Sprint/Verizon EVDO performance results for PDAs

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

I pasted the results from this site in a spreadsheet. It is a constantly changing list and entries over 24 hours expire. This site is mostly used for PDA performance testing. I grabbed the entries for PocketPC devices over 110K as there were some 1xRTT results as well. These are only EVDO results.

http://www.dslreports.com/mspeed?results=1

Results as of 9.30.05 10AM CST...

Sprint
Entries 161
Average 398Kbps
Median 414Kbps
Peak 929Kbps (though I've seen over 1Mb)
16% got over 600Kbps
Cost $10-$20/month unlimited

Verizon
Entries 120
Average 331Kbps
Median 290Kbps
Peak 810Kbps (though I've seen over 1Mb)
6% got over 600Kbps
Cost $15 VCast only, $45/month unlimited?

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

To test yourself....

http://www.dslreports.com/mspeed

xchpstang

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

I agree there are many factors and this isn't controlled testing with equal conditions. However the conditions will not be equal for the long term.

Sprint has slightly more towers than Verizon so that means much less users per tower long term. Sprint is adding 14K more EVDO towers on existing NExtel sites while Verizon hasn't announced a mass rollout, adding only 1-2K per year. Verizon has 800mhz sites and EVDO has much less bandwidth available on 800. Verizon is avoiding EVDO on 800 sites so that means even less number of 1900 sites. Sprint has all 1900 sites.

It's pretty clear that Sprint will be able to provide more bandwidth for the long term.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

I've pasted in another set of results as of 10.4.05 at about 10AM CST. These are all PocketPC EVDO entries that got over 120Kbit/sec. The assumption is, if under 120K, it might have been a 1xRTT connection.

Sprint
Entries: 68
Average: 425Kbps
Median: 462Kbps
Peak: 862Kbps (though I've seen over 1Mb)
22% got over 600Kbps
Cost: $10-$20/month unlimited?

Verizon
Entries: 95
Average: 373Kbps
Median: 374Kbps
Peak: 782Kbps (though I've seen over 1Mb)
12% got over 600Kbps
Cost: $15 VCast only, $45/month unlimited?

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Here's another interesting stat when including below 120Kbps entries. For EVDO capable devices, both Sprint and Verizon had 15% of entries below 120Kbps. This implies 15% of users did not get EVDO or simply had a very slow EVDO connection, likely the former.

This might be a stretch but it could mean that Sprint and Verizon coverage areas are about the same. Sprint does claim to be in more markets, but Verizon appears to have outer metro areas covered a little better at this time. Curious that both have same % of results in the 1xRTT zone.

Michael · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:14 pm Post subject:

Yes that seems like a stretch.

Not sure how you can translate speed/performance into coverage.

The results are fairly small, it could just be 2 people (working for Sprint or Verizon), going around to airports doing benchmarks.
_________________
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xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Not the case. Over on a thread of PPC6700 owners on Sprint, more than 75% are reporting EVDO capability on Sprint. Those are the users who are testing on this site.

http://www.pdaphonehome.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=174

I wasn't translating performance results into coverage as proof, but the fact that only 15% of results were in the 1xRTT range does imply something about coverage. If coverage were heavily outweighed by one carrier or the other, the % of results in 1xRTT range would likely reflect that.

educationk12 · EVDO User Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 43

When is Sprint coming to the Northeast? NYC, NJ, CT, MA...anywhere up here? I looked at a dozen maps and it seems to not be here. I like the 6700, but I don't see them providing access to nyc...22 million people...and no coverage. Scratching head. Question

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

The maps are not up to date. It's a shame Sprint is not keeping maps up as it probably restricts sales. Manhattan and Boston have a good chunk of Sprint coverage. I was in Manhattan in June and Sprint EVDO worked. Brooklyn didn't work at the time but it may by now.

Search through this forum, there are several in NE reporting Sprint coverage. Or start a thread asking about E Coast coverage.

http://www.pdaphonehome.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=174

http://www.pdaphonehome.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=56109&highlight=boston

Michael · Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 8:32 am Post subject:

Some people very high up at Sprint have been in contact with us and this is our NUMBER 1 complaint. GET THE MAPS UPDATED and update them frequently.

This (hopefully) will happen soon.
_________________
EVDO :: EVDO News :: EVDO Antennas :: Buy Verizon :: Buy Sprint :: EVDO Amplifier

educationk12 · EVDO User Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 43

Thanks for the reply. I looked through that forum, but no luck. I need to know if Sprint is in CT and NYC primarily. I really am frustrated with this whole thing. I guess I will try to find a Sprint store and find out how. I would go with Verizon, but I really need a keyboard on the phone like the vx9800 but i would like to use skype (at least try to use it). SO I really need a pocket pc type. The keyboard on the i730 is difficult to use.

educationk12 · EVDO User Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 43

Okay, went to a corporate Sprint store. They claim EVDO is not in CT. In addition, they said the 6700 can only be obtained online. I guess I will call customer service to confirm. I imagine customer service doesn't even know. They sure do make this difficult.

educationk12 · EVDO User Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 43

First, don't bother calling 800 Sprint1. Horrible. I'm not even going to bother typing my experience.

The store was horrible. They said there wasn't any evdo in the northeast. Just a waste of time driving down there. The first thing the guy did was reach out his hand to me, because he thought I had a phone problem. He wanted to look at my phone. I was like, no...I just have a question about a phone. Everyone I know in the northeast who has sprint hates it, but I really do like this phone. Hmmmm

I called 800-480-4727. The guy said they have a software program called "Impact". He was able to look it up via Zip Code and give me specific detail information on where it worked. Appears they know even by street! Seems like Sprint is all over CT similar to Verizon, however it appears to be more spotty than Verizon. In other words, typical Sprint voice service vs. Verizon voice service...Sprint has always been spotty here where Verizon is more solid.

He said the 6700 was for business division only.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

From...
http://www.dslreports.com/mspeed?results=1

I've pasted in another set of results as of 10.14.05 at about 4:15PM CST. These are all PocketPC EVDO entries that got over 120Kbit/sec. The assumption is, if under 120K, it might have been a 1xRTT connection.

Sprint
Entries: 96
Average: 495Kbps
Median: 505Kbps
Peak: 927Kbps (though I've seen over 1Mb)
34% got over 600Kbps
Cost: $10-$20/month unlimited?

When including entries below 120K, 21% got below 120Kbps. These tests may have only had 1xRTT and not an EVDO signal.

Verizon
Entries: 84
Average: 372Kbps
Median: 366Kbps
Peak: 781Kbps (though I've seen over 1Mb)
20% got over 600Kbps
Cost: $15 VCast only, $45/month unlimited?

When including entries below 120K, 20% got below 120Kbps. These tests may have only had 1xRTT and not an EVDO signal.