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CNET
12 hours ago
- CNET
I Tried AT&T Internet Air for a Week. It Wasn't Even Close to Fast Enough
When it comes to home internet, I often say that the best broadband connection is one you never notice. With steady buffering and long load times, AT&T's 5G internet offering, AT&T Internet Air, never let me forget I was using it. Seemingly overnight, we've seen a rise in 5G home internet popularity. One report found that 89% of new broadband subscriptions in the past two years came from just two 5G providers: T-Mobile and Verizon. So when AT&T launched AT&T Internet Air late in 2023, I was excited to see how it compared. I was quickly disappointed. I have as friendly a testing environment as you'll ever find for an internet provider. I live alone in a one-bedroom apartment, and the list of connected devices I own is shockingly short: Just my iPhone SE, Apple TV 4K and a MacBook Pro that I use to work from home. That's not much strain to put on a Wi-Fi network, but even so, AT&T Internet Air couldn't handle it. That's why I have a hard time recommending the service to anyone. AT&T's wireless internet connection consistently delivered download speeds below 10 megabits per second -- a far cry from the 90Mbps to 300Mbps it advertises. That said, wireless internet speeds are more dependent on location than wired options like cable and fiber, so your experience may be much better than mine was. (Subscribers on AT&T's subreddit reported speeds in the 150Mbps to 300Mbps range.) There were things I liked about AT&T Internet Air -- namely, the easy setup and useful app -- but that's like saying I like everything about a car except the fact that it can't go above 25 miles an hour. Internet providers have one job -- to deliver a fast, reliable connection -- and AT&T Internet Air was an unequivocal bust on that front. Locating local internet providers Read more: My T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Experience: What I love and What I Wish Were Better Joe Supan / CNET Setting up AT&T Internet Air All in all, it only took me 11 minutes to set up AT&T Internet Air. It truly couldn't have been simpler. The box only comes with two items: A gateway device and a power outlet. I followed the instructions in the box, downloaded AT&T's Smart Home Manager app and scanned the QR code on the device. The app suggested that I place the gateway device near a window and facing west if possible. I was able to find a spot that checked both boxes near my desk, where I'd need the strongest internet speeds possible. Once I'd landed on a location, the app ran a quick test and gave me the approval. I was now ready to test out the connection. AT&T Internet Air speed and reliability There's no way around it: AT&T Internet Air's speeds were incredibly disappointing, and the speeds I was getting would be basically unusable for most people. It boils down to the advertised speeds versus the actual speeds you get. After dozens of speed tests throughout the week, AT&T Internet Air averaged a download speed of 5.86Mbps and 9.87Mbps upload in my apartment. The highest download speed I got at any point was 10.63Mbps, while upload speeds peaked at 14.38Mbps. At the same time, my $50 Connect More plan through Xfinity -- advertised as 300Mbps download -- returned average speeds of 321/109Mbps. AT&T Internet Air's latency was also very high, with an average ping rate of 298ms. That's bad news if you plan on doing any online gaming, where 40ms or lower is considered ideal. AT&T says that users typically experience download speeds between 90Mbps and 300Mbps and upload speeds between 8Mbps and 30Mbps. My upload speeds fell within that range but I never came close to 90Mbps download. The highest I got was 14.38Mbps. (I used Ookla for all of my speed tests, which is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Wireless internet like AT&T Internet Air or T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is inherently more erratic than a wired connection like cable or fiber. Because it transmits data wirelessly from a cellular tower, it's more vulnerable to network congestion and weather disruption. That's why router placement is particularly important -- if you don't have a clear line to the nearest tower, your internet connection will suffer. But I did have a clear line. I could find a spot for the router right against a window facing west, just as I was instructed during setup. The problem didn't seem to be the location of my home, either: AT&T's coverage map shows the entire city of Seattle blanketed in 5G Plus speeds, which it describes as its fastest tier. AT&T's coverage map indicates that I should have been able to access AT&T's fastest speed tier. AT&T I tried moving the router to a few different locations over the course of testing but speeds never improved. In fact, it got even slower when I moved it to another room or away from the window. AT&T recommended calling customer support to help determine the best spot for the device based on where the closest cell tower is. Wireless internet providers like AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon all include a caveat in the fine print that says they may temporarily slow your speeds if the network is congested. That might explain my test results if they were all happening at 'internet rush hour' -- the hours between 7 and 11 p.m. when traffic is highest. But I tested AT&T Internet Air at various times throughout the day and