T-Mobile $30 5GB plan. I will see if I can remember to run a test. I am about 6 days out from the next cycle and I'm at about 4.1GB used. I will run it over the day before and see what throttle speeds I get.
 
Well, guyz and gurlz, I have the $60-buck-a-month plan. I've had the plan for about 5 years now. I had my Motorola Razr flip phone for 6 years before I moved (hesitantly) "up" to a smart phone. Samsung Exhibit II. I recently ran into financial difficulties and had to cancel cable and internet (high speed) from Comcast:'(. So I had Comcast high speed internet since the day they offered it. Amazingly fast page loads, but long d/l on movies and YouTube. So I don't know if Comcast was regulating my "high" speed internet. Since I've been using my Samsung for regular internet, (no tethering) seems that page loads are slow. It depends on tower locations, the time of the day, weather and net traffic. And if it is 4G. If it goes back to 2 or 3G, then furgettaboutit. When I first tethered my Samsung, I was getting incredibly fast page loads. Blink and you missed the page loading. Now that T-Mobile is "monitoring" my speed, I've noticed the difference and did a speed test at speedtest.net. While the speeds are not that great, they certainly beat my old dial-up connection. I'd take .71 Mbps any day over dial-up. If you download later at night, you will get faster speeds, as more broadband is available. So I am keeping my plan. I may not be happy being able to view some videos on YouTube, or wait for my downloads, but going back to dial-up, never again.
 
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