N95 - 3G speed test

Where do you live? HSDPA coverage isn't /that/ widespread yet so it's possible that where you live you can only get normal 3G.

Sorry, should really have mentioned that :redface:

Sheffield UK

I used the DSLreports mobile site when in london to check HSDPA on orange. The problem was they allow you to select the size of file to transfer up to 100mb and the download was so fast that they couldnt get accurate information. I would suggest that the quoted data rates for WCDMA, HSDPA, Edge and GPRS are achievable at most times on most UK networks, the phone doesnt have a great deal to do with it.

1 thing I think Nokia devices do badly is switching between 3G and HSDPA, also CDMA and GSM networks, therefore if there is a weak 3G signal or a weak HSDPA signal and there is constant switching then the devices is rendered virtually useless.

I would like if nokia allowed you to force GSM, CDMA and HSDPA connections by menu option. Therefore in areas of guaranteed coverage you will definately get near expetec transfer rates

you need to go into the USB and Bluetooth dial up connections, go to properties, and increase the baud rate to max of 921.6kbps or whatever it is. it equates to 115000 or something. i think that is the problem.

and check speeds on the phone browser at www.dslreports.com/mspeed. then click the 5k file to get to "result too fast" page, then use the 1MB file. should be way faster than what you got.

i. assume high speed packet access is enabled under tools, connections, packet data?

This must be enabled or you will never see the 3.5g icon.

F

in my street i have trouble getting a normal 3G connection if i want to watch the TV provided by vodafone i have to sit in next street. LOL
Any 1 on vodafone UK can check the map on there site to find out what connection is in your area
i know this is off the subject a little but while we are on connection subject i thought i'd share the info

RogerPodacter wrote:you need to go into the USB and Bluetooth dial up connections, go to properties, and increase the baud rate to max of 921.6kbps or whatever it is. it equates to 115000 or something. i think that is the problem..

ffcphone wrote:i. assume high speed packet access is enabled under tools, connections, packet data?

This must be enabled or you will never see the 3.5g icon.

F

Its odd, at home I never get less than full signal strength and the 3G icon never dissapears, yet the 3G speed is always quite slow, and I have never seen 3.5G displayed.

I spotted this thread http://allaboutsymbian.com/forum//forum/thread/69584/
and despite the contention, I have emailed T-Mobile to ask wheather HSDPA is enabled on the account.

I suppose I will just have to wait and see if I get any sense back from them :tongue:

Thanks for the replies, its been bugging the sh1t out of me!

codiac wrote:Yep done that 😊

And that too 😊

Its odd, at home I never get less than full signal strength and the 3G icon never dissapears, yet the 3G speed is always quite slow, and I have never seen 3.5G displayed.

I spotted this thread http://allaboutsymbian.com/forum//forum/thread/69584/
and despite the contention, I have emailed T-Mobile to ask wheather HSDPA is enabled on the account.

I suppose I will just have to wait and see if I get any sense back from them :tongue:

Thanks for the replies, its been bugging the sh1t out of me!

well when you connect to the dial up tether connection it shouldnt read "connected at 200kbps" or whatever, and that connection speed shouldnt change.

for example, regardless of what my tether speed is, the connection pops up the message saying "connected at 921.6kbps" and that number never changes. i dont know why yours does.

and if you are using an n95 you DEFINITELY should see 3.5G when data is being transferred. if it doenst, then maybe you dont have HSDPA in your area yet.

OK, I got a reply from T-Mobile regarding HSDPA; I know this has been discussed here: http://allaboutsymbian.com/forum//forum/thread/69584/
but I started this thread so trying not to cross post any more :redface:

Heres the email:

Thanks for your email Jonathan, letting me know that you've added Web n Walk Plus, to your account and would like the HSDPA service enabled on your account.

I'm glad you've emailed me about this, as it give me an opportunity to look into this for you.

I've tried calling you today unfortunately, couldn't get to speak to you.

I've checked your account and would like to confirm that the HSDPA service is enabled on your account.
Just to let you know that, T-Mobile currently support HSDPA speeds of up to 1.8 Mbps (Megabytes per second).

Thanks again for your email Jonathan, I'm sure you'll be able to use the Web n walk Plus option successfully.

