topic Re: What is LTE Option? in Z Series

What is LTE Option?

juniormarbles — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 10:10:25 GMT

Newby question: Under what conditions do I tap to activate "LTE" on the gray start up screen? What does LTE do, and how does it relate to cell or mobile data service (I use ATT "Go Phone" prepaid)?

If I leave the LTE option off (which I have done so far) what exactly do I miss?

Thanks,

Re: What is LTE Option?

_alexdon_ — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 12:16:23 GMT

LTE is 4G. Your phone is compatible and you have a compatible SIM too, it should work. Faster mobile data and good coverage for a large number of people are some features:

http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/4g-and-lte-everything-you-need-to-know-926835

Re: What is LTE Option?

juniormarbles — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 20:04:52 GMT

Thanks, but linking a three page article filled with technical specs about introduction of LTE in Britain in 2012 without addressing my specific questions was not all that helpful.

Specifically:

1. Why even have an LTE on/off option on my phone if it's only good? Are there any downsides?

2. Will my phone automatically choose LTE, once activated on the phone, when and where available, and revert to regular data transmission when not?

2. Does LTE only increase data transfer speeds or will it also improve cell/phone connections?

4. My main initial question remains unanswered: Why and under what circumstances would I ever turn this feature off?

Looking for simple, clear answers.

Thanks,

Re: What is LTE Option?

CameronT — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 23:52:36 GMT

Hi @Marbles,

1. LTE is not available in all locations. If you are on the edge of LTE coverage you may experience drop outs in calls or slow transfer speeds. The ability to turn it off would be necessary to improve the stability of your network connection.

2. If you have the option set to "LTE/4G preferred, it will always attempt to connect to LTE if it is detected, and will automatically switch to 3G/2G depending on what is available.

3. LTE has a significantly faster transfer rate than the previous cellular technology. 3G (WCDMA) and HSDPA+ are still excellent when it comes to voice, and you may not notice the improvement when you compare them directly.

4. See #1.

Re: What is LTE Option?

juniormarbles — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 17:54:31 GMT

Isn't there a contradiction between your answer points #1 and #2?

If the phone turns LTE off automatically where it is not available, why have an LTE disconnect option? Why did Sony decide to complicate matters, when other Android phones, like HTC, don't have an LTE activation switch?

Am I am missing an upside to the LTE option switch?

Re: What is LTE Option?

CameronT — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 00:34:31 GMT

@Marbles,

If you are on the edge of an LTE coverage area your phone will still try to connect to LTE, however as the signal is weaker your device may experience slow connections, call drops, poor quality etc. In such a situation you would be better to disable LTE and let it connect to a 3G/2G connection.

Other devices have an option, but it is usually located in the 'Preferred network' screen, where you choose to have 3G or 2G preferred. It functions the same way.

Re: What is LTE Option?

juniormarbles — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 01:55:27 GMT

Thanks. Do you therefore suggest to keep the LTE switch ON as default, for most areas and most times (I live in a metropolitan area)?

Re: What is LTE Option?

juniormarbles — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 18:17:42 GMT

Again: What should be the default setting for LTE option on my phone?

Re: What is LTE Option?

YoGem — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 01:54:33 GMT

Leave it on, if there is enough lte coverage you will connect to it otherwise your phone will stick with 3g/h+.

If your prepaid plan allow 4g lte why not using it?

Just for your information, the lte switch it's android standard, not Sony. The reason to have it is that some old devices used to drain battery faster on lte than regular 4g/3g. Also some users complained that during trips crossing rural areas the continued switching between lte and other protocols was provoking disconnections, dropped calls and battery drain hence the reason to have such menu.

Cheers.

Re: What is LTE Option?

juniormarbles — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 16:32:00 GMT

Great answer. Thank you.

Will leaving LTE on all the time increase battery drain? (You mentioned it did with "older" Androids).

Re: What is LTE Option?

CameronT — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:53:25 GMT

@Marbles,

The Z3 compact is designed with LTE in mind, however if you are switching between 4G, 3G etc a lot then you may experience battery drain, as each time it switches it will consume a little battery.

I would recommend you leave it on as 4G coverage is often very good in urban and suburban areas, you usually will only experience issues on the outskirts of towns and in rural areas.

Re: What is LTE Option?

juniormarbles — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 00:33:54 GMT

Thanks. All my questions regarding LTE are answered.

Re: What is LTE Option?

CameronT — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 01:12:52 GMT

@Marbles, no problem. Glad we could help

Re: What is LTE Option?

lingmaaki — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 06:18:08 GMT

4G simply stands for fourth generation, and it’s called that because it’s the fourth generation of mobile technology, following on from 2G and 3G. 4G is sometimes referred to as LTE (Long Term Evolution) and it’s similar in a lot of ways to 3G, as it allows you to use data to browse the net, play online games, download and stream, and more, but it does so a lot faster than 3G.

LTE stands for Long-term Evolution, and isn’t as much a technology as it is the path followed to achieve 4G speeds. As it stands, most of the time when your phone displays the “4G” symbol in the upper right corner, it doesn’t really mean it. When the ITU-R set the minimum speeds for 4G, they were a bit unreachable, despite the amount of money tech manufacturers put into achieving them. In response, the regulating body decided that LTE, the name given to the technology used in pursuit of those standards, could be labeled as 4G if it provided a substantial improvement over the 3G technology.