Anyone else running a 2013 Nexus 7 on VZW's LTE?

Zarathustra[H]

Zarathustra[H]

Extremely [H]
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Oct 29, 2000
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Hey,

Let me start out by stating, yes, I know it's not officially supported and Verizon won't activate it (yet) but I had an already activated VZW SIM so I decided to go for it.

I was worried since it is LTE only on VZW (doesn't support CDMA) I'd have poor coverage since it can't fall back on 3G when LTE isn't available, but it turns out VZW's LTE is available pretty much everywhere, so this hasn't been a problem.

Only problem I have had is that the LTE connection sometimes (every couple of days) completely disconnects and shows 0 signal even where I know I should have signal. It then remains like this until the tablet is rebooted and it comes back.

Is anyone else running this combo? Have you also seen this problem? I'm trying to figure out of it might be due to VZW's lack of support as of yet, or if it is an actual hardware problem, in which case I should get warranty sorted out ASAP.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Matt
 
one large problem and one potential problem here:

1: Far as I know, Verizon doesn't have Voice over LTE yet so you won't be able to do calls/sms/etc..
2: make double and triple sure the N5 supports all of VZW's LTE bands.
 
FnordMan said:
one large problem and one potential problem here:

1: Far as I know, Verizon doesn't have Voice over LTE yet so you won't be able to do calls/sms/etc..
2: make double and triple sure the N5 supports all of VZW's LTE bands.
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Its a Nexus 7 tablet....
 
Domini said:
Its a Nexus 7 tablet....
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was debating which sub-forum was the correct place for this thread. It was between "mobile computing" and "Mobile Phones", and since Verizon Wireless, GSM and LTE were involved, I figured mobile phones was a better place for it, despite it not being a phone.

Sorry for the confusion.
 
Zarathustra[H];1040599974 said:
Yeah, I was debating which sub-forum was the correct place for this thread. It was between "mobile computing" and "Mobile Phones", and since Verizon Wireless, GSM and LTE were involved, I figured mobile phones was a better place for it, despite it not being a phone.

Sorry for the confusion.
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I think it still falls in the same category as its basically just big phone. I would ask verizon if they can replace the SIM card.
 
Domini said:
I think it still falls in the same category as its basically just big phone. I would ask verizon if they can replace the SIM card.
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Hmm... I would do that, but then it would have to be activated, and since the Nexus 7 hasn't yet been blessed on Verizon's network, the IMEI number will not activate the SIM. Only reason I am able to use the SIM in the tablet at all, was because I used to have a compatible device and activated it with that IMEI. Once activated, it just works though...

Well, I DO have 1 year warranty on the thing, so maybe I should just suck it up for now until VZW has completed their official validation, and then have them swap out the SIM after that is complete, and then I should still have Warranty left to replace the tablet if the problem doesn't go away...

After all, it's not a HUGE annoyance. It only requires a restart once every few days...
 
Of course, one thing I haven't tried yet is just reseating the SIM card. Maybe I''ll even try putting some clear tape on the back of it to firm up the contact...
 
Can't you just connect your nexus 7 to your cellphones mobile hotspot? Or is that not an option ?
 
sok0 said:
Can't you just connect your nexus 7 to your cellphones mobile hotspot? Or is that not an option ?
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I can, and that's probably what I'll do when my contract expires for my second line, but until then I plan on utilizing it. :p
 
When your connection drops have you tried cycling in and out of airplane mode? Typically works for odd connection disruptions and is faster than rebooting.
 
Zarathustra[H];1040608483 said:
That is good news, cause then I can go into the Verizon store, try a different SIM, and if that doesn't solve the problem, use my Google/Asus warranty to get it replaced.
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And there it is...

12483620535_81be18f595_z.jpg


I already had 4.4.2 on the tablet, so the message is a little deceiving, but essentially this seems to add Verizon specific compatibility stuff.
 
Zarathustra[H];1040620807 said:
And there it is...

12483620535_81be18f595_z.jpg


I already had 4.4.2 on the tablet, so the message is a little deceiving, but essentially this seems to add Verizon specific compatibility stuff.
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Been running on VZW's LTE network since day one. Probably some BS negotiation that reports specific device info, etc to Verizon
 
ComputerBox34 said:
Been running on VZW's LTE network since day one. Probably some BS negotiation that reports specific device info, etc to Verizon
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I have as well, but it's possible that this adds tweaks to make the 700MHZ LTE network more stable. Who knows. At least now it's official, so if I have my LTE drop out again, I can go to VZW and have them exchange the SIM, and reactivate it.
 
