Sprint/Verizon EVDO and Cingular HSDPA compared

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2003

Post #1 updated with new phone-as-modem info and sources on claims of voice/1xRTT network coverage.

It should be known that I, who compiled this info, am a Sprint user and switched from Verizon. I attempt to post this info based on analysis with sources rather than bias. If you see any discrepancies or have other sources, please point them out here and I'll update post #1.

wankel7 · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 11:54 am Post subject:

When people go from this site to that site to do the speed test....

Can you include in the comments your Data card and the signal stregth?

Such as

"Aircard 580 @ -80dBm"

I think that would help put the numbers in perspective.

James

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2003

The 'comment' part is only allowed if registered. But you could put that info in the 'ISP' field and it will show up.

http://speedtest.frontiernet.net

Be sure to click the 'record result' button.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2003

I've started to add Cingular HSDPA comparisons but need sources on more details if anyone has more. While HSPDA is just getting started. Two key advantages it may have over EVDO is better latency and for phones, the ability to do voice/data simultaneously.

If anyone has HSDPA, would be nice to start tracking performance on...

http://speedtest.frontiernet.net

If anyone has HSDPA, please test, record results and post what domain it shows up as in the archive.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2003

Performance in first post updated as of Feb 14 at about 9AM. See first post for more info.

Sprint
Download Performance
Entries: 138
Average: 716Kbps
Median: 708Kbps
Peak: 1819Kbps
>1Mbps: 18% of tests
>600Kbps: 63%
<400Kbps: 16%
Upld Avg: 84Kbps

Verizon
Download Performance
Entries: 149
Average: 587Kbps
Median: 552Kbps
Peak: 1572Kbps
>1Mbps: 7%
>600Kbps: 45%
<400Kbps: 22%
Upld Avg: 98Kbps

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2003

Here is a list of cities with EVDO we put together for our users at work who travel often. It is based on Sprint/Verizon maps and announcements. It is likely not complete.

Verizon may have outskirts of some metro areas more broadly covered. Sprint is in many many small towns under 50K outside this list.

If you have a source or have accessed EVDO in a city not listed, please post and I'll update the list as 'reported coverage'.

s = Sprint has EVDO coverage
v = Verizon has EVDO coverage

Michael · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:52 pm Post subject:

I haven't looked over all the entries, but here is a few that you missed:

Verizon has EVDO coverage in Louisville, Kentucky

Baton Rouge, LA has Verizon EVDO Coverage
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xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2003

^Thanks, I updated those and several more Sprint cities we missed.

horsessmellfunny · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 10:58 pm Post subject:

May want to make a correction. Verizon is not in CO Springs. It wishes it was. There is 1 tower that gives barely any coverage that is EVDO. However, it is slow as all hell, and I wouldnt even consider it worthy of noting. I did extensive testing in the CO Springs area because I wanted to see who had better coverage Sprint or Verizon. So I knew who to go with. Needless to say, Sprint one that hands down. They are 10 miles from me in the next town, but my tower (where I am at at home) is 1xRTT. The entire city and outskirts, even out to Black Forest (middle of nowhere) has EVDO. Verizon doesnt have normal 1xRTT coverage in these areas!!

Unless somebody can prove me wrong, I would love to be proven wrong!

Thanks

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2003

^I'll let posting like yours speak to quality of coverage. I only intend to track carrier claims or reports of coverage.

Just added Dover, DE for Sprint.

I wonder if list should be a separate thread. Or maybe move to the first post.

Michael · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 2:31 pm Post subject:

This is a good topic. If you want to start a new thread with just this listing in this forum, I will make it a sticky, so that it always appears toward the top of the listing.

Thanks!
_________________
EVDO :: EVDO News :: EVDO Antennas :: Buy Verizon :: Buy Sprint :: EVDO Amplifier

Lunyfringe · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 20

I just noticed today that while doing a tracert, instead of getting "level3.net" after the "myvzw.net", it now has "ALTER.NET" which is UUnet (MCI's backbone)

I'm sure this is being done as a cost saving measure, since Verizon bought MCI, so using that backbone would be an internal cost instead of sending money to Level3...

but it may impact overall performance, since their costs are lower, they may be using larger pipes...

now if they would just relax on the TOS enforcement, again because they're not incurring major backbone costs like before.....

horsessmellfunny · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 2:44 pm Post subject:

yea that would be nice! It is too bad they already lost me because of their TOS and absolutely no EVDO coverage in CO Springs. Interesting they purchased MCI yet there wasnt a major announcement in the new or anything. I wonder if it will change anything?

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2003

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2003

Time for a performance update. Post #1 was updated with the following... See post 1 for methodology.

Performance measurements are in bits, not bytes.
1000Kbits/sec = ~125KBytes/sec
600Kbits/sec = ~75KBytes/sec

As of March 3, 2006

Sprint
Download Performance
Entries: 120
Average: 664Kbps
Median: 606Kbps
Peak: 1871Kbps
>1Mbps: 15% of tests
>600Kbps: 51%
<400Kbps: 21%
Upld Avg: 91Kbps

Verizon
Download Performance
Entries: 126
Average: 589Kbps
Median: 560Kbps
Peak: 1583Kbps
>1Mbps: 6%
>600Kbps: 47%
<400Kbps: 22%
Upld Avg: 98Kbps

If you find any discrepancies or conflicting sources, please post and I'll update the first post.