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    Sprint's Casting Call of Voice Over Actors: An in depth analysis of VoLTE, Calling+, and VoWiFi

    By ingenium

    Josh HillSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesFriday, April 5, 2019 - 3:06 AM PDT Now that VoLTE is actually rolling out on Sprint, it's a good time to dive into what exactly is VoLTE, and how is it different from Calling+ and VoWiFi (Wifi Calling).  Background Terms  E-UTRA or EUTRA: Stands for Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access. This is the technical name for the actual LTE airlink.  QoS: Quality of Service. This is a way of tagging / fla
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The Wall
Sprint's Casting Call of Voice Over Actors: An in depth analysis of VoLTE, Calling+, and VoWiFi

Sprint's Casting Call of Voice Over Actors: An in depth analysis of VoLTE, Calling+, and VoWiFi

Josh HillSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesFriday, April 5, 2019 - 3:06 AM PDT Now that VoLTE is actually rolling out on Sprint, it's a good time to dive into what exactly is VoLTE, and how is it different from Calling+ and VoWiFi (Wifi Calling).  Background Terms  E-UTRA or EUTRA: Stands for Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access. This is the technical name for the actual LTE airlink.  QoS: Quality of Service. This is a way of tagging / fla
ingenium

ingenium

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The Wall
Clear Site Triband Conversions

Clear Site Triband Conversions

Dave YeagerSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesFriday, February 8, 2019 - 8:00 AM PST   Sprint’s tribanding project has reached a new phase -- former Clear LTE 2500 only sites are getting new equipment as reported by nowerlater in Cincinnati, Joski1624 in Cleveland, and here in Columbus. Converting sites from LTE 2500 only to triband LTE 800 MHz, LTE 1900 MHz, and LTE 2500 will significantly improve network performance in the traditional metropolitan areas of markets where Clear sites resi
dkyeager

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The Wall
G. Jason Schnellbacher - Lead Magic Box Sales, Marketing, Distribution, Deployment and Support at Sprint HQ doing a Q&A session on Reddit

G. Jason Schnellbacher - Lead Magic Box Sales, Marketing, Distribution, Deployment and Support at Sprint HQ doing a Q&A session on Reddit

Tim YuSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesFriday, December 14, 2018 - 11:00 PM PDT Beginning today on the Sprint subreddit, individuals can begin submitting questions in this thread that will be forwarded to Ms. Schnellbacher to answer at his leisure in a few days time.  Who is Mr. Jason Schnellbacher you may ask? So go forth and submit all your questions about Sprint Magic Box's, small cells, and other Sprint related stuff!
lilotimz

lilotimz

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The Wall
[PSA] Sprint Soft Launches VoLTE

[PSA] Sprint Soft Launches VoLTE

Tim YuSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesWednesday, October 2, 2018 - 9:00 PM PDT Starting right now, October 3,2018 12:01 AM EST, Samsung Galaxy S8, 8+, and S8 Active users can manually download the firmware to remove Calling Plus from their devices and bring forth the VoLTE Opt-In toggle.  Oh yeah. VoLTE is live on the Sprint Network™ as part of the VoLTE Soft Launch in the select markets. The roll out to the soft launch markets will be gradual over the next weeks.  So have at it you folks in
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The Wall
Sprints preps for VoLTE with Magic Box update & removal of Calling Plus

Sprints preps for VoLTE with Magic Box update & removal of Calling Plus

Tim YuSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesFriday, September 28, 2018 - 8:10 PM PDT In the past few day, Sprint began informing its staff and partners that the VOIP application used for LTE Calling on Sprint devices, Calling Plus, will be starting  to be decommissioned beginning with software updates to Android devices on the 29th of September. Sprint updated the Calling Plus FAQ to note this upcoming change to android devices via software updates yet to be rolled out.  The following is allegedl
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The Wall
[PSA] Sprint announces GEN3 (4th iteration) Magic Box

[PSA] Sprint announces GEN3 (4th iteration) Magic Box

Tim YuSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesWednesday, September 12, 2018 - 12:45 PM PDT [Edit] It has come to the attention of S4GRU that the Magic Box also supports CDMA Voice Today, Sprint announced the newest Magic Box™ to the world. This Magic Box was first spotted in early summer and S4GRU did a quick write up on it here. Today's announcement formally revealed what new technologies this 3rd Generation public release will give to us. The highlights: This is some huge stuff here esp
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The Wall
Sprint to Begin VoLTE Soft Launch in September

Sprint to Begin VoLTE Soft Launch in September

Tim YuSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesThursday, August 2, 2018 - 12:01 PM PDT It's been a long time coming for Sprint through many trials and tribulations.  Now it's finally here! S4GRU was able to obtain confirmations that Sprint is finally ready and prepared to enable Voice over LTE (VoLTE) for subscribers to manually opt into in select markets across the country this coming September. See list at the bottom.  As a refresher here are some of the essential points about VoLTE applicable
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The Wall
[PSA] 4th Iteration "GEN 3" Magic Box Incoming!

