Podcast: Play in new window | Embed
Tech News and Commentary
Dave and the team discuss Tesla’s Cybertruck, Apple’s phone slowdown payout, Verizon in rural areas, Ai recipes in New Zealand, teens and YouTube, and more.
Stanley in Oakland, Mississippi asked: My data on my cell phone is just disgusting. It’s so slow I can’t even update my computer. I have a few other options in this area but I’m not crazy about them. Is there any way to boost the data coming into my phone? It just comes straight to my phone, I don’t have any other equipment hooked up to it.
Stanley, in terms of speed there can be two culprits: the signal strength and your service provider.
Do you have full bars when you attempt this download? If you dont, a booster like the ones provided by companies like WeBoost and SureCall can improve your signal by giving a much larger antenna to pick up the signal that you can mount outside or inside your home wherever you get the best coverage.
The rest of the system is made up of a repeater that looks kind of like a WiFi router that will put out the boosted cell signal.
If your bars are already full, then you may be getting throttled by your phone company.
There are usually two cases for throttling: if youre a heavy user (which you may be if youre downloading operating system updates through your phone, OS updates are not small), and if youre using a cheaper plan through companies that specialize in leasing bandwidth from bigger more expensive service providers with lower network priority than what those big companies offer their direct clients.
In either case the solution is the same: youll need to switch plans to something that offers more full speed tethered data, or just better speeds in general.
When you participate on the show – anytime 24/7 – and we HEAR you with any consumer tech question, comment, help for another listener, tech rage or just share your favorite App these days … you could win prizes.
Targus: USB Wired Stereo Headset
Hampton Products International: Smart Power Strip and Surge Protector
Brondell: Pro Sanitizing Air Purifier – Removes dust, dander, pollen, smoke, and airborne viruses ($800 Value)
Scosche: MagicMount Pro Charge 5 for MagSafe and Qi-enabled phones
All CALLERS — using the AUDIO option on our Free App or 1-800-899-INTO(4686) – automatically qualify to win prizes.
Audio archived for at least 6 months