topic Re: Very Slow Data in Get Support

Very Slow Data

aubreygodman — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:03:27 GMT

I am getting 0.37 mbps download. My data is set to LTE. I'm not sure which plan I have but it's over $40 a month.

I knew my phone was slow but my friend said it should be way faster. I have been over paying for slow data for years now, not happy at all. Why is this so slow?

I have an iphone now but it was slow with my Samsung as well. Any help would be appreciated. I'm very close to cancelling this service, it's very frustrating.

Re: Very Slow Data

pmbc — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:06:11 GMT

@aubreygodman what is your signal strength on the phone? You do need check your plan as PM used to just have 3g service and yes it was slow. They came out with 4g LTE plans last year so you could upgrade and maybe even get more data. There is a $40/15gb plan currently so check what your current plan is.

Re: Very Slow Data

hTideGnow — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:06:38 GMT

HI @aubreygodman was it working well before and just slow down recently?

did you try speed test in different location? if could be just in your particular area

if you tried it in different places, and since you tried no different phones, I would submit a ticket with CS agent and ask them to further investigate

Please submit ticket at : https://publicmobile.ca/chatbot.

First type Contact,
then select the only choice there: "Contact..",
from the list of , choose "Other"
finally click link the blue link about submit a ticket
Another page will open and just follow: .

After ticket is submitted, make sure to check your Community Inbox(top right corner envelope icon) periodically for response from PM

If you have problems submitting a ticket, you can open ticket by private message (but this can take longer):

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437

Re: Very Slow Data

esjliv — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:06:51 GMT

@aubreygodman - what model do you have? Is it a North American version?

Have you restarted your phone lately, if not do that.

Also try to Perform a Reset of your device's Network Settings. This also resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, VPN and APN settings, and connected Bluetooth devices that you've used before.

Find and tap Settings > System > Advanced > Reset options > Reset network settings.

Re: Very Slow Data

aubreygodman — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:08:01 GMT

I have 3 of 4 bars. Where can I find my plan?

Re: Very Slow Data

aubreygodman — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:08:30 GMT

This is a constant problem, I submitted a ticket.

Re: Very Slow Data

softech — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:09:15 GMT

@aubreygodman

0.37 Mpbs is not acceptable even for 3G speed plan

did you test the speed in the same place when you use iPhone and Samsung?

Test it in a different area and see if there is any speed improvement.

Also, for testing purpose, on both iPhone and Samsung, change the Preferred network type or network mode to 3G Only and see if you get better speed

If changing to 3G actually helps, it is a problem with your 4G/LTE in your area.

Re: Very Slow Data

aubreygodman — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:12:55 GMT

So my plan is 10.5 GB at 3G speed, if it is so slow at 3G why would I upgrade? I want 3G speed at 3G I'm not even getting 1mgbs

Re: Very Slow Data

will13am — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:13:57 GMT

@aubreygodman wrote:
I have 3 of 4 bars. Where can I find my plan?

@aubreygodman , you can determine what plan you are on by accessing the online account. The information should be available on the plan and add-on tab. There is a chance that you are on a so called 3G speed plan given the very slow data performance. If so, I would suggest switching to the $40/15GB 4G speed plan. Plan change can be done from the plan and add-on tab. It is best to switch plans on next renewal to avoid losing the remainder of the current plan cycle.

Re: Very Slow Data

softech — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:15:02 GMT

@aubreygodman

Pretty sure it is fixable. But please try it on 3G network just to confirm if it is a 4G/LTE problem in your area.

Re: Very Slow Data

aubreygodman — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:21:25 GMT

OK so I just changed it to 3G and the test was 6.83 mgps that's the first time it ever tested over 1. So I should leave it on 3G now?

Also, if that means it is a problem in my area, it is a Toronto-wide problem?

Re: Very Slow Data

softech — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:27:17 GMT

@aubreygodman this confirmed an LTE issue where you are at

did you test LTE in another area?

and you ever get good LTE speed where you are?

If you only get bad speed on LTE for a week or so, it could be just they are working on 5G implementation in your area, sometimes it would affect the 4G or 3G, but it should come back good soon

You opened ticket with support already? Let them know the what you found (3G vs 4G)

Re: Very Slow Data

pmbc — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:29:04 GMT

@aubreygodman wrote:
So my plan is 10.5 GB at 3G speed, if it is so slow at 3G why would I upgrade? I want 3G speed at 3G I'm not even getting 1mgbs

I would suggest if you're paying $40 for 10.5gb, change plan to $40/15GB 4G is a win/win. You're paying the same price and getting faster speed/more data.

Re: Very Slow Data

aubreygodman — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:32:05 GMT

I have done tests all over the city.

I have had slow service for years.