[PSA] 4th Iteration "GEN 3" Magic Box Incoming!

Tim YuSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesFriday, June 8, 2018 - 3:00 PM PDT It has been a little over a year since the first Magic Box publicly available was announced. In the time since then since the Airunity 545 "GEN 1" was announced, minor revisions were done as "GEN 2" with the Airunity 544 sporting a LCD display and subsequently the Airunity 546 having an more aesthetically pleasing exterior. All LCD display models  are known as "GEN 2" respectively.  Come next week starting on June 11th,
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The Wall
We Welcome Our New Magenta Overlords?

We Welcome Our New Magenta Overlords?

Seth GoodwinSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesMonday, April 30, 2018 - 5:00 PM PDT   After three previous attempts during the past four years, something many thought may never happen actually did. On Sunday April 29, T-Mobile announced they were effectively acquiring Sprint in an all stock deal, combining the third and fourth largest carriers in the U.S. wireless market. Pending regulatory approval, the merger is targeted for closing in the first half of 2019. The Deal The deal using
Mr.Nuke

Mr.Nuke

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[PSA] Sprint begins Band 13 deployment in Puerto Rico

[PSA] Sprint begins Band 13 deployment in Puerto Rico

Tim YuSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesSaturday, April 7, 2018 - 6:54 PM PDT A year ago Sprint and Open Mobile announced the beginnings of a joint venture whereby they would combine their network assets and operations together to create a better more competitive alternative on the island. In late 2017, the deal was consummated which gave Sprint access to Open Mobile's spectrum holdings in the PCS 1900 range and, more importantly, the 750 MHz Band 13 block.  This LTE Band 13 is almost exclusive
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The Wall
Discovery Time: Next-Gen Dual Band 10 port 800 / 2.5 configurations

Discovery Time: Next-Gen Dual Band 10 port 800 / 2.5 configurations

Dave YeagerSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesTuesday, April 3, 2018 - 6:20 PM PDT Exciting times for those of us who track Sprint Macro sites and signals.  Sprint has accomplished a lot during the last few years in many places.  Even during a period of reduced capital expenditures.  Progress has been made by increasing bandwidth and adding carriers to LTE 1900 MHz, adding LTE 2.5 GHz macro and small cell sites, adding 3x3 LTE 800 MHz to many existing sites near the border, and working to eliminate 3
dkyeager

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The Wall
Anatomy of a Sprint Triband Hexadecaport (16 port) Antenna Setup

Anatomy of a Sprint Triband Hexadecaport (16 port) Antenna Setup

Tim YuSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesJanuary 26, 2018 - 5:30 AM PST [Edited: 1/28/18 to include additional information on Samsung 4 port 800 MHz radio] [Edited: 2/2/18 for photograph addition of an Ericsson setup] The Triband Hexadecaport. The newest development of Sprint's recent network expenditures. This is a new triband antenna configuration now being deployed by Sprint that is able to do 4T4R MIMO on both 800 MHz and 1900 MHz in addition to 8T8R MIMO over 2.5 GHz. All in one sing
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The Wall
[Teaser] The 9th Galaxy Arrives Early - The Galaxy S9

[Teaser] The 9th Galaxy Arrives Early - The Galaxy S9

Tim YuSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesJanuary 12, 2018 - 5:30 PM PST "New year, new me. Am I right?"      ~ signed Samsung Samsung has decided that the beginning of the new year is a great time to change.  Samsung has decided its newest flagship Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus devices must meet with the FCC OET for certification far earlier than usual. With ever watchful and prying eyes, S4GRU staff discovered the twin filings for two devices with FCC IDs of A3LSMG960U and A3LSMG965U which follows the 
lilotimz

lilotimz

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The Wall
[PSA] Generation "3" Magic Box has arrived!

[PSA] Generation "3" Magic Box has arrived!

