Jump to content

Official Magic Box discussion thread


lilotimz

Recommended Posts

So, I put in the RMA request this morning.  Should get a new box in the next 3-5 days I guess. 

 

So, having my broken MB, it makes a WiFi signal called AU-WIFI.  I can connect to it, but cause my box never gets a cellular signal the wifi off the MB has no internet.  Is this wifi always there and can non-Sprint customers use it?

 

All Magic Boxes have a Qualcomm Wifi 2.4/5 GHz wifi module that can be turned on at will by Sprint if they want to. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's odd, you might want to post in the SCP thread and send some diags to mikejeep

 

Weirdly enough, my phone is recognizing my Magic Box as Band 41 but SignalCheck Pro is reporting it as Band 25.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Possibly. But they may not have a signal in a portion of their house, or a basement. And if these are indeed due to an upcoming VoLTE play, Sprint may want these people to have them. But I don't disagree with your sentiments in general. Just wanted to add that caveat.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

People that are getting 60Mbits per second on the macro network should probably not get them. Just saying... :)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I sort of agree that if you are getting that quality of signal and speed without, then you probably don't need one.  However,  I don't think it's anyone's business on this forum, to tell someone that and say "Send it back!".    Most of us who have requested a Magic Box have a specific issue with indoor data issues.  For me, it was I rarely get B41 in the house and am on the crowded end of B25.  Further, we are all Sprint paying customers and nobody is getting denied one because someone else has it.   Sprint goes through a process to determine if you are a candidate.  Let Sprint make the decision.    

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went to a Sprint Corportate store last night and they had a MB running as SCP was showing MB. Speeds weren't too bad. 

After visiting the store I went next do to get food and wanted to see if it was still connected to the MB but now SCP was showing B41 SC.

What does SC stand for?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went to a Sprint Corportate store last night and they had a MB running as SCP was showing MB. Speeds weren't too bad. 

After visiting the store I went next do to get food and wanted to see if it was still connected to the MB but now SCP was showing B41 SC.

What does SC stand for?

 

I'm an apple guy, but I would have to guess that SC = small cell?  @mikejeep ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, SC means small cell. The store could have been running a small cell in addition to a MB, or there could be a small cell nearby. The MB will not use the small cell as a relay if it's not fiber backed (ie a relayed site can't be used as a donor for another relay).

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went to a Sprint Corportate store last night and they had a MB running as SCP was showing MB. Speeds weren't too bad. 

After visiting the store I went next do to get food and wanted to see if it was still connected to the MB but now SCP was showing B41 SC.

What does SC stand for?

Yes SC is small cell. Look at the legend on SCP..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got a new MB the next freaking day!  Dang Sprint!  Really want peeps to have these. :D

 

But... Same issue.  Times Out at 20%.  FML.

 

Edit:

The screen in now completely black, it appears unresponsive. AU-WiFi is broadcasting, I can connect but no internet.  Is this a sign that it is doing it's thing, or that it's more messed up than my last?

Edited by red_dog007
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've never seen the AU-WiFi SSID. My guess is it appears when setup fails for some reason so that a technician can connect to it and manually configure. It's likely not designed to provide Internet.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've never seen the AU-WiFi SSID. My guess is it appears when setup fails for some reason so that a technician can connect to it and manually configure. It's likely not designed to provide Internet.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Well, this is upsetting.  Could be right.  Port 22 is open, so a techs way in to check configs/logs.

 

Call tomorrow and ask for a third one? :(

 

It shouldn't have an issue connecting to a tower right?  I have tried two towers and both boxes just time out.  I tried my "old" MB today and it gave me an invalid SIM error so it was able to get deactivated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got a new MB the next freaking day!  Dang Sprint!  Really want peeps to have these. :D

 

But... Same issue.  Times Out at 20%.  FML.

 

Edit:

The screen in now completely black, it appears unresponsive. AU-WiFi is broadcasting, I can connect but no internet.  Is this a sign that it is doing it's thing, or that it's more messed up than my last?

 

 

I've never seen the AU-WiFi SSID. My guess is it appears when setup fails for some reason so that a technician can connect to it and manually configure. It's likely not designed to provide Internet.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

I just checked and mine is doing the same thing. I've been having the time-out at 20% issue since I received my MB a week ago. It is also broadcasting this AU-WiFi SSID.

 

-Anthony

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks.

Went back today and that area around the store shows connected to small cell. Where on the forum does it show pictures of these small cells?

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

If you can track where the signal is broadcasting from you can identify it here...

http://s4gru.com/index.php?/forum/45-equipment-spotting/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, I hear there are more than 1 model out there? Is there an easy way to tell? Power brick maybe?

 

My first MB has a 12V 5.5AMP power brick. The replacement MB has a 12V 5AMP brick.

There's the 540 and 545. The 540s were sent out mostly to businesses, stores, and people with the right connections. It has a color LCD screen that's very bright. The 545 is what they're shipping out to customers now. It has a black and white e-ink screen that's not backlit. The screen is the easiest way to tell them apart.

 

The 540 uses a 12V 4.16A power supply. My 545 uses 12V 5A. A power supply that can provide more than 5A is fine, they probably just have multiple suppliers for them.

 

Edit: here is the 540 (powered off)10622e4513b1222ceffe0df69d2f0746.jpg

 

And this is the 545 ad3cbd62c9401c5ebe861b91f1f658ad.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got my Magic Box yesterday. On my last test I got a ping of 45 ms, download 12.77 Mbps, and upload 1.25 Mbps. No time to try other windows because I'm trying to get ready for Hurricane Irma.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you are waiting for approval for your Magic Box and want to check on status, you can email booster@sprint.com  I set my contact number as my business and possibly didn't get the call back because of that.

