I switched to ST about a 2 months ago. I notice that about 25% of the time during peak hours, my calls don't do through, texts don't go through, data doesn't go through.
This is on an unlocked iPhone that is confirmed working (was used with other carriers prior).
I understand that ST is ATT MVNO. Could it be the density of NYC that is rendering my service essentially useless during peak hours?
ST support 'recreated' my account yesterday with no improvements.
Anyone else on ST in Manhattan? What are your experiences?
I live in Brooklyn, but spend half of my time in Manhattan. Can you specify what "peak times" you're referring to? Like time of day?
But to answer your question, I don't get the same results on my ST iphone 4s. I, too, am using a Verizon 4s, unlocked for GSM use, and it works steadily. Haven't had any dropped calls or texts (that I'm aware of), but data does come and go at times. But it's few and far, for the most part, it seems pretty steady. Might get a little SLOWER at certain times of the day, but otherwise it's steady. Also, while I use my phone a lot throughout the day, I'm not on it 24/7 so I might not notice the drop-out when it happens if I'm not on my phone.
From roughly 11am to 5pm, 25-50% of my calls don't go through. It takes a minute to send a text message, sometimes it fails.
I am in the heart of midtown - 50's and Park Ave. Sometimes, even in downtown (SoHo area), I experience the same issues. Things are better at night and weekends and in less dense areas (Washington Heights, etc)
You know it's funny, I made that first post earlier today, and when I was out and about, my data totally dropped out. My iphone showed full bars, but nothing was actually working. I had to reboot the phone to get my data working again...it then happened a couple more times over a span of several hours. Not sure if it was straight talk issues, or issues with using the unlocked Verizon phone...I'm hesitant to switch phones because I have a 64gb 4s right now, but if it seems like the service is having issues with the CDMA phone I may sell/buy a 32gb AT&T model.
Oh and apparently a text I sent yesterday never went through. It showed that it was sent on my phone, but the person I sent it to said she never got it...again, not sure if it's the phone or straight talk service.
I forgot to mention that when I am having these issues, I do have a strong signal.
Sometimes though, it goes to no signal for about 5 seconds, then reconnects.
It seems to me like my phone is talking to the cell towers (thus the strong signal) but ST is provisioned very little bandwidth during peak times, so my calls/texts/data never goes through. The disconnects probably means that ST's priority is so low in the AT&T network that my phone wasn't even able to keep itself registered.
Fair hunches...what kind of phone did you say you are using? You said unlocked, but is it a GSM or CDMA phone? Curious if that has anything to do with it...will keep an eye on it over the weekend. If the trouble is consistent I might trade in for a new AT&T iphone, as my last AT&T iphone 4 wasn't having these issues...
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T-Mobile internet is much, much more reliable in NYC, so the best bet is to get T-Mobile based SIM. On top of that, T-Mobile will run HSPA on both AWS and 1900 few months later.
T-Mobile will not be providing 3G in the 1900 Mhz here in NYC...that's already been discussed many times.
It's just not possible with the way the infrastucture is here in NYC, but in other states it's a different story...I wouldn't use/buy an iPhone on T-Mobile with expectations of such because it might not happen.
Do keep in mind that the iPhone 4 is plagued with reception issues and service going in and out...it's been well documented and the iPhone 4S which included an additional antenna receptor fixed this issue.
I'm using an iPhone 4S with Straight Talk in both Brooklyn and Manhattan without any problems.
Yes the data can slow down in Manhattan during peak hours but it isn't significant and calls haven't been affected at all. Straight Talk provides the same connection that AT&T provides so it can either be your phone or an outage in that specific area. I have run tests with Straight Talk side by side to AT&T postpaid and I can assure it's the same exact service... I've actually held unto one call from inside Brooklyn all the way to JFK airport without any call quality issues and not dropping the call.
T-Mobile will not be providing 3G in the 1900 Mhz here in NYC...that's already been discussed many times.
It's just not possible with the way the infrastucture is here in NYC, but in other states it's a different story...I wouldn't use/buy an iPhone on T-Mobile with expectations of such because it might not happen.
Do keep in mind that the iPhone 4 is plagued with reception issues and service going in and out...it's been well documented and the iPhone 4S which included an additional antenna receptor fixed this issue.
I'm using an iPhone 4S with Straight Talk in both Brooklyn and Manhattan without any problems.
Yes the data can slow down in Manhattan during peak hours but it isn't significant and calls haven't been affected at all. Straight Talk provides the same connection that AT&T provides so it can either be your phone or an outage in that specific area. I have run tests with Straight Talk side by side to AT&T postpaid and I can assure it's the same exact service... I've actually held unto one call from inside Brooklyn all the way to JFK airport without any call quality issues and not dropping the call.
You mean no pcs here in nyc because of the low pcs spectrum count here? Wouldnt refarming and kicking people off EDGE help?
I don't think it is a phone issue because i don't have many issues on weekends and at night - only during peak times and in certain areas.
Then it's an AT&T issue.
You can try and see if someone with AT&T also has the same issue in the areas and times you are having these problems.
If it is an AT&T issue then nothing can be done but to wait it out until AT&T fixes the outage or problem they have in that specific area. I was using my iPhone in Manhattan all of Thurs and seriously I had no problems at all! Data was really fast too.
You mean no pcs here in nyc because of the low pcs spectrum count here? Wouldnt refarming and kicking people off EDGE help?
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Yes, that spectrum will be used for LTE rather than 3G on 1900....besides, why would anyone want to use an iPhone on a new 1900 Mhz spectrum when there is already a big network of 3G already on the 1700 Mhz which the iPhone doesn't have. Why would anyone take only 1900 when it's new and none of 1700 which is already completely in place (which the iPhone doesn't have).
Then it's an AT&T issue.
You can try and see if someone with AT&T also has the same issue in the areas and times you are having these problems.
If it is an AT&T issue then nothing can be done but to wait it out until AT&T fixes the outage or problem they have in that specific area. I was using my iPhone in Manhattan all of Thurs and seriously I had no problems at all! Data was really fast too.
People on AT&T aren't having the same issue. I don't know anyone else on ST. That's why I think it is a ST issue of not having enough bandwidth or priority in the ATT network.
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Originally Posted by rainkid
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