Ive heard USB tethering introduces much bottle-neck; i can reach speeds on speednet.net of up to 2.75mbps on my computer using this method. ive never tried the ’standard’ usb tethering method.

PDANet requires jailbreaking.

Since Rogers introduced HSPA+ in Calgary (or at least started marketing it) I have seen a rapid degradation of speeds/reliability on my 3GS.

Downtown, I often find myself in blackspots with inexplicable fluctuations between full strength 3g and patchy EVDO. There seems to be no obvious environmental cause – obviously you can’t expect much in an elevator or basement – but even in open areas, the service is often stretched to breaking point.

Tethering is great in principle and at certain times of day, if you are very lucky, speeds are similar to 1st generation broadband from 1999. Whenever I try to tether for a client meeting or informal demo, the tethering has been next to useless.

Just for info, my last 3 speed tests as follows (untethered):

9/18 – Calgary, AB server – PIng 2403 ms Down 516 kbps Up 212 kbps
9/21 – Calgary, AB server – Ping 2409 ms Down 393 kbps Up 122 kbps
9/24 – Calgary, AB server – Ping 416 ms Down 415 kbps Up 91 kbps

So these speeds from a supposedly 7.2 Mbps network suggest that the new HSPA+ will yield maybe 1.5 Mbps on a good day There is always a gap between advertised and actual real world speeds but Rogers’ 3G, in Calgary, seems to be monumentally poor. Perhaps by the end of my ridonculous 3 year term, the speed might be close to what was promoted when I signed it.

Thanks for sending over the numbers. I agree with you – in a pinch Tethering can help you get online if required, but I would not rely on it as the sole traveling service for connecting to the web – just to slow. For me I use extensively the Portable Internet Stick when traveling in Canada and try to find some good WIFI locations when down in the US. I have not tried Tethering using Roaming in the US – will give that a shot next and record the speeds when I am down there.

My information:
iPhone 3GS v3.1 USB Tethering
iTunes 9.0 latest
Location: Ottawa, ON

I did two tests:

1) SpeedTets.Net

Closest was Montreal with results:
Download: 3.55Mbps
Upload: 300Kbps
Ping: 146ms

2nd Location Toronto with results:
Download: 3.53Mbps
Upload: 230Kbps
Ping: 302ms

2) Second test I did using the Shaw test site with results:
Download: 3.3Mbps
Upload: 256Kbps
Ping: 544ms

I don’t have USB stick to try, but had tested a Bell Stick in the past, their upload speed was a bit higher, but the main difference was Latency (Ping time).

I think Tethering is good, I use it often for remote connections, SSH, VPN. But the latency kills you when you’re in a hurry. I also noticed 3G network is slow in downtown between high rise offices.

I also tried Roaming Tethering on AT&T in the US (Boston, MA). Speed seemed to be better than Rogers even though I heard lots of people complain about it.

iPhone 3GS (Fido) untethered . . .

Toronto, ON Server: 288ms ping, 2.32Mb/s down, 134Kb/s up
Montreal, QC Server: 180ms ping, 3.83Kb/s down, 85Kb/s up
Institute, WV Server: 2674ms ping, 0.525Mb/s down, 54Kb/s up
Kitchener, ON Server: 239ms ping, 0.581Mb/s down, 158Kb/s up
Kalamazoo, MI Server: 313ms ping, 2.78Mb/s down, 90Kb/s up

iPhone 3GS tethered to Fido 3G via USB

Toronto, ON Server: 288ms ping, 1.09Mb/s down, 300Kb/s up
Calgary, AB Server: 180ms ping, .980Kb/s down, 310Kb/s up
Brandon, MB Server: 212ms ping, .880Mb/s down, 270Kb/s up
Montreal, QC Server: 142ms ping, 1.79Mb/s down, 310Kb/s up