4G AT&T Hotspot is often very, very slow

[Erik]

Hey everyone,

I've subscribed to the AT&T WiFi hotspot service in my Ranger for nearly two years now.

Over the past year, the hotspot has become more and more useless, as the speeds it provides are often very, very slow. The slow speeds are in areas that should have excellent cell coverage (coastal San Diego county... below is a typically-encountered sub 1mb/s download speed in Carlsbad). My Google Fi cell service, which uses T-Mobile and Sprint, is never slow, for comparison.

Anybody else run into slooooow AT&T service? What was your solution to it?

Note that while I do use the hotspot to offset the cost of my per-GB Google Fi service, I never come close to reaching the 22 GB/month limit where AT&T may throttle down speed. I've also completed the reset of the head unit, which didn't help.

Thanks,
Erik

Sponsored

 

[Porpoise Hork]

"The 4G AT&T data connection speed is all dependent on available signal strength, the number of towers in the area, and most importantly network saturation."

Default company excuses aside, I'm firmly convinced that AT&T is throttling the speeds for automotive 4G devices. I have seen similar and utterly pathetic speeds on mine as well. To test I forced my iPhone (also uses AT&T) to 4G LTE mode and ran a several speed tests connected to the truck's hotspot and off it. All testing was done less than 500 feet from an AT&T cell tower with 100% signal strength. Connected the phone to the truck I got similar speeds as you around .5-1.2 Mbps down and 7-9 Mbps up. When running the phone on 4G LTG cellular only it jumped up to 25-35 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up. Then when allowed back on 5G it gets 75-120 Mbps down and 150 Mbps up. I then checked the data usage for the truck and it only uses 1-2 GB on average a month. It's well below AT&T's unlimited data throttling cap. The only two things I can come up with as why it's so slow is the cell antenna and/or WiFi radio in the truck are configured in such a way that it's capping bandwidth to devices connected to it resulting in the poor speeds, or AT&T is actively throttling the 4G data only connections like that in the Ranger.

 

[Peragrin]

"The 4G AT&T data connection speed is all dependent on available signal strength, the number of towers in the area, and most importantly network saturation."

Default company excuses aside, I'm firmly convinced that AT&T is throttling the speeds for automotive 4G devices. I have seen similar and utterly pathetic speeds on mine as well. To test I forced my iPhone (also uses AT&T) to 4G LTE mode and ran a several speed tests connected to the truck's hotspot and off it. All testing was done less than 500 feet from an AT&T cell tower with 100% signal strength. Connected the phone to the truck I got similar speeds as you around .5-1.2 Mbps down and 7-9 Mbps up. When running the phone on 4G LTG cellular only it jumped up to 25-35 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up. Then when allowed back on 5G it gets 75-120 Mbps down and 150 Mbps up. I then checked the data usage for the truck and it only uses 1-2 GB on average a month. It's well below AT&T's unlimited data throttling cap. The only two things I can come up with as why it's so slow is the cell antenna and/or WiFi radio in the truck are configured in such a way that it's capping bandwidth to devices connected to it resulting in the poor speeds, or AT&T is actively throttling the 4G data only connections like that in the Ranger.

AT&T are cannibalizing 4G for 5G devices. a hotspot in your vehicle sounds nice, but in less than 10 years when they turn off 4G it is useless. if oyu have a business need for it great, but you would be better served with a 4G mobile hotspot rather than one stuck in your vehicles.

 

[JesseS]

AT&T are cannibalizing 4G for 5G devices. a hotspot in your vehicle sounds nice, but in less than 10 years when they turn off 4G it is useless. if oyu have a business need for it great, but you would be better served with a 4G mobile hotspot rather than one stuck in your vehicles.

I get faster speeds on 1 bar of iPhone 5G than I do with 4 bars 4G on the trucks hotspot, I will not be renewing. My 4G Verizon hotspot in the RV is much faster, just limited to 20GB before they 'can' throttle.

