9700 3G Capability
 

What potential UMTS/HSDPA speeds is the 9700 capable of? I recall with EDGE there were different classes which was basically how your device used multiple channels. I am assuming these protocol's have similar classifications since I am seeing UMTS/HSDPA+ devices not able to get the full 21Megs.

At its best, what is the fastest I can expect from my 9700?

3G averages 400 to 900 kbps and max is 3.6 mbps. HSDPA max is 14.4 mbps and AT&T is currently upgrading their network to hit 7.1 mbps. Implemented in a few locations now, others are being added.

But the actual download speed depends on many factors, most of which are outside of your control: the device processor and memory, the connection itself, your distance to the tower, tower congestion, network congestion, etc.

Thanks, but this looks like the capability of the protocol or technology, I am asking can the 9700 take full advantage? Is it possible both theoretically or technologically for the 9700 to do the full 14.4 mps on HSDPA?

Here is part B to my question, if I teather while my BB is showing UMA, am I teathring over WIFI or 3G?

Here is a speedtest while my BB shows UMA. Is this a WiFi speed?

http://www.speedtest.net/result/837660620.png

One reason I ask, here is a speedtest with my device showing 3G. As you can see, they almost look identical.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/837669544.png

Also, I teather using USB (can't get bluetoth to work anymore), is their any way to maximize my comm port to make sure it's giving me maximum bandwidth? Does the attached image look correct?

Did you look at the specs for the device? Probably need a RIM engineer to really answer your question, and I am not that by a long shot.

BlackBerry Bold 9700 - Full phone specifications

HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100

Perfect, that's what I've been looking for.

Data GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UMA
Bluetooth Yes, v2.1 with A2DP
Infrared port No USB Yes, microUSB v2.0

So the theoretical best is 3.6 megs...

... which you will never ever reach. You'll likely never even reach 50% of it.

i thought we determined a while back, that the T-mobile version 9700 was 3.6M but the ATT version, was capable of 7.2M. the reason i bring it up is because the OP asked about the 9700 in general and not specifically the T-mobile 9700 ;) (yes i did notice his profile says T-mobile)

Thanks for your $00.02, that is what I wanted to know. Strange of TMO to make its network HSDPA+ but order devices capable only of HSDPA.

I wonder whether the limitation is software related. I also can't help but think that with the BlackBerry the speed difference referred to here matters very little.