What can I do to speed up my download speed???

**brownhornet** · #1 (**permalink**) 11-17-2008, 05:15 PM

When I tether the top download speed I get is like 16kb/sec, is that normal? I always figured the download speeds should be a bit more than that. Does it matter that im roaming? I'm not in an alltel area so i'm not sure who's tower im on (Sprint I think) but the light is always flashing as roam where I live now since I moved after I go the alltel phone. I mean its decent even though its slow...i'm just wondering is this pretty much the general speed under these circumstances.

violentz313 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-17-2008, 05:20 PM

well with my rev-a upgrade i get 100kb maybe little higher when teathered. But when downloading with my phone its more between 800 and 1000.

**brownhornet** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-17-2008, 05:30 PM

I mean I have the new 6.1 rom so I know my speed should be a lot better than what it is I just dont know how to fix it... like if I have some settings wrong or something.

chrispipe · #4 (**permalink**) 11-17-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownhornet

I mean I have the new 6.1 rom so I know my speed should be a lot better than what it is I just dont know how to fix it... like if I have some settings wrong or something.

If you're using one of the newer MacBooks and bluetooth then unfortunately you're SOL right now. The new bluetooth stack included in OS X Leopard with the new macbooks has some issues with bluetooth tethering. It DOES work, but barely. Simple webpages take minutes to load, and forget about flash pages.

If you're not using a Mac, or bluetooth for that matter, make sure you have good reception on the phone (EVDO for highspeed access) and also make sure you have upto date drivers (bluetooth or otherwise) for your handset/bluetooth device.

Best of luck!

**brownhornet** · #5 (**permalink**) 11-17-2008, 05:46 PM

Well I'm on a PC.... compaq laptop... so im guessing its just the fact that im on 1X that makes it so slow. I mean even with that said it still seems like I should be able to get better than 16kb/sec. It's so damn frustrating I kind of want to ditch alltel altogether because I live in one of the largest metro areas in the country and for the life of me I dont understand how they could have NO coverage here. If I had known this before I got alltel I probably wouldve just went with verizon. Im paying almost $100 a month for functions I really cant even use on the phone hardly...including $10 a month just for tethering. I could understand if I moved from one state to another but damn I only moved 45 min from where I was when I bought the phone!!

**brownhornet** · #6 (**permalink**) 11-17-2008, 07:35 PM

Ok so someone explain this to me...

Dark Blue is EVDO-Rev A
Green is EVDO-Rev O
Light Blue is 1xRTT

Im clearly in the green area where I live... so why is it that my phone only shows 1x? Even if it is Sprint or Verizon coverage shouldnt it still be Rev A even though its roaming? I moved from the area where the dark blue coverage is (which im guessing is alltel covg) which is EV on the phone... I dont know I guess im just confused about the whole thing.

**hibby50** · #7 (**permalink**) 11-17-2008, 05:34 PM

roaming matters big time. That is 1x compared to evdo

njkid32 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-18-2008, 12:24 AM

I'm in the same boat as you are. I am an Alltel customer but where I live I roam on Verizon. Now, I'm not sure if your aware of cell companies roaming agreements (google is your friend

). But this is the issue you and I and probably many many more people are up against. Alltel has EVDO roaming agreements with Sprint but only 1x roaming agreements with Verizon. So, if the network your roaming on is Verizon thats all your going to get for now. Your phone will default to the strongest signal which seems to be Verizon in your case. Also, one way to find out which tower your using (Verizon or Sprint) dial #611. If your on Verizon it will tell you.

After several calls to Alltel and a little research I found out that in January I wont have to worry about this. Because Verizon's buyout of Alltel will be completed. I will then have EVDO Ra in my area.

I hope this helps you..

njkid32 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-18-2008, 02:00 PM

The problem is that your phone will default to the strongest signal. So if wherever you are Sprint is the strongest then yes you will have Rev A.

cowboy66 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-19-2008, 11:09 AM

When you moved did you update your phone's roaming? Dial *228 and select option 2 and let the phone update. I did this a few times (until it told me that my phone didn't need to be updated). It may help get you out of the "roaming" area. Other than that I'd go to alltel and tell them you are roaming at "home"...