Mi-Fi Upload/Download speeds

[QuadShot]

Hey everyone,
Last year, Joyce and I purchased the Wi-Fi only iPad2's then got ATT MI-FI's (Model 2372). Now, they've never been lightning fast (although ATT will tell you they're the FASTEST), but recently, say, about the last 2 weeks, they've been slowing down considerably. We like to do FaceTime with our iPads and of course, need Wi-Fi for that. Well, recently the FaceTime sessions have been choppy, slow to connect, etc and today, wouldn't even connect. I did a Speedtest.net check (they have an app for that!) and the results are shameful. At least I THINK they are. I ran numerous tests on my iPad, and Joyce ran one on hers. My results (average) Download: 0.63 mb/s Upload: 0.00 mb/s PingTime: 780 Ms. Joyce's results Download: 0.63 mb/s Upload: 0.75 mb/s PingTime: 72 Ms.

I tried calling ATT but the tier 1 tech exhausted her expertise after asking me if I've powered it down and back up. She transferred me to a tier 2, then ATT hung up on me...So, am I right in thinking that this is unacceptable? We're paying (gulp) $50 EACH for these things per month....HELP>>>>>>>

Oh, by the way, I connected to our company wi-fi network and get these numbers:
Download: 8.17
Upload: 8.22
Ping: 59

[Dangelus]

Something is wrong there. I wouldn't pay for that service. Have you looked into the possibility of using your iPhones as a wifi hotspot instead?

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Something is wrong there. I wouldn't pay for that service. Have you looked into the possibility of using your iPhones as a wifi hotspot instead?

costs $$$, quite a bit too.

[QuadShot]

Tim is right. At first, we were going to use the iPhones as hotspots, BUT...ATT had other plans. We're actually two of the few remaining ATT customers with unlimited data plans on our iPhones. We pay $30 per month for unlimited data. BUT...in order to use them as hotspots for our iPads, ATT said that would constitute a plan change, meaning, new LIMITED data plan. SO, we went with the Mi-Fi's instead. 5 gig each for $50 each. Thought that was a decent enough deal but we aren't getting ANY sort of network! And ATT keeps jamming it all up by saying "well, there seems to be nothing wrong with the network, no reported outtage"...and of course, the Mi-Fi's are no longer covered under their 30 day warranty. BLAH! What to do?!

[Ktrek]

The fact of the matter is that all carriers are now throttling heavy users during peak periods to save bandwidth. It's not just an AT&T problem. Having to help out at wireless in our store I hear these complaints quite frequently. Changing carriers may help for a while but eventually you'll probably be throttled down at the next provider. Maybe you should try something like Clear.com?

http://www.clear.com/

Kevin

[Jobydrone]

I am not a heavy user at all for AT&T and my speeds have been terrible for the last month or maybe more.  Forget streaming anything over 3G, even You Tube barely loads.  Email takes forever to load, even texts have mysteriously been arriving hours late.  I am getting so sick of this I'm considering a carrier change for the first time since I've had a mobile phone, almost ten years.  I never had a complaint about AT&T until now.

[QuadShot]

Joby, that's exactly our issue too! We're not super heavy users on the ATT network either, in fact, of the 5 gig per month on each of the Mi-Fi's, we RARELY come close so if ATT IS throttling us, it's not for that reason. And I agree, on our iPhones (where we have the unlimited data plan), emails load very slowly, the internet is SUPER slow, YouTube...well, can't even watch on the iPhones, WAY too slow. When we first got ATT about 3 years ago, it was ok. Even though we live in an area that reception is spotty at best, they gave us a micro cell to boost the signal and it works. But the data...SUCKS.

KTrek, I get what you're saying and I've heard this isn't really an issue isolated to ATT, BUT, that doesnt' make me feel any better! :) It actually angers me even more because there are companies out there that CAN make the whole mobile data experience good. To me it seems like everyone knows that eventually (sooner than later), mobile computing, mobile data usage is going to be THE preferred and most common form of doing things. So, companies like ATT and other "carriers" are trying VERY hard to control that NOW so that when the future does arrive, THEY own it. I just think it's sinful to charge someone so much money, advertise that they have THE fastest download speeds EVER and have to suffer with the dismal numbers I shared. Come on...ZERO upload? And I am intrigued by that clear.com. I briefly looked at it and yes, it's the same cost of ATT BUT...it's unlimited! Are you familiar with them at all?
***Ah, never mind, just checked their coverage and Arizona is not covered :(

[Ktrek]

Switching to 4G would probably resolve your problem. I have it and it is very fast.

Kevin

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Switching to 4G would probably resolve your problem. I have it and it is very fast.

Kevin

I doubt 4G has made it to his area.

[QuadShot]

King, you're right. In Anthem, AZ where we live, we're lucky to even have 3G! Sad...since we're only 30 miles from downtown Phoenix!!