 

[mtbikernate]

I haven't had any trouble with the truck's hotspot speeds, but I have thought about what I'll do if it becomes a problem, or in the longer term when 4G gets deprecated.

I probably will wind up going to a mobile hotspot from the carrier of my choice, at least until true unlimited data plans on phones themselves become cheap enough to make sense.

It may end up happening that way, though definitely not as fast as it has with my home internet. I have AT&T fiber at home, and they just increased my speed from just over 100MB/sec to almost 600MB/sec and are charging me less for it.

 

[Erik]

"The 4G AT&T data connection speed is all dependent on available signal strength, the number of towers in the area, and most importantly network saturation."

Default company excuses aside, I'm firmly convinced that AT&T is throttling the speeds for automotive 4G devices. I have seen similar and utterly pathetic speeds on mine as well. To test I forced my iPhone (also uses AT&T) to 4G LTE mode and ran a several speed tests connected to the truck's hotspot and off it. All testing was done less than 500 feet from an AT&T cell tower with 100% signal strength. Connected the phone to the truck I got similar speeds as you around .5-1.2 Mbps down and 7-9 Mbps up. When running the phone on 4G LTG cellular only it jumped up to 25-35 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up. Then when allowed back on 5G it gets 75-120 Mbps down and 150 Mbps up. I then checked the data usage for the truck and it only uses 1-2 GB on average a month. It's well below AT&T's unlimited data throttling cap. The only two things I can come up with as why it's so slow is the cell antenna and/or WiFi radio in the truck are configured in such a way that it's capping bandwidth to devices connected to it resulting in the poor speeds, or AT&T is actively throttling the 4G data only connections like that in the Ranger.

That's what I suspected. Thanks for reporting your outcome of a 4G AT&T truck hotspot vs. 4G AT&T phone -- that explains it all.

 

[jflogerzi]

You better off using your phone and getting a tethering app that hides your traffic so it appears its coming from your phone and not a hot-spot. Android this is doable, iphone not so sure.

 

[Msfitoy]

I let it expire and use my own phone for hot spot...one bill instead of two...

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I let it expire and use my own phone for hot spot...one bill instead of two...

I have thought of doing this as well. It's to the point where I hardly use the truck's hot spot so just kind of makes sense to save the money especially since it's so crappy now.

 

[Msfitoy]

I have thought of doing this as well. It's to the point where I hardly use the truck's hot spot so just kind of makes sense to save the money especially since it's so crappy now.

I have a WeBoost cell signal amplifier which helps considerably...especially out in the boonies...

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I have a WeBoost cell signal amplifier which helps considerably...especially out in the boonies...

The wife and I don't mind not having much in the way of cell service when were at the ranch. It's one of the reasons we go out there to disconnect from the goings on for a few days or so. The time in the truck is where having the cell service is a plus for music since I don't use the satellite radio.

 

[Msfitoy]

The wife and I don't mind not having much in the way of cell service when were at the ranch. It's one of the reasons we go out there to disconnect from the goings on for a few days or so. The time in the truck is where having the cell service is a plus for music since I don't use the satellite radio.

Ah that's where a flash drive comes in handy...I use 500gb USB stick filled with music when there's absolutely no signal to amplify...

 

[Jason B]

Testing speeds of the truck's 4G with using a phone is not what you think. What you are actually testing is the WiFi connection between the phone and truck. But there does seem to be a problem with OP's connection. Never have I seen an upload speed 23 times faster than download, so probably a throttling issue thru the carrier.
Another thing I don't get is using the vehicle as a hotspot for your phone. This would make sense if you were low on data for the phone, but the $20 per month for the truck connection would probably get you unlimited data on the phone if the $20 was added to upgrade your phone plan.
And it's counter intuitive to use the truck hot spot for streaming music, say thru Pandora or Spotify.
What's happening there is the phone connects to the truck either thru WiFi or USB, streams the data to the phone, processes the data thru the music App, then sends the music back to the SYNC thru bluetooth, or USB if you have that connected. The SYNC interface only gives you control of the App, it doesn't process or download music directly from the net to the SYNC system. If it did, you would be able to use your streaming services without a phone.
Maybe SYNC 4 will run apps natively, but I haven't researched it.

