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Hand-Off, Reconnect To Verizon LTE Can Take 2 Minutes
CWmike writes "Verizon Wireless admits that laptop users with USB modems on its new high-speed LTE network may experience up to a two minute delay when switching over from a 3G coverage zone. 'Hand-offs can take up to a couple minutes, but that was expected and a fix is in the works,' Verizon spokesman Jeffrey Nelson told Computerworld. Also, to get back on LTE once already having been in an LTE zone, one tester said it was necessary to unplug the modem and plug it back in again. Nelson said that was not necessary, although he did say it could take up to two minutes to reconnect to LTE. Nelson said Verizon was working with a modem maker on the hand-off problem, but didn't say which maker. Business Insider said the hand-off problem occurred with an LG model. 'We're working with the modem maker for quick update, but no ETA yet.' Nelson said. A Mac OS version was also said to be close."
By whom?
Just in case, y'know, you release a high-demand 4G mobile device anytime around then.
Obliteracy: Words with explosions
This is news to anyone who gets the first iteration of a new product?
I don't think wireless modem problems in general should surprise anyone. I'm using a Verizon USB device right now, and while it usually works all right, it has random weird misbehavior like claiming to be connected yet being unable to do anything, or claiming an "invalid username and password" when no new user info has been entered. Probably just standard hardware quirkiness.
Revive the Constitution.
My Verizon 3G service that I use for my business (no wired DSL or Cable available) was out the other day and while I was on the phone with Verizon figuring it out, they were trying to upsell me on this. With a 5GB data limit, I wasn't about to since I routinely go over it on the 3G. I just switched back to Clear who swears they got THEIR reliability issues sorted out in my area.
This means it now takes 2 minutes longer to exhaust your monthly quota.
Designers have to strike a balance; if it polls the towers too often and tries to connect via 4G, it would drain the battery and possibly slow down the connection. Switching from a 2G to 3G network on AT&T is similiar, although usually its about 30 seconds
Two minutes seems fair.
Their they're doing there hair.
Hand-offs can take up to a couple minutes
A couple OF minutes.
You wouldn't say "A glass water" would you?
first off, this piss poor service that was just advertised. Two minutes to reconnect?? Sounds like it isn't ready for prime time...
Next, look at the per use charges. I'd rather have a slower connection with much hire quotas (or no quota) than a super fast connection with a tiny quota. Good luck to anyone who wants to watch videos.
As it is cell service is a huge rip off, and LTE is even more of a rip off than 3G. But what do you expect from providers who charge a fortune for delivering simple text messages and the rate hasn't gone down as their networks are upgraded...In fact ATT's rate went up (they used to be free to receive, but after the Cingular merger the double charging started....).
This doesn't have anything to do with the frequency of polling the towers. Once connection is lost, it is a safe bet that it is time to scan for towers immediately.
Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
While I can't say it takes two minutes, the handoff between the WiMAX network and 3G is very rough.
For starters, since they're literally two separate networks, you will lose any open TCP connections because the IP address changes. If you are in a marginal 4G coverage area, you can have it bounce between the (poor) 4G signal and 3G network. The Overdrive hotspot has settings for fine-tuning how quickly it will try to switch and how often, but most of the time unless I'm in a known-strong 4G coverage area it's better to just lock the device at 3G and not even let it try to swap. Similarly, if you're in a strong 4G area the reverse is true.
Secondarily, I have nothing but problems trying to use any Sprint 4G device in Seattle. Both my hotspot and my Evo 4G phone do weird things (often crashing entirely), but only in that market (I've had no trouble in other markets, especially my home market of Portland). The Evo 4G will actually crash about 20% of the time I switch the 4G on up there.
I think that they really need to work on making the two networks as seamless as possible. I know that's not going to be easy from a technical perspective, but it kinda shows that the technology is not quite ready for prime time.
"A Mac OS version was also said to be close"
I hope you mean the driver. If I have to install some shitty software you monopolizing bloatware manufacturing retards came up with, the deal is completely off the table.
If the only way you can accept an assertion is by faith, then you are conceding that it can't be taken on its own merits
A bit redundant redundant summary.
Why would any inter-computer handshaking process require a scale of minutes? Someone is not thinking here.
Processors are running HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF OPS PER SECOND ... how can a simple handshake take more than a few milliseconds?
(I've yet to understand why Wifi connections, as another example, aren't almost instantaneous; communication between two computers, even with really generous timeouts should not take on the scale of seconds.)
Put my fist through my alarm clock with its ding-dong death inside my ear. - The Blackjacks.
Really is there anything that LG makes that is not utter and complete crap? Perhaps I just had some uniquely bad luck with the LG products I've purchased but at this point I'd buy almost anything made of conflict diamonds and pureed kitten claws over anything made by LG.
--- Liberty in our Lifetime
Just adding some additional data. I have a Samsung Epic in Portland area. I sometimes use 4G on my phone. I do not believe my phone has ever crashed in the 2 months I have owned it.