If you have any further questions please feel free to reply to this email, I'll be more than happy to help you.

Kind regards

Customer Services Email Team
T-Mobile

Looking at this it appears that your account is not necessarly HSDPA enabled!?!

Anyway, gunna do a little more testing now to see if anything has changed.

Cheers
Jay

How strange. So even on your travels out and about you've never seen the 3.5G indicator on your N95 when trying to access the net?

As I travel around on the train quite a bit, I sometimes only get 3G but more often than not 3.5G is achieved some of the time.

I know you Yorkshire-folk are all backward etc (joke) whereas us Lancastrians are made of the harder stuff, but unless T-Mobile haven't enabled HSDPA over on the "wrong" side of them there Pennines, it's all a bit of a puzzle.

And T-Mobile's email responses flatter to deceive no matter what you ask them. I really get annoyed with the flowery sign on and off paragraphs that go on forever!

F

so can i get HSDPA on my phone?

if so how???

codiac , Im in Sheffield too and always get 3.5G displayed and speeds on T-mobile...

ffcphone , with that Yorkshire comment Im watching you now!! 😉

I've just tried my N95 and got 211kbps, 0.602s latency.

Have absolutely no idea whether that is good or bad but a 3.5G icon was shown and since the repairs to the local cell here, I can actually hold a stable 3G connection, so I'm reasonably happy.

Now just have to tackle battery issue when maintaining an open 3G connection, but that's a different story....

Us Sheffielders are made of Steel & Yorkshire Puds! :tongue:

I have to say its damn wierd that I have never seen the 3.5G icon, maybe I should move to the "posh" area where Kontraband lives :tongue:

Seriously though, I kept an eye on it today, admitedly, I only travelled around Sheffield, worksop(ish) and Doncaster(ish) and it never once changed.

Never mind, I had a cunning plan, I now connect to my Lappy using BT, then RDP into my home PC, then administer/web browse at 8 meg from there, its also necessary for me because T-Mobile block port 445 which I need to manage our firewalls.

yeah, move over here... its well posh! :tongue:

Seriously though, when I posted this (not this... that) I was in Tinsley, and I checked again in Chesterfield... again 3.5G no probs connection.

So I hope you sort it mate. 😊

Maybe a stupid question...... (bear in mind, I am from the cerebrally challenged area of Sheffield) :tongue:

does the 3.5G icon display only when there is data transfer in progress or does it just replace the 3G icon showing current availability?

I think I may go sit on the viaduct and perch on the crooked spire tomorrow just to see if I can glimpse this elusive 3.5G!

If it doesnt appear, ive either got a dodgy phone or Mr Kontraband is hogging all the HSDPA 😊

Right, Im looking now.. and I have a 3G icon top left,

launching Opera mini.......

choosing AAS site

selecting T-mobile Internet.................

connecting....

3G icon appears.

Disconnect..

Launch S60 browser, go to Nokia Music store...

3.5G icon appears.

So I guess the icon appears when the app you are using it is able to work out its on a 3.5G connection! (i.e. the resident browser)

To answer your question, it seems the 3.5G icon appears when you are in data transfer, not when you are in a 3.5G area.

Thanks Kontraband, that explains why I havnt seen it yet; I always see the 3G icon on the standby screen and thats all ive been looking at, I never pay attention to the icon when connected (browsing ect).

I know what to look for in future...... :redface:

Thanks again 😊

UPDATE...

I cant believe it.....

Was sat here pondering the 3.5G problem and began buggering with the phone settings.

Looked in: tools>settings>packet data and changed packet data connection to when available.

also noticed Access Point was empty so entered general.t-mobile.co.uk

This seemed to screw up the phone for a while and wasnt even showing any signal even after a reboot.

Eventually it came back on and I changed packet data connection back to when needed

Following Kontrabands example, I tested again using internal browser and lo and behold, 3.5G! 😮. Initial speed test showed 511kbps double previous attempts from same place. 😎

guys you will NEVER see the 3.5G icon if you use opera mini because it is a java device and it doesnt use the phone's true signal icon. load up the regular phone browser and then you will see the 3.5G. and you will only see 3.5 when its actively downloading. otherwise it just sits on 3G while idle.