It may even enable the AWS band on the nexus 7 for LTE. I don't know if it even supports that band though.
 
Zarathustra[H];1040622512 said:
Interesting.

The Google webpage DOES mention AWS in specs.

Thus far for Verizon, AWS is NYC only though, right?
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nyc and other large metro areas.

Not many devices support it yet....I get 75 mbps down on my Droid Maxx :D
 
ComputerBox34 said:
nyc and other large metro areas.

Not many devices support it yet....I get 75 mbps down on my Droid Maxx :D
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I just hope the complementing frequencies lead to fewer dead zones (of which there aren't many to being with with Verizon)

Quite frankly, these high speeds seem wasted on mobile applications. 3G was more than fast enough for anything I do on a mobile connection. LTE, AWS and whatever just seem overkill. It's not like I'm torrenting on my phone or tablet* :p

(*but I do ssh in to my linux server at home and initiate rtorrent so stuff is downloaded when I get home, form time to time)
 
Zarathustra[H];1040623132 said:
Quite frankly, these high speeds seem wasted on mobile applications. 3G was more than fast enough for anything I do on a mobile connection. LTE, AWS and whatever just seem overkill. It's not like I'm torrenting on my phone or tablet* :p

(*but I do ssh in to my linux server at home and initiate rtorrent so stuff is downloaded when I get home, form time to time)
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Those speeds are a godsend for downloading very large apps or movies. I think its silly to increase speeds and still have data caps though., luckily i have unlimited :)
 
Domini said:
Those speeds are a godsend for downloading very large apps or movies. I think its silly to increase speeds and still have data caps though., luckily i have unlimited :)
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Do you have REAL unlimited, or Unlimited*

*turns into a pumpkin if you are among high bandwidth users in any given month
 
Zarathustra[H];1040623239 said:
Do you have REAL unlimited, or Unlimited*

*turns into a pumpkin if you are among high bandwidth users in any given month
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Real unlimited on both Verizon and Tmobile
 
Domini said:
Real unlimited on both Verizon and Tmobile
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Nice.

I had unlimited on AT&T (the kind that turns into a pumpkin) but I gave it up when I switched to Verizon.

Quite frankly, in normal use, I never get anywhere close to my 2GB plan limit. Mostly because I am on Wifi both at home and at work, but when I am out of the office or the house, I stream spotify, web browse, use Waze for all my navigation etc. etc. and generally consider myself a quite heavy user, but none of what I do really benefits from high speeds, and without actively TRYING to use lots of data, I never hit 2GB.

That being said, I have never downloaded a movie to my tablet or phone, with or without wifi. I occasionally will stream something off of Netflix, but when I do I'm usually at home, so I'm on Wifi anyway.

So if I just use my devices without thinking about conserving data at all, I still never reach my 2GB.

I find that the up to ~3Mbit of EV-DO rev A 3G Verizon uses or the up to 21Mbit of AT&T's HSPA+ would both be more than sufficient for anything I do while on the ego.

Heck, my first broadband cable modem through AT&T Roadrunner was 1.5Mbit down and 384kbit up, and that doesn't feel THAT long ago.

I'm bandwidth hungry on the wired side. I would absolutely JUMP at the opportunity of Google Fiber gigabit internet, but for mobile use, anything 1+Mbit is more than sufficient IMHO.

It's funny, because I also find that with most networks in most locations in the U.S. it doesn't really matter that the actual wireless protocol can support something like 80Mbit/s because the wired infrastructure behind it is just not prepared to keep up with the demand. Network technologies tend to bench really well when they are brand new, like AWS is today, and not that many people have the technology yet, but once it becomes more widespread, it becomes more and more overloaded, and slows down to the single digit Mbit rates anyway.
 
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For what it's worth, I think the update actually improved reception a bit.

I actually get signal at work now (which is no small feat, considering the original building occupants insulated the building from radio interference as they were working on developing warehouse tracking RFID systems)

before I just had "no signal"
 
Is there any way of checking if you have AWS reception? I find the "mobile network" information in settings is very vague, and doesn't provide much detail.
 
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