Looking for fast 3G networks? Skip Redmond for the Space Needle

Source: Gizmodo

Where are the best spots in the Seattle area to browse the Web on a mobile computer? And which carriers operate the fastest networks in town?

Those are among the questions that Gizmodo tries to uncover in a review today titled "The definitive coast-to-coast 3G data test." (Seattle is one of eight cities where the test occurred.)

Editor Wilson Rothman fearlessly tests upload and download speeds on the 3G networks of AT&T, Sprint and Verizon, reporting from his rental home in Maple Leaf, a Tully's in Redmond Town Square, Columbia City and Seattle Center. Interestingly, the high-tech mecca of Redmond showed the slowest speeds across the three networks, while Rothman had the best luck on the Sprint network near the Space Needle at Seattle Center.

Overall, Seattle's 3G upload speeds were at or above the national average for the three networks. AT&T was the top dog in Seattle, with only customers in San Francisco experiencing faster connections, according to the report.

Sprint edged out AT&T and Verizon in terms of download speeds in Seattle and on a national basis, winning the title over AT&T in five of the eight cities.

Click here for the national report and here for the Seattle report. Gizmodo also looked at network speeds in Portland, Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Austin, Raleigh and Boston.

UPDATE: I asked Rothman for his inside take on the Seattle 3G Networks and what surprised him. Here's what he had to say:

"You know, that funky reception in Redmond was a surprise, but it could possibly be attributed to my location (the Tully's in the town square). The fact that all three networks did relatively poorly indicates some physical obstruction, perhaps. That or a ton of mobile users in Microsoft's hometown.

"The other thing that surprised me was AT&T's shabby showing at the Space Needle. Sprint was crazy good, and Verizon did alright, but AT&T just creeped along. At first I thought it was the big metal EMP, but I moved pretty far away from it and started testing all over, and I got the results you saw."