 

Magic Box was immediately shipped out by that contact.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got my Magic Box yesterday. On my last test I got a ping of 45 ms, download 12.77 Mbps, and upload 1.25 Mbps. No time to try other windows because I'm trying to get ready for Hurricane Irma.

My Magic Box took a day or two to completely provision/configure.  No sure what it is doing during that time, but my speeds slowly increased to more than reasonable speeds.   It started about like your speeds and within a day or two, I'm at...33.83 down and 5.46 up... .. it's much more consistent than I had before the box...   I was walking yesterday, and I can pick up a pretty good signal from it more than a block away.  It's pretty cool.   

Edited by dro1984
  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I sort of agree that if you are getting that quality of signal and speed without, then you probably don't need one.  However,  I don't think it's anyone's business on this forum, to tell someone that and say "Send it back!".    Most of us who have requested a Magic Box have a specific issue with indoor data issues.  For me, it was I rarely get B41 in the house and am on the crowded end of B25.  Further, we are all Sprint paying customers and nobody is getting denied one because someone else has it.   Sprint goes through a process to determine if you are a candidate.  Let Sprint make the decision.    

 

If you are having signal or congestion problems, I have not problem. But if you are already getting 60Mbps from the macro network, I don't see how a single channel B41-relayed MB will improve your signal. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

To anyone reporting failing at 20% during the initialization phase, think about what this unit is and how it works and you'll be better able to understand the problem and how they are most likely not defective units. This is a box that acquires all info from a signal broadcasted from a macrocell (think of it like a satellite box). If your box is unable to acquire that signal, it will not receive any information. Receiving that fail at 20% is a likely indicator that your unit is simply not able to get signal from a nearby tower to set up the unit. Anthony stated in a previous post that his unit even advised him to try another location  :hmm: To anyone not able to get past that 20% milestone, you should try a new location. If you can't find a place for the unit where it acquires signal (or you're in a known lack of B41 or B25), then you might consider returning your unit.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Has anyone had a non-phone device successfully connect to a MB?

According to the Magic Box support page, the following devices are supported...

 

Smartphones:
  • iPhone 6 and newer
  • Galaxy S4 and newer
  • HTC One A9 and newer
  • LG G2 and newer
Tablets:
  • Galaxy Tab S2 and newer
  • iPad Mini
  • iPad Air 2
  • iPad Pro

Basically anything that supports B41 should work...

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • large.unreadcontent.png.6ef00db54e758d06

  • gallery_1_23_9202.png

  • Posts

    • In the conference call they had two question on additional spectrum. One was the 800 spectrum. They are not certain what will happen, thus have not really put it into their plans either way (sale or no sale). They do have a reserve level. Nationwide 800Mhz is seen as great for new technologies which I presume is IOT or 5g slices.  T-Mobile did not bite on use of their c-band or DOD.  mmWave rapidly approaching deadlines not mentioned at all. FWA brushes on this as it deals with underutilized spectrum on a sector by sector basis.  They are willing to take more money to allow FWA to be mobile (think RV or camping). Unsure if this represents a higher priority, for example, FWA Mobile in RVs in Walmart parking lots working where mobile phones need all the capacity. In terms of FWA capacity, their offload strategy is fiber through joint ventures where T-Mobile does the marketing, sales, and customer support while the fiber company does the network planning and installation.  50%-50% financial split not being consolidated into their books. I think discussion of other spectrum would have diluted the fiber joint venture discussion. They do have a fund which one use is to purchase new spectrum. Sale of the 800Mhz would go into this. It should be noted that they continue to buy 2.5Ghz spectrum from schools etc to replace leases. They will have a conference this fall  to update their overall strategies. Other notes from the call are 75% of the phones on the network are 5g. About 85% of their sites have n41, n25, and n71, 90% 5g.  93% of traffic is on midband.  SA is also adding to their performance advantage, which they figure is still ahead of other carriers by two years. It took two weeks to put the auction 108 spectrum to use at their existing sites. Mention was also made that their site spacing was designed for midrange thus no gaps in n41 coverage, while competitors was designed for lowband thus toggles back and forth for n77 also with its shorter range.  
    • The manual network selection sounds like it isn't always scanning NR, hence Dish not showing up. Your easiest way to force Dish is going to be forcing the phone into NR-only mode (*#*#4636#*#* menu?), since rainbow sims don't support SA on T-Mobile.
    • "The company’s unique multi-layer approach to 5G, with dedicated standalone 5G deployed nationwide across 600MHz, 1.9GHz, and 2.5GHz delivers customers a consistently strong experience, with 85% of 5G traffic on sites with all three spectrum bands deployed." Meanwhile they are very close to a construction deadline June 1 for 850Mhz of mmWave in most of Ohio covering 27500-28350Mhz expiring 6/8/2028. No reported sightings.  Buildout notice issue sent by FCC in March 5, 2024 https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/letterPdf/LetterPdfController?licId=4019733&letterVersionId=178&autoLetterId=13060705&letterCode=CR&radioServiceCode=UU&op=LetterPdf&licSide=Y&archive=null&letterTo=L  No soecific permits seen in a quick check of Columbus. They also have an additional 200Mhz covering at 24350-25450 Mhz and 24950-25050Mhz with no buildout date expiring 12/11/2029.
    • T-Mobile Delivers Industry-Leading Customer, Service Revenue and Profitability Growth in Q1 2024, and Raises 2024 Guidance https://www.t-mobile.com/news/business/t-mobile-q1-2024-earnings — — — — — I find it funny that when they talk about their spectrum layers they're saying n71, n25, and n41. They're completely avoiding talking about mmWave.
    • Was true in my market. Likely means a higher percentage of 5g phones in your market.
  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...