Data Speeds - Slow, Enable Airplane mode or Network Reset then fast for short period

[marathonman89]

Hello,

Unlocked Samsung S23 Ultra and S22 Plus. West Broward County, FL.

Until about a month ago Ookla speed test was consistently in 350/400 down range.
Last month 20/30 down range. Enable then disable Airplane Mode or do Network Reset run Ookla and back to 350/400 down range. A minute or two later run Ookla back to 20/30 down.
T-Mobile troubleshooting advises it has to do with the server the phone is locked onto. Well of course, however, 99% of the time the server is "Everglades, Florida" and changing the server rarely changes the outcome.
Anyone else experiencing this?
Any thoughts on a fix or workaround?

Thanks in advance!

Pete

[bobdevnul]

It is not uncommon for a cellphone to connect to the cell on one frequency band and then be switched to another one. Different bands have different speed capabilities. My phone using Verizon does this frequently. This is probably what is happening.

An app like Network Cell Info Lite will show what band the phone is using and show any changes. Check the band when you are getting high and low speeds. This will show what is going on, but there is nothing you can do to change it. The band you get is decided by the cell.

What can't you do at 20Mbps?

[marathonman89]

OP here:

Hello bobdevnul,
Thanks for the heads up regarding network cell into lite, I'll give it a try.
I know there is nothing I can do to change whats happening but it's annoying, nevertheless, since my T-Mobile High Speed 5g was bulletproof until a month ago.
As for what I can't do at 20 Mbps: Stream high quality YouTube video or music and Netflix without buffering.
Pete

[Digital Rules]

I suggest turning off 5G and see if buffering is minimized. LTE works much better for me if the phone insists on camping out on a weak 5G signal. I rarely see buffering on my de-prioritized TracFone Verizon service.

Sent from my moto g power using HoFo mobile app