never saw much of a difference. How was it using AT&T Internet Air? If anyone can get by with slow internet speeds, it's me. I live alone and I don't do any bandwidth-stressing activities like online gaming and the only devices connected to the internet are my phone, laptop and streaming device. But even with that minimal setup, AT&T Internet Air struggled to pull its weight. Zoom meetings at work were reliably unreliable, to the point where I had to switch back over to my Xfinity connection several times. Working in Google Docs, the connection would routinely drop out, causing me to wait a few seconds before I could continue writing this review. AT&T Internet Air's range was basically limited to the room with the router. When I ran speed tests in my bedroom -- one wall away from the router -- my connection slowed to a mere 1Mbps in download and upload speed. It was a frustrating experience. I found myself switching back over to Xfinity or cellular data on my phone every time I wanted to do something like watch a YouTube video from the group chat or take a FaceTime call. I don't need gig speeds -- I probably don't even really need 100Mbps speeds -- but I do need at least 15Mbps, which is what Netflix recommends for streaming in 4K. Unfortunately, AT&T Internet Air failed to clear even that low bar. How does AT&T Internet Air compare to other 5G internet providers? 5G home internet has taken off in the past few years and AT&T is later to the party than competitors T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet. In general, using 5G technology for home internet has been an unequivocal success. A survey from J.D. Power released last summer found that customer satisfaction is higher for wireless customers than cable or fiber, even though it received lower performance scores. 'A lot of the concerns I had heard about fixed wireless access were that it's just never going to be as fast as fiber,' Carl Lepper, senior director of the technology, media and telecommunications intelligence practice at J.D. Power, told me at the time. 'But for a lot of people, affordability trumps that. And it's not often that you need superfast speeds, depending on how you're using your internet.' 5G home internet often reaches rural households where cable and fiber aren't available and it's a significant step up from the satellite or DSL service that those internet users are typically stuck with. And because 5G providers are cellphone carriers first and foremost, they offer significant savings when you bundle home internet with a cellphone plan. Provider Monthly price Advertised download speeds Advertised upload speeds AT&T Internet Air Read full review $60 ($47 with an eligible AT&T wireless plan) 90-300Mbps 8-30Mbps T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review $50-$70 ($30-$50 with cellphone plan) 87-415Mbps 12-56Mbps Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review $50-$70 ($35-$55 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) 300-1,000Mbps 20-75Mbps Show more (0 item) Shop providers at my address Those savings aren't quite as significant with AT&T as they are with T-Mobile and Verizon, but paying $47 a month for home internet is still a solid deal. If you're not bundling with a cellphone plan, AT&T Internet Air is on the expensive side and there's no guarantee that it will make up for it with faster speeds -- as my week with AT&T showed. The final verdict: AT&T Internet Air could still be useful for some After those disappointing results, you might be surprised to learn that I still wouldn't swear off AT&T Internet Air completely. Other customers have clearly gotten faster speeds than I did -- Reddit users regularly report speeds north of 700Mbps -- and there's a chance my apartment is just in a particularly bad location for the service. Unlike T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, AT&T Internet Air does not offer a free trial, so you'll be out at least $60 if you sign up and find out the speeds aren't fast enough. I'd still recommend going with T-Mobile or Verizon first if you want to try out 5G home internet, but AT&T Internet is still worth a shot if you're stuck with limited options. I tried AT&T Internet Air for a week FAQs: What is AT&T Internet Air? AT&T Internet Air is a 5G fixed wireless connection that offers a singular plan. Pricing starts at $60 monthly or $47 if you bundle it with an eligible AT&T wireless plan. In areas where AT&T's faster fiber service is unavailable, this fixed wireless option could be an alternative for some. Is AT&T Internet Air fast? AT&T Internet Air advertises download speeds of 90Mbps to 300Mbps and upload speeds of 8Mbps to 30Mbps. However, after conducting a dozen speed tests at home, my actual speeds were significantly lower than what was advertised. The highest speed I was able to reach for upload was 14.38Mbps, which is on the lower end of that range. With AT&T Internet Air, I only averaged 5.86Mbps download and 9.87Mbps upload. Compared to other 5G providers, Verizon and T-Mobile advertise much faster speeds, topping out at 415Mbps and 1,000Mbps, respectively. However, it's worth noting that even if you get faster speeds at your home with a 5G fixed wireless connection, your speeds can be temporarily slowed down during network congestion. In addition, AT&T's latency is very high, which can be pretty bad if you're a gamer. The average ping rate that I received at home was 298ms. For online gaming, your ping rate should be 50ms or lower.