I never really had data before so I didn't understand the speeds until a friend told me how slow my phone was.

I'd say for at least 2 years my data has been this slow, through 3 different phones. Since I just changed it now, this is the fastest I've ever seen it.

Re: Very Slow Data

will13am — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:05:05 GMT

@aubreygodman wrote:
I have done tests all over the city.
I have had slow service for years.
I never really had data before so I didn't understand the speeds until a friend told me how slow my phone was.
I'd say for at least 2 years my data has been this slow, through 3 different phones. Since I just changed it now, this is the fastest I've ever seen it.

Sticking to the 3G network is not a solution. The size of the 3G network is ever shrinking as it heads toward planned shutdown in 2025. The 4G speed plans have a speed cap at 100 mbps. You will get more data and a much better overall experience. @computergeek541 can give you experience on why forcing the phone to 3G is bad idea. One last thing, this service is on the verge of receiving VoLTE functionality. Forcing the phone to 3G means missing out on the most exciting change to this service in a long while.

Re: Very Slow Data

DennyCrane — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:06:56 GMT

Sounds like you're on a 3G plan. You're paying $40 anyway, so you may as well switch to the promo $40/15GB of 4G data. It'll take a couple days after you switch plans for the increased speed to kick in, but it'll be worth it once it does.

I agree that changing to 3G signal is not a good long term solution.

Re: Very Slow Data

computergeek541 — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:57:39 GMT

@will13am wrote:
@aubreygodman wrote:
I have done tests all over the city.
I have had slow service for years.
I never really had data before so I didn't understand the speeds until a friend told me how slow my phone was.
I'd say for at least 2 years my data has been this slow, through 3 different phones. Since I just changed it now, this is the fastest I've ever seen it.
Sticking to the 3G network is not a solution. The size of the 3G network is ever shrinking as it heads toward planned shutdown in 2025. The 4G speed plans have a speed cap at 100 mbps. You will get more data and a much better overall experience.  @computergeek541 can give you experience on why forcing the phone to 3G is bad idea. One last thing, this service is on the verge of receiving VoLTE functionality. Forcing the phone to 3G means missing out on the most exciting change to this service in a long while.

I know that trying different settings is done for temporary troubleshooting, but blocking out possible network types is currently a terrible idea. The 3G network has become such a poor performer that it can't be relied upon for anyting. Things never used to be this way, but with technology, things are always changing. It used to be that the 3G network was very good and gave pretty consistent speeds in the places that I tested. A couple of years ago, I started seeing greatly decreased network speeds, but the main problem was not with the speeds but have rather how data wouldn't work at all in some places. In those problem places, LTE would work fine. That wasn't a signal issue. It was a capacity one (signal would be fine but just not enough bandwidth or too many people using the 3G network). .

Even for voice, 3G has become extremely problematic. The concept of disabling LTE connections used to be to ensure that there wasn't a failure in LTE to HSPA fall back for phone calls. However, becuase of the way that so much of the 3G/HSPA network has been removed, current issues may very well just as easily be caused by lack of network capacity. The HSPA netowrk is grandually being dismantled the spectrum reassigned to other network types. it will only get worse.

Wil13am's ponts about locking into the 3G network is imporatant as it means that custoemer won't notice whenever Public Mobile is ready to do full sclae launch of VoLTE services.

Re: Very Slow Data

wetcoaster — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 20:10:05 GMT

@DennyCrane wrote:
Sounds like you're on a 3G plan. You're paying $40 anyway, so you may as well switch to the promo $40/15GB of 4G data. It'll take a couple days after you switch plans for the increased speed to kick in, but it'll be worth it once it does.

I agree that changing to 3G signal is not a good long term solution.

I might miss something here (and I admit that I have not tracked all the available plans for at least 3 years), but $40/10.5GB plan does not ring a bell.

There was, however, a $50/10.5GB - IIRC it also included calls to the US.

It would be really great if we had more information so that we're not just guessing around here... The reason I brought up the above:

If the later is the plan the OP is on (and rewards are bringing it down to $40?) there might be the additional question on how much they use the US calling feature.

If it's only the occasional call to the US (if my math works out, less than 660 minutes / 11 hours per month?) it's a no-brainer to change to the $40/15GB and supplement it with the not expiring add-on ($15/1000minutes to US). (the holiday give aways also include calls to the US, if you don't use them for calling international destinations that'd a way to use those)

If those US calls are very frequent one has to decide what one considers the higher priority - data speed or US calls.

Re: Very Slow Data

aubreygodman — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 21:01:32 GMT

So they slow it down so I upgrade my service, seems pretty manipulative.

Re: Very Slow Data

DennyCrane — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 21:09:45 GMT

How much are you paying per month now? You may not need to pay anything more, and still get better service.