 

[mtbikernate]

Testing speeds of the truck's 4G with using a phone is not what you think. What you are actually testing is the WiFi connection between the phone and truck. But there does seem to be a problem with OP's connection. Never have I seen an upload speed 23 times faster than download, so probably a throttling issue thru the carrier.
Another thing I don't get is using the vehicle as a hotspot for your phone. This would make sense if you were low on data for the phone, but the $20 per month for the truck connection would probably get you unlimited data on the phone if the $20 was added to upgrade your phone plan.
And it's counter intuitive to use the truck hot spot for streaming music, say thru Pandora or Spotify.
What's happening there is the phone connects to the truck either thru WiFi or USB, streams the data to the phone, processes the data thru the music App, then sends the music back to the SYNC thru bluetooth, or USB if you have that connected. The SYNC interface only gives you control of the App, it doesn't process or download music directly from the net to the SYNC system. If it did, you would be able to use your streaming services without a phone.
Maybe SYNC 4 will run apps natively, but I haven't researched it.

You are testing the data connection AND the wifi connection, and whichever is the slowest at the time is going to be the one limiting your speeds on a speed test. The speed test isn't going to tell you which one is the limiting factor.

It doesn't make sense for everybody, but I priced it out for my phone plan. Switching to unlimited data on my family plan would cost MORE than the truck's data plan. Considering that the only time I go over my data allotment is on road trips, it makes very good sense to use the truck as a hotspot. Since I use my phone for nav, offloading that data onto the truck's unlimited data plan leaves a bit more data that I can use for other things.

As such, it also makes good sense to stream music through the head unit (sometimes). I use it as a change-of-pace option. I usually use the FM radio because there's a very good station in town that I like. But sometimes I stream when I want something specific or different. I also have music stored on an old ipod that I use primarily on road trips so I don't have to deal with stations fading out, spotty data in the boonies, etc.

Controlling the phone through the truck's head unit makes sense because then I can put my phone down and out of the way. The truck's head unit screen is larger, which makes it easier to see and operate. With the steering wheel buttons, it also gives me easier voice control over those functions.

It would be nice if the head unit did all that natively, but it does not.

 

[Jason B]

You are testing the data connection AND the wifi connection, and whichever is the slowest at the time is going to be the one limiting your speeds on a speed test. The speed test isn't going to tell you which one is the limiting factor.

It doesn't make sense for everybody, but I priced it out for my phone plan. Switching to unlimited data on my family plan would cost MORE than the truck's data plan. Considering that the only time I go over my data allotment is on road trips, it makes very good sense to use the truck as a hotspot. Since I use my phone for nav, offloading that data onto the truck's unlimited data plan leaves a bit more data that I can use for other things.

As such, it also makes good sense to stream music through the head unit (sometimes). I use it as a change-of-pace option. I usually use the FM radio because there's a very good station in town that I like. But sometimes I stream when I want something specific or different. I also have music stored on an old ipod that I use primarily on road trips so I don't have to deal with stations fading out, spotty data in the boonies, etc.

Controlling the phone through the truck's head unit makes sense because then I can put my phone down and out of the way. The truck's head unit screen is larger, which makes it easier to see and operate. With the steering wheel buttons, it also gives me easier voice control over those functions.

It would be nice if the head unit did all that natively, but it does not.

Guess I should have said that your results are the slower of the two.
And I should have said the other depends on your phone provider's available plans, as I was thinking of my situation as I have only one phone on the plan. I have AT&T prepaid. The $40/month plan gave me 6GB per month, the $60/month gives me unlimited. For $70/month I can upgrade to 5G unlimited. Of course, 'unlimited' is limited, as after 22GB your connection can be slowed during high network traffic.

Sponsored