Tim YuSprint 4G Rollout UpdatesDecember 11, 2017 - 9:30 PM PST Recently, individuals who ordered Magic Boxes noticed a change in the product code of the unit to AU544 from AU545.  It is now confirmed that the product code change is due to the release of the 3rd generation Magic Box.  They are now being shipped! The new revision is in essence a GEN2 optimized with a high quality LCD touchscreen display like that of the 1st Generation AU540. In addition, an external battery pack with an
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The Wall
The Magic Box 6 months later

The Magic Box 6 months later

Tim Yu Sprint 4G Rollout Updates September 28, 2017 - 2:30 PM PDT [Edit: 4/6/18: Reflects Airave 3 discontinuation] It has been 6 months since I first learned of and received access to what is now called the GEN1 Magic Box. I wrote up my thoughts about it a few months back. Sprint has now evolved to a GEN 2 Magic Box model.  These units are being distributed to customers who preordered after Sprint's announcements.  I've now acquired a GEN2 Magic Box myself. Upon opening the packa
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The Wall
[Teaser] Life's Good with the V30

[Teaser] Life's Good with the V30

Tim Yu Sprint 4G Rollout Updates September 5, 2017 - 6:45 PM PDT It is that time of the year for flagship phablets and LG has returned to us with their brand new V30 smartphone. Unlike the LG G6, LG was not conservative with the specifications on this one. Many other tech sites and forums have already broken down the V30 but here at S4GRU we are more interested in network technologies and the V30 is definitely no slouch in this regard. Supported Technologies GSM 850 / 1900 WCDMA Band:
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The Wall
What's in the Box? Oh, oh, oh, it's Magic.

What's in the Box? Oh, oh, oh, it's Magic.

Tim Yu Sprint 4G Rollout Updates May 19, 2017 - 8:30 AM PDT   The Sprint Magic Box was announced on Sprint's quarterly earning call earlier this month, and was heralded as the first truly all wireless small cell in the industry. So what is this mystical beast that is purported to increase coverage by up to 30,000 square feet, amplifies data speeds, and "boosts" your data signal? This is the 1st Generation Sprint Magic Box   In more technical terms, the Mag
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The Wall
Sprint's Technical Chief Operating Officer Günther Ottendorfer to be hosted in a Reddit AMA tomorrow

Sprint's Technical Chief Operating Officer Günther Ottendorfer to be hosted in a Reddit AMA tomorrow

by Robert Herron Sprint 4G Rollout Updates September 11, 2016 - 12:30 PM PDT   We have many good friends over at the Sprint Reddit page, and many of our members spend a lot of time there. They are excited at their recent score to host an AMA with Sprint's new COO of Technology, Günther Ottendorfer.   S4GRU wants to help spread the news. The AMA is scheduled for tomorrow, September 12th from 1:30 - 2:30pm Central Daylight Time. This should be an exciting exchange for
S4GRU

S4GRU

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The Wall
The RF evolution/revolution of the HTC 2016 Nexus

The RF evolution/revolution of the HTC 2016 Nexus

by Andrew J. Shepherd Sprint 4G Rollout Updates Friday, August 19, 2016 - 2:04 AM MDT   Earlier this week, the two HTC 2016 Nexus handsets -- codenamed "Marlin" and "Sailfish" -- were caught in the net of the FCC OET (Office of Engineering and Technology) authorization database.   While Google has yet to reveal them officially as Nexus handsets, that HTC is the manufacturer of choice this year has been a heavily leaked secret the past few months. And the circumstant
WiWavelength

WiWavelength

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The Wall
[PSA] The holy LTE trinity. A third Band 41 carrier now going live!

[PSA] The holy LTE trinity. A third Band 41 carrier now going live!

by Tim Yu Sprint 4G Rollout Updates Friday, April 8, 2016 - 3:40 PM MDT   Over the past week, S4GRU members in multiple Sprint markets have discovered new EARFCNs and corresponding GCI endings that identify new Band 41 LTE carriers.   The EARFCN is the center frequency of an LTE carrier that, along with the carrier bandwidth, identifies the carrier placement and occupied spectrum.   As Sprint is doing intraband contiguous/adjacent carrier aggregation -- 2
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The Wall
[Teaser] Life's Good with VoLTE?

[Teaser] Life's Good with VoLTE?

by Tim Yu Sprint 4G Rollout Updates Wednesday, March 16, 2016 - 9:13 PM MDT Authors Edit (8/25/16): According to a report, the LG G5 (and HTC 9) is indeed capable of 3xCA specifically for Sprint due to the intraband contiguous setup Sprint utilizes. The spotlight may have been largely on the Samsung Galaxy for the past few weeks, but from behind the red moon, a new contender has revealed itself. To keep it short, as per typical of a S4GRU teaser article, the model LS992 Sprint
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The Wall
Not just with AT&T, Sprint swaps spectrum with T-Mobile and VZW, too.

Not just with AT&T, Sprint swaps spectrum with T-Mobile and VZW, too.

by Tim Yu Sprint 4G Rollout Updates Friday, March 4, 2016 - 8:25 AM MST   A little over two weeks ago, S4GRU published an article detailing a multi-market PCS 1900 MHz swap between Sprint and AT&T that increased spectrum contiguity for both operators in several markets. In that article, we mentioned how that spectrum swap might be the first of many, as there are numerous other markets in which Sprint and other licensees could mutually benefit by realigning disparate spec
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