If you were only getting 9Mbps, then you were likely not connected to the site you think you were, and explains why you got dropped so quickly.
The signal strength indicator on the top bar never shows LTE signal strength, even when the 4G icon is shown. It always shows 1x. Additionally, apps that show you the tower location never show LTE tower locations. It only shows you the location of the 1x signal you are receiving.
The only way to definitively determine LTE signal strength is in the Debug menu, under LTE Engineering.
Robert via CM9 Kindle Fire using Forum Runner