[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] Viper32:
Why Is My 3G Data Slow?

It's a complaint I hear everyday from people using flashed smartphones performed by them or another flashing provider...

Why are my speeds so slow and is it possible to improve the situation?

There are a variety of reasons why 3G data speeds may be less than stellar, and each one requires a different solution.

Before assuming there's a problem, though, make sure you understand the realistic capabilities of your service.

VERIZON/Page Plus/Selectel:

2G 1xRTT: 50-100kbps download and upload with bursts to 144 kbps

3G EVDO Rev-A: (shows up as "3G" on your phone): 600-1400kbps download with bursts to 3Mbps, 200-800kbps upload with bursts to 1.8Mbps

(Don't get to caught up in running speedtest as these can be very confusing and fool you at times into thinking you have a problem when actually

the way they test and the servers they use get congested also)

POTENTIAL PROBLEM #1: Weak signal

If you're too far away from the tower (or if there are a lot of obstructions/interference between you and the tower), your device won't be able

to pick up a strong signal and your performance will suffer.

Solution: Try other locations in your home or area you are in, some areas do not get great signal strength and this could be your issue.

POTENTIAL PROBLEM #2: Tower overcrowding (Network Congestion)

The bandwidth available from a cell tower is shared amongst all the users connecting to the tower. A cell tower can only provide so much bandwidth,

and the more users there are connecting to the tower, the slower everyone's speeds will be.

Is this YOUR problem? If you notice that your speeds tend to follow a pattern most days (for example, nice and fast late at night or early in the day but slower in the evening when everyone is home from work and school) and you've confirmed that the problem isn't signal-related (by testing your speeds at home and then again somewhere closer to the tower), you'll know your tower is simply being used by lots of other subscribers at the same time.

Solution: Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about this (other than consider switching to a different provider who might have more capacity at their towers or isn't as oversold in your area).

POTENTIAL PROBLEM #3: Incorrectly Performed Flash

It's very common for flashed phones to have been done incorrectly.

Is this YOUR problem? This is very possibly the source of the problem if your flash was done incorrectly or you made changes to your setup recently.

Solution: You'll need to either troubleshoot the phone and or reflash the problem phone.

POTENTIAL PROBLEM #4: Tower issues

Providers periodically do maintenance or upgrade work on cell towers, which can disrupt service; other factors like severe weather occasionally damage cell towers and cause problems.

Is this YOUR problem? If your service suddenly degrades significantly and doesn't improve much during non-peak hours (which it would if the problem was overcrowding), and you've confirmed it's not a problem with your flash, the problem likely lies with the tower. The best way to confirm is to take your device several miles away where you'll be connecting to a different tower and test there — if everything works fine when connected to a different tower, you'll know something is amiss with your home tower.

Solution: Out of your control, bear with it until the provider finishes work and repairs.....

Potential Problem #5: Sprint and USSC Devices

I hate to say it but I have seen some Sprint/USSC phones have this issue, likely due to weaker radios and or hardware implemented in the device.

Is this YOUR problem? This is very possibly the source of the problem if your flash was done correctly and you verify that other devices on the network in the same location as yours get consistently better data speeds.

Solution: Verify flash is correct and that your connected at EVDO in settings and passwords have passed authentication. If so this most likely a Sprint/USSC device issue out of control by the user. Replace device with another Cellphone Carrier brand and most of the time problem will be solved. (I see this allot with some of the Samsung S3 Devices from Sprint/USSC, almost like certain lots had a weak radio for whatever reason)

In the end your speeds can be related to any or all of these issues, and a proper flash is key to performing at optimal speeds.

Sometimes as much as we hate to admit a professional flasher is needed to correct speed issues, you would not believe some of the poor flashes I see when I read preflashed phones everyday that so called professionals performed ;)

Viper