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
My First Look at T-Mobile's Unique Starlink T-Satellite Service Made Me Head Far From Home
Is T-Mobile's new T-Satellite service worth $10 a month to be able to text from almost anywhere outside cellular coverage areas? The Starlink-based satellite service can be a convenience if you're camping or hiking remote areas, but also a communications lifeline for people who don't have regular cellular access or need emergency aid. To test it out, though, I had to find a cellular dead zone. T-Mobile estimates there are 500,000 square miles in the US with no cell coverage, so I left my home in Seattle to find one. After three hours of driving to the wooded North Cascades, I got my chance to see if satellite texting is as easy as everyday cellular texting, and how T-Satellite differs from other satellite services. Watch this: Hands-On with T-Mobile's T-Satellite Service 01:55 How T-Satellite differs from other satellite services Satellite texting is now a big deal: the wireless providers and phone-makers including Apple are betting satellite connectivity is the answer for travelers and people who live in remote areas (and even those impacted by emergencies such as the massive flooding in Texas). It also isn't new. Apple started offering SOS communication backed by Globalstar on the iPhone 14. And later, that allowed emergency texting when you're outside coverage areas -- a literal lifesaver for people injured, lost or stranded in remote areas. The feature also allowed you to share you location via satellite in the Find My app. Apple then expanded the service to include any texting using the Messages app, as well as calling for roadside assistance. CNET's David Lumb used Messages via satellite on his iPhone 15 Pro to text friends and share his thoughts when he summited Mount Haleakalā's peak in Hawaii. Google has a similar feature in its Pixel 9 phones, except the Pixel 9A, which works with satellite provider Skylo. Samsung Galaxy phones, like the recently released Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, can use Verizon for satellite texting and to contact emergency services through Skylo, too. However, that communication involves a few steps to activate the feature. You need to be outdoors with a clear view of the sky -- no trees or buildings -- and point your phone at a passing satellite, keeping it steady to maintain the connection. With T-Satellite, the experience is quite different. Texting is almost indistinguishable from when you're within cellular coverage. On a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with a T-Mobile plan, opening the Messages app showed the phone already connected to satellite, with a banner reading "You're messaging by satellite." A small satellite icon appears in the menu bar with radiating curves to indicate the status of the connection. The phone has automatically connected to the T-Satellite network, as indicated by its (teeny) status icon. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET This is due in part to the fact that there are now more than 650 Starlink satellites overhead providing wider coverage, but also because they use a frequency band compatible with most phones sold in the last four don't need a specific phone model that has satellite messaging hardware, such as the Motorola Razr Ultra. The experience of setting up T-Satellite on my iPhone 16 Pro was generally the same. One unique thing about T-Satellite is that T-Mobile is offering the service to anyone, even if they use another carrier for cellular service. In my case, I set up the T-Satellite beta using the second eSIM slot on my phone, and turned off the primary service (AT&T) in order to test just T-Mobile's feature. A solid black satellite icon appears in the menu bar. I should note that I performed this testing a couple days before T-Satellite went live, so it was technically during the T-Satellite beta period, and using a beta version of the Messages app on Android. Plus, I didn't attempt to make an emergency call, either, which on the T-Satellite service would mean dialing 911 in the phone app, versus initiating an SOS text communication using Apple's service. Texting, but sometimes slower Mostly, texting via satellite is just like texting via cellular. The data pipe between the phone and a satellite flying overhead at 17,000 miles per hour is small, so occasionally texts would take several seconds to go through. But sometimes a conversation would happen without any extended lag. By comparison, when CNET's Patrick Holland tested Apple's Messages via satellite feature, he noted that "most sends were nearly instantaneous, others took 15 to 20 seconds with one taking over a minute." One feature going live today for Android is the ability to send images, videos and audio files using Multimedia Messaging Service over the satellite network. On the Galaxy S25 Ultra, I snapped a photo of the lake and sent it using Messages as I normally would. The only difference over satellite is that it took around two and a half minutes to send. On Android, you can send photos via MMS even over the satellite connection. The feature is coming later for iOS. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET However, MMS is currently only supported on Android; iOS support is coming later. Also arriving in the future -- October, specifically -- is the ability for apps to send and receive data over the satellite connection. T-Mobile has cited AllTrails as an example of apps that'll be compatible with the service. This would be a great use of data for other mapping tools. Although I was never lost on this trip --I pulled into a well-marked scenic overlook to test with a stunning view -- I also made a point of downloading an offline map of the area using Apple Maps while I was still within cellular range. Lingering questions and challenges Not every message went through, and after my limited testing, there are a few areas where more clarity would help. For example, on Android, it wasn't always obvious when I'd lost satellite connection. In theory, with many Starlink satellites overhead, you shouldn't have to worry about pointing at a specific patch of sky to maintain a connection. But at one point after sending a message, some text below it said the app was waiting to connect. Only then did I notice the tiny satellite icon was showing thin gray bars instead of thin black bars. Compare that to Apple's implementation, which uses Dynamic Island to show an impossible-to-miss green status button to indicate a solid connection to a satellite. Or Google's Satellite SOS service, with its full-screen visual prompts that help you stay connected to a satellite or connect to a new one if needed. The prominent green icon in the Dynamic Island indicates a satellite connection when using Apple's satellite texting feature. (The red icon shows that the screen is being recorded and isn't related to the connection.) Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET I also ran into some confusion with my iPhone 16 Pro running T-Satellite as a secondary eSIM. When attempting to text a friend who came along with me and was using Apple's method on his iPhone, I got a message that he was connected via satellite and was given the option to tap Send via Satellite. What I didn't realize at the time was that the connection dropped as I was typing the text. On further research, I discovered that an active third-party satellite connection shows "SAT" in the menu bar. When SAT is replaced by a black satellite icon, it means T-Satellite is no longer connected, but that Apple's satellite option is available; I thought it meant that I was still connected. At one point, I was unable to text my friend who was also using satellite access, even though it appeared to be connected (see the satellite icon in the menu bar). (The red button in the Dynamic Island shows that the screen is being recorded.) Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Look up, and ahead Will satellite services cover the remaining dead zones and allow easy communication even in remote areas? Based on my experience, the potential is definitely there. It's been less than two years since Apple first launched Emergency SOS via satellite on the iPhone and it's impressive how satellite connectivity has expanded so quickly with the ability to support texting. I appreciate that the T-Satellite implementation is similar to the way millions of people communicate every day via text. Removing friction is key to adopting technologies like this. As companies build up the capacity and performance of satellite services, it's easy to see a near future where you don't have to think about how you're getting data, just as we currently don't ever think about which cellular tower is relaying our data. As someone who lives in cellular-saturated Seattle, I probably won't need to rely on satellite data. But the North Cascades is where I've gone camping for years, so I can see it being occasionally useful, especially if there's ever an emergency situation. As I was juggling my phones and pestering my friends and family with texts, a couple approached to ask what I was doing. They were visiting the area from a small town in northern Idaho near the Canadian border, where cellular coverage is a rarity. After talking for a few minutes, I realized that being able to connect wirelessly via satellite could be a real boon for them, especially in emergencies, but also everyday annoyances when other forms of communication aren't available, like during power outages.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Multiple stores looted over weekend near Los Angeles street takeovers
Multiple stores were looted across Los Angeles over the weekend near a series of street takeovers, according to authorities. The first instance was reported at around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday morning near Century Boulevard and Central Avenue in South Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. They say that there was a sideshow in the area just minutes before an AutoZone store was broken into. Though it's unclear if any arrests were made in that incident, video from the scene shows some recovered merchandise that was taken from the store, including car rims and a battery. The next morning, at around 2:45 a.m., police were again called for reports of a burglary near the spot of a street takeover. Officers rushed to S. Figueroa Street and Slauson Avenue, where a T-Mobile store had its windows shattered and the inside ransacked. Investigators still have not said if the two instances are connected. Minutes later, just after 3 a.m., deputies were called to the intersection of Wilmington Avenue and Del Amo Boulevard in Carson because of a different street takeover, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. It was there that a WSS shoe store was burglarized, leading to its closure on Sunday. Employees boarded up the stores windows after the burglary, for which at least two people were arrested, deputies said. No arrests have been reported in either the AutoZone or T-Mobile burglaries.
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Cricket Wireless Debuts Prepaid Plans Starting at $35
Cricket Wireless has revamped its prepaid plans to trim prices and offer more perks, including hotspot data and bundled extras like streaming services. Cricket, owned by AT&T, competes with prepaid providers from other carriers like Verizon's Visible, T-Mobile's Mint Mobile and Dish's Boost Mobile. Cricket has trimmed its offerings down to four plans (from five) and dropped prices on all of them. Cricket's cheapest plan, called Sensible 10GB, is still $30 per month if set up with autopay (or $35 normally) and offers 5G service with 10GB of monthly data (up from 5GB previously), with speeds dropping down to 128Kbps thereafter. As a basic plan, there's no option to add fancier options like hotspot data, cloud storage or a bundled streaming service, nor can it be used in Mexico and Canada like pricier plans. The mobile company's cheapest unlimited 5G plan, Select Unlimited, is $35 per month with autopay (or $40 normally), a $5 savings from its earlier plan. While it also lacks extras, hotspot data can be added on. This is the presumed family value plan, as four lines can be included for $100 a month. Those who do want extras can pick the 5G Smart Unlimited plan for $45 per month with autopay (or $50 normally), which is a bigger upgrade on the older version of the same plan; not only is it $10 cheaper per month, but it offers 15GB of hotspot data and 100Gb of cloud storage (up from 2GB). This plan can be used in Mexico and Canada, with texting available from the US to friends in more than 200 countries and territories. The middle plans, Select Unlimited and Smart Unlimited, come with the caveat that Cricket may temporarily slow down data speeds if the network is busy. Cricket's priciest unlimited 5G plan, Supreme Unlimited, is $55 with autopay per month (or $60 normally), which is $5 cheaper than the previous version. It's intended for mobile power users with 50GB of hotspot data (up from 15GB previously), 150GB of cloud storage and HBO Max Basic with Ads, along with use in Mexico and Canada as well as texting to friends internationally. Note that all of Cricket's plans have video streaming in SD (around 480p), below the HD (1080p) that's standard on most other plans. All of Cricket's new plans include taxes and fees in the monthly price. Carriers such as T-Mobile have begun to split those out, which end up as additional charges on customers' monthly bills. Cricket's price drops follow similar moves made by the prepaid mobile providers from other carriers. In April, Verizon's Visible added a new $45-per-month higher-tier plan with 4K video streaming and international travel service. A year ago, Boost Mobile emerged from its transition to new ownership under Dish Network with refreshed offerings including a $25 monthly plan as its new cheapest option.
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Cricket Wireless Debuts New Prepaid Plans Starting at $35
Cricket Wireless has revamped its prepaid plans to trim prices and offer more perks, including hotspot data and bundled extras like streaming services. Cricket, owned by AT&T, competes with prepaid providers from other carriers like Verizon's Visible, T-Mobile's Mint Mobile and Dish's Boost Mobile. Cricket has trimmed its offerings down to four plans (from five) and dropped prices on all of them. Cricket's cheapest plan, called Sensible 10GB, is still $30 per month if set up with autopay (or $35 normally) and offers 5G service with 10GB of monthly data (up from 5GB previously), with speeds dropping down to 128 Kbps thereafter. As a basic plan, there's no option to add fancier options like hotspot data, cloud storage or a bundled streaming service, nor can it be used in Mexico and Canada like pricier plans. The mobile company's cheapest unlimited 5G plan, Select Unlimited, is $35 per month with autopay (or $40 normally), a $5 savings from its earlier plan. While it also lacks extras, hotspot data can be added on. This is the presumed family value plan, as four lines can be included for $100 a month. Those that do want extras can pick the 5G Smart Unlimited plan for $45 per month with autopay (or $50 normally), which is a bigger upgrade on the older version of the same plan; not only is it $10 cheaper per month, but it offers 15GB of hotspot data and 100Gb of cloud storage (up from 2GB). This plan can be used in Mexico and Canada, with texting available from the US to friends in over 200 countries and territories. The middle plans, Select Unlimited and Smart Unlimited, both come with the caveat that Cricket may temporarily slow down data speeds if the network is busy. Cricket's priciest unlimited 5G plan, Supreme Unlimited, is $55 with autopay per month (or $60 normally), which is $5 cheaper than the previous version. It's intended for mobile power users with 50GB of hotspot data (up from 15GB previously), 150GB of cloud storage and HBO Max Basic with Ads, along with usage in Mexico and Canada as well as texting to friends internationally. Note that all of Cricket's plans have video streaming in SD (around 480p), below the HD (1080p) that's standard on most other plans. All of Cricket's new plans include taxes and fees in the monthly price. Carriers such as T-Mobile have begun to split those out, which end up as additional charges on customers' monthly bills. Cricket's price drops follow similar moves made by the prepaid mobile providers from other carriers. Back in April, Verizon's Visible added a new $45-per-month higher-tier plan with 4K video streaming and international travel service. A year ago, Boost Mobile emerged from its transition to new ownership under Dish Network with refreshed offerings including a $25 monthly plan as its new cheapest option.
